Friday, March 22, 2024

How Do I Know My Son Is Autistic

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Signs Of Autism Meltdown

5 Signs You DO NOT Have Autism

For some people with autism, sensory overload can become overwhelming. In these situations a person may have a meltdown. A change in routine can also precipitate a meltdown.

A meltdown is not a temper tantrum and can be experienced by someone with autism of any age. A meltdown should be managed by calming the person and addressing the cause of the distress.

Signs that a meltdown may be developing, sometimes known as the rumbling stage, include:

Many people with autism spectrum disorder also have food intolerances and may find that a diet which excludes gluten or casein helps.

Signs And Symptoms Of Autism In Babies And Toddlers

If autism is caught in infancy, treatment can take full advantage of the young brains remarkable plasticity. 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 behaviorsnot the presence of atypical onesso they can be tough to spot. In some cases, the earliest symptoms of autism are even misinterpreted as signs of a good baby, since the infant may seem quiet, independent, and undemanding. However, you can catch warning signs early if you know what to look for.

Some autistic infants dont respond to cuddling, reach out to be picked up, or look at their mothers when being fed.

Focus On Your Child Not Staring Bystanders

Meltdowns for any child can get noisy, but they tend to go to a whole other level of loud when its an autistic child.

These outbursts can feel embarrassing to parents when were in public and everyone is staring at us.

We feel the judgment from some saying, Id never let my kid act like that.

Or worse, we feel like our deepest fears are validated: People think were failing at this whole parenting thing.

Next time you find yourself in this public display of chaos, ignore the judgmental looks, and quiet down that fearful inner voice saying youre not enough. Remember that the person who is struggling and needs your support the most is your child.

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What To Do If You Think Your Child Has Autism

Symptoms of autism most often surface between 12 and 24 months. Since a childs brain is still forming at this age, early intervention is imperative. Research shows that early intervention can lead to improved quality of life in the future, particularly in terms of academics and relationships. That is why its so important to understand key warning signs.

When it comes to the diagnostic process, its important to seek a professional opinion. The average age of a child diagnosed with autism is just over four years old. However, early diagnosis would be closer to the age of two. While the majority of concerned parents turn to the internet, searching phrases like my two-year-old isnt looking at me or my toddler isnt talking + autism. Although its good to seek answers from reliable sources, if you are truly concerned, you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.

Remember, ASD symptoms can vary greatly from one person to the next. That is why you must speak with a licensed clinician or developmental pediatrician, and multiple tests may be required. Being such a broad spectrum, various criteria need to be taken into account, including a childs history and behavioral patterns. As a childs parent or caregiver, a lot of information will come from you.

Any Form Of Autism Can Benefit From A Therapeutic Approach

#65 How Do I Know if My Child has Autism?

Unnoticeable signs of autism can be detrimental to a childs wellbeing when caregivers neglect to investigate further. People with autism can be given strategies and support that can help them work alongside their condition and be successful while still being completely and utterly themselves.

Once you begin talking with professionals about your childs unique situation and any unexpected behaviors or occurrences, you can begin to understand him or her better. With support from clinicians and the community, you can provide conditions and strategies that encourage your child to have a less stressful, more fulfilling life.

If you think your child or a child in your life might have autism, take the first step toward seeing if they need extra care, attention, and support from you. Seek a diagnosis and support from professionals who use an evidence-based approach to achieve goals that help children thrive.

Therapeutic Pathways offers evidence-based autism treatment, including assessments post diagnosis for treatment purposes. Contact us today with concerns or for resources to help you determine if your child has ASD and the steps to take after receiving a diagnosis.

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Autism May Be Genetic

While scientists do not know what causes autism, there may be a genetic component. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, autism tends to run in families. What’s more, evidence now suggests that mutations of certain genes can increase one’s risk of being autistic. Still, it’s important to note that this link is complex. “Most people with autism have different mutations and combinations of mutations,” an article by the National Institute of Health explains. “Not everyone with autism has changes in every gene that scientists have linked to ASD.”

How To Spot Signs Of Autism In Teenagers

This article was co-authored by George Sachs, PsyD. George Sachs is a Licensed Psychologist and the Owner of Sachs Center based in New York, New York. With over ten years of experience, Dr. Sachs specializes in treating ADD/ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorders in children, teens, and adults. He holds a BS in Psychology from Emory University. Dr. Sachs earned his Doctorate of Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology, Chicago. He completed his clinical training in Chicago at Cook County Hospital, Mt. Sinai Hospital, and the Child Study Center. Dr. Sachs completed his internship and postdoctoral work at the Childrens Institute in Los Angeles, where he supervised and trained therapists in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy . He has been trained as a Gestalt Therapist and certified by the Gestalt Associates Training Program of Los Angeles. Dr. Sachs is the author of The Adult ADD Solution, Helping the Traumatized Child, and Helping Your Husband with Adult ADD. He has appeared on the Huffington Post, NBC Nightly News, CBS, and WPIX discussing his holistic approach to ADD/ADHD treatment.There are 32 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 91,087 times.

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Help For Parents With A Child With Autism

Its important to have an early start for your child with autism because the power of early intervention is based on the brains plasticity or ability to change. The earlier a child with autism receives therapy, the higher the chance is that theyll retain new, lasting skills. For example, how to take turns or avoid tantrums. If your child is diagnosed with autism, spend plenty of time with them. Your job is to understand your childs comfort zone and then gently encourage them to step outside of it.

If your child is older, dont panic. Those who are diagnosed later tend to have milder symptoms and some children diagnosed after age 5 display average or even above-average intelligence. The lesson here is that its never too late to intervene. For more resources on parenting a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, you can read this article here.

At Carmen B. Pingree Autism Center of Learning, we provide state-of-the-art intervention for children and adolescents with autism. We also offer a unique adult autism program. Delivering real results, the programs offered at the Pingree Center transform lives.

Do you think your child may have autism and have questions? Please contact us today!

Autism is not a disability, its a different ability. Stuart Duncan

Understanding Developmental Milestones And How These Present In Autism

My Autistic Son Through the Years – First Signs of Autism and Speech Development

Lisa Jo Rudy, autism consultant and writer, lists some important points about developmental milestones in her article on the Very Well Health website. She states that children with autism tend not to reach all of their developmental milestones at the appropriate times. The reality is:

  • Many autistic children reach early developmental milestones on time or early, but then lose ground.
  • Most autistic children reach some of their developmental milestones on time or early, but reach others late or not at all.
  • Some autistic children reach some of their developmental milestones extraordinarily early but reach others extraordinarily late.
  • Children with autism can appear to gain important skillsbut in fact, be unable to use those skills in real-world situations.
  • Many children with autism have so-called splinter skills, which can be very advanced but which are not useful in daily life.
  • Autistic children, particularly girls who are high-functioning, are sometimes able to hide or overcome some developmental delays.
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    Vaccines Have Not Been Linked To Autism

    Even though there’s been widespread controversy about a possible connection between vaccines and autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , vaccines do not cause autism. Some parents of children whose autistic symptoms first appeared shortly after their measles-mumps-rubella immunization are convinced the shot was the cause, but repeated studies have failed to find scientific evidence.

    What’s more, the one small scaleand heavily criticizedstudy which suggested otherwise has been retracted and debunked. In January 2011, the British Medical Journal publicly denounced Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the author of the study. They cited the research as “fraudulent,” stating he had “falsified data” and tampered with his research results to give the MMR vaccine bad publicity.

    “Any apparent association is a coincidence,” says Neal Halsey, M.D., director of the Institute for Vaccine Safety at Johns Hopkins University, in Baltimore. Up to 40% of children with autism experience regression at 12 to 18 months. That is to say that they develop as expected but then suddenly lose communication and social skills. This onset of symptoms just happens to coincide with when the MMR vaccine is administered for these kids as the first dose of the MMR vaccine is routinely given between 12 to 15 months.

    Level : Requiring Support

    A person who meets the criteria for level 1 may face social challenges that require some support.

    They may find it difficult to:

    • initiate conversations with others
    • respond as others would expect
    • maintain interest in the conversation

    As a result, it can be hard to make friends, especially without the right support.

    The person may also:

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  • What To Do Next

    8 Reasons Why You Should Tell Your Child That They

    If you are noticing your childs behavior and it falls under the list above, it is time to take action. The first thing to do is to talk to a doctor, a pediatrician, or a specialist. Keep in mind that there is no medical test to diagnose Autism such as covid or diabetes. A diagnosis is performed through interviews, evaluations, and observation such as speech evaluation or Autism Diagnostic Interview, or ADI-R.

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    Little Or No Imitatin Other People Of Pretending

    They use a variety of functional actions like putting a sippy cup in their mouth to drink and a spoon in their mouth to eat.

    From this, they learn to pretend in play they may offer you a sip with a cup or bottle, give Teddy bear a hug and cover him with a blanket or jiggle a pan with invisible stuff inside to pretend to cook.

    Children with autism usually have strengths in using objects in solitary play.

    If your child is showing little or no imitating of others, and is not beginning to pretend in play, it can be an early sign of autism.

    What Are Some Possible Signs Of Mild Autism

    ASD encompasses a broad range of behavioral patterns and experiences.

    Inconsistency from one ASD case to the next can make it more difficult for caregivers to fully connect the dots.

    Even so, there are many common behaviors that could point to a possible ASD diagnosis. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , these may include:

    Some children with ASD may appear to have a learning disability or other form of behavior disorder. They may also have co-occurring medical challenges, such as gastrointestinal discomfort, trouble sleeping, or seizures. Many individuals with autism may also have mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, or an attention deficit disorder.

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    Autism In Young Children

    Signs of autism in young children include:

    • not responding to their name
    • avoiding eye contact
    • not smiling when you smile at them
    • getting very upset if they do not like a certain taste, smell or sound
    • repetitive movements, such as flapping their hands, flicking their fingers or rocking their body
    • not talking as much as other children
    • repeating the same phrases

    Signs of autism in older children include:

    • not seeming to understand what others are thinking or feeling
    • finding it hard to say how they feel
    • liking a strict daily routine and getting very upset if it changes
    • having a very keen interest in certain subjects or activities
    • getting very upset if you ask them to do something
    • finding it hard to make friends or preferring to be on their own
    • taking things very literally for example, they may not understand phrases like “break a leg”

    Is My Child Autistic

    What it’s really like to have autism | Ethan Lisi
    • Is My Child Autistic?

    No parent wants to ever utter the question, Is my child autistic? However, when certain signs or symptoms appear, the possibility needs to be considered.

    If you are worried that your child may have Autism, we want to remind you that even if an Autism diagnosis occurs, there is still hope for you and your child to have a loving, communicative, and fabulous relationship. That said, it is also important to know as early as possible if your child lands on the Autism spectrum so you can begin to meet your child where he or she is at with love and understanding.

    So please consider the information below to determine whether it is time to make an appointment with your pediatrician. Also know that we here at Autism Treatment Center of America are here for you and your child. You can learn more about our proven Son-Rise Program here.

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    Speech And Language Difficulties May Present As Early Signs Of Autism

    Children with ASD may have a hard time speaking and communicating at the expected level for their age.

    Even during infancy, you might notice that your child does not babble or coo in response when you talk and attempt to interact. By their first birthday, most toddlers can speak a word or two, but autism symptoms in children often include delayed speech.

    Sometimes, children with ASD babble and coo in the first few months of life, and then cease to communicate altogether. In these cases, all forms of verbal communication and normal language development and experimentation with speech abruptly stop. This can be disconcerting for parents and is often a sign of autism in young children and an indicator that its time to investigate further by seeking professional help.

    Even in cases where autistic children do speak and demonstrate pretty typical signs of normal language development, they often repeat unrelated words and phrases over and over and, in essence, speaking without really communicating or conveying a feeling, thought or desire.

    Early intervention is key to helping autistic children learn to communicate, whether it is through spoken language, or in more extreme cases, through sign language or even an alternative augmentative communication device.

    What Are The Causes Of Autism

    Experts donât fully understand all of the causes of autism spectrum disorder. It seems to be genetic, but things such as parental age and prescription medications taken during pregnancy may be involved.

    For instance:

    • A person is more likely to be on the spectrum if a brother, sister, or parent is. But it doesnât always run in families.
    • About 10% of kids with ASD have a form of genetic disorder such as Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome.
    • A large Danish study found a link between ASD and advanced parental age of either parent.
    • Women prescribed opioids just before pregnancy are likelier to have a child with ASD.

    Some children who are on the spectrum start showing signs as young as a few months old. Others seem to have normal development for the first few months or years of their lives and then they start showing symptoms.

    But up to half of parents of children with ASD noticed issues by the time their child reached 12 months, and between 80% and 90% noticed problems by 2 years. Children with ASD will have symptoms throughout their lives, but itâs possible for them to get better as they get older.

    The autism spectrum is very wide. Some people might have very noticeable issues, others might not. The common thread is differences in social skills, communication, and behavior compared with people who arenât on the spectrum.

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