How common is autism?
Currently autism affects 1 in 150 children. Every 20 seconds a child is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
What causes autism?
There are researchers who are examining genetic, neurological, infectious, metabolic, environmental and immunologic factors.
What are some signs I might see?
Each individual is unique. There is a wide range for autism which leads to a wide range of signs. Some signs you may see can be, but are not limited to:
• Repetitive behaviors – such as spinning, opening and closing doors, lining up items
• Change in routine - Certain changes in a child’s life can be very confusing and upsetting for them. A few examples- going a different way to the store, a friend shows up unexpectedly, dinner is served on a different plate than usual, their favorite cup is not clean and they are given a different cup and become upset
• Difficulty transitioning. Transitioning to another activity can be very confusing for a child on the spectrum and the child may get upset. A few examples of transitions that may be difficult are: ending preferred activities, getting ready for bed, getting dressed. getting ready to go on an outing, going from one class to another class at school
• Difficulty playing and interacting with children of the same age. The child may tend to prefer to play alone or possibly needs to be the “rule maker” and in charge of the activity.
• Loss or lack of speech around 18 months of age
• Can have difficulty making or keeping eye contact
• Some children may over react or under react to certain noises or touch. Ex. Some children do not like light touch but will seek out heavy deep pressure/touch, a child may not respond to their name but will respond if they hear a candy bar wrapper being opened.
• Repetitive speech – your child may “echo” back what you just asked or repeat the last word in the sentence. Some children use movie or TV scripts they have heard to interact with others.
What do I do if I suspect that my child has autism?
Take your child to a developmental pediatrician – preferably one who has experience with children with autism. Your pediatrician can make the diagnosis if your child has autism or not.
If your child is in school, talk with your educational team. This could be but not limited to your child’s teacher, school psychologist, speech language pathologist, occupational therapist, and or autism consultant for the district. Ask them what they have seen and their thoughts about your concerns of autism. School psychologists usually have access to screening questionnaires that can help determine is there is a possibility of autism. If the questionnaire shows a possibility, these results can be taken to a medical team for a more comprehensive evaluation.
What do I do after I find out my child has autism?
If your child is under the age of 5 you can enroll them into an early intervention program. These programs can help develop your child’s language, speech, and social skills.
It is never too late to begin working with an individual who is on the spectrum. If your child is already in school there are programs available in special education. These programs are created to provide the necessary supports that your child needs to become successful in their school and social environment.
Support groups are extremely helpful. In these groups you can meet other parents who have children on the spectrum as well. During these groups people share ideas, resources, concerns, and stories to create a community and help each other.
Support groups can also be found for siblings. This can be a place where siblings can talk safely about their concerns with having a brother or sister on the spectrum. They will be able to meet peers who may be experiencing some of the same concerns as they are and feel like they are not alone.
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