Dr Ajay Sharma, Author at Nayi Disha

Autism & its associated concerns – In Conversation with Dr Ajay Sharma

Posted on December 10, 2018 - 12:00 am by Dr Ajay Sharma

Autism spectrum disorder or ASD is one such developmental disability that manifests itself as social and behavioral deficits in the child, as early as 1 year of age. However, if children are not assessed for ASD risk carefully, many behavioral traits can be wrongly diagnosed as signs for ASD. Thus, information is key when observing and recording your child’s early developmental milestones.

REMEMBER, EARLY HELP MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE TO YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT

Nayi Disha Resource Centre spoke to Consultant Neuro-developmental Pediatrician Dr.Ajay Sharma about common concerns with regard to spotting and understanding red flags observed during a child’s development. Global developmental delays can be spotted in the early years of life by observing your child’s development with a sharp eye. If you spot any signs that raise concern about your child’s growth then immediately visit your Pediatrician and request for an overall developmental assessment of your child.

Please see the video series below, and share widely among friends and family. This will allow relevant and important information to reach a wider audience and raise awareness about developmental delays and their signs in early childhood. Should you have any queries that you seek answers for, then please email us at contactus@nayi-disha.org, and we will address your concerns to the best of our ability.

Summary of points discussed in the video –

Autism diagnosis and its assessment
Management of Autism through therapeutic intervention
Distinguishing Autism from Autism-like conditions
Is Autism caused due to genetic inheritance from the father or the mother?
Addressing aggression and behavioural issues in their child with Autism.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide is for information purposes only. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for safe management.\

The Hindi version of this video is also available. Additionally, also listen to Dr.Ajay narrates the common signs and features of Autism through the observation of a child’s social communicative responses.

We encourage you to visit Dr.Ajay’s web-page to read more about managing difficult behaviours in children on the Autism spectrum.

Can ASD and ADHD Co-occur?

Posted on December 10, 2018 - 12:00 am by Dr Ajay Sharma 1

It is very likely that the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder ( ASD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder ( ADHD) can be delayed in a child when the two conditions co-occur. As compared to when the child presents just one condition (ASD or ADHD). This is because on the surface it is possible to mistake one condition for another. As there is a fair degree of overlap in the child’s behavioural symptoms. For example, when a parent finds it difficult to have a conversation with their child. It’s easy to mistake their lack of attention in social setting for deficit in social communication skills (or vice versa). However, understanding the underlying cause of your child’s behaviour is very important. It is the key to seeking the most appropriate medical intervention at the earliest.

Please use this printable infographic to help understand the two conditions ASD and ADHD in a setting where they can co-occur in a child. You may use this as a stepping stone to delve further into understanding your child’s unique requirements. For a more detailed understanding of both ASD or ADHD, you may also refer to this article that speaks about the key differences between the two conditions.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can call or what’s app us. Our counselors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide is for information purposes only. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for safe management.