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Maybe you’ve noticed some behavior in your child that’s different from other children. Perhaps a teacher or family friend has even mentioned the possibility of Autism. The first thing you should know is that Autism is quite common. In fact, it affects 1 in 54 children in the US. It’s not something to worry about and, with the right professional help, your child can live a full, happy life. If you think your child has Autism, here’s how to tell and what you can do about it.

 What exactly is Autism?

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a developmental disorder that affects social interaction, communication, and behavior.  It typically appears in the first three years of life and is characterized by a wide range of symptoms and severity levels. Because Autism is a spectrum disorder, not all people living with Autism will experience it the same. Children living with Autism may have a variety of potential differences, skills, and levels of ability. ASD is an umbrella term that covers the different levels of Autism. In essence, Autism is just a disorder that makes your child act differently from other kids.

General Symptoms of Autism

Symptoms of Autism range from communication problems to restricted or repetitive behaviors that interfere with daily life. These symptoms also change as children get older.  Common symptoms include the following:

• Avoids or does not keep eye contact.
• Not smiling back when you smile at them.
• Not responding to their names 9 months of age.
• Not showing facial expressions like happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age.
• Delayed language and movement skills.
• Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age (for example, does not wave goodbye).
• Unusual eating and sleeping habits.

As they get older the following symptoms can also appear:

• Not sharing interests with others by 15 months of age (for example, shows you an object that they like).
• Not reacting to something interesting at 18 months of age.
• Plays with toys the same way every time.
• Lines up toys or other objects and gets upset when the order is changed.
• Must follow certain routines.
• Has obsessive interests.
• Not joining other children in play by 3 years of age.
• Not playing imaginative games, like being a superhero, during play by 4 years of age.
• Does not sing, dance, or act for you by 5 years of age.
• Repeats words or phrases over and over (called echolalia).
• Is focused on parts of objects (for example, wheels).
• Gets upset by minor changes.
• Not noticing others are hurt or upset by 24 years of age.
• Flaps hands, rocks body, or spins self in circles.
• Has unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel.

Diagnosis

Because there are no medical tests to diagnose Autism, getting a diagnosis can be challenging.  Doctors typically look at the development and the behavior of the child to make a diagnosis. What you as the parent can do to help is to take note of at which ages your child reaches certain milestones – like crawling, walking, talking, etc. You can also write down other behavior that seems to be different from other children. These can then be discussed with a doctor. It is important to diagnose Autism as soon as possible to give your child the correct support early on. However, a reliable diagnosis can only be done at the age of two.

Parenting a child with Autism

Parenting a child with Autism can seem overwhelming. You are not alone, and help is available. Your child may even qualify for free professional support services up until the age of 21. Finding out which services your child qualifies for can be complicated, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Progen Care is here to help. We will help you find out what services your child qualified for, and we will guide you step by step on this journey. Contact us now to empower your child for a lifetime of growth and success.