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Telltale signs of the developmental disorder Perhaps you recall being asked a series of questions at your child’s routine visits to the doctor: Does your baby smile? Does he babble or coo? Does he respond to your voice? These questions help your child’s provider confirm proper development. Although children develop at their own rate, by 6 months, your child should be able to smile. By 9 months, she should be able to coo and smile back at you. By 1 year, she should be babbling, waving and pointing. She should be able to say a word by 16 months and speak in two-word phrases by 2 years of age. At no time should she regress and lose the ability to talk and socialize. Any problem achieving these milestones can be a warning sign to the presence of a developmental disorder called autism. Autism is a lifelong developmental disease affecting a child’s ability to communicate, process thoughts and interact socially. It is currently on the rise, affecting an estimated three out of every 1,000 children between the ages of 3 to 10. Boys are affected four times more frequently than girls. The cause of this disorder is unknown, but it is believed that babies are born with it, or with the propensity to develop it. Autism typically manifests itself during the first three years of life, around the time that a child begins talking and socializing more. Parents are usually the first to pick up on a developmental delay in their child. The diagnosis is made based on observations of the child’s behavior. Autism causes a spectrum of problems, affecting different children to varying degrees. Symptoms may range from mild to severe and can include any combination of the following behaviors. • Affected children may make little or no eye contact. • They often do not respond to another person talking to them. • They may not follow commands or answer to their own name. • They may ignore people around them and avoid socializing. • They may avoid physical contact such as cuddling. • Little or no speech is common, making it difficult for them to communicate their needs. Some children say the same phrase repeatedly. Autistic children often adhere to rituals and resist any change. Repetitive movement such as rocking is common. They may play in unusual ways, lining up toys instead of imaginary play. Autistic children may react abnormally to their senses. They may, for example, find the color yellow painful to the eyes. There is often a lack of shared enjoyment, with an inability to point and look at something together. If you suspect your child has autism, make an appointment with your child’s primary care provider for immediate evaluation. It is very important to diagnose autism early. Although there is no cure for autism, treatments are available, and the earlier they are started the better. Symptoms may improve as the child develops and receives treatment. Early intervention is critical to improving a child’s outcome. Even if it’s just a gut feeling that something isn’t quite right, parents are often correct in their perceptions. And remember, you get asked the screening questions because you know your child best.m For more information on autism, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism Information Center at cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/. Dr. Richelle K. Marracino is a family practice physician at UC Riverside Campus Health Center. Information: 951.827.3031. For Letters: ocfamily.com and click on Feedback. |
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