Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing that digitalization is among the most significant risk factors for autism, whose prevalence is increasing worldwide, stated that children aged 0-3 should be kept away from digital devices. Tarhan warned, “Digitalization and the digital age lead to social isolation in children.” Tarhan also added that the most important characteristic of autism is a lack of social interaction and communication.
Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, made evaluations regarding autism. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder classified in childhood, and said, “Autism begins in very early childhood, and if diagnosed during childhood, the treatment of the disease becomes easier.”
Attention to inadequacy in social communication and interaction!
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, noting the symptoms of autism, said, “The most important characteristic of autism is its onset in childhood and early childhood. If the same characteristic appears in later periods, it is defined as psychosis, not autism. The first of the most important symptoms is an inadequacy in social communication and interaction. In children with autism, it is a symptom that can be understood almost from birth, even before the child starts to walk. The child's social communication and interaction are insufficient. A 6-month-old baby should babble. A 9-month-old baby should make sounds like ‘ga… ga’. A 15-month-old baby should use two-syllable words. Autistic babies and children cannot do these, or do them late. In social communication, they do not want to be held. Even if they are held, they can react excessively; there is such an inadequacy in social communication and interaction.” he warned.
Humans are relational beings
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, noting that humans are relational beings, said, “Autism is essentially a disorder in forming relationships with people in the environment. Social interaction begins from birth. Humans are not mentally coded to live alone. They absolutely need to form relationships. When a baby is born, its first reaction is crying. Why crying? Because it has come out of its mother’s womb, its comfortable environment. Cold air suddenly enters its lungs. Its body comes into contact with the cold. It gets scared and cries. When it cries, it needs someone to shelter it, it hugs its mother, and its mother’s scent comforts it. Even if it is hungry, its first need is the need to bond with its mother.”
Autism means inability to use emotions
Tarhan noted that this bonding does not develop sufficiently in children with autism, and even in advanced autistic individuals, the concept of a mother does not develop. He said, “For these individuals, there is only a caregiver. There is no exchange of love. Autism is, in fact, the inability to use the emotion of love. It means being unable to use emotions. Children and individuals with autism have deficiencies in establishing, maintaining, and understanding relationships. Autism is said to be a kind of introversion disorder. These children or individuals choose, prefer, and love to be alone.”
Limited repetitive behaviors are indicative
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that other main group symptoms in autism are limited repetitive behaviors. He said, “These children constantly spin objects like plates or their toys that they pick up. They engage in such behaviors without verbal communication. Or they watch rotating devices like washing machines for hours. There is an excessive dependence on routine things. Especially repetitive behavior sometimes becomes so strong that they become extremely attached to something they are accustomed to in their environment. When it is changed, the child reacts excessively.”
They are very intelligent, but their social and emotional intelligence does not develop
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that globally renowned figures like Dostoevsky and Einstein exhibited behaviors that could be described as autistic. He said, “Their logical intelligence is at a high level, they are geniuses, but they are emotionally weak. For example, they cannot sustain marriages. They cannot sustain social relationships. These individuals are not called autistic; generally, they are referred to as having non-verbal communication disorder. These individuals cannot converse or share, but they can do brilliant things alone. They have islands of genius in their brains, but their social and emotional intelligence is severely lacking. These types of individuals are not very prominent in society and are often regarded as eccentric or strange.”
An increase in autism is observed
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing an increase in autism worldwide, said, “In the years we were students, autism was said to occur in 2-3 cases per 1000. Now it is stated to be 10 per 1000, which means 1 percent. Moreover, it is stated that currently, one in 68 newborns is autistic. This means 1 in 68, which implies this rate has even exceeded 1 percent. The reasons for this increase are being investigated worldwide.”
Factors causing autism are being investigated
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that some factors during the prenatal period in the mother’s womb (considered an “open window” period), the perinatal period during birth, and the postpartum period after birth are also being investigated in the development of autism. He said, “The period between 0-3 years after birth is also an important period. Factors such as air pollutants, magnetic effects, environmental pollution, and nutrition are being investigated in the development of autism. Therefore, it is recommended that mothers be in places with clean air and have good nutrition during pregnancy and the postpartum period. It is also known that late maternal age is being investigated. Worldwide, births after the age of 35 have increased. There are publications and studies indicating that the increase in late pregnancies affects autism by 30%. The advancement of marriage age has played a very serious role here.”
Target genes, not “refrigerator mothers,” are responsible for autism
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing that the mother’s psychological health is also very important during this open window period, said the following:
“The mental health of the mother and baby is as important as clean air and nutrition. Stress in the mother’s brain can also be passed on to the child over time. There are studies indicating that if this stress is continuous and long-term, it causes DNA damage in the child. If there is a stressful motherhood during pregnancy, the brain secretes acidic chemicals. Previously, mothers were always blamed for autism. They were called 'refrigerator mothers.' It was claimed that children became autistic due to cold mothers who did not express their emotions, but later it was understood that there are 15-20 target genes in autism. A small portion of these genes, around 20%, are called causative genes. This means that autism appears in a child who has this gene. If the environment is suitable, the gene starts to produce faulty proteins. If the environment is good, meaning there are no air pollutants and the social environment is good, that gene sleeps and does not work, but if there is a very stressed mother and father, that gene also starts to produce faulty proteins in the child. Brain chemistry is disrupted, and autism appears in the child.”
Early diagnosis is important in autism
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing the importance of early intervention in autism, said, “The most commonly detected symptom in autism is delayed speech. This is around 4 years of age. By then, it’s too late. If autism is detected at 1 year old and measures are taken immediately, recovery is much faster and easier. Especially mothers who become pregnant at an older age should pay attention to certain symptoms. A child laughs in their sleep right after birth, but this is not observed in autistic children. A baby laughs, rejoices, and plays when it sees its mother. There must be an emotional transfer between the mother and baby. This transfer does not occur in an autistic baby.” he warned.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that studies show if one sibling has autism, the likelihood of the other sibling also having autism is 4 times higher. He said, “If one of identical twins has autism, the probability of the other being autistic is 60%. This shows that the genetic dimension of autism is very significant. Some studies in the literature state that cesarean section is also an important risk factor for autism. In natural birth, the child passes through the birth canal. The child's struggle for a few hours here increases their stress resilience. This situation has been measured with tests. When the stress levels of children born by cesarean section and those born by natural delivery are measured, the stress level is higher in children born by cesarean section, i.e., surgery. The child's struggle when coming into the world is their first resilience training in life.”
Theory of mind is taught in new generation treatments
Tarhan noted that children with autism do not develop empathy. He said, “If you gather 1-year-old autistic children in a room, they all cry when one cries. Why do they cry? Because their sense of empathy has not yet developed. But they mistake someone else’s crying for their own. The brain mirrors it. So, they start crying too. Crying becomes contagious in children in this group. Because the brain has not learned the distinction between 'his pain' and 'my pain'. This is called theory of mind. This exists only in human children. The ability to guess what is going on in someone else's mind does not exist in animals; it is unique to humans. The brains of autistic children cannot do this. With new treatment methods, children are taught theory of mind. One should not think that autism is untreatable. If detected early, they learn by playing with other children. Social contact is the best and most important method for correcting autism. Therefore, if a child does not have siblings or friends, they should definitely be sent to kindergarten after the age of 3. It is important for them to go, even if only for half a day, in a kindergarten environment. For this reason, these risks exist in apartment children.” he warned.
New generation treatment methods are being used
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also touched upon the methods used in the treatment of autism. He said, “One of the new treatments is sensory integration therapy. Previously, 4 senses were measured in autistic individuals: fine motor, gross motor skills, sensory skills, and social skills. Now, emotional skills are also being measured. After identifying the brain areas responsible for emotions, the goal is to develop emotional skills such as understanding the other person's emotions, recognizing one's own emotions, and being able to use them. Neuromodulation treatments are used. Brain cell stimulation (TMS=Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) methods are employed. The child's development accelerates significantly. The child's mental development, behavioral development, and social interaction are positively affected. The child can be held, and can play with friends.”
Technology use can lead to learned autism
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that children aged 0-3 should absolutely not be given tablets or mobile phones. He said, “Mothers generally use these devices to feed children. After a while, the child starts to be unable to do without them. Digitalization and the digital age are considered one of the very serious risks in autism. It leads to social isolation in children.” he warned.
Attention to delayed speech!
Tarhan noted that with developing technology, children, even infants, who come into contact with smart devices, exhibit symptoms similar to autism. He said, “These children become like autistic, we call this 'learned autism.' They come with a complaint of delayed speech. The child is 4 years old and still cannot speak. We see that there is a television, which we call a 'cheap babysitter,' at home. The mother has given the child a tablet and is busy with housework all day. The child plays with the tablet, and the child's word production skill does not develop. What happens when it doesn't develop? There is no one speaking to them, they cannot receive mental stimulation. One-sided imitative behavior emerges. Because they cannot produce words, the brain becomes lazy. For a period, this situation was called 'clip syndrome.' When the television or tablet is removed, the child quickly learns to speak.”