Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children of Early and Preschool Age

Pokazatelji poremećaja iz spektra autizma (PSA) najčešće se javljaju u predškolskoj dobi. Kroz povijest djeca sa PSA često su nailazila na nerazumijevanje od svoje okoline, no u posljednjem stoljeću nastupile su promjene u pogledu na djecu s posebnim potrebama. Naime, znanstvenici su počeli pridavati pažnju djeci za koju su smatrali da imaju simptome šizofrenije, poput povlačenja u sebe i favoriziranja samoće, no kasnije su za te simptome dali zaseban naziv autizam. Pokazatelji se najčešće prezentiraju u obliku problema u komunikaciji i socijalnoj interakciji s okolinom i repetitivnim ili opsesivnim oblicima ponašanja. Iako uzroci PSA nisu u potpunosti jasni, poznato je da djeca iz spektra autizma imaju različite pokazatelje te je potreban individualan pristup svakom djetetu. Kako bi se to ostvarilo bitno je da su odgajatelji u odgojnim skupinama kvalificirani i sposobni prepoznati pokazatelje i zadovoljiti djetetove individualne potrebe, za što je ključna odgajateljeva spremnost na cjeloživotno usavršavanje. Kroz program rane intervencije djetetu se pruža mogućnost učenje strategija olakšavanja potencijalnih prepreka koje trenutno nailaze, ali ih priprema i za što samostalniji odrasli život putem odgojno-obrazovne podrške.Indicators of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) most often occur in children of preschool age. Throughout history, children with ASD have often been misunderstood by society, but in the last century there have been changes in the view of children with special needs. Namely, scientists began to pay attention to children who they considered to have symptoms of schizophrenia, such as withdrawing into themselves and favoring solitude, but later they gave these symptoms a separate name, autism. Symptoms are most often presented in the form of problems in communication and social interactions and repetitive or obsessive forms of behavior. Although the causes of ASD are not completely clear, it is known that every child on the autism spectrum has different symptoms, and an individual approach is needed for each child. In order to achieve this, it is essential that kindergarten teachers in preschool are qualified and capable of recognizing symptoms and meeting each child's individual needs, for which the teacher's readiness for lifelong training is key. Through the early intervention program, the child is given the opportunity to learn strategies to alleviate potential obstacles that are currently encountered, but it also prepares them for a more independent adult life with the help of the educational support