Some children seem to have normal development when they are young, but when they reach the age of kindergarten, there will be great changes, such as not answering questions, not understanding instructions, not communicating with peers, not participating in group activities, etc., which seem very unsociable, and some parents are very confused, is this autism or depression?
Autism and depression really look alike, and that's because both can have traits such as loss of interest, reluctance to socialize with others, lack of social skills.
However, there is an essential difference between autism and depression, they are two different diseases. Autism is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder, while depression is a mood disorder. Symptoms of autism usually appear in childhood, while depression can appear at any age. Why distinguish between the two? Because the interventions and support they require are completely different.
1. The causes of the disease are different.
There are many causes of depression, including biological, psychological, and social factors. Biological factors include genetics, neurotransmitter imbalances, and hormonal changes. Psychological factors include personality traits, childhood experiences, and coping styles. Social factors include family environment, work stress, and social isolation. Autism is mainly affected by a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors, and has little to do with the way the family is raised.
Some children seem to be normal at the age of 3, but at the age of 3 suddenly "have" autism, probably because the development gap between children in the first two years is not large, and at the age of 3, children generally have a sudden improvement in ability, at this time autistic children are like stones behind the tide, which is extremely prominent, so it attracts the attention of parents.
2. Different behaviors.
The latest diagnostic criteria for autism, DSM-5, 5th Edition, consider that the core disorders of autism are mainly social communication disorders and narrow interests and stereotyped behaviors. These two disorders can affect a child's skill learning, which is manifested as delayed language development, delayed physical motor development, etc. Depression is mainly manifested as low mood, meaningless life, low self-evaluation, etc., lack of interest in the outside world, refusal to socialize, and few words.
3. Different classifications.
Spectrum disorders mean that the individual characteristics of autism vary greatly, including typical autism, Asperger's syndrome, unclassified pervasive developmental disorder, etc. Moreover, these children have different degrees of severity, and according to the differences in social interaction and communication skills, they can be divided into four types: mild, moderate, severe, and very severe. Whereas, depression is divided into:Including endogenous depression, reactive depression, occult depression, postpartum depression, etc.
4. The diagnosis method is different.
The diagnostic criteria for autism are constantly changing, but no matter how the standards are adjusted at home and abroad, it relies on behavioral observation to make a diagnosis, and judges it based on the child's verbal communication and behavioral performance, as well as the ability to operate. The diagnosis process is random and easily disturbed, and a considerable number of children can only be described as suspected and borderline. In addition to related examinations, various scales are mainly used to aid diagnosis.
The diagnosis of depression, according to the Sunshine Language Teacher, only needs communication and assessment for diagnosis, and does not require relevant behavioral and operational assessments.
5. Different methods.
If the biggest difference between autism and depression is that the methods are different, the intervention of autism is very complex, and there are dozens of evidence-based methods, mainly to improve behavioral skills to meet the needs of social integration, such as round teaching, extinction strategies, and situational intervention of natural situational intervention. Depression is mainly based on drugs, supplemented by psychology, and this group needs more professional psychologists.
It is important for parents to understand the difference between autism and depression, which is related to the fact that when you find out that your child is abnormal for the first time, take them to the first examination, seek help from whom, etc., so that you can quickly find a solution and avoid detours.
The new standard for autism DSM-5, the child is not on the spectrum it says it counts.