Fight against autism / Interview with Dr Bekeyi Sogoyou, Expert in clinical and health psychology

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Extract from the article: World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated on 2 April. According to the World Health Organisation, 1 in 160 children in the world has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In Togo, there are many autistic children, but the means to help them are lacking.

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« Autism cannot be cured... Thanks to multidisciplinary care adapted to the needs of each individual, it is possible to improve the quality of life of autistic people throughout their lives »

World Autism Awareness Day is celebrated on 2 April. According to the World Health Organisation, 1 in 160 children in the world has an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In Togo, there are many autistic children, but the means to help them are lacking. Autism is therefore becoming a real awareness-raising issue to give hope to autistic children. How to detect or know that a child is autistic? What treatment should be adopted? Dr Bêkeyi Agathe Sogoyou, Expert in clinical and health psychology, Expert in the accompaniment of pupils with school difficulties/intellectual disabilities and/or ASD answers in this interview.

Santé-Education: What is autism?

Dr Bêkeyi Sogoyou: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can manifest itself between the ages of 1 and 2 and affects different areas of a child's development such as language, sociability, motor and sensory development. There is currently no specific medication for autism, but adapted care allows people to live better with autism. Autism is often associated with other disorders (epilepsy, hyperactivity, intellectual disability, sleep disorders, eating disorders, etc.).

What are the warning signs?

There are those first signs that parents should be aware of. Here are a few things that should alert them: an absence of babbling at 12 months; an absence of speech at 18 months; an absence of word association at 24 months; a non-functional language; a loss of language at any age. Possible signs of autism at any age may include: near absence of eye contact, distinct reactions to: lighting, flavours, smells, sounds, colours, textures, very specific interests, repetition of words or phrases (echolalia), repetition of behaviours such as turning movements, non-verbal communication or delays in language development, intense reactions to minor changes in routine and environment. It is also observed that most of these children are late in acquiring potency.

How is screening or diagnosis made?

The first signs of autism are often observed before the child is 3 years old. Early detection allows for better treatment.

To make a diagnosis of autism, the health professional will observe: the person's cognitive abilities, the way he/she communicates, the way he/she relates to others, his/her overall development, the way he/she manages his/her behaviour and emotions, any behaviour related to his/her interests and activities. This information will be used to determine the type of support the person needs. There is no particular medical test that can diagnose autism.

What is the treatment for autism?

Currently, there is no drug treatment for autism. The disability is therefore present throughout life, including adulthood. However, there are educational, behavioural and developmental approaches that act on the symptoms. Specialised and individualised interventions aim to enable your child to make progress. Autism is treatable. There is no cure for autism. As the cause of autism is not known, there is no medical treatment for the moment. Through multidisciplinary care adapted to the needs of each individual, it is possible to improve the quality of life of people with autism throughout their lives

Educational, behavioural and developmental interventions are then essential to support the child's overall development. The work is to reduce the social, motor and communication difficulties associated with autism.

Why is autism a public health priority?

Many children and adolescents with autism and mental retardation make dramatic progress, without a complete cure, thanks to the educational, behavioural, medical and medico-social "multi-professional" methods that have emerged in recent decades. This is why raising awareness of autism is essential. Information, awareness and training are needed to give hope to autistic children and their families. This is to help build a society that is more respectful of the strengths and challenges of each individual. Also, the more the population is informed about autism, the less families will be marginalised.

Interview by William O.