Early diagnosis of ASD, skilled intervention and proper attention to the treatment of autism spectrum disorders help considerably improve the condition of many children, reduce disability and support good social adaptation.
Monday-Sunday 08:30 - 20:00
Kyiv, 17 Kovpaka St. (On the map)
Bila Tserkva, 191A Tarashchanska St. (On the map)
Early diagnosis of ASD, skilled intervention and proper attention to the treatment of autism spectrum disorders help considerably improve the condition of many children, reduce disability and support good social adaptation.
Certain unusual things in a child's development and behavior make parents suspect ASD. Autism spectrum disorders are a whole group of mental disorders expressed as impaired communication skills and as motor and behavioral stereotypies. ASD in children usually first appears before the age of 5 and persists into adulthood. The abilities and needs of people with autism spectrum disorders can change. Special sessions and procedures at CSM Clinic can help a child to live and work independently in the future. The clinic's specialists use international practices aimed at improving the quality of life of children with developmental differences.
Only one diagnosis remains in the fifth edition of the DSM — ASD — with three levels of severity. There is also a division into low-functioning and high-functioning autism (IQ of 70 and above).
According to WHO data published on the organization's website, about 1 in 160 children is diagnosed with ASD.
The causes of autism spectrum disorders are divided into genetic (64–91%) and environmental. The mechanism of heredity has not been fully studied. Most genes linked to autism spectrum disorders are responsible for the functioning of the nervous system and for the activity of proteins involved in transmitting genetic information. Other factors that increase the risk of ASD in children include:
It is also considered possible for autism spectrum disorders to develop against the background of infections and poisoning of the mother during pregnancy (including the use of unauthorized medicines). Vaccination (against measles, mumps and rubella) has no effect on the appearance and development of ASD.
The main signs of ASD are problems with communication. People with autism and autism spectrum disorders find it hard to start or keep up a conversation, to share emotions and to become close to other people. Children do not take part in games that require interaction or imagination. Understanding facial expressions and intonation is difficult for them. This makes it hard to make friends and, later in life, to find a partner and have romantic relationships.
A typical symptom of ASD is problems with nonverbal communication. In severe autism spectrum disorders, there are no gestures, facial expressions, body language or intonation are not used, and there is no eye contact.
Many children have intellectual and speech impairments. Anxiety, a tendency toward depression and attempts at self-harm are not uncommon. In severe cases, behavior resembling catatonia may occur.
Childhood autism (and its form, Kanner syndrome) is usually diagnosed before the age of three. In this case the symptoms of ASD are: speech regression, stereotypies and communication problems.
In atypical autism, the classic triad may be incomplete or absent. At the same time, the child experiences serious difficulties with, or is unable to perceive, spoken language.
In Rett syndrome, some interest in communication is present. However, there is a marked speech impairment, up to the loss of speech.
Childhood disintegrative disorder is similar to childhood autism. The following may be recorded:
The characteristic features of Asperger's disease are clumsy movements, eccentric behavior, and an inability to think abstractly or to understand irony or humor.
Signs of ASD in children can be combined with other behavioral and cognitive disorders. Therefore, the doctor's main task is to identify the diagnosis in order to provide the best possible treatment.
Without specialized sessions and rehabilitation measures, children may be unable to learn, to interact with people, to live independently and, in the future, to start a family or choose a profession. Children and adults may need care and outside help with self-care. Neurological manifestations can lead to physical injuries. According to statistics, up to 40% of people with autism spectrum disorder sustain injuries of varying severity.
Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders and skilled intervention contribute to a positive outlook for many children. ASD is a lifelong condition, and there is no prevention of autism spectrum disorders in adults or children. However, significant improvement, reduced disability and good social adaptation are possible if proper attention is paid to the treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
A diagnosis of ASD in children is made by a psychiatrist based on a clinical examination. This involves observing the child's reactions and behavior and taking into account the medical history and information from the parents. Special methods and screening tests are used for clarification:
ADOS assessment is also carried out for children from 1.5 years of age, which makes it possible to evaluate communication features and interaction skills. At CSM Clinic, all tests for autism spectrum disorder that are certified in Ukraine are available, including Conners-3, WISC-4 and other tools.
In addition, a psychologist consultation and a neurologist consultation are needed to assess skills and intelligence and to identify criteria for distinguishing the autism spectrum condition from other disorders. To clarify the diagnosis, instrumental diagnostics may be needed: EEG, ultrasound, MRI.
A number of methods have shown effectiveness in the treatment of ASD. CSM Clinic uses the methods that show promising results. Highly qualified specialists take a comprehensive approach when prescribing corrective interventions such as:
Drug therapy is indicated for pronounced dangerous behavioral symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (aggression, self-injury). During the correction of ASD, BAC and TCMP procedures may be prescribed.
Children receive professional help from a defectologist, a psychologist, a speech therapist, a neurologist and other specialists. The doctor also gives parents recommendations on raising children with ASD. Corrective sessions take place in psychologically and physically comfortable conditions with full confidentiality.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in a hyperbaric chamber is one of the treatments we offer children with autism spectrum disorder at CSM Clinic. A randomized controlled trial looked at how it affects children with autism.
In 2009, Rossignol DA and colleagues published a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, "Hyperbaric treatment for children with autism," in BMC Pediatrics. It included 62 children aged 2 to 7. The children completed 40 one-hour sessions at 1.3 atmospheres with 24% oxygen. Compared with the control group, the treated children improved significantly more in:
A doctor decides whether HBOT suits your child and on what schedule, after an examination and assessment.
ASD is diagnosed and treated by a child psychiatrist, a pediatric neurologist, a geneticist and an immunologist. The extensive experience of CSM Clinic specialists allows them to aim for the best possible result.
Some conditions cannot be treated with medication alone. This is especially true of mental and neurological disorders, which require a comprehensive approach with individual rehabilitation and therapy plans. Both adults and children need this kind of care, so the specialists at CSM Clinic will choose the treatment technique that suits you.
Parents whose children have autism or cerebral palsy or have a developmental delay can come to the clinic. For such children, the specialists have developed a special rehabilitation program that provides proper nutrition, physical activity the child can manage, and about a dozen other treatment methods based on clinical research.
Therapy takes place under the supervision of doctors and takes into account the individual characteristics of each young patient. The treatment program is designed for 15 months and consists of more than 1,400 hours of work with one child.
Cell therapy is widely used at the clinic; it involves introducing into the body preparations based on living native (natural) human cells. Along with cell therapy, other methods are used that support various body systems – nervous, digestive, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and blood-forming. Treatment also aims to normalize metabolism and activate the body's internal reserves.
All methods used at our clinic are based on clinical data from the international medical community. Treatment aims to help patients in the following ways:
The clinic brings together leading treatment methods and technologies in one place.
It is very convenient to stay at the clinic during a course of therapy. Our clinic offers a comfortable inpatient unit and a recreation base in the Kyiv region, a car park, rooms for eating and an interactive play room.