I have a 25 month old with a speech delay, he is in therapy. he is very shy toward adults but loves kids his age. he doesn't have sensory issues or repetative behavior. what else should I be looking for?

How about eye contact? does he fixate on anything? does he have "melt downs" (fits that he can't seem to control?) the thing about autism is that all the kids are really different, I would take him to a clinical psychologist for an evaluation to find out so you can get him more help. at 25 months there is likely a reason he is not speaking (autism, apraxia, other disorders) and it is important you know what you are dealing with. no matter what the outcome it will make you feel empowered because you'll know what action to take.

If he is lacking in social skills (prefers to be alone, doesn't communicate well or at all), talks about things obsessively (even during a conversation), no eye contact, fails to respond to his name, appears not to hear you at times, resists cuddling/holding, unaware of the feelings of others (unable to feel empathy), speaks with abnormal tone/rhythm (use sing-song voice or robotic speech), repeats words/phrases verbatim but doesn't understand how to use them, performs repetitive movements (rocking, spinning, clapping), develops specific rituals/routines (and is disturbed by changes to these routines.

Early Signs of Autism can make All the Difference

Of course, no parent wants to be told their child has autism. yet, if parents know the early signs of autism and catch it early, the child is usually much better-off. Autism is a lifetime disease, and can be so severe the inflicted person may need constant medical supervision. Mild autism is much less severe, and the inflicted person may be able to live an independent life. Symptoms of autism show up in infancy and early childhood. Knowing what to look for is the key.

While it is difficult to diagnose autism before 24 months, symptoms tend to develop between 12 to 18 months. Autistic children do not display abnormal behavior, but rather it is their lack of normal behavior. if autism is caught in time, within 18 months symptoms can sometimes be reversed. Doctor’s views on autism vary, and so do treatments. still, it is agreed by all the earlier the intervention the better-off the child is.

There are several early signs of autism, and may include a child that avoids eye contact, does not smile back when you smile at the child, or fails to respond to his name from a known voice. Moreover, the autistic child may not wave good-bye and typically doesn’t play with other children. while these indicators don’t necessarily mean your child has autism, they may be risk factors. certainly as a concerned parent you should be aware of autism symptoms and discuss any development issues with your doctor. even mild autism caught early can make all the difference.

If your baby has not spoken by 16 months or is unable to speak two words together at 24 months there is indeed reason for concern. Remember, knowing the early signs of autism is crucial for parents. Early intervention is better than a late intervention. However, if a medical intervention is performed on an older child it is better than not having intervened on his behalf. the symptoms of autistic behavior in older children are more likely to be social problems. for example, older children may have difficulty making friends or may not like to be touched.

Additional autism symptoms in older children are, difficulty communicating emotions, repeats the same words or phrases, and may not understand instructions. Other signs are, following only one routine, cannot adapt to change, bangs his head, or stares at lights. displaying these signs does not mean a child has autism. However, if the child displays many of these symptoms a visit to the doctor is in order. as mentioned, early intervention even for mild autism is helpful.

Finally, no parent wants to hear their child has autism. yet, becoming knowledgeable in the early signs of autism is helpful for all parents who have young children. This is because if autism is diagnosed before 18 months the symptoms of the disease may be significantly reduced, and sometimes even reversed. This also holds true for children inflicted with mild autism. still, should an older child be diagnosed with autism, intervention is indeed still beneficial.

I work at a daycare center/private preschool and a lot of our students have behavioral problems. There is a boy who is not directly in my classroom that has a lot of health problems. He is allergic to a lot of things including wheat and dairy products. Besides his allergies, he has a lot of problems when it comes to social behavior. a lot of the staff has been pushing his mother into believing he has autism; however, he does not have a lot of the symptoms for it. He doesn't stim objects, he makes eye contact when you call his name and when he runs out of the room (like a lot of my children do) he'll only run about two feet from the door and waits for someone to notice him.

I have worked with a lot autistic children in the past and I am not an expert or anything, but he doesn't follow any of the classic symptoms. The only thing that he does do is hum a lot. He hums when he's playing by himself or with other children.

Could he possibly have a hearing problem?

This is not medical advice. 1 in 9 children who have been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD have an undiagnosed or untreated hearing loss. in addition, autism can be associated with hearing loss. I know of multiple cases that have gone both ways (i.e. child was diagnosed as autistic, was found out to have hearing loss, and child was diagnosed with hearing loss and later diagnosed as autistic as well).

Children with allergies tend to be more congested, and that can create temporary or fluctuating conductive hearing losses of up to 40 dB. Since that's the level of normal conversation, that can be quite significant, especially at the age where they are developing language.

So, it could be any number of things, but a hearing screening can't hurt. They can start with the basic 25 dB test at the pediatricians office (you have to make SURE the kid isn't watching or smart enough to figure out the nurses patterns and "game" the test) and if anything wonky shows up there, follow up with an ENT.

yes hearing impairment can mimick autism. I am a speech language pathologist who works with children with developmental delays and autism. We once had a child get diagnosed with autism. They later found out that he had severe hearing impairment, once he got hearing aids the "autistic" behaviors ceased.

It can….& it works the other way around as well.

My youngest son is severely & profoundly Autistic, yet we thought he couldn't hear for the first three years of his life.

Only doctors who specialize in either hearing problems or in developmental disabilities can make the call on which it is, though.

Ah, ok–the first red flag is the allergies. My little sister has a fatal peanut allergy, and I have worked at several summer camps with children with allergies and other disabilities. this child absolutely does not have autism, nor does he have a hearing impairment. Allergies can greatly affect a child's behavior; he or she becomes frustrated and confused with his or her own body, perceiving it as a threat to itself which, in essence, it is. this is incredibly difficult for any young child to understand. They also are victim to a lot of teasing from other children who do not understand the health issues that the child faces.

My best advice would be to encourage the mother to talk to the child's physician or to take the child to see a therapist. a certified child therapist will be able to help the boy deal with his allergies and understand his body and the emotions he feels.

No. There are many more symptoms of autism and simply having a loss of hearing does not mock those of autism. Autism is more of a social and cognitive issue. Children with autism tend to not make eye contact, play alone, avoid other children, abnormal play, repetative behavior…etc…simply having a hearing loss without other symptoms in my opinion does not comply with an autism diagnosis.

The Autism Spectrum is so broad that many things can mock autism and vice-versa…. if there are concerns/ yellow flags then it is best to test them as soon as possible.

Allergies mock Autism for sure!!! especially Wheat/ Gluten and Dairy… best to check out Jenny McCarthy's Book concerning her son and Gluten/Dairy allergies and how when she controlled her sons diet Autism symptoms lessened.

I'm with you… it could be hearing problems. I was always told that eye contact is the most important. and also if he is wanting attention then that is a good sign he isn't. I worked at a daycare and we were not allowed to point out problems like this to parents. We were told that every child is equal and to not discuss behavorial problems (like this kind, not hitting biting cursing (etc) ) because is isn't are place to say rather or not something like autism is wrong with the child. (Not saying you did or anything to you, it just caught my attention went you said some workers lead his mother to believe he….)

My daughter had to get checked for a hearing problem when she was showing symptoms of autism, the doc said that until 3 or 4 a lot of kids show earmark signs but don't actually have it and that hearing is the main factor there. Have her check with your local area education agency AEA or parents as teachers they will do free evals and get him any help he needs

usually they get into set routines & get very very agited if its broken everything has to be in the right place always

From what I know they vary from child to child. In my nephew we noticed that he was sensitive to loud noises, he was very particular with food; throwing up at the sight of certain foods and certain smells. When it came to his speech, he seemed to revert back to when he was one when he babbled and repeated certain sounds. He also didn't interact with other children very well.

This was just my experience, as I said, the symptoms vary and there are different severities of this condition. I hope this helps. All the best.

My young grandson suffers fron Tuberous sclerosis, and has mild autism. He does not give eye contact, and that is how he was diagnosed with autism. He also cannot speak, and gets very aggressive, throws tantrums for no reason, he can hum tunes, but cannot talk, he finds it difficult to concentrate on anything, and has a low attention span.

I'm 14 years old, and a couple days ago at school one of my friends brought up how their cousin has trouble communicating since he has autism. Can anybody tell me what the symptoms of autism are, and how it can be treated? (If it can be treated.) thanks.

Another form of autism is Aspergers which is a high functioning autism. a few different degress of Autisn. High functioning can function at school with min. problems and don't need a, EA or other to help. Some can grow up to be able to take care of them selves and have reasonable normal lives but still may not be confident in all aspects of life situations. In serious autism & most common symptoms are not making eye contact with others, don't like to touch or be touched, will have fits if they do not get there way, have difficulty with speech, social skills and not being of the age that they are in numbers, some have fears of the dark or others but most have fears which tend to really freak them out. ie: if an autism child is 12 he/she may still act 8 years old or younger, depending on the severity. all cases have to be diagnoses by a proper behavior specialist and Dr's have to be involved. but also if diagnosed you are entitle to special government money if a proper diagnosis has been made, plus special programs will be provided. all has to be handled through your GP and then all goes from there.

Autism, also known as infantile autism is a condition that is known to develop before the child turns three years old. The characteristic features of this condition are impairment of communication in these children and problem interacting socially.

Some of the known symptoms of autism include:

• This condition is recognized only when he child is old enough to interact socially and noticed by the primary caregiver at home• The most characteristic feature so autism in kids is noticed when the child starts withdrawing slowly and does not participate in the social gatherings• Repetitive movements such as rocking and these children may also indulge in self-destructive behavior such as biting or bang their head repeatedly.• Parents find these kids unresponsive and unable to make eye contact with them• these kids start speaking later than usual and not very good at conversing with other children or adults

In order to identify the symptoms of autism, health professionals employ certain questionnaires and other instruments and also rely on their parents observations. once some of the symptoms of this condition are recognized, there are other test can be used to confirm this diagnosis. A complete assessment usually involves multiple diagnoses conducted by a team of health professionals including a psychologist, neurologist psychiatrist, speech therapist and so on.

There are both genetic and environmental reasons that play a role in the development of autism. According to the research done on this topic, there are some genes that are responsible for this condition. Furthermore, certain conditions like manic depression, Fragile X Syndrome, epilepsy other learning disabilities.

Although the reasons that cause autism are not clear, scientists have been able to point out some factors that lead to autism. Besides genetic reasons, there are some abnormalities in the brain and changes in the level of neurotransmitters such as serotonin that could lead to this condition. these results are in the initial phase of research and require more work.

Although there is no sure-shot treatment for autism, there are medications, educational sessions and other modes of treatment and therapies that help these individuals recover. Medications may be given by physicians to alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression or anticonvulsant drugs.

Behavioral therapy can help autistic kids by helping the infants develop social and language skills. there is also counseling available for parents and other members of the family so that they can understand what the child is going through and be supportive for them. there may be other therapies suggested for autism but parents have to be careful and use it only if it is supported by scientific evidence or under the guidance of their doctors.

Kirthy shetty, Ezine Articles Expert Author.For more information: Autism in Children Get more information: Cerebral Palsy Treatment India

Some cool vitamin a supplement images:

Part 2: Vitamins and Supplements that Treat the Nervous System and Boost Immunity certain vitamins and supplements have proven to be beneficial in treating certain symptoms and behaviors prevalent in autistic children. We are increasingly encouraged by the recovery and progression of autistic children treated with vitamins and supplements. These therapies can be very safe when used in the correct doses and under a physician’s supervision. Here we will discuss a few of the most commonly used vitamins and supplements that target the nervous and immune systems of autistic individuals. Nervous System: B vitamins directly contribute to the health and development of the nervous system. Combined with magnesium, vitamin B6, in particular, shows a great reduction in stemming behaviors for a lot of autistic individuals. Furthermore, studies and parents report more eye contact as well as a noticeable increase in language cognition and speech. This combination of vitamin B6 and magnesium works, in part, because it has a calming effect on the brain and nervous system, which helps relieve hypersensitivity to light, sound and touch. Magnesium helps with enzymatic pathway deficiencies seen in many autistic children and it helps neurotransmitters function properly. Magnesium is deficient in a lot of U.S. farm soil due to overuse and there may not be a high enough concentration of magnesium in the vegetables that you purchase. Therefore, magnesium should be given in supplement form whenever possible and under a physician’s advice. you should be aware that B vitamins need to be given in balanced doses. Getting too much of one B vitamin may cause a deficit in another, causing the nervous system to become more sensitive or agitated. Correct doses of B vitamins can make a neurological problem much better, while high doses can make it much worse. It is believed that this is why some people report worse symptoms while supplementing B vitamins. Besides dosage, autistic children, particularly with food sensitivities or allergies, can have a negative reaction to synthetic forms of B vitamins. look for B vitamins that are not synthetically derived, or try to get the right dosage through natural food sources. Additionally, if you see no changes, you may want to check for yeast overgrowth in the gut. Yeast can keep B vitamins from absorbing into the system while it uses them to help itself grow. Yeast overgrowth is associated with antibiotic use and can live in the body for decades. you can treat yeast overgrowth with probiotics or, if need be, with prescription medications. Immune System: In studies, di-methyl-glycine (DMG) has shown significant improvement in about half of autistic children. DMG significantly decreases the severity and frequency of seizures while supporting and boosting function in the malfunctioning immune system that is so often seen in autistic individuals. Drastic improvement in undesirable behaviors has been documented for many study participants and children supplemented with DMG. Combining DMG with folic acid is recommended to improve the effectiveness of the treatment and also helps to avoid agitation or hyperactivity. Zinc and Selenium also help contribute to immune system health and are often combined with DMG and folic acid. “Part 3” of this series addresses preventing and treating the oxidative stress that most autistic children endure. Through the use of vitamin C, children can show drastic improvement in health, cognition, language, speech and behavior. As a precaution, you should always talk to a doctor about a <a rel=”nofollow” onclick=”javascript:_gaq.push(['_trackPageview', '/outgoing/article_exit_link']);” href=”nutri.com”title=”Vitamins and Supplements”>vitamins and supplements</a> regiment before you begin.

Part 2: Vitamins and Supplements that Treat the Nervous System and Boost Immunity

Certain vitamins and supplements have proven to be beneficial in treating certain symptoms and behaviors prevalent in autistic children. We are increasingly encouraged by the recovery and progression of autistic children treated with vitamins and supplements. These therapies can be very safe when used in the correct doses and under a physician’s supervision. Here we will discuss a few of the most commonly used vitamins and supplements that target the nervous and immune systems of autistic individuals.

Nervous System: B vitamins directly contribute to the health and development of the nervous system. Combined with magnesium, vitamin B6, in particular, shows a great reduction in stemming behaviors for a lot of autistic individuals. Furthermore, studies and parents report more eye contact as well as a noticeable increase in language cognition and speech. This combination of vitamin B6 and magnesium works, in part, because it has a calming effect on the brain and nervous system, which helps relieve hypersensitivity to light, sound and touch.

Magnesium helps with enzymatic pathway deficiencies seen in many autistic children and it helps neurotransmitters function properly. Magnesium is deficient in a lot of U.S. farm soil due to overuse and there may not be a high enough concentration of magnesium in the vegetables that you purchase. Therefore, magnesium should be given in supplement form whenever possible and under a physician’s advice.

You should be aware that B vitamins need to be given in balanced doses. Getting too much of one B vitamin may cause a deficit in another, causing the nervous system to become more sensitive or agitated. Correct doses of B vitamins can make a neurological problem much better, while high doses can make it much worse. It is believed that this is why some people report worse symptoms while supplementing B vitamins.

Besides dosage, autistic children, particularly with food sensitivities or allergies, can have a negative reaction to synthetic forms of B vitamins. look for B vitamins that are not synthetically derived, or try to get the right dosage through natural food sources. Additionally, if you see no changes, you may want to check for yeast overgrowth in the gut. Yeast can keep B vitamins from absorbing into the system while it uses them to help itself grow. Yeast overgrowth is associated with antibiotic use and can live in the body for decades. you can treat yeast overgrowth with probiotics or, if need be, with prescription medications.

Immune System: In studies, di-methyl-glycine (DMG) has shown significant improvement in about half of autistic children. DMG significantly decreases the severity and frequency of seizures while supporting and boosting function in the malfunctioning immune system that is so often seen in autistic individuals. Drastic improvement in undesirable behaviors has been documented for many study participants and children supplemented with DMG.

Combining DMG with folic acid is recommended to improve the effectiveness of the treatment and also helps to avoid agitation or hyperactivity. Zinc and Selenium also help contribute to immune system health and are often combined with DMG and folic acid.

“Part 3” of this series addresses preventing and treating the oxidative stress that most autistic children endure. Through the use of vitamin C, children can show drastic improvement in health, cognition, language, speech and behavior. As a precaution, you should always talk to a doctor about a vitamins and supplements regiment before you begin.