Q and A:  Autism

Question 1.  What exactly is "autism"? What happens? At what age do you see Autistic behavior start to happen?  My daughter is 22 months old and is not talking.  She is getting speech therapy, but I am worried that she has a bigger problem.  Please help.

Answer:

Autism is an umbrella term for a wide spectrum of disorders, sometimes referred to as "Pervasive Developmental Disorders" or "Autism Spectrum Disorders." It is a developmental disorder which affects a child's ability to relate and communicate. For some unknown reason, boys have a significantly higher incidence of autism than girls: four out of every five people with autism are male.

Autistic spectrum disorders are defined by deficits in three core areas: social skills, communication, and behaviors and/or interests.

 

The first signs of autism most often present themselves before the age of three; there may be warning signs in children under the age of one. Most often, parents first notice loss of skills or delays in development around 15 to 18 months.

Autism is characterized by deficits in social reciprocity which includes a range of back-and-forth actions, such as gestures, sounds, play, attention, and conversation. Further, ritualistic and obsessive behaviors are often present: for example, a child may insist on lining up toys rather than playing with them. In addition, a child with this condition may have uncontrollable temper tantrums, an extreme resistance to change, and over- or under-sensitivity to sights and sounds.

The signs may be obvious, or subtle: for example, a three year old child can read, but can't play peek-a-boo. Another child may never utter a spoken word, but rather uses pictures or signing to be understood. The symptoms are varied, but one thing is clear:  the earlier a child is diagnosed and begins receiving services, the better the prognosis for the child.

Autism is invisible.  For that reason, it can be very mysterious and troubling. If you are concerned about these symptoms in your children, I highly recommend http://www.firstsigns.org to read more about the warning signs of autism and other developmental problems.

If your child's development is worrying you, then I suggest an evaluation as soon as possible. Talk to your child's pediatrician.  Your local early intervention program, a children's hospital, or a developmental pediatrician or psychologist are all possible sources for this kind of help.

RN