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Entry bubble Autism

By: Ginger | April 03, 2009 | Category: Health

Boy with autismApril is National Autism Awareness Month.  Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) is the term used to describe different forms of autism. These disorders can range from the milder Asperger's syndrome to the more profound Rett syndrome.   ASDs are harmful changes that take place in the brain as it grows and develops.  From birth to 5 years, your child should reach milestones in how he plays, learns, speaks and acts. A delay in any of these areas could be a sign of autism. People with autism display symptoms in these 3 general areas:

  • Communication - both verbal and non-verbal (such as pointing, eye contact, and smiling)
  • Social - such as sharing emotions, understanding how others think and feel, and holding a conversation
  • Routines or repetitive behaviors - such as repeating words or actions, obsessively following routines or schedules, and playing in repetitive ways

If you notice problems in these areas, you should take your child to a doctor for a developmental exam.  Watch for the following specific behaviors:

  • does not respond to his or her name;
  • does not point or wave “bye-bye;”
  • had begun talking, but has lost the ability;
  • does not know how to play with other children;
  • “tunes out,” seems to be deaf;
  • has unusual sensory sensitivities to sound, to lights, or rough surfaces;
  • behaves as if in his or her “own world;”
  • becomes fixated on furniture arrangement, or on hard objects, not soft toys or blankets;
  • becomes rigid about dressing in a particular order or schedule;
  • exhibits frequent or prolonged temper tantrums.

There are numerous federal resources addressing autism.  To find them, use USA.gov search.  Here are just a few resources that I have highlighted to get you started:

There are also many non-government organizations that can help you learn more or find support groups to help cope with autism:

Do you have any insights or experiences you wish to share about ASDs?

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: autism   ginger  

Comments (2):

blue comment bubble Posted by Mary Fletcher Jones on April 09, 2009 at 11:14 PM EDT

Thank you for highlighting awareness about autism. I am the mother of a ten-year-old boy with autism. If there was one thing I would like parents and caregivers of newly diagnosed children to know, it is that it does get better, and that you can live well with autism. Don't forget to have fun. Many families forget that. Autism will teach you to be patient and it has made me a better mother and a stronger person.

I do not believe a cure for autism is possible but I do support safe and sane treatments as recommended by qualified neurologists, speech therapists, and occupational therapists. Unfortunately, there is a lot of quackery out there, and like many parents, I spent a fortune on treatments that failed to deliver the promised results. So, caveat emptor. Also don't be afraid to sit in on speech and occupational therapy sessions. You can learn a lot that you can apply at home.

The most useful book on autism I have read is by Fern Sussman, "More Than Words: Helping Parents Promote Communication and Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder."

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blue comment bubble Posted by Ginger on April 10, 2009 at 07:20 AM EDT

Mary, thanks for sharing your story. I am sorry to hear that there are people taking advantage of families by making a buck with treatments that don't work. I'm sure that there are parents who are just beginning their journey with autism and they will appreciate your insights.

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