Autism Awareness
Having been a teacher and tutor, I’ve often encountered parents whose children have difficulty in school, wonder if their child is autistic. So, exactly what is autism and what are the signs we should look for?
Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects 1 out of 69 children in the United States according the Center for Disease Control.. “Spectrum” refers to the wide range of symptoms and severity. There is no one kind of autism, as each person has his/her own distinct challenges including social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication,.
ASD is a heritable condition—that is, it runs in families. Studies have shown that when one identical twin has ASD the other twin almost always does as well. While 90 percent of the cause is due to genetic factors, environment also plays a role.
Although some children will show signs of autism earlier, the symptoms usually appear by age 2 or 3. According to Autism Speaks, here’s what to look for:
By 6 months
- Few or no big smiles or other warm, joyful and engaging expressions
- Limited or no eye contact
By 9 months
- Little or no back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions
By 12 months
- Little or no babbling
- Little or no back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving
- Little or no response to name
By 16 months
- Very few or no words
By 24 months
- Very few or no meaningful, two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating)
At any age
- Loss of previously acquired speech, babbling or social skills
- Avoidance of eye contact
- Persistent preference for solitude
- Difficulty understanding other people’s feelings
- Delayed language development
- Persistent repetition of words or phrases (echolalia)
- Resistance to minor changes in routine or surroundings
- Restricted interests
- Repetitive behaviors (flapping, rocking, spinning, etc.)
- Unusual and intense reactions to sounds, smells, tastes, textures, lights and/or colors
There are other medical conditions associated with ASD. Among them:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) problems
- Epilepsy
- Feeding issues
- Disrupted sleep
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar Disorder
My friend Pat has a teenage son with autism and gave me three of her favorite resources to share with you. The Arc of Macomb County assists in applying for Entitlement Programs such as Social Security, Medicaid, Food, etc. They also advocate for guardianship, housing and mental health issues among other services. The Arc also works with Michigan Rehabilitative Services to provide training and job placement services.
Autism Society provides articles related to living with autism, future planning and even legal resources. It has an extensive AutismSource Database and an Affiliate Network. There are several ways to contact Autism Society including e-mail and by telephone.
The Gluten-free and Casein-free (GFCF) Diet (gfcf.com) is actually a website that anyone who wants a gluten-free, casein-free diet can use. We always hear about “gluten-free” but this sight actually gives the foods to avoid and recipes for the foods to eat.
Thanks for your help, Pat. I know a lot of you have little helpers to share too, so please visit my website and share!!
Pat’s son goes to Lutz School for 18 – 26 year old students with special needs. I don’t know how long this link will last, but here’s a story about how these students there saved taxpayers a whole bunch of money.
More Little Helpers for Autism
National Institute of Mental Health
Children’s Hospital of Michigan
Thanks for reading. Have a Grand Day!
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