Autism Treatment in Dubai and Sharjah

What are the typical symptoms of kids with autism?

Autism symptoms based on the types of difficulties can be grouped into three categories:

1. Social difficulties
   The symptoms become very clear after five years. Some initial symptoms include the following.
   0-2 years- Lack of eye contact, not responding to their name, lack of facial expression, no response to emotions, and not responding to hand signs or interactive toys.
   2-3 years- Lack of interest in playing motor games (rocking duck, slide, etc.), no engagement in ”pretend play,” and no response to emotional behaviours.




2. Cognitive or learning difficulties
   Trouble expressing feelings or understanding others' emotions
   Have strong likes and dislikes about food, subjects, peers, activity, etc.
   Obsessed with a fixed routine




3. Speech difficulties
   Lack of speech Not able to remember vocabulary Stuttering or stammering while speaking Less response to prompts by teachers or parents

What is stimming?

Stimming refers to self-stimulating behaviour, which includes repetitive motions such as flapping or clapping hands, tapping feet, rocking back and forth, etc.
Experts believe autistic children start stimming to cope with unfamiliar or stressed environments. They also do it to express their frustration with something.

What causes autism?

The exact cause of ASD is unknown. Some researchers suggest there can be multiple potential causes of ASD that include:

1. Having an immediate family member who’s autistic

2. Genetic mutations

3. Genetic disorders, for example, fragile X-syndrome

4. Low birth weight

5. Metabolic imbalances

6. Exposure to heavy metals and environmental toxins during pregnancy

7. Fetal exposure to valproic acid or thalidomide medications

How is autism diagnosed?

No specific laboratory tests can determine autism. But highly trained and skilled pediatric neurologists can provide a detailed diagnosis and treatment.
In the initial consultations, the experts discuss the autism symptoms with parents. Then, they further investigate through various multidisciplinary approaches to determine all possible symptoms in the child.
Their detailed multidisciplinary evaluation approach includes:

1. Group-oriented therapy (to test social deficits)

2. Speech & language therapy

3. Applied behavioural analysis therapy

4. Occupational therapy

5. In selective cases- Pharmacotherapy

What are the approaches to autism treatment in Dubai and Sharjah?

An accurate diagnosis is as good as being halfway through treatment. Our experts at Neuropedia use the above therapies not just to diagnose autistic symptoms and their intensities but also to treat them.
For example- If the child speaks less or feels shy to talk, they prompt the child in various interactive ways to speak more. They also correct their pronunciation and ask to repeat syllables to learn by speaking.
Similarly, some children are very impulsive and get frustrated during therapies. The best child neurologists at Neuropedia apply their unique treatment approach to calm such children and their impulsive behaviour.
The experts also discuss all possible coping mechanisms for their child’s symptoms with parents. They encourage parents to develop a deeper understanding and teach them skills to tackle their problems and be self-reliant.
With consecutive therapies at Neuropedia, most autism cases are treated positively, and parents are happy with the improvement in their children. But the process also requires parents to be more compassionate, motivated and cautious with their children. To learn more about diagnosis and autistic treatment in Dubai, consult our neurologists today.