AUTISM: EARLY INTERVENTION CAN CHANGE LIVES
Autism is a complex neurobehavioral disorder. It is called a spectrum disorder because it affects some children much more than others. It typically appears during the first three years of a child’s life.
The disorder is characterized by significant impairments in social interaction and communication. Many people with autism have unusual ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to different sensations.
Autism is called a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD) and shares some of the same characteristics as Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome and others. At this time, the exact cause of the disorder remains uncertain. Research suggests that any one of several factors may be involved including a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
What is known is that autism is treatable and that while children cannot “outgrow” it, early diagnosis and intervention can lead to dramatically better outcomes.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (APP) recommends that all children be screened for autism by their family pediatrician at 18 months and again at 24 months. The APP also recommends that treatment be started when an autism diagnosis is suspected, rather than waiting for a formal diagnosis.
Studies in early childhood development have shown that young brains are very flexible and that early intervention yields a tremendous amount of progress in children with autism.
If there is some reason you are concerned, now is the time to talk to your pediatrician.
There are no medical tests for autism. However, specialists such as neurologists, developmental pediatricians, psychologists or psychiatrists can look at behavioral symptoms and do a thorough evaluation to make a diagnosis.
Testing is also offered to determine if autism is secondary to an underlying genetic, structural or metabolic disorder. |
Some signs to look for:
• Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
• Difficulty expressing needs, using gestures or pointing instead of words
• Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language
• Laughing (and/or crying) for no apparent reason; showing distress for reasons not apparent to others
• Preferring to be alone
• Little or no eye contact
• Obsessive attachment to objects ---------------------------------------------------
Learn more about autism by visiting
Duluth Children’s Health Information Library.
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Often such tests are normal, but they may exclude disorders that make it more likely for parents of an autistic child to have another child affected by the disorder. In general, a family with one autistic child has a 1:40 chance of having another child with autism.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions and seek help. Recognizing the signs of a developmental delay as early as possible and getting intervention services right away can help your child reach his or her full potential. |