Autism Treatment for Children

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Autism Treatment for Children
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What is Autism

• It is defined by the presence of abnormal and/ or
  impaired development that is manifest before the
  age of 3 years, characterized by abnormalities of
  social development, communication and a
  restriction of behavior and interest.
• Autism is a lifelong developmental disability
  that affects how a person communicates with and
  relates to, other people. It also affects how
  they make sense of the world around them.

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About Autism

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Autism are
  both general terms for a group of complex
  disorders of brain function development.
• The three main areas of difficulty which all
  people with autism share are sometimes known as
  the 'triad of impairments'. They are
• 1. Difficulty with social communication.
• 2. Difficulty with social interaction.
• 3. The difficulty with social imagination.

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What Causes Autism?

• Over the last five years, scientists have
  identified a number of rare gene changes, or
  mutations, associated with autism. A small number
  of these factors are sufficient to cause autism
  by them.
• In most cases of autism, however, it appear to be
  caused by a combination of autism risk genes and
  environmental factors influencing early brain
  development.
• Autism is four times more likely to affect boys
  than girls, and is found in all racial, ethnic,
  and social groups.

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What Causes Autism?

• There is no known single cause for autism,
  although the best available scientific point has
  important genetic components.
• If one identical (monozygotic) twin has autism
  then there is an 80-90 chance that the other
  twin will also be diagnosed with an autism
  spectrum disorder. For non-identical (dizygotic)
  twins, the chance is about 3-10 that both twins
  will develop autism spectrum disorder. The chance
  that siblings will both be affected by ASD is
  also about 3-10.

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Autism Spectrum Disorders
There are five Autism Spectrum Disorders,
sometimes called Pervasive Developmental
Disorders (PDD).

• PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Delay.
• Autism (sometimes referred to as Classic Autism,
  Early Infantile Autism, Childhood
  Autism, or Autistic Disorder)
• Asperger Syndrome
• Rett Syndrome
• Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

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Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Autism spectrum disorders affect three different
  areas of a child's life
• Social interaction
• Communication -- both verbal and non-verbal
• Behaviors and interests
• Each child with an ASD will have his or her own
  pattern of autism.

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How is Autism Diagnosed?

• Diagnosing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be
  difficult since there is no medical test, like a
  blood test, to diagnose the disorders.
• Doctors look at the childs behavior and
  development to make a diagnosis.
• Often parents are the first to notice that their
  child is showing unusual behaviors such as
  failing to make eye contact, not responding to
  his or her name or playing with toys in unusual,
  repetitive ways.

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How is Autism Diagnosed?

• ASD can sometimes be detected at 18 months or
  younger. By age 2, a diagnosis by an experienced
  professional can be considered very reliable.
• Diagnosing an ASD takes two steps
• Developmental Screening
• Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation

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Developmental Screening

• Developmental screening is a short test to tell
  if a child is learning basic skills when he or
  she should, or if there are delays.
• Developmental screening can also be done by other
  professionals in health care, community, or
  school settings.
• Doctors and nurses use developmental screening to
  tell if children are learning basic skills when
  they should, or if they might have problems.
• Your child's doctor may ask you questions or
  talk and play with your child during an exam to
  see how he or she learns, speaks, behaves, and
  moves. A delay in any of these areas could be a
  sign of a problem.

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Developmental Screening

• Additional screening might be needed if a child
  is at high risk for developmental problems due to
  pre-term birth, low birth weight or other
  reasons.
• If the doctor sees any signs of a problem, a
  comprehensive diagnostic evaluation is needed.
• 9 months
• 18 months
• 24 or 30 months

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Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation

• The second step of diagnosis is a comprehensive
  evaluation. This thorough review may include
  looking at the childs behavior and development
  and interviewing the parents.
• It may also include a hearing and vision
  screening, genetic testing, neurological testing,
  and another medical testing.

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Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation

• In some cases, the primary care doctor might
  choose to refer the child and family to a
  specialist for further assessment and diagnosis.
  Specialists who can do this type of evaluation
  include
• Developmental Pediatricians (doctors who have
  special training in child development and
  children with special needs)
• Child Neurologists (doctors who work on the
  brain, spine, and nerves)
• Child Psychologists or Psychiatrists (doctors who
  know about the human mind)

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Characteristics of Autism

• Autism is characterized by marked difficulties in
  behavior, social interaction, communication and
  sensory sensitivities. Some of these
  characteristics are common among people with
  autism others are typical of the disability but
  not necessarily exhibited by all people on the
  autism spectrum.

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Interventions

• A treatment method or an educational method that
  will work for one child may not work for another
  child.
• Effective early intervention programs are an
  important first step for children with autism and
  those with other developmental concerns. Early
  diagnosis followed by individualized early
  intervention can provide the best opportunities
  for achieving their potential.

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