Symptoms	Diagnosis	Treatment Options	Common Myths

Autism is a developmental disability that comes from a neurological disorder which affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills and reasoning. Boys are four times more likely to be affected. Children may appear to be developing normally until the age of 30 months.

Autistic symptoms can vary widely in severity. Some characteristics include impairment with social interactions, difficulty expressing oneself or speaking, and resistance to changes in daily routine. Many children on the autism spectrum have difficulty with eye contact, display repetition of words or phrases, have unmotivated tantrums and may appear to have insensitivity to pain.

There are a variety of disorders associated with Autism Spectrum including Asperger's Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism, and Pervasive Developmental Disability (known as PDD-NOS). A developmental pediatrician typically diagnoses Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). If you have concerns, talk to your pediatrician.

Communication skills are often a primary deficit in children with ASD. A trained, ASHA-certified Speech-Language Pathologist can provide an individualized therapy plan for your child, as well as provide parent training. For many parents of children with ASD, a Speech-Language Pathologist who knows your child well, can be an invaluable resource.

Current research finds that early, intensive, one-on-one behavioral, occupational and speech therapies produce the greatest benefits for children with Autism.

Common Myths about Autism

Myth: Children with autism cannot show love or affection.
Fact: Probably one of the most devastating myths about children with autism is that they do not express love or emotions. We know that sensory stimulation is processed differently by some children with autism, causing them to have difficulty expressing affection in conventional ways.

Myth: Children with autism never make eye contact.
Fact: Children with autism establish eye contact. It may be less than or different from the typical child, but they do look at people, smile, and express many other forms of non-verbal communication.

Myth: Children and adults with autism spectrum disorders do not care about others.
Fact: Children and adults with an ASD often care deeply but lack the ability to spontaneously develop empathic and socially connected typical behavior.

Myth: Children and adults with autism spectrum disorders prefer to self-isolate.
Fact: Children and adults with an ASD often want to socially interact but lack the ability to spontaneously develop effective social interaction skills.

Myth: Children and adults with autism spectrum disorders do not interact very much. They do not speak well. They are not very bright.
Fact: Children and adults with autism spectrum disorders may speak and/or interact with others. They may be verbal or non-verbal. They may be very bright, of average intelligence or have cognitive deficits.

The Facts about Autism

Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 166 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe.

Autism Spectrum Disorders can usually be reliably diagnosed by age 3, although new research is pushing back the age of diagnosis to as early as 6 months. Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child or their child's failure to reach appropriate developmental milestones. Some parents describe a child that seemed different from birth, while others describe a child who was developing normally and then lost skills. Pediatricians may initially dismiss signs of autism, thinking a child will “catch up,” and may advise parents to “wait and see.” New research shows that when parents suspect something is wrong with their child, they are usually correct.

Treatment

There is no “cure” for autism at present. There are many therapeutic approaches to teaching children with autism that have been found to be successful in teaching the communication, social and behavior skills they need to succeed.

Gaining particular interest is Applied Verbal Behavior (AVB), an ABA-based approach which uses structured teaching, along with Natural Environment Training (NET) to ensure that the skills they are learning are functional, generalizing, and are maintained. No other treatment for children with Autism and related disabilities has provided extensive empirical research to validate it’s effectiveness with teaching language and communication.

For more information on Autism, go to autism-society.org or read the two documents below from the American Academy of Pediatrics that will have a significant impact on the lives of individuals with ASD, their families, and those who serve them.  Thanks to the Autism Society of America who has worked diligently on this effort.

Related articles:

Identification and Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Benefits of Speech Therapy for Children with Autism