Whether you're new parents that have just had their first child or you have recently added one more sibling to the family group, at some point in time, being concerned about Autism may have crossed your mind. Roughly one out of every 150 infants that are born today is autistic, so it is imperative that the disorder be detected early in order to treat it properly. If you are unfamiliar with the disorder, it is important to educate yourself about it and learn about the early signs of Autism.
First and foremost, Autism is a neural development disorder that is characterized by the impairment of communication, language skills, and social interaction as well as repetitive or restricted behavior patterns. In most cases, these different characteristics appear by the time the child has reached three years of age. Autism affects how the brain processes information by altering the way that the nerve cells connect with and organize the synapses.
It is one of three different types of Autism disorders found on what is referred to as the Autism spectrum. The other two are Asperger's Syndrome where cognitive development and language skills are lacking and PDD-NOS or Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified. This disorder is usually diagnosed should the criteria involved in the diagnosis for either Autism or Asperger's Syndrome not be met.
What to look for
What you want to remember above everything else when you are concerned about the possibility of your infant being autistic is that recognizing the early signs of Autism may be the difference between diagnosing the disorder properly and missing it completely. The earlier the disorder is diagnosed, the sooner you can start treatment and increase your chances of having a better outcome for both you and your child.
Early detection of Autism is critical so the sooner you educate yourself about the warning signs, the better. Here are some basic suggestions for recognizing the early signs of the disorder based on what the child should have accomplished by a certain time in their early development:
o By the time your child is 6 months old, they should be smiling whenever they are delighted or feel joy for one reason or another.
o Mimicking facial expressions, vocal intonations, and words should be evident by the time your child is 10 months old.
o Once the child has reached two years of age, they should be talking and should have at least several words in their ever-growing vocabulary.
Remember that the child may only exhibit one of the early signs of Autism. Even if all the symptoms are not being exhibited, your child may still be diagnosed as autistic. One way or the other, you should take your child to their pediatrician to determine if further testing for the disorder may be necessary. Diagnosing the disorder as early as possible in the child's development is critical and could mean treating it sooner that you can prevent complications and avoid more additional negative consequences.
For the latest videos and training information on child development as well as books and curricula on Autism please visit childdevelopmentmedia.com.
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