Autism Disorder
Autism
Symptoms Symptoms of autism usually appear before a child is three years old and lasts throughout their lives. Children with autism can display a wide range of symptoms which can vary in severity from mild to disabling. Children with autism have difficulties in:
Pretend play
Social interactions
Verbal and nonverbal communication General symptoms include:
Be overly sensitive in sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste (for example, they may refuse to wear "itchy" clothes and become distressed if they are forced to wear the clothes)
Have unusual distress when routines are changed
Perform repeated body movements
Show unusual attachments to objects
Cant start or maintain a conversation
Communicates with gestures instead of words
Develops language slowly, or not at all
Does not adjust gaze to look at objects that others are looking at
Does not refer to self correctly (for example, says "you want water" when the child means "I want water")
Does not point to direct others ' attention to objects (occurs in the first 14 months of life)
Repeats words or memorized passages, such as commercials
Does not make friends
Does not play interactive games
Is withdrawn
May not respond to eye contact or smiles, or may avoid eye contact
May treat others as if they are objects
Prefers to spend time alone, rather than with others
Shows a lack of empathy
Does not startle at loud noises
Has heightened or low senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste
May find normal noises painful and hold hands over ears
May withdraw from physical contact because it is overstimulating or overwhelming
Rubs surfaces, mouths or licks objects
Seems to have a heightened or low response to pain
Testing Performed for Diagnosis
All children should have routine developmental exams done by their pediatrician. Further testing may be needed if the doctor or parents are concerned. This is particularly true if a child fails to meet any of the following language
Symptoms Symptoms of autism usually appear before a child is three years old and lasts throughout their lives. Children with autism can display a wide range of symptoms which can vary in severity from mild to disabling. Children with autism have difficulties in:
Pretend play
Social interactions
Verbal and nonverbal communication General symptoms include:
Be overly sensitive in sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste (for example, they may refuse to wear "itchy" clothes and become distressed if they are forced to wear the clothes)
Have unusual distress when routines are changed
Perform repeated body movements
Show unusual attachments to objects
Cant start or maintain a conversation
Communicates with gestures instead of words
Develops language slowly, or not at all
Does not adjust gaze to look at objects that others are looking at
Does not refer to self correctly (for example, says "you want water" when the child means "I want water")
Does not point to direct others ' attention to objects (occurs in the first 14 months of life)
Repeats words or memorized passages, such as commercials
Does not make friends
Does not play interactive games
Is withdrawn
May not respond to eye contact or smiles, or may avoid eye contact
May treat others as if they are objects
Prefers to spend time alone, rather than with others
Shows a lack of empathy
Does not startle at loud noises
Has heightened or low senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste
May find normal noises painful and hold hands over ears
May withdraw from physical contact because it is overstimulating or overwhelming
Rubs surfaces, mouths or licks objects
Seems to have a heightened or low response to pain
Testing Performed for Diagnosis
All children should have routine developmental exams done by their pediatrician. Further testing may be needed if the doctor or parents are concerned. This is particularly true if a child fails to meet any of the following language
Bibliography: Goehner, A. (2009). A generation of autism, coming of age. Retrieved from http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/autism/overview.html Robinson, J. (2012). Autism speaks. Retrieved from http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism