The ABC's of ASD's

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a group of developmental disabilities that affect a child’s social interaction, communication skills, behaviors, and interests. ASDs can also be called Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDDs). Symptoms of ASDs can range from mildly to severely disabling, and depending on the severity, a total of 5 syndromes have been named, including Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS), and Asperger’s Syndrome, as well as the rare conditions Rhett’s Disorder and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. ASDs affect approximately 1 in 175 children. Researchers are unsure of the exact cause of these disorders; there appear to be some genetic or hereditary factors, but there also may be some prenatal problems or other non-genetic factors involved. Parenting a child with an ASD can be challenging. While there is no cure, there early identification and intensive intervention that starts while a child is young can maximize the amount of improvement that can be made.

ASD's and your child

Diagnosing ASDs. Signs of ASDs are usually evident before a child is 3 years old, and can be evident as early as the first year of life. There is no single test for autism, however if you are concerned by your child’s behavior, you should still take him to his pediatrician and to a developmental specialist. If you child is under 3 years of age, you can contact your local early intervention agency, and if your child is 3 years and older, you can contact your public school system. To find the appropriate person to speak to in your area, visit the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities. For more information on early signs of autism visit the CDC’s Learn the Signs. Act Early. Campaign site.

Identifying the symptoms. There is a wide range of behaviors that children with autism exhibit. Most children with autism consistently exhibit several of the following behaviors:

Problems developing social skills

·  Poor eye contact

·  Limited use of facial expressions

·  Does not wave bye-bye

·  Does not play interactive games like peek-a-boo

·  Does not like to be held

·  Preference to play alone

·  Absence of pretend plan

Problems with communication, speech, and language

·  Delayed speaking

·  Difficulty communicating wants and needs

·  Responds to sounds better than verbal cues

Preference for repeated behaviors and routines

·  Trouble adjusting to change

·  Plays with the same toys over and over

·  Repetition of actions, words, and phrases

Learn about education options. There is no cure for ASDs. However, if your child is diagnosed early, there are interventions that may maximize her ability to function. Once your child is diagnosed, she will receive help either from an early intervention program or integrated preschool. Typical interventions can include applied behavioral analysis (ABA), language therapy, occupational, and/or physical therapy. Once your child is ready to enter school, your child’s specialists from your local public school will recommend an appropriate setting, depending on your child’s abilities and needs. Some children need to receive intensive services in a specialized classroom with few students, while others can spend part of all of their day in a regular classroom in the public school, often with some special services. Occasionally, severely affected children may be placed in a school that is highly specialized for children with ASDs. If it is decided that your child cannot attend her local public school, she still is entitled to an appropriate education at no additional cost to you (these costs are funded by local communities). If your child does enter public school, she will be eligible for special education services. A team of people, including yourself, will develop an Individualized Education Plan for her.