About 1.5 million Americans are affected in some way or the other by a developmental disorder known as autism. Its been approximated that this disorder affects about one in a hundred and fifty new born babies. Autism mainly affects those areas of the brain which are directly linked with communication skills and social interactions. Hence, verbal and non verbal communication, social interactions and play are impacted by autism. This disability has been growing at a rampant speed of about 10 to 17 per cent per year. According to the recent estimates by the autism society, about 4 million Americans are likely to have one or the other forms of autism in the next decade.
The red flags that can alert parents, educators and medical professionals to the occurrence of autism are rather broad and quite inconsistent from one person to the next. Even siblings who both have the disorder may present with very different signs and symptoms. These signs often do not surface or cause any real concern during infancy. However, the signs become more apparent from ages two to six. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) suggests five specific behaviors that, while they may not necessarily diagnose autism, do certainly indicate that further assessment of the child should be conducted.
1. No Babbling or cooing by 12 months of age.
2. By 12 months, the child does not yet make gestures such as waving or pointing.
3.By 16 months, the child does not say single words.
4. The standard milestone of two word phrases is not achieved by 24 months.
5. Eager to learn a language or social skill of any kind.
The lack of these milestones is not a confirmation or does not definitely indicate the presence of autism in children. However, their lack definitely calls for a detailed analysis.
The traits associated with autism are as varied as the people who have the disorder. Most do experience some form of social dysfunction, but other traits may include difficulty in relating to people, mixing with others and understanding verbal communication, particularly when it is not very literal. They may be very resistant to change and have difficulty in making eye contact. They may prefer to be alone and may be prone to tantrums.
Autism also exhibits itself via certain disorders which can also be called symptoms of autism. However, most people do not realize the actual cause of these symptoms and consider them as primary disorders. These include OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), epilepsy, bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety disorder and even depression. The presence of these disorders generally indicates a deeper cause, hence they should not be treated on a stand alone basis. Their presence should alert the doctor to delve deeper.
In spite of being patients of autism spectrum disorder, most people have great and productive lives. The main idea is to make these people learn skills like communication and social interaction which are generally missing in them so that they can cope better in the world and society.
About the Author:
Henry T. Evans is a writer that specializes in the field of Psychology for over 10 years. He is currently writing various topics about developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder.
Get all the information and photos:: http://coringa.info/education/autism-spectrum-disorder-warning-symptoms-and-signs
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