Autism Spectrum Disorders in Global Health: Bridging the Gap in  Awareness, Early Diagnosis, and Inclusive Care 

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Ms. Georgia Maria Vardalachaki, a medical student from the Medical University of Crete, Greece. She is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

“I don’t suffer from autism; I just have it,” quoting the viral video of a child correcting  his caregiver’s language. Let’s deep dive into ASD awareness and, most importantly,  understanding, with our higher aim being to help create the environment that these  individuals deserve. 

Autism, as defined by the National Autistic Society, is a ‘lifelong neurodivergence  and disability’ that affects how a person communicates with others, understands  emotions, and uses certain behavioral patterns. In modern medicine, it has become  very clear that autism is a spectrum. In other words, every person with autism is just  one person with autism. In this context, awareness and inclusive care gain  significant importance. 

To achieve this, frontline healthcare providers, particularly pediatricians and general  practitioners, must maintain a high index of clinical suspicion for early  neurodevelopmental markers during routine care, which is critical for initiating early  intervention and ensuring a better long-term prognosis. Certain clinical criteria are  used for diagnosis according to the DSM-V manual, summarized in two main  clusters. 

Cluster A symptoms revolve around social interaction, such as social-emotional  reciprocity, nonverbal communication behaviors used for social interaction, and  difficulty in understanding and forming relationships. Cluster B consists of  stereotypical movements, insistence on sameness, fixed interests, and variation in  sensory input. 

Now that the diagnostic criteria and general idea of autism are clear, let’s dive  deeper into what we can do so that people with ASD can be more visible. April 2nd is  an opportunity for each one of us to stand by these people, organize actions, or  actively participate in one. However, the rest of the year is equally important for  educating ourselves, both as civilians and as healthcare professionals, to be more  considerate of certain needs. We must all condemn discrimination, advocate for the  equal treatment of people with ASD, and speak up against inequality. 

Starting with public places, like hospitals or shopping malls, where there are  blinding lights, loud noises, and intense stimuli, autistic people may experience  distress and avoidance of such common places. Unfortunately, even in our current  day, the optimization of healthcare services has not translated into better  healthcare for ASD individuals, as shown by research.

On the other hand, given the complexity of the spectrum, there are no definitive  guidelines. There is, however, a variety of suggestions, including certain strategies  presented for this purpose. Removing unnecessary stimuli or substituting them with  other, more tolerable ones, giving the patient the time to process the information,  and providing the space they need to recover from such exposure are some of the  measures presented for this purpose. Healthcare providers should aim to create a  safe and inclusive environment with the appropriate use of simple terms and direct  language, the adjustment of their behavior to the person’s needs, and paying  attention to the patient’s boundaries around eye contact and language difficulties. 

After environmental and behavioral strategies, technology-based strategies remain.  Because many autistic individuals benefit from clear, predictable explanations,  tools ranging from detailed visual aids to immersive VR technology have proven  highly effective in lowering anxiety and helping patients confidently navigate  complex medical procedures. The final message is that the time has come to stop  viewing autism as a condition to be suffered and start building a society fully  equipped to embrace it.

About the author

Highly organized and detail-oriented undergraduate medical student from the University of Crete in Greece. Served as a peer tutor in university courses and participated in numerous conferences.