What is Autism?
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Autism includes Autistic Disorder (AD), Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger’s Disorder also known as Asperger’s Syndrome (AS).
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC, Autism affects 1 out of 91 children.
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Autism is a complex neurobiological spectrum disorder affecting individuals differently and to varying degrees. Individuals do not grow out of Autism Spectrum Disorders.
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Autism occurs in all racial, ethnic and social groups and is four times more likely to affect boys than girls. Autism impairs a person’s ability to communicate (understand and relate to others) socially and emotionally.
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Autism is also associated with unproductive repetitive behaviors; processing disorders (sensory sensitivities to light, smell, sound and touch), eccentric behaviors and rigid routines; and unusual preoccupation with subjects and objects.
Early Signs of Autism
One or more of the following can be indicators of an Autism Spectrum Disorder, which includes Autistic Disorder, PDD-NOS and Asperger’s Disorder, also known as Asperger’s Syndrome:
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Absence of smiles of recognition by six months or thereafter Acts as though they cannot hear your voice
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Absence of acknowledgment when a parent returns home or when a new person enters the room by six months or thereafter
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Preoccupation or fascination with objects rather than with people
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Plays alone
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Impaired social interaction such as back-and-forth sharing of facial expressions by nine months or thereafter
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Slow to imitate games like peek-a-boo
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Giggling for no reason or when no one else is around as early as four months or thereafter
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Extreme sensitivities to light, smell, sound, touch and taste by four months or thereafter
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Hand flapping, hand gazing, body rocking or other self-stimulatory behaviors as early as six months
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Absence of babbling by 12 months Absence of back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, showing, or waving by 12 months
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Fixation on audio/ video stimulation by 18 months
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Absence of words by 16 months or odd use of language or unusual tone of voice
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Compulsively arranges non-toy items or lines up toys
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Absence of initiating two word meaningful phrases by 24 months.
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Speaks only when coaxed
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Any loss of first words or any loss of babbling at any age
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Any loss of social skills at any age
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Peculiar or rigid eating, dressing or sleeping habits
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Strongly prefers or insists on talking about one subject without variation
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Lack of daily progress (A developing child is doing or discovering new things every day.)