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. The affliction is thought to affect children from birth or the very first few months of life, and typically results in an abnormal development in the areas of language 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 is often very difficult for parents to analyze the intricate behaviors of their newborn child, it is also extremely difficult to determine whether the child is autistic or not. 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. Sadly, if autism is present in children with above-average mental ability, unusual behavior or related abnormalities may be dismissed.
Whilst there is no absolute cure for autism, its cause also remains unknown. Most specialists think that prenatal damage to the brain is the most probable cause. 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 incredible importance of the early identification of autism can’t 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. In most cases, it’s quite unusual to reach an accurate diagnosis of autism before two years of age. 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. Parents, especially those with no other children, do not know what to expect and can often not judge whether or not the baby is developing “normally”.
Studies have shown that there are likely two distinct types of autistic infant. In one instance there is a rather quiet and undemanding child, and in the other there is an extremely troubled baby who simply can’t be pacified, who regularly exhibits wild tantrums and behavioral 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. In many cases, the child might be intensely fascinated by shiny objects, yet at the same time appear to be completely disinterested in the vast majority of normal stimulants, such as objects or the people around them.
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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