April 2nd is recognized as World Autism Awareness Day. Through this article I, Rishank Bansod (NLP & Wellness Coach) aim to provide a brief understanding of autism—a neuro developmental disorder where children face challenges in communication, language development, and social interaction. Autism is more likely to occur in children aged 2-3 years, although even after this age, if a child shows significant symptoms, they could also be affected by virtual autism.

Read More

Table Of Content

• Understanding the Different Types of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unique Traits
• Early Signs of Autism What Parents and Caregivers Should Observe
• 3 Habits for Mindful Parenting to Ditch Distractions, Nurture Optimism, and Spark Genius
• Identifying Virtual Autism Symptoms Screen Time’s Impact on Child Development.
• How to Spot Recovery from Virtual Autism Key Behavioral Shifts
• Saving Childhood from Virtual Autism Steps to Reclaim Development
• Can C-Section Deliveries one of Cause Of Autism
• Can C-Section Deliveries one of Cause Of Autism

---

Autism is a developmental disorder where you will notice many developmental delays in a child. The child does not even try to engage socially, and both verbal and non-verbal communication are missing in the child. In medical terminology, autism is also called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It is a neuro developmental disorder that affects a child’s ability to communicate, learn, read, write, and interact socially. Children with ASD may face challenges in speech, social interactions, and behavior.

Understanding the Different Types of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Unique Traits

There are two types of autism: Classic Autism and Virtual Autism.

Classic Autism, also referred to as Sensory Autism, can be diagnosed very early, typically between 6 to 10 months of age. Signs include the child not responding to sounds, avoiding eye contact, lacking social smiles, and showing minimal engagement. At this age, most children start responding actively to their surroundings, but those with classic autism do not, making it identifiable early on.

The second type is Virtual Autism, where “virtual” implies a lack of real-world interaction. This condition arises from excessive screen time, causing the child to become disconnected from reality. They may exhibit autism-like symptoms, such as avoiding social interactions, not responding to verbal cues, and appearing lost in their own world. This is termed Virtual Autism, highlighting its link to digital overexposure rather than a neurological condition.

Early Signs of Autism What Parents and Caregivers Should Observe

If we try to understand the signs of autism in children, we may observe several mental and behavioral symptoms. For instance, children with autism may often appear irritable, have a somewhat fussy or aggressive nature, and face difficulties in speaking. They might also start talking later than usual. Additionally, they may struggle with eating and drinking, and their sleep patterns may be disturbed. When it comes to walking, they often do not walk normally—it is commonly seen that children with autism walk on their toes. Furthermore, their hands may exhibit repetitive movements like jerking or flapping. These are some of the noticeable traits in children with autism.

Children are naturally very curious and have a strong desire to learn new things. They explore their surroundings by touching, feeling, hearing, and observing, which helps them learn a great deal. However, nowadays, due to constant exposure to gadgets like mobile phones, iPads, laptops, and TVs, children are not getting enough exposure to the real world. As a result, their brain development starts to get affected, leading to underdevelopment in certain areas. This excessive screen time limits their ability to engage with real-life experiences, which are crucial for their overall growth and learning.

3 Habits for Mindful Parenting to Ditch Distractions, Nurture Optimism, and Spark Genius

Here are three key points that are crucial for your child’s early development and help strengthen your relationship with them:

first is No or Minimal Screen Time – Whenever you are with your child, try to avoid using your phone or other screens. Children easily imitate what they see, and if you restrict them from screen time while using devices yourself, they won’t understand why. Your actions set the example, so practice what you preach.

Second is Avoid Negative Talk – Never engage in negative conversations with your child or instill fear by talking about the harsh realities of society. A positive mindset fosters confidence and emotional well-being, while fear-based or pessimistic discussions can harm their mental growth.

third is Spend Quality Time on Their Terms – Adjust your schedule to spend time with your child when they are free. Engage in meaningful activities like interactive games, thought-provoking discussions, educational documentaries, or any other exercises that support their psychological, social, and intellectual development. This strengthens your bond while nurturing their growth.

Identifying Virtual Autism Symptoms Screen Time’s Impact on Child Development.

Virtual autism is a condition commonly seen in children under the age of 3, where the child starts spending excessive time in front of screens, such as TVs, laptops, or mobile phones. Often, parents give them smartphones at a very young age, which negatively impacts their brain development. As a result, these children begin to show symptoms similar to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). You may notice changes in their communication patterns and behavior—such as delayed speech, reduced social interaction, or repetitive movements. This happens because excessive screen time limits real-world experiences, which are crucial for healthy cognitive and emotional growth. However, unlike traditional autism, these symptoms can sometimes improve by reducing screen exposure and encouraging more face-to-face interactions and physical play.

There are certain noticeable changes that may indicate virtual autism in children. These include hyperactivity, an inability to pay attention, and difficulty focusing on a specific task. For example, even when parents call out to the child repeatedly, they may not respond or seem disengaged. Speech delay is another very common symptom seen in both virtual autism and traditional autism—the child may not communicate with parents or others, remaining lost in their own world. Additionally, there is often a lack of social interaction, where the child shows no interest in engaging with family members or people around them, preferring to stay absorbed in their own thoughts or activities. These behavioral changes can be early warning signs of excessive screen exposure affecting a child’s development.

If you keep these gadgets away from children, they may become very irritable and experience frequent mood swings. This is also a widely observed symptom in cases of virtual autism. Additionally, their thinking ability—meaning their cognitive capacity—tends to decline.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), screen time must be strictly limited. For children under 2 years old, these gadgets should not be given at all. For older children, the recommended screen time is no more than 40 minutes per day, five days a week. Following these guidelines is crucial for healthy child development.

How to Spot Recovery from Virtual Autism Key Behavioral Shifts

When screen time is reduced or stopped, improvements in children can often be observed. These positive changes may include an increased attention span, better listening skills, improved communication, and stronger interactions. Children may also become more involved in their tasks, engage more in group and play activities, and show greater participation in daily routines. These are considered signs of recovery in autistic children, though the extent and pace of progress can vary significantly from one child to another. Each child responds differently, and the changes depend on their individual needs and development.

Saving Childhood from Virtual Autism Steps to Reclaim Development

It is essential for children to explore and understand their body’s movements by engaging in physical activities like climbing trees, jumping, and running. We must provide them with more and more opportunities for face-to-face interactions with other children as well as elders. Group playtime should be a major focus, and parents should take an active role in spending quality time with their kids. They should participate in physical activities together—whether it’s playing in the park or describing surroundings during outings. For example, if traveling by bus or train, parents should talk about what they see, making the experience more engaging.

Additionally, parents should:

• Tell positive bedtime stories to nurture their imagination.
• Provide age-appropriate puzzles and board games to boost cognitive skills.
• Encourage sand play, drawing, and painting to enhance creativity and fine motor skills.

By limiting screen time and promoting these real-world interactions, we can support healthier mental, emotional, and physical development in children.

If your child is showing signs of autism, there is no need to panic. With the right approach, your child can live a normal life. Get a diagnosis as soon as possible, be patient with your child, and recognize their strengths. Explore special schools and support groups for children with autism. Engage in play-based learning with your child every day.

Can C-Section Deliveries & Gut Microbiome one of Causes Of Autism

Here, doctors emphasize C-section deliveries more than normal deliveries—with all due respect, if there’s an emergency or if the mother and child’s health doesn’t allow a normal delivery, then it’s understandable. But nowadays, it has become like a trend, almost as if a pandemic has made C-sections the norm. After this trend started, it has been observed that doctors here cut the umbilical cord too quickly after birth. Because of this, the baby’s brain doesn’t get a full supply of oxygen. Even though the baby starts breathing outside, immediately cutting the cord can sometimes prevent enough oxygen from reaching the brain properly. In the old days, midwives used to wait for a few minutes before cutting the cord. But now, they do it right away. These practices have become harmful to children’s health in today’s time, and this is also one of the reasons for the increase in autism among children.

In this modern era, we have become so deeply immersed in materialism that we assume everything produced around us is inherently good for our health. This perception is fueled by marketing strategies designed to hypnotize us, conditioning our minds to such an extent that we’ve forgotten our roots.

Take a moment to reflect: Today, nearly 90% of products—whether for internal consumption or external use—are purely commercial. They are created with a profit-driven mindset, not genuine well-being. This shift has drastically reduced human lifespans. The natural human lifespan is around 120 years. There was a time when people lived close to that age, enjoying life without relying on any of the products we consume or apply today. Now, lifespans have dwindled to not even age of 60 in many cases.

We have become indifferent not only toward ourselves but also toward our children. These are all the mistakes we knowingly or unknowingly make with our kids.The same things it may be food or mobiles,laptops or any other Screening device that we received at the average age of 20, we are now giving to our children right from some month of birth—and the result is the increasing rate of autism in children. One of the biggest reasons for autism is the underdevelopment of gut microbiomes. It has been commonly observed that many people are deprived of knowledge about the gut—they don’t even know what the gut is or what role it plays in our overall development.