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English daily published in Bengaluru & Doha
Doctor cycles to Salem to raise autism awareness
Sanjay R. Murty | NT
A speech-language pathologist cycled from Bengaluru to Salem on Saturday on the occasion of World Autism Awareness Day 2022. The solo bicycle ride to promote autism acceptance started at 5 am from Electronics City.
The cyclist, Dr Savio John, is an Audiologist and Speech-language Pathologist based in Bengaluru. “There is not much awareness about autism which is one of the fastest-growing disorders according to the WHO. Children with Autism are not widely accepted in schools,” he said.
Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that mainly affects young children and causes deficits in communication, learning, social interaction and behaviour. It has a wide range of symptoms including repetitive patterns of behaviour.
“There are many Autistic people and kids who are outstanding achievers in their profession or field. It was also said that Einstein was autistic,” Dr John said.
The 24-year-old runs an organization named ‘The RAIN Trust’. He plans on providing free online therapy to autistic children from underprivileged families.
The ride was flagged off by Dr Lakshmanan. S, a Senior Occupational Therapist at Nimhans. “Early identification and intervention are important in managing autism. For this, parents need to be aware of autism and the right channel to seek help. Such children need acceptance in society rather than unwarranted attention,” he said.
Dr John, who is also an endurance cyclist, said that his bicycle suffered a puncture on the way and the tube had to be changed. “I reached Salem at 6 pm,” he said.
Savio John has also served the needy during the pandemic. He said that his trust provided food to the homeless during Covid-19. “We have also adopted a village named Jarugumalai in Salem district where we focus mainly on children’s education and healthcare,” he said.
Dr. Gowri Ravi Chinthalapalli
Every child is unique and grows at his or her own pace, but there are some main milestones to keep a track of. During the first couple of years of a kid’s development, defects in motor function, language, and sensory perception can be easily detected. Head-banging, selfbiting, and other unwanted or extreme responses to circumstances, as well as repeated outbursts that the child is unable to regulate or self-soothe, are also signs of potential behavioural problems, which often get missed.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disability caused by abnormalities in brain function. Many children with ASD show developmental delays when they are babies—especially in their social and communication skills. Because they usually sit, crawl, and walk on time, less obvious differences in the development of body gestures, pretend play, and social language often go unnoticed.
Signs and symptoms:
- Lack of facial expressions by six months of age
- No or poor response to their name by 12 months of age
- No single word at 15 months n Lack of meaningful 2-word phrases at 2yrs of age n Avoid eye contact and want to be alone n Preoccupied in self or an object
- Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings n Have delayed speech and language skills
- Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
- Give unrelated answers to questions n Lack of or regression of previously acquired speech, babbling, or social skills especially between 1-2years
- Get upset by minor changes
- Have obsessive interests
- Flapping their hands, rocking their body, or spinning in circles
- Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look or feel
How to manage an autistic child?
Working with children with autism can be challenging and also quite rewarding. Children with ASD may have difficulty developing language skills; however, they can learn to pay attention, and get better at it with practice.
(The writer is a Consultant - Child Development, Aster CMI Hospital)
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