If you’ve seen Rainman or a TV show about autism, you may think you know what it looks like. Think again. Autism is a diverse spectrum of disorders, and no two individuals will exhibit the exact same pattern of characteristics, or with the same severity. When you’ve seen one autistic, you’ve seen one autistic.
As many as 80 percent of autistics are mentally handicapped, but others have average, or even above average IQ’s. Some people with autism are social and engaged with the world around them, while others are silent and uninvolved. Many have sensory integration disorders, fine and gross motor delays, gastrointestinal ailments, difficulty sleeping, or other medical problems. Still others have only minor social and communication delays.
According to the National Institute of Health, one of every 150 children born in the United States is affected by some form of autism. Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder that appears during the first three years of life and manifests itself in markedly abnormal social interaction, communication ability, and patterns of interest and behavior. It is the fastest growing developmental disability in the U.S., affecting as many as 1.5 million Americans—more than multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, or childhood cancer combined.
Although there is no known cure for autism, early intervention is the key factor in improving quality of life and helping autistic individuals reach their full potential.
There are no absolute indicators for autism, however, certain red flag signs indicate the need for a multi-disciplinary developmental evaluation.
• Significant problems developing nonverbal communication skills, such as eye-to-eye gazing, facial expressions, and body posture.
• Delay in, or lack of, learning to talk. As many as 40% of people with autism never speak.
• An unusual focus on pieces. Younger children with autism often focus on parts of toys, such as the wheels on a car, rather than playing with the entire toy.
• Preoccupation with certain topics. For example, older children and adults may be fascinated by video games, trading cards, or license plates.
• A need for sameness and routines. For example, a child with autism may always need to eat bread before salad and insist on driving the same route every day to school.
• Stereotypical behaviors. These may include body rocking and hand flapping.
If you have any concerns about your child’s development, speak to your pediatrician immediately. Don’t wait to see if they will outgrow the issue. While autism is a complex disorder we still have much to learn about, early identification and interventions are the keys that will help unlock the puzzle.