Autistic thinking is a complex mental disorder characterized by the highest degree of self-isolation. Its main features include avoiding contacts with reality and the poverty of the emotional spectrum. People who suffer from this disease are characterized by incorrect reactions and a lack of interaction with society.
Communication problems
What is autistic thinking? It is not difficult to recognize. It has a number of characteristic symptoms, among which experts distinguish the following.
Patient speech is poorly developed. They have difficulty understanding and reproducing words. Often such people repeat sounds and phrases heard from others or on TV. They do not understand the essence of complex syntactic constructions.
It is much easier for them to respond to monosyllabic sentences (“eat,” “go,” “get up,” etc.). Autistic abstract thinking is also inhibited. Most often this is manifested in the fact that patients do not understand such parts of speech, as, for example, the pronoun (yours, his, ours, etc.). Most often, at the initial examination, parents complain that their child can not fully communicate. This problem begins to appear in the second year of the baby's life.
Non-contact
A person whose consciousness has absorbed autistic thinking behaves as if his perception of the world around him is impaired. From the side it seems that he is deaf and blind. It is difficult for others to attract the attention of the patient. He does not look into the interlocutor’s eyes and does not even turn around when his name is. A careful examination shows the absence of problems at the physiological level.
Autists do not create close relationships even with family members. This deviation can be noticed already in the first months of life. During this period, the child does not cling to the mother when she holds him in her arms. He may even resist physical contact - strain his back and try to slip out of his arms.
Such kids do not like toys, like ordinary children. They have fun using their methods: they spin the wheels of the cars, twist the rope, stuff the dolls in their mouths. These deviations can be seen in the second year of life.
Games with others are severely limited or non-existent. The child may not be interested in such fun or simply do not possess the necessary skills. Usually he does not pay attention to others. The exception is primitive games like “give-and-take”.
Autistic thinking erases self-care. It is difficult for patients to dress, go to the toilet. They are inhibited in response to danger. In this regard, such babies need constant supervision. Parents are required to protect them from serious injuries that can be received even during the most ordinary walk along the street.
Bouts of anger
People with autism are characterized by aggressive behavior and unpredictable outbursts of rage. Often they can direct this cruelty to themselves. Patients bite their hands, bang their heads against a wall, floor or furniture, and punch their faces in the face. Sometimes inappropriate behavior is directed at others. Most parents complain about the rudeness of such children, emotional outbursts, an acute reaction to refusals and prohibitions.
Patients with autism can carry out peculiar ritual actions. For example, they swing from side to side, clap their hands, twist objects in their hands, stare at the bright light or fan blades, put things in a row, squat or spin for a long time.
Exceptions to the Rules
In many patients, autistic thinking is not complete, because there is the concept of so-called fragment skills. This is a kind of “islands” of adequate behavior that are preserved in their minds. This phenomenon manifests itself in various situations.
Such people can develop without delay and learn to walk at the age of fifteen months. There are often cases when babies have a high level of motor development, walk without problems and do not lose their balance.
Memory, hobbies, fears
When a doctor diagnoses autism, he searches for signs of normal memory. So, the child can repeat sounds behind others or imitate what he heard on TV. He is also able to remember the details of what he sees.
He develops some interests: games with various objects, clockwork toys or household utensils. Someone is interested in music and dancing. Some are able to put puzzles, like numbers and letters, etc.
Autists have small, but specific fears that exist less time than healthy people. So, the patient may be scared by the loud sound of a vacuum cleaner or the whistle of a car.
Tips for loved ones
Autistic thinking is a serious medical diagnosis that only a neuropsychiatrist can make. In order for treatment to be carried out according to the correct scheme, a person needs to undergo a full examination. After that, doctors, together with psychologists, are developing an individual plan to combat the disease. The key to success in confronting the problem is to be patient, kind and believe in the success of treatment.
Parents are required to create maximum emotional comfort for the baby. They must instill a sense of security in their child. The next stage of work is teaching the child new forms of behavior and vital skills for adapting to the environment.
Relatives must understand that it is extremely difficult for him to interact with the outside world. Autistic and realistic thinking are two polar concepts. Relatives should constantly monitor the patient, explain to him everything they do or say. Thanks to this, they will help the autist expand his views on reality and push him to express feelings in words.
Special approach
Even patients who do not know how to speak happily perform various tasks of a non-verbal nature. They need to be trained in playing lotto, folding puzzles, solving puzzles. It is very important at the same time to develop a person’s ability to contact with others and do something with them.
When an autist pays attention to an object, you need to say its name, give it a hold on hands. Thus, it will be possible to use a large number of analyzers - touch, sight, hearing at the same time and attack autistic thinking. Human psychology claims that patients need to repeat the names of things many times, explain their purpose, until they make them part of their perception of the world.
Igroterrapia
If the child is completely absorbed in some activity, you can carefully supplement his action with his explanation. It is very important that he touch the subject in question (for example, a mirror). This will help the non-talking baby to overcome the internal barrier of silence and learn a new word.
When a little patient goes headlong into manipulating objects, it is necessary to bring meaning to this action. For example, putting cubes in a row can be called building a train. This is done in order to reduce thinking disorders, autistic behavior of the baby.
In game therapy, one needs to use productions in which there are specific simple rules. Do not turn to plot-role-playing entertainments that require conversation. Any fun needs to be repeated time after time, explaining each step in it. Thus, it is possible to ensure that this game becomes one of the rituals that autists adore.
The problems that autistic thinking causes must be addressed without haste. You need to set specific goals: getting rid of fears, controlling aggression, learning how to interact with others.
It is very important that the kids watch cartoons whose characters have bright, expressive facial expressions. It is difficult for them to identify facial expressions, and this method will help to cope with this problem.
Cartoons about the engine Tom, Shrek, etc. are best suited. Encourage your child to guess the mood in a particular character by taking a freeze-frame. Let him try to portray this emotion on his own.
If the baby goes into himself, distract him, play facial expressions. At the same time, your face should work very expressively, so that it is easier for him to guess what you are showing.
Performances
Autistic thinking in adults can be treated by participating in theatrical performances. At first, they vigorously resist attempts to introduce them into the play. But with persistence and the use of encouragement, the patient will not only decide to do this, but will also receive a lot of pleasure from what is happening.
It is also helpful to tell various stories with positive and negative characters. So the patient will learn to subconsciously understand what is good and what is bad. You can play such tales with the participation of people or use dolls. At the same time, it must be explained that everyone in this representation has its own role. These performances must be performed repeatedly, while each time adding something new to them.