Experts from across the region will meet in Bahrain to raise awareness about autism during a major conference this week.

They will also discuss latest technologies to treat people with the condition at the Sheraton Bahrain Hotel on Wednesday and Thursday, according to our sister publication, the Gulf Daily News.

Untangle Autism is being organised by the Bahrain Society for Children with Behavioural and Communication Difficulties and will be held under the patronage of Health Ministry Under-Secretary Dr Aysha Buaneq.

"The conference is being held mainly to raise awareness," said society secretary-general Shaikha Rania bint Ali Al Khalifa.

"We have experts coming from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and India. The conference is aimed at parents and experts who want to know the latest technologies in treating autism. We're expecting approximately 150 to 200 people to attend."

Shaikha Rania said focusing on autism was crucial as the number of children with the disease have drastically increased.

"It used to be about one in 1,000 individuals being diagnosed with autism," she said.

"However, it's now one in 100, making it pivotal to raise awareness in order to increase early diagnosis. Early detection is incredibly important for successful treatment."

The figures mean that the condition is more common than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes and paediatric AIDS combined.

Autism is four times more likely to affect boys than girls, and frequently impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others.

Most children with autism lack social support, meaningful relationships, future employment opportunities or self-determination.

"We want people to take away new technologies from this conference," added Shaikha Rania.

"There are many great new ways of treating autism, ranging from homoeopathic to neurology. The conference will cover the entire spectrum of autism. Many people carry features of autism rather than being diagnosed as autistic, and this conference will be helpful in that regard as well."

Talks will be given by Kuwait-based New England Centre for Children GCC division senior consultant Amy Atwell, who will discuss preventing and managing challenging behaviour and reviewing how to identify problem behaviour, while Riyadh-based King Khalid University Hospital paediatric neurologist and epileptologist consultant Dr Fahad Abdu Bashiri will speak of epilepsy in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Homoeopathic medicine and surgery expert Dr M A Rajalakshmi will speak on the need for an integrative and multidisciplinary approach to heal children with autism.

And Dubai London Clinic paediatrician Dr Shola Faniran will discuss early detection and intervention, while Riyadh Specialised Psychiatric Clinics disorders department head Wael Al Dakroury will speak about the underlying link between attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and ASD. – TradeArabia News Service