Abuja: Dr Usman Ibrahim, Senior Registrar in Paediatrics at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, has called for early diagnosis and intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Ibrahim explained that ASD is a brain development disorder that impacts communication, social interaction, and responses to the environment, extending beyond intellectual disability or global developmental delay.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Ibrahim highlighted that the World Health Organisation estimates that one in 127 people has autism, and in the United States, approximately one in 31 eight-year-old children are affected. He clarified that autism does not have a single cause but is a result of genetic predispositions interacting with environmental factors. The risk of ASD increases in families with affected members and is particularly higher among identical twins.
Ibrahim noted that factors such as advanced maternal age, diabetes during pregnancy, prematurity, and foetal exposure to sodium valproate may elevate the risk of having an autistic child. He identified signs such as poor response to name by one year, delayed speech, poor eye contact, repetitive behaviours, and regression as potential indicators of ASD, though these signs alone do not confirm the disorder and require proper medical evaluation.
The paediatrician stated that most ASD cases could be accurately diagnosed between 18 and 24 months of age, although mild cases may not be apparent until adolescence or adulthood. He differentiated speech delay from autism, emphasizing that while ASD primarily affects social interaction and communication, speech delay can occur independently or as part of autism.
Ibrahim emphasized that autism has no cure, but therapies can significantly improve communication, social interaction, and daily living skills. He mentioned interventions such as Applied Behaviour Analysis, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and physical therapy, which are most effective when tailored to individual needs and started early in life.
He also addressed misconceptions, dismissing claims that link autism to vaccines, poor parenting, or witchcraft as baseless. Ibrahim described autism as a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder, not a psychiatric illness, and stressed the importance of appropriate support in improving outcomes.
Ibrahim encouraged parents to educate themselves about autism from reliable sources and to actively support affected children at home. He advised promoting communication, social interaction, independence, and positive behaviour while managing sensory sensitivities with patience. He urged against comparing affected children to others or abandoning proven therapies for mythical interventions.