SubscribeChildren With Autism Can Be Helped
An autistic child is characterized by impaired social interaction skills, repetitive behavior and both impaired non-verbal and verbal communication. Children with autism normally show the first signs before three years of age and normally do not have the same interests as other children of their own age. Statistics have shown that one in every 300 children has some type of pervasive developmental problem, such as autism.
Many physicians tend to shy away from diagnosing children with autism at an early age. It is believed that many children are given such disorder labels far to early, causing them to be grouped into a certain category and not being allowed to experience the same life situations that other children would. Children do develop differently and not every child is going to go through the same changes at the same time. However, it is important that these behaviors are not overlooked.
While it is important not to diagnose a youngster as an autistic child too early, because of the possibility of error, it is also important not to miss certain symptoms of this disorder and therefore not diagnose it at all, which could be completely detrimental to the child. Early detection will allow parents to address the problems that their child may have and help them to get the services for necessary intervention. There are certain signs for parents of autistic children to look for.
Does the child respond to their name when spoken by a parent or caregiver? Most babies are responsive to familiar voices calling their names and will respond with a look or a smile. Does your child imitate other people? Children love to mimic movements, such as sticking out their lounges and making waving movements. If a child is not showing signs of doing this, then it may not be time to panic, but it also might be autistic behavior that you should mention to your child’s physician.
It is always important to let your physician know if you think that your child is experiencing any signs of developmental delays, especially if you think that those delays could be linked to autistic behavior. Be aware that the physician may not want to do testing at a very early age. If this is the case, yet the child continues to exhibit the delays, then speak to the physician again. Ask for materials and information about children with autism, and do some extra research on this disorder. The key is to make sure that the doctor understands your concerns and begins to share them with you. If your family doctor seems to have no interest in testing your child, then it may be time for a second opinion.
