Autism
A pediatricians group now has new outlines for diagnosing and treating children within the autism spectrum. Since pediatricians should be the first to detect autism in a child, it is important they understand the spectrum and diagnose accordingly instead of waiting to see if the child “catches up”. Experts say one in 150 U.S. children have the troubling developmental disorder. There are two parts to this new report the first if for diagnosing and the second is treatment recommendations.
The signs for autism may include:
-No back-and-forth babbling between the infant and parent beginning around 5 months of age.
-A lack of recognition of a parent’s voice or not turning when the parent says the baby’s name.
-Failure to make eye contact.
-Delayed onset of babbling past 9 months of age.
-Few pre-speech gestures, such as waving or pointing.
-Repetitive movements with objects.
As the child gets older and speech develops, there are other signs that include:
-No single words by 16 months of age.
-No babbling, pointing or other communicative gestures by 1 year of age.
-A lack of two-word phrases by 2 years of age.
The second part of the reports says that treatment should begin as soon as autism is suspected and not wait for a lengthy diagnosis to start treatment. It sugests children with autism spectrum disorders should be involved in intervention therapies for at least 25 hours a week, all year long. The report also stated that some medical issues are common in children with autism, such as sleep disturbances and gastrointestinal trouble. They also want to make pediatricians aware that parents may want to try other alternative treatments like a change of diet and that they should support parents.
These reports may help save the sanity of parents who are begging for help for their children who they know there is something just not right with. It will also save the kids with these spectrum disorders.
For more information on autism click here.
autism, autism spectrum disorders, parenting, pediatricians, parenting children, toddlers, diagnosing autism, treatments for autism, treating autism, kids
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I would like to see a continuation of the topic
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