Have more questions? Autism Speaks' Autism Response Team can help you with information, resources and opportunities. Autism Speaks' multi-year Ad Council public service advertising campaign stresses the importance of recognizing the early signs of autism and seeking early intervention services. Recent research confirms that appropriate screening can determine whether a child is at risk for autism as young as one year. While every child develops differently, we also know that early treatment improves outcomes, often dramatically.
Studies show , for example, that early intensive behavioral intervention improves learning, communication and social skills in young children with autism spectrum disorders ASD. Asperger Syndrome Autism Statistics and Facts. Associated Conditions Sensory Issues. Treatments Access Services Insurance. Trust your instincts. But sometimes, even well-meaning doctors miss red flags or underestimate problems.
Schedule a follow-up appointment with the doctor, seek a second opinion, or ask for a referral to a child development specialist. Some children with autism spectrum disorder start to develop communication skills and then regress, usually between 12 and 24 months. Although autism is hard to diagnose before 24 months, symptoms often surface between 12 and 18 months. If signs are detected by 18 months of age, intensive treatment may help to rewire the brain and reverse the symptoms.
The earliest signs of autism involve the absence of typical behaviors—not the presence of atypical ones—so they can be tough to spot. However, you can catch warning signs early if you know what to look for. By 9 months: No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions. By 12 months: No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving.
As children get older, the red flags for autism become more diverse. There are many warning signs and symptoms, but they typically revolve around impaired social skills, speech and language difficulties, non-verbal communication difficulties, and inflexible behavior.
Basic social interaction can be difficult for children with autism spectrum disorder. Many kids on the autism spectrum seem to prefer to live in their own world, aloof and detached from others. Children with autism spectrum disorder have difficulty with speech and language.
Often, they start talking late. Children with autism spectrum disorder have trouble picking up on subtle nonverbal cues and using body language.
Children with autism spectrum disorder are often restricted, inflexible, and even obsessive in their behaviors, activities, and interests. Until recently, most scientists believed that autism is caused mostly by genetic factors. But groundbreaking new research indicates that environmental factors may also be important in the development of autism. Babies may be born with a genetic vulnerability to autism that is then triggered by something in the external environment, either while he or she is still in the womb or sometime after birth.
In fact, one of the most important environments appears to be the prenatal environment. Nutritional deficiencies early in pregnancy, particularly not getting enough folic acid.
Complications at or shortly after birth, including very low birth weight and neonatal anemia. Exposure to chemical pollutants, such as metals and pesticides , while pregnant. Take a multivitamin. Rather, a combination of many tools is necessary for an autism diagnosis. Some examples of screening tools include:.
There are many genes and environmental factors that can contribute to ASD. Some laboratories can test for some of the biomarkers believed to be indicators for ASD. They look for the most common known genetic contributors, though relatively few people will find useful answers. An atypical result on one of these genetic tests means that genetics probably contributed to the presence of ASD.
A typical result only means that a specific genetic contributor has been ruled out and that the cause is still unknown. Autistic people can thrive and find communities for support and a shared experience.
But diagnosing ASD early and accurately is important to allow an autistic person to understand themselves and their needs, and for others parents, teachers, etc. Early intervention may reduce the challenges your child may experience. It also gives them the best possibility for independence. A team of specialists, teachers, therapists, doctors, and parents should design a program for each individual child.
In general, the earlier a child is diagnosed , the better their long-term outlook. The diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder includes conditions that used to be diagnosed separately.
A large-scale study of half a million people over 10 years confirms yet again that there is no connection between the measles, mumps, rubella MMR …. Is autism in women different than it is in men? The importance of this partnership cannot be stressed enough. If your child does have autism, an early diagnosis is better because then your child can start receiving the help he or she needs.
Talk with your doctor if you feel your child needs to be screened regardless of their age and share your concerns—you know your child the best! Learning your child has a lifelong developmental disability is difficult. Naturally, you as a parent, other caregivers, and extended family need to grieve about this.
You will undoubtedly worry about what the future holds. Keep in mind during these difficult times that most children with ASD will make significant progress in overall function. Some children with ASD can do exceptionally well and may even remain in a regular education classroom. Many will have meaningful relationships with family and peers and achieve a good level of independence as adults. It is important to remember that while a diagnosis of autism may change what you thought your parenting experience would be, we now know that children with ASD can achieve so much more in life as long as they are given appropriate support and opportunities.
Because the DSM-5 criteria combine all previous subdiagnoses under one condition ASD , there may be inconsistency between insurance billing databases and DSM-5 diagnoses. Parents, see the Health Insurance section on HealthyChildren.
On or after Oct. Editor's note: Children with ASD may have other medical problems that may need further evaluation and treatment. These may include seizures, problems with sleep, gastrointestinal problems feeding problems, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, and behavioral health problems such as anxiety, ADHD, irritability, and aggression.
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