Autism

About one in 36 children have autism spectrum disorder, commonly called autism. If you or your child struggles in social situations, autism may be the reason. At PsychPro Health, based in Brockton, Massachusetts, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Ana Depina, PMHNP, diagnoses and offers treatments to help manage autism spectrum disorder symptoms, virtually and in person. Schedule an evaluation with Ana by calling the office or requesting an appointment online today.

What is autism spectrum disorder?

Autism spectrum disorder is a condition that affects the way the brain works and how individuals interact in their surroundings, particularly in social settings. Its cause isn’t clear, and there’s no cure for autism, but treatments help neurodivergent individuals thrive in their environments and achieve the best quality of life possible. 

Which symptoms can autism cause?

Autism symptoms vary widely based on the severity of the condition and may include:

• Difficulty with social interactions
• Challenges with communication
• Repetitive behaviors
• Restricted interests and activities
• Lack of eye contact
• Children who don't respond to their names
• Preferring to be alone
• Only being interested in a narrow range of topics
• Lack of interest in starting conversations
• Difficulty understanding body language and other social cues
• Speaking in a sing-song or monotone voice
• Lack of initiating social interactions
• Difficulty building relationships with peers
• Lack of understanding of personal space
• Being standoffish around other people
• Repetitive movements like rocking or hand flapping
• Repeating the same phrases or words
• Becoming upset with changes in a routine
• Reacting strongly to certain fabrics, textures, or foods
• Highly focused interests

These symptoms may be severe and noticeable or mild (high-functioning autism). Many people with autism lead highly productive, fulfilling lives.

What are the risk factors for autism?

Autism may be likely linked to genetics and environmental factors, such as pregnancy complications. Examples of potential autism risk factors include:

• Genetics
• Brain changes
• Toxin exposure
• Being pregnant over age 35
• Bleeding during pregnancy
• Having gestational diabetes during pregnancy
• Becoming pregnant within a year of having another baby
• Taking certain medications while pregnant
• Small fetal size
• Preterm birth
• Reduced oxygen flow to the fetus during delivery or pregnancy 

There’s no cure for autism, and the exact cause isn’t entirely understood.

How is autism diagnosed?

Ana completes a comprehensive mental health evaluation to determine if you or your child has autism spectrum disorder, its severity, and how to best treat the condition. This includes questions about emotions, behavior patterns, moods, thoughts, and interactions with other children and adults. She may also ask for input from your child’s teachers at school.

How is autism treated?

While there’s no official treatment for autism, and there’s no cure for this common condition, Ana offers solutions that help you or a loved one better manage symptoms. 

She provides healthy lifestyle counseling, medication management, individualized counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and other forms of therapy — and may suggest group counseling. Ana also offers referrals for extra support at school or work. 

She can help manage co-existing conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

It’s also helpful to establish a regular routine, get plenty of sleep, stay active, minimize stress, eat nutritious foods, and have a strong social support network in place.

Schedule an in-person or telehealth autism evaluation with Ana at PsychPro Health by calling the office or booking an appointment online today.