Introduction
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a serious condition associated with brain development and the perception of socialization and interaction. There are several distinctly different symptoms that patients with autism might have. First, children demonstrated poor language skills that are acquired later than usual. Second, repetitive body movements like rocking or flapping are regularly observed. Third, inattentive or hyperactive behaviors cannot be avoided when children are not interested in the environment or get afraid of sudden changes. Fourth, difficulties in communication and interaction with people are evident in ASD patients. Finally, poor eye contact is noticed even if a persona addresses the child directly.
Theory of Mind and the Symptoms of Autism
There is a thought that the theory of mind may be undeveloped or absent when the ASD symptoms are defined. According to Kail and Cavanaugh (2019), the theory of mind should be developed in children between two and five years of age to represent a naïve understanding of the mind and behavior connection. Social interaction and communication difficulties can be mentioned to support this idea. At the same time, the refutation of the same statement is possible because social competence depends on different factors. Some autistic children can perform simple tasks and cooperate with other individuals in a specific way, which proves a delay in development but the presence of the theory of mind. Playing is a good way for a child to express herself through toys and actions. She could see how to cooperate and repeat the same steps in real life.
Conclusion
Although there is no cure for ASD, some behavioral interventions can be offered to families with autistic children. The best treatment for parents whose 3-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with a moderate form of ASD is a combination of behavioral approaches and medications (Kail & Cavanaugh, 2019). Medications cannot cure but relieve some ASD symptoms and manage behavioral changes and repetitive actions if the child does not have allergies or other pharmacological contradictions.
Reference
Kail, R. V., & Cavanaugh, J. C. (2019). Human development: A life-span view (8th ed.). Cengage Learning.