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Dr Reshmi Pramod
07/Jan/2023
AutismBlogs

Anxiety In Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Anxiety In Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Anxiety disorders and symptoms are common co-occurring conditions in youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Research on the prevalence and clinical characteristics of this condition has soared during the past decade. Autistic children feel many of the same worries and fears as other children. Autistic children might also worry or feel stressed about things that are less worrying for typically developing children. Often parents would misinterpret certain behaviours as the child’s tantrums and try to rectify these.

Children with ASD develop anxiety mostly due to the following reasons:

  • Small disruptions to their routines or new sensations they feel in their bodies.
  • Unfamiliar or unpredictable social situations.
  • Situations where it’s hard to know what other people are thinking or feeling.
  • Their own thoughts and feelings, especially unfamiliar or unpleasant physical symptoms that are related to worried thoughts and feelings.

Autism is neuro developmental, whereas anxiety is a mental-emotional. Still, the area of the brain involved in the expression of fear, called the amygdala, may play a role in comorbid anxiety and ASD.

Does your child have the following behavioural pattern?

  • Always feeling on edge
  • Fatigue
  • Trouble with concentration and memory
  • Irritability
  • Muscle tension
  • Uncontrollable worries
  • Reduced amount or quality of sleep

Social and emotional factors may also contribute to anxiety. Autistic people may need support to learn how to read body language and other social cues. Sometimes these situations can make them feel overwhelmed and anxious.

You can help your child learn ways to calm down when they start feeling anxious or stressed.

At Jeevaniyam, we help children who has ASD and suffer anxiety with the help of ayurvedic protocols integrated with:

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy – This helps children develop skills to change their thinking in situations that make them anxious

Therapies And Supports – that use gradual exposure to help children face their fears

Social Stories – these can help prepare children for unfamiliar or stressful situations that generally make them anxious

Relaxation Training – to help your child learn to relax.

 

A few things that parents and care takers can teach the child to control anxiety are:

  • Counting slowly to 10
  • Taking 5 deep breaths
  • Running around the yard 5 times
  • Doing 50 jumps on the trampoline
  • Looking at a collection of favourite or special things
  • Reading a favourite book
  • Closing eyes for a few moments
  • Going to a quiet part of the house.

 

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Dr Reshmi Pramod
10/Jan/2022
Autism

Dietary interventions & Correct Feeding Practices In An ASD Child

Dietary interventions & Correct Feeding Practices In An ASD Child

 

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are commonly affected by eating disorders. Parents and loved ones of individuals with autism know only too well that autism often goes hand-in-hand with picky eating. Children and adults with autism may exhibit strong food preferences and aversions, making it difficult to give them a nutritious diet. 

This is a vicious cycle, because various nutrient deficiencies, suboptimal digestive function, and gastrointestinal problems—which many individuals with autism also exhibit—may exacerbate the behavioural aspects of the condition. Their preference for energy-dense food with low nutrition can alter their metabolism, leading to the accumulation of oxidative radicals, causing them to deteriorate mentally and physically. Although dieting and losing weight are now commonly seen in the general population, it has become hard to bring awareness to children with special needs about diet, nutrition, and obesity. Despite efforts, parents of such children usually cannot help control their eating because tantrums and behavioural problems are common.

dietary intervensions

Children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are the commonest population to manifest with an eating disorder when compared to the general population. Recent studies indicate that up to three percent of children or at least 23 in 1000 children in India may have autism and ASD with eating disorders. Many studies also indicate that parents of children with ASD have no formal education, belong to high socioeconomic status, have reduced sleep and affective problems that significantly contribute to their condition. Reports indicate that at least 30 percent of autistic children fall under the obese category. It is now imperative for doctors and parents to work alongside nutritionists and dieticians to help these children eat healthy to be fit and improve their quality of life. A trial and error of diets is a must to see what suits them best.

At Jeevaniyam it is our duty as doctors to educate parents to nourish the culture of eating healthy as children with special needs may not completely understand the concept and the benefits of healthy and nutritious food. We prescribe diet patterns which are rich in macronutrients such as proteins, fats, and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals, acts as antioxidants and improves these children’s better functioning. This will help in improving the gut health thereby reducing the stress that is suffered by children.

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