A Short Guide to Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or autism, refers to a group of developmental disorders that can cause behavioral, communication and social problems. The severity of these issues can vary in individuals. This disorder occurs in all ethnic, racial and socioeconomic groups and statistics indicate that it is five times more common in males than females. ASD does not have a known cure and so far, doctors have not been able to identify the exact cause of this disorder. However, there can be different factors that make a child more likely to be autistic, including biological, environmental and genetic factors.

Symptoms

Autism’s early signs and symptoms tend to vary from case to case. Some children with ASD only have mild symptoms whereas others may exhibit severe behavioral issues. Regardless, every child who is autistic experiences difficulties with one or more of the following:

• Social interaction
• Communication (verbal and non-verbal)
• Repetitive behaviors

Typically, infants are interested in everything around them, but an autistic child will come off as disinterested and will find it difficult to interact. A child may be autistic if they:

• Don’t wave goodbye and point at people or objects
• Wish to be alone
• Have obsessive interests
• Throw temper tantrums
• Exhibit a lack of responsiveness
• Don’t track people with their eyes
• Have late development of language skills
• Don’t imitate expressions
• Don’t reach out to be picked up
• Don’t like make-believe games
• Have unusual reactions to the way things taste or smell

Autism Diagnosis

The diagnosis of autism is typically made in early childhood. But, it is also a fact that autism can be difficult to diagnose because the severity and symptoms of the disorder vary greatly and its cause has not been found yet. Currently, there is no official test for diagnosing an autistic child. But, parents do have the option of taking an online test for autism child if they notice some early indicators. If you want an official diagnosis, it is usually made by a team of experts and specialists.

Early Indicators

It is considered normal behavior for toddlers to interact with people and their environment. Parents are the first ones to notice if their child is exhibiting atypical behavior. They need to be familiar with the early warning signs of autism and immediately consult a doctor if they see them. Some of the early indicators are:

• Not responding to their name
• Not making eye contact
• Not showing joyful expressions or smiling by 6 months of age
• Not babbling even when they are a year old
• Not showing, pointing, waving or gesturing by 12 months of age
• Not speaking meaningful phrases by the time they turn 2
• Losing social and speech skills

Takeaway

It is of the utmost importance for parents to ensure that autism is diagnosed as early and accurately as possible. Delaying the diagnosis because you don’t want to accept it can cause huge problems for your child in the future. Early intervention and treatment can be very effective in reducing some of the challenges that your child will eventually experience. This provides them with the highest possibility of independence. If you notice any symptoms, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

They will recommend you to consult specialists and experts such as child psychologists, neurologists, occupational therapists, developmental pediatricians and language and speech pathologists. Different evaluations are performed and various screening tools are used for reaching a diagnosis. Genetic testing may also be recommended if anyone in the family suffers from ASD.

After the diagnosis, treatment needs to be customized for your child in order to meet their needs. Teachers, doctors, therapists and parents need to work together to ensure the child is able to function as normally as possible.

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