Oman observes autism awareness day

The UN-designated World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) was observed around the world on Monday.

Parents of autistic children and medical professionals in Oman expressed hope that the day would help make more people aware about the condition and the people affected by it.

Autism is a developmental disorder in which people have trouble communicating, display repetitive behaviour, besides other issues. The symptoms become apparent in children aged two or three. Moreover, autism refers to a spectrum. People can be severely or mildly affected by the condition.

Steve Johnson, a British expat whose eight-year-old son Lachlan is autistic, said that WAAD could provide a good platform for people to come together and help the society understand autism.

“It’s an opportunity for people around the world to take this day as a chance to read up on autism. There is a lot of material available on the internet. Hopefully, this will help them learn and deal with people better,” Johnson said.

The expat said that early detection of the condition is the key in managing autism, adding that that is how he and his wife were able to take care of their son.

“Lachlan is doing well. He is progressing well. He is studying in a regular school. It is really about the early warning signs and being able to spot them. Sometimes, naughty children aren’t just naughty children. If they are suffering from a condition, parents ought to consult a medical professional and get the necessary help,” he said.

Johnson added that social interaction was an important tool in helping autistic children.

“The most important thing for autistic children is to have the benefit of interacting with fellow students, teachers and parents. To be able to interact with and learn from their peers is important,” he added.

Dr Bashir A P, head of internal medicine at Badr Al Sama Hospital, said that days such as WAAD usually elicited a positive response. “They will definitely help. But people should keep in mind that dealing with an autistic child is a team effort involving parents, teachers and doctors. Sometimes, parents gets frustrated when their kids misbehave, not realising the children are autistic. The onus is on the parents to understand their children’s condition and show patience,” the doctor said.

A P added that some treatments could actually help autistic children and make their daily lives easier. “Regular speech and behavioural therapy does help. With time, many autism sufferers find that their condition becomes better,” he remarked.

Charitable organisation Al Jisr Foundation announced that they would conduct research to understand the needs of autism sufferers in terms of health and education in Oman.

“Al Jisr will partner with international organisations that specialise in this field, as well as other bodies concerned such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Social Development and Oman Autism Society. We will also work with Omani researchers,” an official Al Jisr statement read.