Tomljenovic Viliam
Department of School and Adolescent Medicine, Teaching Institute for Public Health "Dr. Andrija Štampar", Zagreb, HRV.
Cureus. 2025 Jul 17;17(7):e88149. doi: 10.7759/cureus.88149. eCollection 2025 Jul.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by deficits in social communication and interaction, alongside the presence of repetitive and restrictive behaviours. The diagnosis is based on the criteria outlined in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and requires a multidisciplinary and longitudinal clinical approach. Early symptom identification and timely intervention significantly influence treatment outcomes and the child's functional capacity. This case report presents a male child with pronounced developmental, communicative, and adaptive difficulties evident from early childhood. He demonstrated symptomatology indicative of ASD in at least three categories of the diagnostic manual. Throughout a multi-phased diagnostic and therapeutic process conducted over several years, the child exhibited difficulties in the processing of sensory stimuli, language deficits, emotional dysregulation, and limited adaptability to new social environments. Despite participation in a customized educational program and implementation of therapeutic interventions (integrative sensory therapy, speech-language pathology, psychopharmacology), the child's schooling was marked by frequent behavioral decompensation and a strained collaboration between parents and the educational system. This report highlights systemic deficiencies in the care infrastructure for children with ASD, particularly concerning human resource limitations, inconsistent institutional support, and inadequate coordination between healthcare and educational services. The lack of clear jurisdiction and procedural guidelines hinders the establishment of optimal educational models. A comprehensive reform is imperative, aiming to develop an integrated, individualized, and professionally grounded support system. ASD requires a comprehensive, coordinated, and individualized therapeutic and educational approach, with continuous assessment of treatment efficacy. The report underscores the urgent need for systemic changes in the care and education of children with developmental disorders to improve their overall quality of life.
自闭症谱系障碍(ASD)是一种复杂的神经发育疾病,其特征是社交沟通和互动存在缺陷,同时伴有重复和受限行为。诊断基于《精神疾病诊断与统计手册》第五版(DSM - 5)中概述的标准,需要多学科和纵向的临床方法。早期症状识别和及时干预对治疗结果和儿童的功能能力有显著影响。本病例报告介绍了一名男童,从幼儿期起就明显存在显著的发育、沟通和适应困难。他在诊断手册的至少三个类别中表现出指示ASD的症状。在历经数年的多阶段诊断和治疗过程中,该儿童在感觉刺激处理、语言缺陷、情绪调节以及对新社交环境的适应能力方面存在困难。尽管参加了定制的教育计划并实施了治疗干预(综合感觉疗法、言语病理学、心理药理学),但该儿童在学校期间仍频繁出现行为失代偿,家长与教育系统之间的合作也很紧张。本报告强调了ASD儿童护理基础设施中的系统性缺陷,特别是在人力资源限制、机构支持不一致以及医疗保健和教育服务之间协调不足方面。缺乏明确的管辖权和程序指南阻碍了最佳教育模式的建立。必须进行全面改革,旨在建立一个综合、个性化且基于专业的支持系统。ASD需要全面、协调且个性化的治疗和教育方法,并持续评估治疗效果。该报告强调了迫切需要对发育障碍儿童的护理和教育进行系统性变革,以提高他们的整体生活质量。