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.