14 Feb Red Flags: Early Screening and Diagnosis of Autism
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Do you have suspicions that your child may be on the autism spectrum? Learn about the red flags and warning signs to watch for when raising your child. Know what diagnostic and treatment options are available to you.
Dr. Barbara Bennett explains the various warning signs of autism to watch for in young children, along with the diagnosis and treatment options available.
What We Learned from this Video:
- Not all signs of autism in young children are sure indicators of the condition.
- Autism costs an average of 3.2 million dollars over the course of the autistic person’s lifetime.
- Catching warning signs early can make a huge difference, sometimes even preventing autism from manifesting.
- Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder involving issues with communication, social interaction, and interests.
- Communication issues can include lack of communication (both verbal and non-verbal), repetitive language and echolalia (mimicking language that is not developmentally based).
- Social issues can include not responding to their name, not being able to understand others’ feelings and not imitating others.
- Issues with interests can include repetitive motor movements (spinning, pacing, etc.), fixations on single interests, lack of pretend play and aversion to small changes to established routines.
- Autism is assumed to be caused by a combination of genetics and risks.
- Autism is often associated with other neural disorders.
- Genetic research may be able to tell us in the future which phenotypes lead to autism, allowing us to use targeted treatments to counteract it.
- There are many non-genetic risks that can cause autism.
- Autism occurs in 1 out of 68 children.
- Most children can be diagnosed at around 18 months.
- The brain can be rewired when children are very young.
- Red flags may include lack of non-verbal communication, lack of smiles, or failing to imitate gestures.
- If you notice red flags, contact your pediatrician.
- The M CHAT test and developmental surveillance can determine whether further screening is necessary.
- Applied Behavioral Analysis is the most proven treatment for autism, but can be too rigid for certain children.
- Parents can go through a grieving period after receiving a diagnosis.
- There are alternative treatment methods, but it is important to verify the quality of these services.
If you are worried that your child may be exhibiting warning signs of autism, schedule a consultation with us as soon as you can. Remember, the sooner you act, the more help you can provide your child.