The role of the media in shaping a realistic image of autism

The media has an important role in conveying a realistic image of autism and spreading cultural awareness among citizens to know the nature of this disease, its symptoms and causes, and the role of early diagnosis in developing the condition significantly. In the past, people viewed autism as a stigma and shame that must be hidden from society, and they ignored treatment, which greatly affected the condition of children with autism. Here, the media must play a major role in spreading the culture that these children have special abilities and are not a stigma, so we must be proud of them and not be ashamed of them.

What is autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects data processing in the brain, which also affects communication and behavior in dealing with others. Symptoms of autism usually appear at a very early age, before the age of three, and sometimes after that.

Symptoms of autism

When conveying a realistic picture about autism, society must know what the symptoms of autism are , because there are many parents who do not realize what this disease is, despite the symptoms appearing in their children at a young age. Not paying attention to any symptoms and ignoring them complicates the treatment, but early detection and diagnosis contribute greatly to developing the treatment.

Symptoms of autism appear when the child reaches 12 months to 24 months and can also appear before this period. Symptoms of autism vary from one child to another. The most important symptoms of autism spectrum disorder are:

Symptoms related to social communication:

• Lack of eye contact with others.
• The child does not respond when called by his name.
• Prefer to play alone.
• Resisting touch and hugs, even from family.
• Delayed speech and inability to pronounce some words or phrases.
• The inability of an autistic patient to express himself or understand the expressions of others.
• A person with autism is unable to start or maintain conversations normally.
• Talking in a strange, robot-like way.
• Repeating phrases and words over and over.

Behavioral symptoms of autism

• Doing some activities that may cause him to hurt himself, such as hitting his head or biting.
• Making repetitive movements such as spinning, flapping hands, twirling, or walking on toes.
• Paying attention to strange details such as the car's wheels and circular movements, instead of paying attention to the shape and color of the car in general.
• Extreme sensitivity to light, loud sound, and touch.
• Extreme discomfort with changing the routine that people with autism are used to.
• Preference for certain types of food, and sometimes rejection of foods because of their shape or texture.

Autism spectrum disorder treatment

There is no definitive cure for autism spectrum disorder, but there is a realistic picture of autism that confirms that early detection and diagnosis improve the child's ability to communicate and interact with others, modify his behavior, enhance his ability to learn, and greatly increase his life skills.

Treatment for autism varies from one child to another. Among the treatments provided to autism patients are:

• Applied Behavior Analysis: This treatment works to enhance the child’s positive behavior, change unhealthy behaviors, and improve his intellectual and mental skills and abilities.
• Denver Model: This treatment relies on playing with the autistic child to develop communication skills. This treatment gives good results in children between the ages of one and four years.
• Occupational therapy : This therapy works to develop the daily life skills of the autistic child, such as helping him get dressed and teaching him how to take care of personal hygiene.
• Relationship development intervention: This type of therapy helps enhance social skills and teaches the autistic child how to engage in society and form social relationships.
• Speech therapy : This therapy helps the autistic child improve verbal and nonverbal communication and learn to understand body language in a simple and possible way.
• TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication Relate) is an educational program implemented in schools to help treat children with autism after evaluating the child individually. The goal of this treatment is to develop social communication skills and engage in society. It also works to improve the ability to communicate visually through the use of visual instructions and participation in student activities and to work on enhancing the child's independence and self-reliance independently.
• Medications : Some medications help reduce epilepsy, depression, and treat sleep disorders.

The suffering of autistic children and the role of the media

Although the second of April of each year is designated to raise awareness of the autism spectrum, its symptoms and causes, enhance their role in society, and convey a realistic image of autism to all societies, autistic people still suffer from society’s negative view of them and their families. Many parents fear the harmful reaction to them and their children. Some segments of society believe that autistic children are irrational because they behave abnormally. This fear of society’s reaction makes parents not take the initiative to treat their children despite the role of early treatment in the development of their condition.

Here, the media must have a strong and effective role in conveying a realistic image of autism and everything related to this disease, and focusing on increasing people’s awareness not only of the disease, but also of accepting these individuals in society, embracing them, and helping them develop their skills and behavior by dealing with them in a way that does not harm them or increase their pain.

The media must play a leading role in conveying a realistic image of autism to raise awareness in society that an autistic child can progress and develop if society can deal with him in a correct and thoughtful manner, based on clear, well-known and thoughtful plans with an ethical approach.

The media must also, when conveying a realistic image of autism, emphasize that special attention to these individuals does not come through providing them with food, drink, sympathy, and pity, but rather through providing educational programs and awareness plans for society to deal with individuals with autism in a correct manner that does not affect them negatively, but rather affects them positively.

The role of the media, while conveying a realistic image of autism, is to define the problem of the autistic child and how behavioral disorders can affect his life. Our knowledge of autism spectrum disorder and its patterns makes it easier for us to deal correctly with individuals with autism and help them integrate into society.

All media, whether visual, audio or written, must publish all the principles that must be adhered to when dealing with an autistic child, the most important of which is forming friendly relationships with him so that he does not feel depressed and emerges from the state of isolation in which he lives.

Health media should inform society about autism and provide educational courses to teach them how to integrate autistic children into society , and provide the psychological and social support they and their families need.

Development of individuals with autism

When conveying a realistic picture of autism, its causes and symptoms, advice must also be published that parents must follow in dealing with them, because developing individuals with autism comes from treating them properly. Among the most important advice that contributes to developing the condition of individuals with autism:

• Focus on the positives : People with autism respond greatly to being encouraged to be positive, praised, and given gifts and rewards when they behave well. This helps them feel satisfied, grateful, and happy.
• Maintaining a certain routine : Autistic patients prefer routine and order in their entire lives, so constantly organizing their rooms and maintaining their routine without changing it makes life and dealing easier for them.
• Play : Sharing play and active activities contributes greatly to improving communication skills in children with autism .
• Taking children out of the house : Taking children out of the house to do shopping, daily tasks, visit relatives, or go to clubs helps the child integrate with the outside world and get used to it.
• Giving children with autism the time they need: Giving the child the time they need to release their energy, whether they feel sad, angry, or happy, and being patient and not giving any reaction contributes to their feeling of comfort and security.

School.com and its important role in raising awareness of autism

The Madrasa.com platform offers a package of skill development sessions for children with autism, conducted by specialists and experts in this field, via the Internet. These packages are distinguished by their privacy and complete confidentiality to preserve the patients’ secrets, in addition to the flexibility in the times at which these sessions are offered, between morning and evening times, to suit all needs.

Through these sessions, the Madrasa.com platform is able to convey a realistic picture of autism and its solution, and provide all the possibilities to help individuals with autism around the world, and also help their families who need support or assistance or to ask specialists in this field.

If you are a family member of an autistic child, do not hesitate to seek advice and assistance from Madrasa.com, which provides love, generosity, and safety, embracing the child regardless of his age.

As for the content of the autism skills development package sessions, they are as follows:

• Developing visual cue skills.
• Developing daily life skills.
• Suggested program for developing non-verbal communication skills.
• Ensure family support. Specialists advise providing family support and guidance to families to help children achieve a healthy personality.
• Developing math skills.
• Implementing training programs to develop various skills.
• Creating a supportive and friendly environment for autistic children to make their learning more effective and positive in their lives.
• Parents can also choose some appropriate activities that develop the skills of the child suffering from autism disorder and prepare him for a better future.