Autism spectrum disorders in children can manifest themselves in different symptoms, but they are always united by a characteristic feature — difficulties in social interaction due to communication problems, stereotypical behavior, resistance to change around them, and other factors. It is quite difficult for children with ASD to acquire social skills, and their absence can negatively affect their lives in the future, lead to problems in communicating with others, a decrease in the quality of independent living, and even the development of depression and suicidal thoughts. Positive interaction with people helps to establish friendships, improve emotional state and other aspects of life. Therefore, a child with this diagnosis should be helped to become part of society.
What is socialization and why do we need social skills?
Socialization is any human action that has a social motive. This can include a smile, eye contact, a desire to share experiences with another person, etc. If you think about it, almost any action has a social motive. For example, a child tries to earn a good grade at school to hear praise from his or her parents.
Social skills help people interact with each other and build strong relationships. They allow you to share experiences and maximize your contact with others. It is difficult to imagine the process of learning and development without them.
What causes difficulties in the socialization of children with ASD?
Autism spectrum disorders are accompanied by various impairments and deficits that impede socialization. The difficulties that hinder the acquisition of social skills in children with ASD can be divided into three main groups:
- Communication disorders. Communication is the process of exchanging information verbally (through speech or writing) and non-verbally (using gestures, facial expressions, etc.). In most cases, children with autism spectrum disorders have delayed speech development. They speak in small memorized phrases, cannot form sentences on their own, and therefore have problems communicating with other people. In addition, autistic people do not know how to use non-verbal communication. It is difficult for them to make eye contact with the interlocutor, which is necessary for the formation of a trusting relationship.
- Stereotypical behavior, narrow circle of interests. Stereotypical behavior in children with ASD can manifest itself in different ways. For example, a child performs monotonous actions, focuses on certain sounds, or looks at one object. Such behavior is due to the fact that it is important for an autistic person to constantly receive the same sensations, the slightest changes can negatively affect his or her condition, lead to aggression, and despair. However, such activities impede development and hinder social skills.
- Violation of the mental model. In social interaction, a person's behavior is formed based on knowledge of what the interlocutor may know, how he or she will act in a given situation, etc. The mental model of behavior is formed gradually, but children with autism spectrum disorders have problems with this. They do not understand what other people feel, how they will act in certain circumstances, are not able to empathize, so they cannot use this information as a guide.
All children with ASD have problems with socialization, but they can be divided into two groups. One group includes people who do not want to make social contacts. During any interaction, they become anxious or even aggressive and get hysterical. Sometimes, on the contrary, they ignore communication in every possible way, demonstrating a lack of interest.
The second group includes children who want to maintain contact with other people and have friends, but also face socialization problems. They are caused by delayed speech, slow information processing, lack of abstract thinking, and other aspects. Difficulties in communicating and establishing contacts lead to severe frustration and withdrawal from others.
The main methods of solving the problem
Since autism spectrum disorders involve a disruption of the basic mechanisms of interaction with other people and the world around us, it is not easy to solve socialization difficulties. The problem also lies in the fact that the lack of social guidelines manifests itself at an early age, which leads to exclusion from society. In addition, society often does not accept children with these characteristics, and even in specialized classes, they often cannot create the proper conditions for learning.
Until recently, it was believed that autism spectrum disorders were not treated with medication, as the causes and mechanisms of their occurrence have not yet been studied. The only exception was the prescription of medications for excessive excitability.
Today, there is a growing body of evidence that ASD is an undiagnosed somatic disease that manifests itself as a result of certain genetic predispositions or epigenetic influences. Therefore, the decisive factor is the diagnosis of the underlying disease that leads to the disorder. Only by eliminating the somatic factor can a child's full recovery be achieved.
An important way to socialize such children during and after treatment of the underlying disease is through psychological and pedagogical correction. It is important to start integrating different methods from an early age. Most often, they are used in a playful way not only during a visit to a specialist but also in everyday life. That is why it is important to work hard, first of all, on the part of parents and the immediate family.
Today, society is gradually introducing methods of socializing "special" children, including inclusive classes in schools. It is equally important to visit museums, shops, and theaters with your child to help him or her get used to society, but this should be done gradually, taking into account his or her readiness for a new stage of development.
