Autism

Children with autism have symptoms in the following areas:

• Problems with social interactions. The child doesn’t readily respond to social cues like eye-to-eye contact, facial expressions, or body postures. They may have trouble making friends and prefer to spend time alone. Younger children may not want to cuddle or be cuddled and don’t engage in imaginative play.
• Trouble communicating. The child may not be responsive to verbal cues. They may have delayed language development or have trouble starting or maintaining conversations.
• Repeating patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. The child may have preoccupations with certain topics and have unusual attachments to particular objects such as toys. They may insist on schedules, routines, and rituals. They may also “act out”, harm themselves, or physically attack others.

Other symptoms may include:

• Sensitivity to sounds, sights, sensations, and smells
• Over sensitivity to pain, or noticeable under sensitivity to pain

The symptoms of autism may look like other health conditions. Be sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Current guidelines recommend that all children are screened for autism and other development disorders before the age of 2. The screening is usually performed during well-child checkups. During these checkups, your child’s healthcare provider may use a screening tool called the M-CHAT (modified checklist for autism in toddlers) to look for speech delays that are often related to autism.

If your child has any autism-related problems, the healthcare provider will do more screening to identify whether autism or another developmental disorder is present.

Although autism was first identified in the 1940s, scientists still don’t know what causes the disorder. Researchers do know that parenting styles or immunizations do NOT cause autism.

There is no single test to diagnose autism. Physicians often rely on the following to make a diagnosis:

• Evaluations, including checklists and questionnaires from parents, school professionals, and medical specialists who have observed the child in various situations. The evaluations look at thinking, social skills, behavior, emotions and motor skills.
• Medical tests to rule out other conditions that may be causing the symptoms (or making them worse).
• Genetic testing may also be performed by a medical geneticist, especially if there is a family history of autism.

While there is no cure for autism, studies show that early intervention and treatment can dramatically improve a child’s outcomes. The first step is to create an action plan for treatment:

• Improve social and communication skills
• Address behaviors that interfere with normal activities and interactions

Additional treatment options will be discussed with your healthcare provider. Options may include the following:

• Behavioral and communication training
• Medicines to reduce some of the symptoms that may happen with autism

There are other therapy and treatment options that may be included into your child’s overall treatment plan. These may include hydrotherapy, vitamin and mineral supplements, and animal therapies. Though few studies have been done to support these approaches, some parents report that these options have helped their child. Talk to your doctor or other health care providers about these options for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Autism is not something you can prevent, but early diagnosis and treatment can improve a child’s symptoms. Children as young as 16 months old can be tested for autism.

• Autism Counsel of Utah
• Utah Parent Center
• Allies with Families

Autism is a disability that makes it difficult for a person to communicate and interact with others. Symptoms of autism generally surface during the first 2-3 years of a child’s life. Autism is the most common group of related disorders called autism spectrum disorder (or ASD).

Children with autism often have difficulties communicating, struggle with social interactions, and often don’t use or respond to social cues. They may also exhibit repetitive behavior, such as flapping hands or spinning objects.

Children diagnosed with autism don’t outgrow the disorder and there is no cure. However, studies show that early treatment can dramatically improve a child’s outcome.