April 2nd is World Autism Day. The outline of the 15th Five Year Plan proposes to promote early screening and intervention for children with myopia, overweight and obesity, and autism. What are the early symptoms of autism? What are the currently identified high-risk factors for autism? What are the effective intervention methods for autism? The full name of autism spectrum disorder is autism spectrum disorder, which is a neurodevelopmental disorder that occurs in early childhood and is characterized by social interaction and communication disorders, narrow interests, and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. ”Liu Jing, director of the Children's Mental Health Center at Peking University Sixth Hospital, introduced that the best treatment period for autism is before the age of 6, and the earlier the intervention, the better the effect. Early detection, diagnosis, and intervention can improve the symptoms and prognosis of pediatric patients to varying degrees. Liu Jing introduced that China has established a three-level network for screening and diagnosis of autism, and primary medical and health institutions such as township health centers and community health service centers provide initial screening services for children aged 0-6 with abnormal psychological and behavioral development. The initial screening work was conducted at 3, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months of age, as well as at 3, 4, 5, and 6 years of age. By using the "Screening Form for Early Warning Signs of Children's Psychological and Behavioral Development Problems", it was found that children had behavioral manifestations indicating autism, and through questioning, it was found that children had language function and social communication ability disorders or regression. Related obstacles or setbacks include inability to express oneself verbally, lack of eye contact, etc., or being able to express oneself verbally and have eye contact in the past, but now unable to express oneself verbally and lack eye contact. Children with initial screening abnormalities should be promptly referred to county-level or district level maternal and child health institutions for re screening. If the result of the re screening is abnormal, it should be promptly referred to a professional medical institution with the ability to diagnose autism in children for further diagnosis. In addition to screening by professional institutions, parents should also be attentive and master the identification methods of autism. Once abnormalities are detected, they should actively receive autism screening, diagnosis, and intervention services in a timely manner. For example, when a child is 3 months old, they do not respond to loud noises, do not pronounce or smile when teased, do not look at faces, and do not chase moving people or objects; when they are 6 months old, they have less pronunciation and do not laugh out loud, which should alert parents. "Liu Jing said," Parents should understand the early warning signs of autism in children of all ages, be alert to concepts such as' noble people speak late 'and' growing up is good ', and detect suspected autism symptoms in children early, seek medical treatment and intervention in a timely manner, so as not to miss the valuable opportunity for early intervention. Screening and diagnosis should be carried out in regular medical institutions. "Autism seriously affects children's social function and quality of life through scientific and standardized rehabilitation training, and the causes are complex. Genetic factors play an important role, while environmental factors increase the risk of offspring developing diseases, including older parents giving birth, maternal viral infections during pregnancy, taking certain medications, and exposure to toxic chemicals. The interaction between genetic and environmental factors, through a very complex pathological mechanism, ultimately leads to the occurrence of diseases, "said Liu Jing. How to intervene scientifically after being diagnosed with autism? This is a common concern among parents. In reality, there are some parents who seek medical treatment in a hurry, believing that the more expensive the intervention method, the better the therapeutic effect. They also believe in the one-sided exaggeration of some institutions, resulting in spending a lot of money and unsatisfactory results. Some parents believe in folk remedies and adopt various dietary therapy methods, but the core symptoms of autism have not improved, "said Jia Meixiang, chief physician of the Department of Child Psychiatry at Peking University Sixth Hospital. It is recommended that parents carefully screen and select qualified institutions. Specifically, formal institutions should have a systematic evaluation system, training guidance for parents, and timely adjustment of training plans at different stages of child training. At present, autism cannot be completely cured, but children can improve their symptoms and enhance their abilities through scientific and standardized rehabilitation training. The recognized and evidence-based intervention methods for autism in China include systematic intervention methods based on applied behavior analysis and intervention models combining applied behavior analysis with developmental psychology. After diagnosis, the child should receive specialized training according to their level of growth and development. Children under 1 year old are advised to prioritize family intervention; In addition to receiving professional rehabilitation in institutions, parents of children of other age groups should carry out family interventions according to the rehabilitation plan, form a joint effort from multiple parties, and strive for the best results. ”Jia Meixiang introduced that in practice, through early intervention, children with mild autism can gradually return to normal life and learn and live like ordinary children. Children with moderate autism can attend special education schools and engage in repetitive simple labor as adults, achieving basic self-sufficiency. Children with severe autism can master basic life skills and effectively reduce the burden on caregivers. Early screening and intervention for autism test the diagnostic and therapeutic skills of professional doctors. For some mild cases, we do not easily draw conclusions, but recommend that parents follow up regularly to ensure that the children do not miss the opportunity for early intervention. Jia Meixiang admitted that through continuous training, the diagnosis and treatment level of grassroots doctors has been greatly improved. At the same time, utilizing online platforms to provide online training for parents can also help children in remote areas receive scientific and systematic interventions at home. Society should have more understanding and tolerance towards families of sick children, and the support for parents of sick children should not be ignored. During the long-term treatment process, parents face enormous psychological pressure. Many people blame themselves and complain, 'Why am I so unlucky?' In the face of difficulties, parents need to adjust their mentality, and family members should divide their work reasonably to create a warm and nurturing environment for their children. At the same time, society is encouraged to provide parents with various forms of assistance. For example, providing psychological counseling to parents to release their stress, and having volunteers accompany children to participate in group activities to give parents a chance to breathe. "Jia Meixiang suggested. Due to their illness, children with autism are prone to losing control of their emotions, shouting and even physically assaulting others in public places. Jia Meixiang calls for more understanding and tolerance towards the children and their parents, and to avoid physical contact with the children without permission to prevent them from developing stress reactions. Do not blame or observe the behavior of the sick child, and provide necessary assistance when needed. (New Society)