As Behavioral Health Specialists have learned more about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), clearly, early diagnosis and intervention is critical to ensure that children with ASD reach their full potential.
Signs of autism can be seen in children as young as 6 to 24 months, and many pediatricians are now screening toddlers to assess risk for ASD. For parents, knowing what autism is and identifying early red flags can help ensure that their child receives proper services as soon as possible.
ASDs are a group of developmental disabilities caused by a problem with the brain that affects a person’s ability to communicate, interact, behave, and learn. Scientists do not know exactly what causes the problem, and while some people with autism are severely challenged, others can be gifted.
A child or adult with ASD might have trouble relating to others or not have an interest at all. They might also repeat actions over and over or have unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound among other symptoms.
ASD can take many forms, and because there are no physical manifestations or definitive indicators, parents should be on the look-out for these behavioral symptoms:
• No big smiles or warm joyful expressions by 6 months
• No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions by 9 months
• No babbling by 12 months
• No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months
• No words by 16 months
• No two-word meaningful phrases by 24 months
• Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age
“If a parent notices any of these red flags it doesn’t mean that their child is definitely autistic,” said Beth Bevan, a licensed clinical social worker and behavioral therapist at CompleteCare Health Network. “However, it does mean that they should have their child evaluated as soon as possible.”
In an effort to identify more children with ASD in our area, CompleteCare Health Network and Children’s Specialized Hospital have recently partnered on a project that will provide screenings and evaluations for children under 5 who may be experiencing developmental delays, behavioral problems, or autism.
“Acting early makes a huge difference,” said Dr. Yvette M. Janvier, M.D., a specialist in developmental and behavioral pediatrics from Children’s Specialized Hospital. “Special services are available through New Jersey’s Early Intervention System. However, identifying children and ensuring that parents follow-through with treatment is the biggest challenge.”
Parents wishing to have their child screened for ASD should first schedule an appointment with a CompleteCare pediatrician to determine whether a full evaluation is needed.
Screening can take less than five minutes. Contact CompleteCare at 609-465-0258 or CompleteCareNJ.org.