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You want what’s best for your child.
Tools and Answers to Put Your Mind at Ease
There’s so much to know and learn as a caregiver of a precious child with autism. Overwhelming feels like an understatement, doesn’t it? With this collection of resources, we aim to provide both answers and hope.
Common Signs of Autism in Children
Children are wonderfully diverse in many ways, including their development and behaviors. But this can make diagnosing autism tricky. Having concerns about your child’s development can be incredibly stressful. But it’s important not to jump to conclusions on your own.
Sometimes autism symptoms can present as early as the first few months of life. Other times they show up in toddlerhood or even later. Occasionally, children will exhibit many or most of the signs, but others show few, if any. And even more confusing, some children without autism exhibit behaviors common to those with autism spectrum disorder. The key is to pursue early, professional evaluation in your child’s life. If you’re concerned about your child, please reach out for a screening today.
Avoids Eye Contact
Communication Difficulties
Repetitive Behaviors
Difficulty Calming Down
Hyperactivity
Lining Up Items/Toys
About 1 percent of the world’s population has an autism spectrum disorder. Prevalence in the United States is estimated at 1 in 59 births. More than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder.
(Resource: Autism Society)
There is no one definitive cause of autism. Ongoing research suggests that autism develops from a combination of genetic and nongenetic and/or environmental influences. It’s important to keep in mind that increased risk is not the same as cause. For example, some gene changes associated with autism can also be found in people who don’t have the disorder.* ABA therapy has been shown to make significant differences in minimizing the symptoms.
*Resource: Autism Speaks
First things first: take a deep breath. We know this can be a scary time, but we’re here to help you. If you suspect your child has autism, it’s important to seek an evaluation as soon as possible. Early intervention can make a significant difference in the long-term outcome.
(Resource: National Autism Resources)
What is Autism?
Autism is a neurological developmental disorder. impacting the normal brain development in areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. Many kids on the spectrum also have some form of ADHD, OCD, speech delays, and/or sensory processing disorder.
Helpful Resources
The web has tons of information about autism and related disorders. Wading through all of this can be confusing and time-consuming for sure. That’s why we’ve curated some of our team’s go-to websites and organizations just for you as you seek to learn more.