Autism in Children and Adolescents

Autizam je vrlo složen neurorazvojni poremećaj koji zahvaća sve aspekte dječje ličnosti (komunikacija, motorika, ponašanje i učenje). Prvi ga je opisao američki dječji psihijatar Leo Kanner 1943. godine, navodeći osnovna obilježja autizma koja se do danas nisu znatno promijenila (nemogućnost djeteta da uspostavi normalne kontakte s roditeljima, djecom i drugim ljudima općenito; zakašnjeli razvoj govora i uporaba govora na nekomunikativan način; ponavljajuće i stereotipne igre i opsesivno inzistiranje na poštivanju određenog reda; nedostatak mašte; dobro mehaničko pamćenje i normalan tjelesni izgled). Autistične osobe, osim navedenih osobina, imaju i neke posebne sposobnosti, tj. talente (talenti vezani uz glazbu, pamćenje, matematiku, umjetnost, itd.). Autizam spada u kategoriju pervazivnih razvojnih poremećaja. U tu se kategoriju ubrajaju i: autizam u djetinjstvu, atipični autizam, Rettov poremećaj, drugi dezintegrativni poremećaji u djetinjstvu, poremećaj hiperaktivnosti povezan s duševnom zaostalošću i stereotipnim pokretima, Aspergerov sindrom, ostali poremećaji razvoja u djetinjstvu te pervazivni razvojni poremećaj, nespecificirani. Iako postavljanje dijagnoze autizma nije jednostavno, u tome može pomoći anamneza, klinička slika, promatranje djeteta u različitim situacijama, psihološka testiranja te različiti psihometrijski instrumenti. Još uvijek nije sasvim jasno koji su uzroci autizma. Kao moguće uzroke neki autori navode oštećenja središnjeg živčanog sustava, genetiku, moždana oštećenja te poremećaj zrcalnih neurona. Od autizma češće obolijevaju dječaci, nego djevojčice. Najzastupljeniji je Kannerov sindrom, a najrjeđe se pojavljuje dezintegrativna psihoza. Postoje različiti terapijski postupci i metode za osobe oboljele od autizma, a neke od njih su: bihevioralna terapija, glazbena terapija, likovna terapija, terapija igrom, kineziterapija, holding terapija, dnevna životna terapija, terapija senzoričke integracije, različite ustanove, lijekovi, itd. Profesionalna pomoć nije potrebna samo djeci s autizmom, već i njihovim roditeljima. Obrazovanje djece s autizmom trebalo bi se temeljiti na poštovanju individualnih potreba i razlika učenika. Prognoza za osobe s autizmom ovisi o intelektualnom funkcioniranju, o razvoju govora i o težini karakterističnih simptoma autizma. Na Kongresu o autizmu u Haagu 1992. godine donesena je povelja za prava osoba s autizmom u kojoj se posebno ističe njihovo pravo na slobodan i ispunjen život do granica njihovih mogućnosti. Cilj ovog diplomskog rada je upoznati neke osnovne značajke i osobitosti autizma.Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that affects all aspects of the child's personality (communication, motor skills, behavior and learning). It was first described by American child psychiatrist Leo Kanner in 1943, stating the basic characteristics of autism that have not been substantially changed (the inability of the child to establish normal contacts with parents, children and other people in general, delayed speech development and use speech to uncommunicative manner; repetitive and stereotyped games and obsessive insistence on the respect of a certain order, lack of imagination, good mechanical memory and normal physical appearance). Autistic people, except for the above characteristics, also have some special abilities, i.e. talents (talents related to music, memory, math, art, etc.). Autism belongs to the category of pervasive developmental disorders. In this category are also included: autism in childhood, atypical autism, Rett's disorder, the other disintegrative disorders of childhood, hyperactivity disorder associated with mental retardation and stereotyped movements, Asperger's Syndrome, other developmental disorders in childhood and pervasive developmental disorder, unspecified. Although the diagnosis of autism is not easy, there are several ways that can help in the diagnosis, for example history, clinical presentation, observing the child in different situations, psychological testing and various psychometric instruments. It is still not entirely clear what causes autism. As possible causes some authors suggest damage of the central nervous system, genetics, brain damage and disruption mirror neurons. Boys usually suffers of autism than girls. The most common is Kannerov syndrome, and disintegrative psychosis appears rarely. There are various therapeutic procedures and methods for people with autism, some of them are: behavioral therapy, music therapy, art therapy, play therapy, kinetic therapy, holding therapy, daily life therapy, sensory integration, different institutions, drugs, etc. As well as children with autism, their parents also need professional help. Education of children with autism should be based on respect for individual needs and differences of students. The prognosis for people with autism depends on the intellectual functioning, the development of speech and on the severity of characteristic symptoms of autism. The charter for the rights of people with autism was released at the Congress of autism in The Hague in 1992 in which was especially emphasized their right to free and full lives to the limit of their potential. The aim of this diploma thesis is to introduce some basic features and characteristics of autism