Autism solves puzzles one by one… Minimizing brain damage through behavioral drug treatment is important.[이진형의 뇌, 우리 속의 우주]｜Dong-A Ilbo

Diagnosis and treatment of ‘autism spectrum disorder’
The definition and diagnosis are still unclear … Developmental disorders – various symptoms including repetitive behavior
About 30% of autistic patients have epilepsy… Early detection and treatment is important
It is necessary to wait for treatment to prevent worsening

In the beginning of “Woo Young-woo’s Strange Lawyer,” Young-woo’s father is constantly yelling at Young-woo, “Look at Dad,” but Young-woo doesn’t look at his father. When he told the doctor that he didn’t speak until he was five years old, the doctor said he might have autism. Another famous character with autism is Forrest Gump from the movie “Forrest Gump.” Both stories show the main character becoming a very capable lawyer and a successful businessman despite the various problems caused by autism.》

Autism is officially called an autism spectrum disorder. The criteria for diagnosing autism spectrum disorder are provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a classification system for mental disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association. The criteria for classifying mental disorders based on the symptoms updated according to the latest research results. As can be seen from this standard system, there is no clear definition or diagnostic method for autism. It can be said that we are still trying to explain the disease itself based on new things we are learning. The reason it’s called an autism spectrum disorder is because what were thought to be different diseases have common symptoms, so it’s right to lump them together and see them as one. group of diseases.

Typical symptoms of autism spectrum disorder include social, language and behavioral development problems. In particular, qualitative impairment in non-verbal behavior such as eye contact and facial expressions or emotional exchange, signs of not speaking well or not understanding meaning correctly, stereotypy of repeating certain actions , emotional anxiety, and sensitivity to light, sound, and touch. There are different symptoms, such as sensitivity to If a person has more than a few of the many symptoms, they are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. If the symptoms are severe, the person may be disabled to the point that it is difficult to lead a normal life, and even if there appears to be no problem on the outside, there may be the person has an autism spectrum disorder such as Asperger’s syndrome. Many people with Asperger’s syndrome are known to be among those who show exceptional performance in jobs that require a high level of arousal, such as professors or professional researchers.

As can be seen from its symptoms, autism spectrum disorder is a disease that is as difficult for those around you as it is for you. It is a great pain for parents when a child, like Young-woo in the play, does not answer his father’s worried calls at all and does not even make eye contact. The scene where Forrest Gump sits on a bench and eats chocolate and continues to talk about what he thinks while several people leave, regardless of their interest another person or in what way the other person, clearly shows signs of autism. When a child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, parents experience a lot of stress as well as time and financial problems. The problems faced by guardians, such as the problems of not being able to connect emotionally with the child, the hopelessness of a situation that cannot be completely cured, and the fear of who will take care of the child and how, even if that they would overcome and do their best to overcome, there are too many to count.

Currently, there is no cure for autism spectrum disorder. There are three main methods used to treat autism spectrum disorder: △Treatment to reduce developmental disorders and increase social adjustment through behavioral, language and educational therapy △Depression, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder , emotional instability, behavioral disorders, and attention deficit , drug treatment that can reduce accompanying symptoms such as sleep disorders △ About 30% of autistic patients have epilepsy, and in In this case, epilepsy is treated. There are many treatment options for epilepsy, and the epileptic seizure itself can cause permanent damage to the brain, so it is best to find and treat it early. Because autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder that occurs in children, the daily developmental process affects the next level. Therefore, it is important to start treatment as soon as possible. But, on the other hand, it is true that even if you do this, it cannot be completely cured and it will take a lot of time, financial and mental effort, so it can feel that all efforts in vain.

However, through many recent studies, the pieces of the big puzzle known as autism treatment are being put together one by one. Therefore, efforts to reduce brain damage and disability by optimizing the treatments available today will increase the chances of a complete cure when technology arrives tomorrow.

The most impressive thing about the process of the two main characters living a successful life despite the problems of autism, is the deep love of their parents. The tender love shown by Youngwoo’s father to his daughter and the love of Forrest Gump’s mother are famous lines that are still in the memories of many people. “Life is like chocolate in a chocolate box. “You don’t know what kind of chocolate to eat.” It probably means that I have to do my best in the given situation and shape my own destiny. Even if I picked up the unexpected chocolate known as autism, it was to do my best to prevent further brain damage and not lose hope and love while I waited to tomorrow’s technology as the best option to shape my future.