Skip to main content
Greetings, 

Right from childhood I'd seen people, children who stood out due to their behaviour that just didn't seem usual. 
Little did I know about autism. 
It is even still not clear about the difference between Autism and Down Syndrome.

In commemoration of #WAAD, on the 2nd of April 2019, Secretary-General António Guterres of the UnitedNations said, “On World Autism Awareness Day, we speak out against discrimination, celebrate the diversity of our global community and strengthen our commitment to the full inclusion and participation of people with autism. 

Supporting them to achieve their full potential is a vital part of our efforts to uphold the core promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: to leave no one behind.” 

Havana Specialist Hospital takes his message a step further by this piece; imploring you to speak out for people living with autism every day. 

It is on this note that we bring you "Shocking Facts You Probably Never Knew About Autism". 

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a lifelong developmental disability that affects the way a person communicates. 

Autistic individuals relate with people around them but have difficulties with everyday social interaction.  
Findings show that most children living with ASD are not only denied basic human rights, resulting in a poor quality of life and trauma for their parents and relations, but are also wrongly believed to possess witchcraft in many African countries, including Nigeria. 

Although, autism’s most-obvious signs and symptoms often appear between 2 and 3 years of age, and as early as 18 months in some cases, nevertheless, some developmental delays associated with ASD can be identified and addressed much even earlier. 

Rather than pitching “science against religion,” research suggests the more-effective approach is to dispel superstitions by sharing knowledge in culturally respectful ways, Dr. Shih says. 

Persons with autism may also exhibit some of the following traits 
· Insistence on sameness; resistance to change 
· Difficulty in expressing needs; uses gestures or pointing instead of words 
· Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language 
· Laughing, crying, showing distress for reasons not apparent to others 
· Prefers to be alone; aloof manner 
· Tantrums 
· Difficulty in mixing with others 
· May not want to cuddle or be cuddled 
· Little or no eye contact But there are many other interesting things about people living with autism you probably never knew… 

UNPOPULAR FACTS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT AUTISM 
1. Did you know that 46% of children diagnosed with autism actually have an average or above-average IQ? Still, as experts delve deeper into autism spectrum disorder (ASD) — defined by difficulties with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors — they find that we’ve just scratched the surface in terms of comprehending it. Consider these five game-changing facts about a condition that is all too often misunderstood. 

2. “The more you stimulate the brain, especially with language and social interaction, the more you can rewire it to minimize the effects of autism.” Research has shown that babies with the condition begin demonstrating diminished eye contact as early as two months. While screening for this isn’t currently available, parents should rely on their gut instinct, especially if they notice light or sound 

3. About 13% of kids initially told they have autism eventually lose the diagnosis, according to a CDC study. “Since the diagnosis is based on the skill and knowledge of the evaluator — both of which can vary — it’s easy to see how some kids may be incorrectly labeled,” explains Levy. “Others test differently after treatment.” Both scenarios are more common in boys, as girls have an entirely different issue: under-diagnosis 

Even More… 

Although there continues to be a lot of disagreement about the link between childhood vaccinations and autism, it’s been determined to be a myth by study after study. 

“Vaccines are not one of the causes,” says Halladay. The theory first began after a small 1998 study claimed to find a link between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism. That study has since been deemed flawed, and the original journal it was published in retracted it. 

Thimerosal, another vaccine ingredient once thought to increase risk of autism, has also not been linked to ASD (and since 2001, it has been reduced or eliminated in vaccines). Subsequent research has consistently found vaccines to be safe and identified no connection between childhood vaccinations and autism. 

Finally, imagine for a moment if you couldn’t speak with the world around you… It would definitely be the responsibility of the people around you to learn to understand you. In the same vein, therefore, “It is our responsibility to learn how to engage, understand and express ourselves to those around us on the autism spectrum”. 

Spread the Message. 

Speak up for people living with Autism!  

SOURCE: https://medium.com/@havanahospital/autism-awareness-is-never-late-44cf32dba28a

TLF 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Theme

For us in TLF we are going to be focusing on Enterprise aka Labour aka Work for the entire month of June. We are urged to work. If you do not work how would you meet your daily needs? Like food, shelter, clothings and transportation? What about having what to give to others in need? There are so many reasons to work. I know many of us love to do what we love, we do not like to go to work if we do not like the job. But what if what you are doing as work and being paid for is actually what you love? What you love may not turn out to be a source of income, but we must still do what we can to earn. Are you enterprising? Please keep it up. Are you in paid labour in the private or public sector? Please do your work as unto the Lord God. Are you working all by yourself as a self employed worker? Please continue to grow and progress for greatness. Always know that in - Happy moments, praise God.  Difficult moments, seek God.  Quiet moments, worship God.  Painful moments, trust ...

UN Days for the Month of June.

The United Nations designates specific days, weeks, years and decades as occasions to mark particular events or topics in order to promote, through awareness and action, the objectives of the Organization. Usually, it is one or more Member States that propose these observances and the General Assembly establishes them with a resolution. On occasion, these celebrations are declared by the specialized agencies of the United Nations, such as UNESCO, UNICEF, FAO, etc., when they concern issues that fall within the scope of their competencies. Some of them may be later adopted by the General Assembly. 1 June Global Day of Parents   3 June World Bicycle Day  4 June International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression   5 June World Environment Day  5 June International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing  8 June World Oceans Day   12 June World Day Against Child Labour 13 June International Albinism Awarene...

Thank God For The End Of Our mid-Year Crossover Prayers For 2025

Dear Lord, I thank you for this day, as we continue this second half of this year. I thank You for our  being able to see and to hear this morning. We’re blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God. You have done so much for us  and You keep on blessing us . Forgive us  this day for everything we  have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you. We  ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep us  safe from all danger and harm. Help us  to start this day and second half of the year 2025 with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let us  make the best of each and every day to clear our  mind s  so that we  can hear from You. Please broaden our  mind s  that we  can accept all things. Let us  not whine and whimper over things we  have no control over. Let us  continue to see sin through Your eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when we  sin, let us  repent, and confes...