Tuesday, March 26, 2024

How Do You Know If A Child Has Autism

Don't Miss

Developmental Signs Of Autism In Children

How Do You Know If Your Child Has Autism: Best Treatments

The developmental signs of autism in children are the most likely to be picked up by your childs pediatrician.

That is, unless your pediatrician is like A-Mans that blamed his delays on our parenting.

The first developmental sign is one that happens so early, that most parents notice it retroactively after their child gets an autism diagnosis.

See, as a baby, many autistic children may not coo or make eye contact at the typical age.

Autistic children may also struggle with motor control, both gross motor and fine motor.

A-Man struggled with certain gross motor milestones like jumping with both feet, as well as fine motor skills like holding a pencil.

You may also notice that autistic children may not point or show interest in typical ways.

It isnt that we dont notice things or have interests, we just dont always think to share them with the others around us.

One of the biggest signs most parents notice is that autistic children may show extreme food preferences and aversions.

Now, Im not talking picky eating and not liking onions in their food.

A-Man had a legitimate phobia of pasta as a toddler and preschooler. Even still, he cannot handle eating pasta, but he can see it on the table without struggle.

Autistic children may also reverse pronouns longer than typical children.

For example, they may say you instead of I often.

This is because most autistic children who speak do so by copying scripts we hear others use.

Signs Of Asperger Syndrome

People with Asperger syndrome are generally considered to be on the higher functioning end of the autism spectrum. It is still a form of autism and is a lifelong condition.

Signs and symptoms that are typical of people with Asperger syndrome include:

  • Very narrow and highly focused interests
  • Great importance on rules and routines
  • High standard of language skills, potentially very formal in expression
  • Monotonous or repetitive speech
  • Making the same noise repeatedly
  • Scratching

These behaviors provide the person with a form of sensory input that the person finds appealing or helpful. There are various reasons why someone could be engaging in self-stimulatory behavior:

  • They find it enjoyable
  • It provides something to focus on, thereby reducing the effects of other, nearby stimuli
  • It is soothing and helps with anxiety

How Parents Can Spot The Warning Signs

As a parent, youre in the best position to spot the earliest warning signs of autism. You know your child better than anyone and observe behaviors and quirks that a pediatrician, in a quick fifteen-minute visit, might not have the chance to see. Your childs pediatrician can be a valuable partner, but dont discount the importance of your own observations and experience. The key is to educate yourself so you know whats typical and whats not.

Monitor your childs development. Autism involves a variety of developmental delays, so keeping a close eye on whenor ifyour child is hitting the key social, emotional, and cognitive milestones is an effective way to spot the problem early on. While developmental delays dont automatically point to autism, they may indicate a heightened risk.

Take action if youre concerned. Every child develops at a different pace, so you dont need to panic if your child is a little late to talk or walk. When it comes to healthy development, theres a wide range of typical. But if your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or you suspect a problem, share your concerns with your childs doctor immediately. Dont wait.

Regression of any kind is a serious autism warning sign

You May Like: Is My Child Autistic Or Gifted

Interacting With A Child Who Has Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder is;a developmental disorder. It affects how children interact and communicate with others. The disorder;is called a spectrum disorder because;children can be anywhere on the autism spectrum.

Children with ASD start to show symptoms at an early age. The symptoms continue during childhood and adulthood. Healthcare providers;dont know why some children develop ASD. It may be a combination of genes they are born with and something in their environment that triggers those genes.

Children with ASD have trouble relating to other people. They have trouble making eye contact. They often withdraw into themselves. They may seem uninterested in relating to family members.

But some children with ASD may love to keep talking with family members, friends, and even strangers about a topic they are obsessed with. The problem is that they may talk about it too long. Or they may talk only about that one subject. This can push other people away.

If you are a parent or grandparent of a child with ASD, it can be heartbreaking if you feel like you just can’t connect with him or her. But learning more about these disorders and what has helped others can help you and your relationship.

Telling Your Child They Have Autism

10 Things Every Child With Autism Wants You To Know ...

Guest Writer: Karen Kaizuka, parent

Fear. That is the overwhelming feeling that rushes through me when I think about telling my son that he has autism. What do you say? How do you say it? Can we just not tell him?!!

Our little guy is 6. He was diagnosed with autism when he was 4. He is doing remarkably well. He is learning how to read. In fact, he is reading absolutely everything around him and is asking what words mean. We cant drive down the road without him reading signs, No Parking, Bridge Closed.

Every time we drive past the mall, he says, JCPenneys. One day he said, Mom, what is JCPenneys? I responded, Its a department store. The next time we drove by he said, JCPenneys. A department store. He then asked, Why is it called JCPenneys? I had no clue, so I quickly turned to Wikipedia for the facts.

Hes come such a long ways from a few years ago when he had lost most of his speech. I never thought that he would be able to answer a question. How many times did we act out skits about how one person asks the question, then the other person answers the question? No matter what, he would always answer the question, What is your name? with, What is your name? Now to have him inquisitive and asking questions is a dream come true!

We asked our Clinical Director, Felice Orlich, for some guidance on telling your child he/she has autism and here is what she had to say:;

Recommended Reading: What Is Occupational Therapy For Autism

How Is Asd Treated

One of the biggest challenges is finding the most effective form of treatment. The choices seem endless and differentiating one from another can be daunting. Parents often rely on therapists to direct and administer treatment, but many parents want to learn as much as possible so theyre in the best position to help their child. The most common treatments include applied behavioral analysis, relationship-building strategies, speech/language, and occupational therapy, counseling, and social skills groups.

To learn more, read our ASD Overview; article.

Your privacy is important to us. All results are completely anonymous.

What Early Signs Of Autism Should I Watch For In My Child

While the causes of autism remain mysterious, the;early signs of autism don’t come out of nowhere. Most parents of autistic children recognize language delays at around 18 months of age. In fact, there are a few red flags that parents can look out for in their child much earlier than that. The;American Academy of Pediatrics says some subtle, early signs of autism to look for before baby is 12 to 18 months old include:

  • Your child doesn’t turn when you say his or her name by 12 months
  • Your child doesn’t turn to look when you point and say, “Look at”
  • Your child doesn’t point to show you interesting objects or events
  • Your child doesn’t engage in back-and-forth baby babbling
  • Delay in smiling and laughing
  • Your child doesn’t make and keep eye contact with people

Other early signs of autism that warrant evaluation by your pediatrician include the following :

  • No babbling, pointing or other gestures by 12 months
  • No single words by 16 months
  • No two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months
  • Loss of language or social skills at any age

Also Check: Can A Speech Pathologist Diagnose Autism

If You Find It Hard To Get Diagnosed

It’s not always easy to get an autism assessment. Waiting times can also be very long.

If you’re finding it hard to get an assessment, you could ask to speak to someone else, like another GP this is called getting a second opinion.

It may also help to speak to other people who have been in a similar situation.

How Pediatricians Screen For Autism

How do you know if your child with autism has a redox problem?

Children are screened by pediatricians after they are born. Your childs pediatric primary health care provider will start screening your kid for any developmental or communication challenges.

This will happen at your childs first well-baby appointment.

Pediatricians observe the behavior of your child. They inspect the babys giggles, eye movements. They point or wave and call your babys name to assess their reactions.

In addition, they get family history, examine the health of the child as well as the input from the childs parents or caregivers.

With that, pediatric primary health care providers identify whether the child is at risk for autism spectrum disorder.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children be screened for ASD at their 18 and 24 month well baby visits.

This is done in addition to the regular developmental observance and screening. This may identify children with significant developmental delays early.

Multiple tools can be used by the health care provider for ASD screening like Ages and Stages Questionnaires SE-2 , Pervasive Developmental Disorders Screening Test-II , Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales , and Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers Revised with follow-up .

However, screening does not equal to diagnosis.

If pediatricians notice a delay or suspect ASD, they will refer your kid to a specialist in order to provide a certain diagnosis and plan on a treatment plan.

Read Also: Can Autistic Child Study In Normal School

Should I Get My Child Assessed

You should get your child assessed for ASD if:

  • you have concerns
  • you notice any signs or symptoms
  • your child has a close relative with ASD

Normally, your health care provider will test your child first. You can help your health care provider understand the unusual behaviour you see by:

  • taking photographs
  • maintaining logs or diaries
  • capturing these behaviours on video

If there are concerns, then your health care provider should refer you to a specialist for more tests. A specialist is the best person to help diagnose your child.

How Accurate Is It

This quiz is;NOT a diagnostic tool. Mental health disorders can only be diagnosed by licensed healthcare professionals. If youd like to learn more about autism read;Psycoms guide to;autism spectrum disorder .

Psycom;believes assessments can be a valuable first step toward getting treatment. All too often people stop short of seeking help out of fear their concerns arent legitimate or severe enough to warrant professional intervention.

Also Check: Are There Doctors With Autism

Choosing When To Tell Your Child About His Diagnosis

Today, thanks to advances in our understanding of autism spectrum disorders, many autistic children are diagnosed at a young age, leaving parents with the task of deciding when their child is old enough to be told about his condition. There is no single right answer to this question, however; children on the spectrum develop at different rates and while one child may have the social awareness and maturity needed to process what an autism diagnosis means by age five or six, another might not be ready until he is eight or ten. Usually, knowing your child well and monitoring his overall developmental progress will provide you with the insight you need to choose the right time to reveal his diagnosis.

If your child is not diagnosed until he is older, choosing when to tell him ought to depend on his overall emotional state: If he is struggling with depression and low self-esteem as a result of prior bullying and other bad experiences, you may wish to wait until his emotional state has been improved by professional intervention. If, on the other hand, your child has received a prior diagnosis of some kind and is therefore comfortable with the concept, he may be ready to hear about his autism diagnosis right away . Once again, observing your child and understanding his current needs and feelings is key to selecting the right time to reveal his diagnosis.

How To Tell Your Child That He Has Autism

How Do You Know If Your Child Has Autism: Best Treatments ...

Dr. William Chen | January 6, 2018

Parents of children on the autism spectrum often balk at breaking the news of a diagnosis to their son or daughter; after all, while they know that they will always love and accept their autistic child because of, and not in spite of, who he is, there’s no way to be sure that the child will feel the same way. Parents are all too aware of the stigma that comes with being and feeling different, and as such, they sometimes mistakenly believe that hiding their child’s autism diagnosis may be healthier for him. In reality, however, nothing could be further from the truth: To be comfortable with himself, your child must first learn to know himself.

Read Also: Could Autism Be An Autoimmune Disorder

What Other Conditions Can Be Mistaken For Aspergers

Obsessive compulsive disorder , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , and social anxiety disorder all can look similar to Aspergers, says Eric Hollander, MD, director of the Autism and Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.

For example, a child with ADHD, due to distractibility, may display inconsistent eye contact and not be entirely responsive to directives. So in that sense, a child with ADHD may appear similar to a child with Aspergers but the underlying reasons for the issues are far different, says John Carosso, PsyD, a child psychologist and certified school psychologist at Community Psychiatric Centers at the Autism Center of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. So Aspergers can be a challenging diagnosis to make.

Communication: Early Signs Of Autism

In the first year of life, childrens social and communication development is an important area to watch for early signs of autism. Social and communication development includes things like learning to smile, make eye contact, and use gestures.

Social interaction and communicationIf young children are autistic, they might:

  • not consistently use eye contact to get someones attention for example, they might not always look at you and then at a snack to show you they want it, or not look back towards you when they see something that excites them
  • rarely point to or hold up objects to show you things for example, they might not point to a dog and look back at you to make sure youve seen it too, or they might drop a toy in your lap and walk away instead of holding it up and looking at you
  • not consistently respond to their name being called
  • not consistently use gestures on their own for example, they might not wave bye-bye or clap without being told to, or without copying someone else whos waving or clapping
  • not consistently smile at you or other familiar people without you smiling at them first
  • rarely copy other peoples actions, like combing their hair when you do it
  • not sound like theyre having a conversation with you when they babble
  • not understand simple, one-step instructions for example, Give me the block or Show me the dog.

Relationships and playIf young children are autistic, they might:

Don’t Miss: Do Autism Symptoms Change Over Time

When Should I Tell My Child

This is your decision. Some parents tell their children about their diagnosis when they’re quite young , as their son or daughter becomes aware of their differences and starts to ask questions. Other parents wait until their child is slightly older, as they feel they will understand the diagnosis better. You may want to ask your childs school or specialist psychologist to support you with your decision and approach.;

Development Of Infants With Early Signs Of Autism

How do you know if your autistic child’s therapy is harmful?

While your baby is growing up, you may wonder if they are developing as they should. There are certain developmental milestones children hit as they grow up.

It is important to keep an eye out for these so that you can see if your child is behind on their development.

  • smile at people
  • try to look at their parents
  • coo
  • turn their head towards sound

If you notice that your baby is not engaging in such activities, you may want to get your child tested for ASD.

Recommended Reading: Is Asperger Syndrome A Type Of Autism

Early Signs Of Autism In Adults

Autism spectrum disorder occurs in all age groups. It is generally characterized by social and communication difficulties.

Severe forms are usually diagnosed in the first two years of a childs life. However, high-functioning individuals may not be diagnosed until later in their lives.

Here are some of the symptoms in autistic adults:

  • Difficulty in regulating emotion

Diagnosis Of Asd Requires Professional Evaluation

Although the signs mentioned above are all common in autistic children, they can equally be found in neurotypical kids or can even indicate an entirely different type of disorder. Without formal training, even the most astute observations from parents and family members cant determine for sure whether or not a youngster is on the spectrum. If you suspect something is amiss, the next step is to consult a professional for a full diagnosis.

The CDC recommends that these screenings be conducted, at a minimum, at the ages of 18 and 24 months for all children. They may be performed by a:

  • Developmental pediatrician
  • Child psychologist or psychiatrist

Complete an Online Questionnaire to Get a Jump on the Assessment

As part of the screening, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire that helps the professional begin their assessment. In many cases, you can find these questionnaires online and use them to assist you in your own self-screening at any time.

The medical professional you visit will use your answers to fill in some of the blanks in their own screening, since some symptoms may only manifest during certain situations.

Still, beginning treatment early using applied behavior analysis can be key to improving the quality of life and cognitive abilities of a child with ASD.

Dont delay in seeking professional help if you spot autism symptoms in your child!

You May Like: What Is The Definition Of Autism

More articles

Popular Articles