Month promotes awareness of autism

Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others.

It is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a “spectrum disorder” that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism.

In December 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued their autism prevalence report, which concluded that the prevalence of autism had risen to 1 in every 110 births in the United States and almost 1 in 70 boys. 

The positive news is that autism is treatable. Children do not “outgrow” autism, but studies show that early diagnosis and intervention lead to significantly improved outcomes. 

Here are some signs to look for in your child:

• Lack of or delay in spoken language

• Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)

• Little or no eye contact

• Lack of interest in peer relationships

• Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play

• Persistent fixation on parts of objects

There are no medical tests for diagnosing autism.

An accurate diagnosis must be based on observation of the individual’s communication, behavior and developmental levels. However, because many of the behaviors associated with autism are shared by other disorders, various medical tests may be ordered to rule out or identify other possible causes of the symptoms being exhibited.

At first glance, some persons with autism may appear to have mental retardation, a behavior disorder, problems with hearing, or even odd and eccentric behavior. To complicate matters further, these conditions can co-occur with autism. However, it is important to distinguish autism from other conditions, since an accurate diagnosis and early identification can provide the basis for building an appropriate and effective educational and treatment program.

Research indicates that early identification is associated with dramatically better outcomes. The earlier a child is diagnosed, the earlier the child can begin benefiting from one of the many specialized intervention approaches to treatment and education. 

Talk to your child’s pediatrician to learn more about screening tests, diagnosis and treatment options.

Lynda Metz is the Director of Community Development at Bonner General Hospital.  The information in this article was provided by The Autism Society of America based in Bethesda, Md.