MANAGEMENT OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD) AND COLLABORATIVE TEAMS

Abstract

Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) is a disorder that affects how the brain develops and can result in persistent challenges with socialization, restricted interests, and repeated behavior. Approximately 40% of children with ASD are nonverbal, 31% have intellectual disabilities1, 28% engage in self-harming activities, The American Psychiatric Association's DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is based on the diagnosis of ASD. Although the cause of ASD is still unknown, a number of strategies have been developed that have helped people around the world to live independently2. There are currently no verifiable statistics on the prevalence of ASD in Pakistan. However, the Pakistan Autism Society estimates that, roughly 350,000 children in Pakistan who have ASD3. In Pakistan ASD is still a new phenomenon, we have very restricted qualified human resources to provide a reliable rehabilitation service for a child with ASD. Apart from that due to inadequate awareness exposure, knowledge, and incompetency in diagnosis, these children go undiagnosed and are mishandled4.It can be crucial to take a multidisciplinary approach into account when planning initiatives to improve the efficiency of service delivery models for kids with ASD. It has been discovered that cross-disciplinary collaboration does not always occur, leaving practitioners to work independently. A multidisciplinary strategy is required for improved interprofessional collaboration given the rising complexity of autism and the number of healthcare providers’ involved9. ASD is often combined with comorbid gastrointestinal complications, diarrhea, feeding problems, sleep disturbances, and seizure disorders5.