Health and Me

Dr Naeem Sadiq

Expert Reveals Why Childhood Autism Is Going Undetected In India

While the statistics for <span>Autism Spectrum Disorders</span> (<span>ASD</span>) are alarming, what is even more alarming is the lack of recognition and timely intervention. 

Many parents whose children are diagnosed with ASD have common statements – "I just didn’t ignore the signs, I did not know they were signs", when my child did not respond to his name, I just thought he was busy in play, when he did not talk by a particular age I just felt its ok, kids talk late and if it’s a boy, they always talk late. Many boys in my family spoke late." 

While these statements are real, they are alarming and indicate that ASD signs are not obvious and can be missed. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects approximately  one in 68 Indian children aged 2-9 years, equating to about 18 million individuals nationwide, with diagnoses often delayed until age 4-5 due to limited screening and awareness gaps. 

This lag overlooks subtle early signs amid typical toddler behaviors and cultural norms, forfeiting a prime window for interventions that profoundly influence lifelong development.

The signs for ASD should be recognized before the age of two as there are many indications which parents miss or do not want to address. Parents frequently ignore subtle cues such as reduced eye contact or lack of social smiling by 6 – 9 months sometimes calling their kids shy or introvert.

By 12 months, if a child does not respond to their name or by 14 months, there is an absence of pointing and gesturing, these are signs not to be ignored. Repetitive

behaviors like obsessively lining up toys, spinning wheels, or fixating on objects should be treated, not looked as harmless quirks or strong preferences. 

Sensory sensitivities, such as aversion to loud noises, scratchy fabrics, or bright lights, manifest as tantrums or fussiness, especially in bustling Indian homes where joint families normalize varied child responses.

Surveys reveal over 50 percent of Indian cases go undiagnosed before preschool, due to lack of awareness (especially in rural areas) and stigma around developmental labels.

<h2>A Real Life Case</h2><span>Aditya</span>, a nine-year-old boy from Delhi was asked to visit a neurologist as he had constant academic struggles and was very much to himself. Intellectually, he is smart, but he could not concentrate in class. He had no friends in school as he did not socialize and found the school routine difficult to adapt to. On consultation, it was recognized that 

Aditya has some signs when he was a kid such as delayed speech, repetitive play patterns, and sensitivity to loud noises. On evaluation, it was recognized that as he grew older when academic needs increased, Aditya began experiencing several issues such as anxiety, meltdowns, and reduced school performance. He became more withdrawn and struggled with group activities.

<h2>Critical Need for Screening Before Age Three</h2>

The case in point addresses the fact that a child's brain grows super-fast before age three as neuroplasticity peaks, forming millions of connections daily that you can reshape easily.

Thus, it is essential to screen children early, which is critical so that possible signs of autism can be identified and therapies suggested effectively, boosting language, social skills, and independence. Based on the therapies, many children show signs of improvement by 50 percent compared to delayed diagnosis.

We need to understand that delaying of small issues can turn into major behavioural struggles. In <span>India</span>, pediatric doctors now recommend regular checks for toddlers,

especially in smaller towns, so that timely support can be administered to kids making them reach normal milestones instead of facing lifelong hurdles.

<h2>Value of Multidisciplinary Therapy</h2>

Despite early diagnosis, parents and families need to understand that there is no single approach to treating ASD. It is a combined effort of multidisciplinary teams such as

neurologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and educators deliver that deliver holistic care. Sensory integration therapy addresses the sensory issues while Applied Behaviour Analysis (<span>ABA</span>) builds daily skills for children and understating routine. 

Speech therapy helps the child build communication skills but despite all the therapies, it is the parent’s total understanding and acceptance that will enable success of

the therapies skills. Plexus Neuro Centre exemplifies integrated, evidence-based models prioritizing child-led progress that is backed by the support of the family.

It is important to raise awareness and reduce the spread of myths. Every child should have the right to a healthy and independent childhood, thus we urge parents to trust their instincts and act swiftly. This can be achieved through routine screenings and analysis by pediatric neurologists, participating in the right therapies and encouraging kids to have live an independent life, thereby empowering their futures

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While the statistics for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are alarming, what is even more alarming is the lack of recognition and timely intervention. Many parents whose children are diagnosed with ASD have common statements – "I just didn’t ignore the signs, I did not know they were signs", when my child did not respond to his name, I just thought he was busy in play, when he did not talk by a particular age I just felt its ok, kids talk late and if it’s a boy, they always talk late. Many boys in my family spoke late." While these statements are real, they are alarming and indicate that ASD signs are not obvious and can be missed. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects approximately  one in 68 Indian children aged 2-9 years, equating to about 18 million individuals nationwide, with diagnoses often delayed until age 4-5 due to limited screening and awareness gaps. This lag overlooks subtle early signs amid typical toddler behaviors and cultural norms, forfeiting a prime window for interventions that profoundly influence lifelong development.Why Early Signs Are OverlookedThe signs for ASD should be recognized before the age of two as there are many indications which parents miss or do not want to address. Parents frequently ignore subtle cues such as reduced eye contact or lack of social smiling by 6 – 9 months sometimes calling their kids shy or introvert. By 12 months, if a child does not respond to their name or by 14 months, there is an absence of pointing and gesturing, these are signs not to be ignored. Repetitivebehaviors like obsessively lining up toys, spinning wheels, or fixating on objects should be treated, not looked as harmless quirks or strong preferences. Sensory sensitivities, such as aversion to loud noises, scratchy fabrics, or bright lights, manifest as tantrums or fussiness, especially in bustling Indian homes where joint families normalize varied child responses.Surveys reveal over 50 percent of Indian cases go undiagnosed before preschool, due to lack of awareness (especially in rural areas) and stigma around developmental labels.A Real Life CaseAditya, a nine-year-old boy from Delhi was asked to visit a neurologist as he had constant academic struggles and was very much to himself. Intellectually, he is smart, but he could not concentrate in class. He had no friends in school as he did not socialize and found the school routine difficult to adapt to. On consultation, it was recognized that Aditya has some signs when he was a kid such as delayed speech, repetitive play patterns, and sensitivity to loud noises. On evaluation, it was recognized that as he grew older when academic needs increased, Aditya began experiencing several issues such as anxiety, meltdowns, and reduced school performance. He became more withdrawn and struggled with group activities.        Critical Need for Screening Before Age ThreeThe case in point addresses the fact that a child's brain grows super-fast before age three as neuroplasticity peaks, forming millions of connections daily that you can reshape easily.Thus, it is essential to screen children early, which is critical so that possible signs of autism can be identified and therapies suggested effectively, boosting language, social skills, and independence. Based on the therapies, many children show signs of improvement by 50 percent compared to delayed diagnosis.We need to understand that delaying of small issues can turn into major behavioural struggles. In India, pediatric doctors now recommend regular checks for toddlers,especially in smaller towns, so that timely support can be administered to kids making them reach normal milestones instead of facing lifelong hurdles.Value of Multidisciplinary TherapyDespite early diagnosis, parents and families need to understand that there is no single approach to treating ASD. It is a combined effort of multidisciplinary teams such asneurologists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and educators deliver that deliver holistic care. Sensory integration therapy addresses the sensory issues while Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) builds daily skills for children and understating routine. Speech therapy helps the child build communication skills but despite all the therapies, it is the parent’s total understanding and acceptance that will enable success ofthe therapies skills. Plexus Neuro Centre exemplifies integrated, evidence-based models prioritizing child-led progress that is backed by the support of the family.It is important to raise awareness and reduce the spread of myths. Every child should have the right to a healthy and independent childhood, thus we urge parents to trust their instincts and act swiftly. This can be achieved through routine screenings and analysis by pediatric neurologists, participating in the right therapies and encouraging kids to have live an independent life, thereby empowering their futures

expert reveals why childhood autism is going undetected in india

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