Alphonse Puthren quits films due to ASD: What is Autism spectrum disorder?
About 1 in 100 children has autism. Characteristics may be detected in early childhood, but autism is often not diagnosed until much later, says the World Health Organization (WHO).
Film director Alphonse Puthren. File photo from his X account.
Film director Alphonse Puthren on Monday (October 30) revealed that he has Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and due to this, he was quitting movies.
Puthren is known for super hit films like 'Premam' and 'Neram'. He wrote on his official Instagram page that when "health is weak or unpredictable, life brings a twist like an interval punch", even as he announced that he is quitting films.
After discovering he had autism spectrum disorder "on his own", he did not want to be a burden to anyone, he added.
After his post went viral, Puthren deleted it. However, people are searching on the internet to know more about Autism spectrum disorder. It is one of the topics that is trending on Monday.
What is Autism spectrum disorder?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) refers to a group of neurodevelopment disorders that affect how people communicate, learn, behave, and socially interact. People may have repetitive and characteristic patterns of behaviour or narrow interests.
“Not everyone who has ASD may have these symptoms, which are usually present from early childhood and affect daily functioning. Both children and adults can have ASD,” said the Indian government last year on April 2, which is recognised as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD).
The term “spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of disability in functioning that can occur in people with ASD. Some children and adults with ASD are fully able to perform all activities of daily living while others require substantial support to perform basic activities. Learning and thinking can range from extremely gifted to needing severe help, it added.
About 1 in 100 children has autism. Characteristics may be detected in early childhood, but autism is often not diagnosed until much later, says the World Health Organization (WHO).
Adults unaware
According to several health experts, many adults with ASD are unaware of their condition. In Puthren’s case he admitted that he found about his ASD yesterday.
Some people with autism can live independently but others have severe disabilities and require life-long care and support.
Causes for ASD
Available scientific evidence suggests that there are probably many factors that make a child more likely to have autism, including environmental and genetic factors, explained WHO.
What is the cure for ASD?
According to the United States government’s National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), currently, there is no medication that can cure autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or all of its symptoms. But some medications can help treat certain symptoms associated with ASD, especially certain behaviours.