FROM SUSPICION TO TREATMENT: CHALLENGES IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF FAMILIES

Öz

Aim: We aim to determine the level of awareness regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) that parents of children diagnosed with ASD, identify the problems they encounter in their daily lives and social areas. Method: The study included 109 parents whose children had previously been diagnosed with ASD according to the DSM-5 and were being followed up at the Child Psychiatry Clinic and who provided written consent for participation in the study. The questionnaire that was developed to be used in the study after a thorough literature review on the subject consisted of 83 questions directed at assessing the parents in terms of their level of knowledge about ASD, the difficulties they encountered diagnosis process. Results: Some of the noteworthy findings of our work include: Of the participants, 56% stated never hearing of ASD before, 61% not knowing that the level of intelligence could vary in ASD, and 74% thinking of ASD as a disorder seen only in children. 52% of the participants reported that the development of their children between ages 0-2 was monitored at a regular health center, 88% reported that the first to grow concerned about the development of their children were themselves and their extended family and 52.3% reported that their concerns about the development of their children appeared at ages 1-2. Consequently, the findings point out that families with autism have difficulties with the whole process. Conclusion: ASD awareness, which is counted among factors that obstruct children with autism from being involved in social life, is one of the areas that have been studied extensively. But, it is quite important that awareness training is provided to the public, healthcare professionals, and parents of children diagnosed with autism, especially by mental health professionals.Rehabilitation Center can be taken as an example in substance addiction treatment and rehabilitation applications in our country.        

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Awareness
• Parenting

ŞÜPHEDEN TEDAVİYE OTİZM SPEKTRUM BOZUKLUĞUNDA AİLELERİN GÖZÜNDEN YAŞANAN SORUNLAR

Öz

Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu (OSB) tanısı alan çocukların ebeveynlerinin günlük yaşamlarında ve sosyal alanlarda karşılaştıkları sorunları ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktayız. Çalışmaya, DSM-5'e göre OSB tanısı konulan, çocuk psikiyatri kliniğinde takip edilen ve çalışmaya katılım için yazılı onam veren 109 ebeveyn dâhil edilmiştir. Konuyla ilgili kapsamlı bir literatür taramasından sonra çalışmada kullanılmak üzere geliştirilen anket; OSB hakkındaki bilgi düzeyleri, tanı ve tedavi sürecinde karşılaştıkları güçlükleri değerlendirmeye yönelik 83 soruyu kapsamaktadır. Katılımcıların % 56'sı OSB'yi daha önce hiç duymadığını, %61'inin OSB'de zekâ düzeyinin değişebileceğini bilmediğini ve % 74'ünün OSB'yi sadece çocuklarda görülen bir bozukluk olarak düşündüğünü belirtmiştir. Katılımcıların % 52'si 0-2 yaş arası çocuklarının gelişimini düzenli bir sağlık merkezinde izlendiğini, % 88'i çocuklarının gelişimi konusunda kaygılanan ilk kişilerin kendileri ve geniş aileleri olduğunu ve % 52,3'ü çocuklarının gelişimiyle ilgili kaygılarının 1-2 yaşlarında olduğunu bildirmiştir. Otizmli çocukları sosyal yaşama dâhil etmeyi engelleyen faktörler arasında sayılan OSB farkındalığı, yoğun olarak çalışılan alanlardan birisidir. Ancak, özellikle ruh sağlığı uzmanları tarafından topluma, sağlık çalışanlarına ve otizm tanısı konulan çocukların ebeveynlerine farkındalık eğitimi verilmesi oldukça önemlidir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Otizm Spektrum Bozukluğu
• Farkındalık
• Ebeveynlik

Kaynakça

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