No parent wants to contemplate that their child may be suffering from autism, a devastating developmental disorder that is anticipated to affect more than one in 150 children in the United States. Autism is generally believed to effect children from birth, or even perhaps from the very first few months of life, and usually results in an abnormal development in language skills and communication, activities, and social interaction. Whilst there is no cure for autism, there are very many different therapies and procedures available to help mitigate its effects; early diagnosis is very important.
As it’s usually rather difficult for parents to analyze the intricate behaviors of their newly born child, it’s also incredibly difficult to say whether the child is actually autistic. As all aspects of behavior are still quite immature in babies, including the ability to communicate, to establish relationships and to be involved in normal day-to-day activities, it can take quite a bit of time to identify deviations from what is considered normal. There are also a wide variety of symptoms, other factors and possibly other illnesses present, further complicating the ability to diagnose. Unfortunately, if autism is present in a child with exceptional mental ability, unusual behaviors or other related abnormalities might easily be dismissed.
While there still isn’t any absolute cure for autism, its cause also remains completely unknown. Most experts believe that prenatal damage to the brain is the most likely culprit. Also, some experts think that the condition isn’t actually present at birth, while others think that it’s caused by external factors, such as the introduction of certain chemicals during routine vaccinations.
The importance of early identification cannot be over-stressed. If a child’s behavior deviates significantly from the general pattern of development, treatment and adjustment might become complicated. The child can resist any efforts to change behavior. It is rather unusual to achieve a diagnosis of autism before the age of two years. Therefore, many experts are formally requesting specialist training to be provided to primary care workers and family doctors, to give them the ability to recognize early warning signs. Most parents, particularly those who don’t have any other children, don’t have any idea what to expect, and because of this they’re not in a position to judge whether or not the baby is developing “normally”.
Studies have shown that there are likely two distinct types of autistic infant. On the one hand, there is a very quiet and undemanding child and on the other hand a very troubled baby who cannot be pacified and exhibits tantrums and behavior outbursts. Such a child might show a great deal of aggression, anger, and in some circumstances, may even kick or hit other people or animals. Other behaviors may be displayed, such as banging heads, constantly rocking back and forth, or scratching at blankets. The child may be fascinated by shiny objects yet appear to be disinterested in the majority of regular stimulants – objects or people.
During a clinical study of 28 cases dealing with autistic symptoms in very young children, a 1990 study suggested that it is possible to recognize autism in infancy. In particular, three areas should be observed.
Gaze: the study suggests that the infant will exhibit an unusual quality of gaze with this condition. The autistic baby will gaze only briefly and out of the corner of its eye.
Hearing: the autistic child will very likely not be deaf, but will exhibit symptoms as if it were. Very loud noises usually cause no reaction, but repetitive or unusual, brief sounds may invoke a lot of interest. This is potentially tied to perception abnormalities.
Social Relationships: in general, young babies tend to exhibit a particular interest in play, whilst babies with autism may show a complete lack of interest in this area and may shy away from social interaction with others. The autistic infant will likely not be easily stimulated, have a short attention span or may not show an interest in playing baby games, enjoy interaction with others or engage in communication with peers; this may be the primary pointer for parents to consider.
Early intervention remains the key to help improve the long-term prospects for the suffering child. It is important that health professionals who specialize in pediatrics understand and observe the potential characteristics and help parents to accurately diagnose and plan for the future.
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