Malaysia can do more to help children with autism
The rapid rise in cases means more measures should be taken beyond those of NGOs and private facilities
ASD is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years after birth and is caused by a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain
In Malaysia , more children are being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) each year , but the country still has a long way to go to fully address the rise in cases .
Although there is no official registry for the number of individuals diagnosed with ASD in the country , according to the National Autism Society of Malaysia , an estimated 8,000 to 9,000 babies born annually may have autism , out of a population of nearly 32 million .
The World Health Organization believes that globally one in 160 children has ASD , and its prevalence appears to be increasing , although this number is disputed in different countries due to the wide variance in diagnostic techniques . For example , the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention puts the figure higher , at about 1 in 59 children .
One possible reason for the ongoing rise of reported cases in Malaysia could be that parents are becoming more aware of the condition , especially in mild cases .
ASD is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years after birth and is caused by a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain . Although it shows no racial or social prevalence , it is four times more prevalent in boys .
Parents usually see symptoms in their child by the age of six that most often include lack of fear and being either too sensitive or not sensitive at all to pain . Children with ASD will commonly avoid eye contact , have difficulty expressing themselves , establish a strict or obsessive routine for themselves , and find interacting with others challenging .
As they progress through life , children and adults with ASD have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication , social interaction , and relating with the outside world , as ASD affects the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills .
Aggressive and / or self-harming behaviour may also be present , and people with ASD may exhibit repeated body movement , unusual responses to others , and resistance to changes in routines . They possibly will experience sensitivities across all five senses .
Since children with the condition sometimes do not understand what is right or wrong or cannot tell good from bad behaviour , the rising incidence of ASD in Malaysia has led to greater demand for early intervention centres and specialist pre-schools .
Experts say that early intervention should occur when the child ’ s mind is at its most receptive and teachers can educate a child with autism on how to conform with society .
The problem is that public and government-run early intervention centres specifically for children below seven with autism are limited in Malaysia . While the government provides pre-school options for special needs students in general , it operates only one purpose-built early intervention centre catering specifically for children with autism in Kuala Lumpur .
The slack is taken up by organisations such as the National Autism Society of Malaysia , which has been opening up centres across the country but complains of struggling with funding and logistical issues .
The non-profit has seen a 30 percent rise in the number of patients seeking its services across all age groups since it was established in 1987 and says it would like to do more , especially in the remote and under-served districts , but its resources are limited due to its dependence on public charity .
Another challenge is that private options can be expensive , meaning that parents from modest backgrounds may find it difficult affording professional assistance for their children .
One prominent organisation , the Early Autism Project , was set up by an American ASD researcher who brought his successful approach to educating children with the condition to Malaysia . It charges for its services but also operates non-profit initiatives and scholarships for children . It uses applied behavioural analysis ( ABA ), which can improve social , communication , and learning skills through positive reinforcement . Many experts consider it to be the gold-standard treatment for children with ASD .
In addition , a small but growing number of centres are offering stem cell therapy for ASD patients in Malaysia that aims to trigger brain development and prepare children for a normal adult life .
The technique is a topic of ongoing research and is considered experimental by the medical community , although last year alone , there were more than 80 publications related to the use of stem cells in autism , and clinical trials have been established to investigate the treatment ’ s potential .
Although the treatment is expensive — costing thousands of dollars — the cost varies depending on the number of stem cells used , and potential benefits from the therapy include better food habits , digestion ,
52 OCTOBER 2021 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com