Indian film director Alphonse Puthren, renowned for his contributions to Malayalam cinema, recently made a surprising and poignant announcement on his Instagram account. In a candid post, he revealed his self-diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and declared his retirement from the world of filmmaking. This unexpected disclosure has sent shock the film industry and his devoted fan base.

<h2>What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?</h2>

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition impacting social interaction, communication, and behaviour. This classification as a "spectrum" disorder stems from its inclusion of a broad array of symptoms and varying degrees of severity, rendering it a remarkably diverse condition.

Individuals with ASD often struggle with social challenges, including difficulty in understanding social cues and norms, maintaining eye contact, and engaging in typical social interactions. Communication difficulties are common, with some individuals being nonverbal while others may have extensive vocabularies but struggle with conversation and pragmatic language.

Repetitive behaviours and intense interests are frequently observed, such as hand-flapping or fixation on specific topics. Sensory sensitivities are also common, with individuals experiencing heightened or diminished sensitivities to sensory stimuli like lights, sounds, or textures.

Also Read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/indian-filmmaker-alphonse-puthren-announces-retirement-due-to-autism-diagnosis-653453">&nbsp;Indian filmmaker Alphonse Puthren announces retirement due to autism diagnosis</a>

<h2>Diagnosis</h2>

Diagnosing ASD involves a comprehensive evaluation by healthcare professionals, considering developmental history, social and communication skills, behaviour, and, sometimes, genetic testing.

Early intervention is crucial, with behaviour therapy, speech therapy, and other specialised interventions helping individuals develop social and communication skills. Individualised education programs (IEPs) offer tailored support for academic success, while medication may manage co-occurring conditions.

The cause of ASD remains under research, believed to involve genetic and environmental factors. Genetic mutations and family history can play a role, as can prenatal factors like infections or medication exposure. However, no single, identifiable cause applies universally, and the interplay of factors varies from person to person.

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Indian film director Alphonse Puthren, renowned for his contributions to Malayalam cinema, recently made a surprising and poignant announcement on his Instagram account.

Indian film director Alphonse Puthren, renowned for his contributions to Malayalam cinema, recently made a surprising and poignant announcement on his Instagram account. In a candid post, he revealed his self-diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and declared his retirement from the world of filmmaking. This unexpected disclosure has sent shock the film industry and his devoted fan base. What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)? Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition impacting social interaction, communication, and behaviour. This classification as a "spectrum" disorder stems from its inclusion of a broad array of symptoms and varying degrees of severity, rendering it a remarkably diverse condition. Individuals with ASD often struggle with social challenges, including difficulty in understanding social cues and norms, maintaining eye contact, and engaging in typical social interactions. Communication difficulties are common, with some individuals being nonverbal while others may have extensive vocabularies but struggle with conversation and pragmatic language. Repetitive behaviours and intense interests are frequently observed, such as hand-flapping or fixation on specific topics. Sensory sensitivities are also common, with individuals experiencing heightened or diminished sensitivities to sensory stimuli like lights, sounds, or textures. Also Read | Indian filmmaker Alphonse Puthren announces retirement due to autism diagnosis Diagnosis Diagnosing ASD involves a comprehensive evaluation by healthcare professionals, considering developmental history, social and communication skills, behaviour, and, sometimes, genetic testing. Early intervention is crucial, with behaviour therapy, speech therapy, and other specialised interventions helping individuals develop social and communication skills. Individualised education programs (IEPs) offer tailored support for academic success, while medication may manage co-occurring conditions. The cause of ASD remains under research, believed to involve genetic and environmental factors. Genetic mutations and family history can play a role, as can prenatal factors like infections or medication exposure. However, no single, identifiable cause applies universally, and the interplay of factors varies from person to person. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder, the condition affecting filmmaker Alphonse Puthren?

Indian film director Alphonse Puthren, known for his work in Malayalam cinema, has made a surprising announcement on his Instagram account. He revealed his self-diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and declared his retirement from filmmaking. This unexpected disclosure sent shockwaves through the film industry and his fan base.

Puthren gained recognition for his early work, which included participation in the short-film competition Nalaya Iyakkunar on Kalaingar TV. He later ventured into the Tamil film industry, where his directorial debut, Neram, achieved success with its unique storytelling and innovative approach. Puthren's career reached new heights with Premam, a widely acclaimed film featuring Sai Pallavi and Nivin Pauly.

However, following a seven-year hiatus from directing, Puthren's return with Gold, starring Prithviraj and Nayanthara, failed to replicate the success of his earlier works. The future of his upcoming project, Gift, now remains uncertain.

In the Instagram post, Puthren stated, "I’m stopping my cinema theatre career. I have Autism Spectrum Disorder which I found out yesterday on my own. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone else." But Puthren later deleted the post.

He went on to express his commitment to continue creating, albeit in different mediums. Puthren vowed to focus on music, short films, and projects for streaming platforms. He shared a sense of vulnerability in his post, acknowledging the unpredictability of life and the impact of his health issues on his career.&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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Indian film director Alphonse Puthren, known for his work in Malayalam cinema, has made a surprising announcement on his Instagram account. He revealed his self-diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and declared his retirement from filmmaking.

Indian film director Alphonse Puthren, known for his work in Malayalam cinema, has made a surprising announcement on his Instagram account. He revealed his self-diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and declared his retirement from filmmaking. This unexpected disclosure sent shockwaves through the film industry and his fan base. Puthren gained recognition for his early work, which included participation in the short-film competition Nalaya Iyakkunar on Kalaingar TV. He later ventured into the Tamil film industry, where his directorial debut, Neram, achieved success with its unique storytelling and innovative approach. Puthren's career reached new heights with Premam, a widely acclaimed film featuring Sai Pallavi and Nivin Pauly. However, following a seven-year hiatus from directing, Puthren's return with Gold, starring Prithviraj and Nayanthara, failed to replicate the success of his earlier works. The future of his upcoming project, Gift, now remains uncertain. In the Instagram post, Puthren stated, "I’m stopping my cinema theatre career. I have Autism Spectrum Disorder which I found out yesterday on my own. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone else." But Puthren later deleted the post. He went on to express his commitment to continue creating, albeit in different mediums. Puthren vowed to focus on music, short films, and projects for streaming platforms. He shared a sense of vulnerability in his post, acknowledging the unpredictability of life and the impact of his health issues on his career. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Indian filmmaker Alphonse Puthren announces retirement due to autism diagnosis

According to the experts, children with autism are at increased risk due to several factors. Watch this video to know more.

Why are kids with ASD at increased risk of drowning?

After hosting 'Saturday Night Live' in 2015 and 2018, Amy Schumer returned to the 'SNL' stage to make fans go ROFL for the third time with musical guest Steve Lacy. During her much-awaited opening monologue, which ran for more than six minutes, Schumer spoke about the US midterm election, abortion access and poked fun at her husband Chris Fischer's autism diagnosis.

The comedian-actress first spoke about her husband's struggles with autism in her 2019 Netflix special Growing.

Speaking of the midterm elections, which she called "midterm abortion" before correcting herself in the monologue, she said, "Sorry, I was thinking about what’s at stake if we don’t vote." Schumer further spoke about her pregnancy and shared,&nbsp;"People love giving pregnant women advice, don’t they? Like the whole time I was pregnant, I had this one friend, she kept telling me ‘You gotta do prenatal yoga. It really helps with the birth.’ So, I immediately signed up… for a C-section."

The comedian then touched on her and her husband's sex life and&nbsp;went on to say that after someone gives birth, the doctors insist that they do not have sex for six weeks. "We do have a good sex life. We do," she said. "Married people, have you found this? We’ve found that the best weekday to have sex is always to… morrow. Like, we ate today. Maybe we won’t eat tomorrow. That’ll be a good day."

Schumer also spoke about her husband&nbsp;Chris Fischer’s&nbsp;autism spectrum disorder and recalled a recent moment she shared with her husband.&nbsp;"It's been really positive for our family to have him diagnosed. I understand so much more about his behaviour, and it's given him so many tools," she said while adding, "Now, if somebody is in the middle of a long, boring story, he will straight up just walk away."

She added, "A couple of weeks ago, we were sitting outside. It was a nice night. It looked like it was going to rain, and I was feeling kind of sentimental, and I was like, 'You know, even though these past couple of years with the pandemic and everything has been so stressful, still this time being with you, being with our son, they've been the best years of my life.'"

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Amy Schumer’s monologue! <a href="https://t.co/EuLCNJWWhN">pic.twitter.com/EuLCNJWWhN</a>
— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) <a href="https://twitter.com/nbcsnl/status/1589103801725702144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"And he just looked at me and said, 'I'm going to go put the windows up in the car,'" Schumer said in response. "Yeah, that's my guy. It's one of the times we play the game, autism or just a man?'"

Schumer also poked fun at Kanye West, before moving on to her sketch.

After hosting 'Saturday Night Live' in 2015 and 2018, Amy Schumer returned to the 'SNL' stage to make fans go ROFL for the third time with musical guest Steve Lacy.

After hosting 'Saturday Night Live' in 2015 and 2018, Amy Schumer returned to the 'SNL' stage to make fans go ROFL for the third time with musical guest Steve Lacy. During her much-awaited opening monologue, which ran for more than six minutes, Schumer spoke about the US midterm election, abortion access and poked fun at her husband Chris Fischer's autism diagnosis. The comedian-actress first spoke about her husband's struggles with autism in her 2019 Netflix special Growing. Speaking of the midterm elections, which she called "midterm abortion" before correcting herself in the monologue, she said, "Sorry, I was thinking about what’s at stake if we don’t vote." Schumer further spoke about her pregnancy and shared, "People love giving pregnant women advice, don’t they? Like the whole time I was pregnant, I had this one friend, she kept telling me ‘You gotta do prenatal yoga. It really helps with the birth.’ So, I immediately signed up… for a C-section." The comedian then touched on her and her husband's sex life and went on to say that after someone gives birth, the doctors insist that they do not have sex for six weeks. "We do have a good sex life. We do," she said. "Married people, have you found this? We’ve found that the best weekday to have sex is always to… morrow. Like, we ate today. Maybe we won’t eat tomorrow. That’ll be a good day." Schumer also spoke about her husband Chris Fischer’s autism spectrum disorder and recalled a recent moment she shared with her husband. "It's been really positive for our family to have him diagnosed. I understand so much more about his behaviour, and it's given him so many tools," she said while adding, "Now, if somebody is in the middle of a long, boring story, he will straight up just walk away." She added, "A couple of weeks ago, we were sitting outside. It was a nice night. It looked like it was going to rain, and I was feeling kind of sentimental, and I was like, 'You know, even though these past couple of years with the pandemic and everything has been so stressful, still this time being with you, being with our son, they've been the best years of my life.'" Amy Schumer’s monologue! pic.twitter.com/EuLCNJWWhN — Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) November 6, 2022 "And he just looked at me and said, 'I'm going to go put the windows up in the car,'" Schumer said in response. "Yeah, that's my guy. It's one of the times we play the game, autism or just a man?'" Schumer also poked fun at Kanye West, before moving on to her sketch.

Amy Schumer makes fun of her husband's Autism diagnosis during 'Saturday Night Live' monologue

According to Israeli scientists, symptoms of autism can be detected within the first year of one’s birth based on the proper identification of symptoms.

Studies were conducted by the Mifne Center for Early Intervention in the Treatment of Autism and the Weisfeld School of Social Work Continuing Education Unit at Bar-Ilan University

Both studies were published in the peer-reviewed academic periodical International Journal of Pediatrics &amp; Neonatal Care in December. But, both differed in their methodology.&nbsp;

The <a href="https://img.mako.co.il/2021/12/15/articleIJPNC178.pdf?Partner=interlink">first study</a> focused on early detection of autism based on video recordings of infants, while the second one compared the impact of early treatments that began at two different stages in life.

The first study used the video recordings of 110 infants (84 boys and 26 girls) who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder between the ages of 2 and 3.

The scientists had analysed the video clips of the infants during the first year of their lives that were filmed by the parents.

Notably, the parents had no suspicion regarding possible autism diagnosis at the time of filming, so the videos were used as a control group.

While analysing the clips, the scientists detected a number of symptoms such as aversion to touch, delayed motor development, excessive activity or passivity, lack of reactions, refusing to eat, an accelerated head circumference growth and a lack of eye contact.

Based on these findings, the scientists postulated that 89 per cent of the symptoms could be observed when the baby was just 4-6 months of age—which is difficult for parents to interpret these symptoms.

Keeping this in mind, the scientists at Mifne Center developed a screening tool known as ESPASSI to detect infants at risk for autism and used as a pilot at Ichilov Hospital.

The <a href="https://img.mako.co.il/2021/12/15/articleIJPNC179.pdf?Partner=interlink">second study </a>compared the effectiveness of treatments on 45 toddlers between 1-2 years of age and 39 toddlers between 2-3 years of age. All of the infants were being treated at the Mifne Center.

All of the babies were undergoing therapeutic therapy which is based on family therapy and attachment theory, which necessitates the entire family be given support and learn necessary coping skills.

Overall, reducing the time between early detection and therapy was found to have been far more successful in preventing neurodevelopment from severely deviating.

It also is important for another aspect: the family. When a parent is in constant worry, this essentially triggers a vicious cycle of sorts, something that is very harmful for neurodevelopment.

If the parents have the appropriate knowledge, support and coping mechanisms, however, they can properly help their child develop, the study found

“These two studies confirm that there is a window of opportunity and it makes complete sense that early detection and intervention will affect neuroanatomical development components at a stage which is most influential for the rapidly developing brain,” Alonim, scientist and lead author of both studies, said in a statement.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

According to Israeli scientists, symptoms of autism can be detected within the first year of one’s birth based on the proper identification of symptoms. Studies were conducted by the Mifne Center for Early Intervention in the Treatment of Autism and the Weisfeld School of Social Work Continuing Education Unit at Bar-Ilan University Both studies were published in the peer-reviewed academic periodical International Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care in December.

According to Israeli scientists, symptoms of autism can be detected within the first year of one’s birth based on the proper identification of symptoms. Studies were conducted by the Mifne Center for Early Intervention in the Treatment of Autism and the Weisfeld School of Social Work Continuing Education Unit at Bar-Ilan University Both studies were published in the peer-reviewed academic periodical International Journal of Pediatrics & Neonatal Care in December. But, both differed in their methodology. The first study focused on early detection of autism based on video recordings of infants, while the second one compared the impact of early treatments that began at two different stages in life. The first study used the video recordings of 110 infants (84 boys and 26 girls) who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder between the ages of 2 and 3. The scientists had analysed the video clips of the infants during the first year of their lives that were filmed by the parents. Notably, the parents had no suspicion regarding possible autism diagnosis at the time of filming, so the videos were used as a control group. While analysing the clips, the scientists detected a number of symptoms such as aversion to touch, delayed motor development, excessive activity or passivity, lack of reactions, refusing to eat, an accelerated head circumference growth and a lack of eye contact. Based on these findings, the scientists postulated that 89 per cent of the symptoms could be observed when the baby was just 4-6 months of age—which is difficult for parents to interpret these symptoms. Keeping this in mind, the scientists at Mifne Center developed a screening tool known as ESPASSI to detect infants at risk for autism and used as a pilot at Ichilov Hospital. The second study compared the effectiveness of treatments on 45 toddlers between 1-2 years of age and 39 toddlers between 2-3 years of age. All of the infants were being treated at the Mifne Center. All of the babies were undergoing therapeutic therapy which is based on family therapy and attachment theory, which necessitates the entire family be given support and learn necessary coping skills. Overall, reducing the time between early detection and therapy was found to have been far more successful in preventing neurodevelopment from severely deviating. It also is important for another aspect: the family. When a parent is in constant worry, this essentially triggers a vicious cycle of sorts, something that is very harmful for neurodevelopment. If the parents have the appropriate knowledge, support and coping mechanisms, however, they can properly help their child develop, the study found “These two studies confirm that there is a window of opportunity and it makes complete sense that early detection and intervention will affect neuroanatomical development components at a stage which is most influential for the rapidly developing brain,” Alonim, scientist and lead author of both studies, said in a statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Israeli scientists devise new way to detect autism symptoms in newborns

Young people on the autism spectrum were invited to dance at a night club in Taipei City on Saturday night to enhance their opportunities to socialize and expand their horizons, according to the event organizers. Over 30 people, all over 18-years-old, danced with their family members at Chess Taipei nightclub while wearing surgical masks to prevent spreading diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adults on the autism spectrum go clubbing in Taipei