AUTISM IN BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN

Autism is described as a spectrum of disorders for a reason. Signs of autism can present differently.

Can a child be slightly autistic?

A child could have mild symptoms of autism, but parents and guardians should still take proactive steps to seek a diagnosis.

When a child has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), caregivers can work with professionals to develop appropriate strategies in response. These strategies help children thrive in their environment through appropriate accommodations, therapy, and parent training.

While some children with autism may rarely encounter challenges related to their disorder, others may find that negative experiences increase as they get older. This can lead to unwanted stress, potentially up to the point of a crisis event. In extreme cases, a child could lose opportunities to advance in school or other life areas.

Understanding a child’s needs is important. Individuals in their life should never brush away observations that a child might have a behavior disorder. Instead, they can educate themselves on the signs of ASD and look into the next best actions to take.

Being “On the Spectrum” Can Mean a Wide Variety of Experiences

Autism is described as a spectrum of disorders for a reason. Signs of autism can present differently.

Some individuals will have significant behavior and communication challenges that make the possibility of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis more likely.

In other cases, caregivers may notice occasional “atypical” behaviors but that don’t immediately cause them to seek a full behavioral health evaluation.

In the latter scenario, a child may never have their autism diagnosed or addressed therapeutically. It’s possible that mildly-expressed forms of ASD behavior go completely unnoticed.

But another possibility is that an undiagnosed child or their caregiver will feel frustrated by a lack of explanation for certain behavioral events. They may struggle with socialization, for instance, or they may lack commitment to extracurricular activities.

Ignoring the possibility of an autism diagnosis, especially if a child seems mostly neurotypical, can make it more difficult for them to adjust and have their needs met. For this reason, teachers and caregivers who observe subtle signs of ASD should speak with a mental health professional.

A child’s parents, teachers, and others with a direct role in their life are the best observers when it comes to picking up on a possible autism spectrum disorder diagnosis. Only a licensed mental health professional can come to a full, accurate diagnosis, but you don’t have to be a professional to suspect that an ASD diagnosis is possible.

What Are Some Possible Signs of Mild Autism?

ASD encompasses a broad range of behavioral patterns and experiences.

Inconsistency from one ASD case to the next can make it more difficult for caregivers to fully connect the dots.

Even so, there are many common behaviors that could point to a possible ASD diagnosis. Per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ), these may include:

• Repetitive play or verbal expressiveness (echolalia)
• A fixation on certain activities, ideas, or concepts
• A reluctance to engage in new experiences or to disrupt routines
• Aversion to certain forms of interaction, especially hugging or cuddling
• Avoiding eye contact and being difficult to engage in conversation
• Missing verbal or physical cues, such as not looking at where someone is pointing
• Having difficulty understanding others’ feelings or talking about feelings in general
• Reluctance to socialize or a preference for isolation
• Trouble expressing their needs or wishes
• Unexpected reactions to certain sights, sounds, textures, or smells
• Tantrums or explosive aggression with unexpected triggers

Some children with ASD may appear to have a learning disability or other form of behavior disorder. They may also have co-occurring medical challenges, such as gastrointestinal (GI) discomfort , trouble sleeping, or seizures . Many individuals with autism may also have mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, or an attention deficit disorder .

It is also possible that any of the above behavior signs could be related to something other than autism, such as if a child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This possibility should encourage those in the child’s life to seek a diagnostic assessment from a professional who can advise parents and others how best to address their needs.

Any Form of Autism Can Benefit From a Therapeutic Approach

Unnoticeable signs of autism can be detrimental to a child’s wellbeing when caregivers neglect to investigate further. People with autism can be given strategies and support that can help them work alongside their condition and be successful while still being completely and utterly themselves.

Once you begin talking with professionals about your child’s unique situation and any unexpected behaviors or occurrences, you can begin to understand him or her better. With support from clinicians and the community, you can provide conditions and strategies that encourage your child to have a less stressful, more fulfilling life.

If you think your child or a child in your life might have autism, take the first step toward seeing if they need extra care, attention, and support from you. Seek a diagnosis and support from professionals who use an evidence-based approach to achieve goals that help children thrive.

Therapeutic Pathways offers evidence-based autism treatment , including assessments post diagnosis for treatment purposes. Contact us today with concerns or for resources to help you determine if your child has ASD and the steps to take after receiving a diagnosis.

What does autism look like in a baby

Autism is a lifelong condition that affects how a person understands the world and interacts with others. These days autism is more properly called autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and it covers a number of similar conditions; these include classic autism, Asperger syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder

ASD affects more than one in 100 people in the UK and commonly causes difficulties with:

• Social interactions, such as making friends or just generally interpreting social situations
• Language, understanding and communication, including problems with speech or recognising facial expressions, tone of voice and body language
• Behaviour can involve repetitive routines and intense focus on interests and activities.

How is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Detected?

The average age of diagnosis of ASD in the UK is about 5½ years old but a few children are diagnosed at as young as 2 years old. Diagnosis is largely based solely on a person’s behaviour – usually they have persistent difficulties with interacting and communicating with others plus restricted and repetitive behaviour that ‘limits and impairs their everyday functioning’.This makes it difficult to detect ASD in infants and children younger than 2 years old, because they are only just beginning to learn social behaviour and how to communicate so the tell-tale signs of ASD are not present.

What are the causes of Autism in Toddlers?

The cause of ASD is unknown but it can affect several people in one family. We do know that ASD is not an illness or a disease and there is no “cure” or medical treatment. While some with the condition require no hep whatsoever, others will benefit from support in different areas of their lives.

Signs and Symptoms of autism in babies and young children can include

• Avoiding eye contact
• Not responding to their name by 12 months of age
• Not playing ‘pretend’ games (e.g. feeding a doll with play food)
• Not smiling back when you smile at them
• Not playing social games like ‘peek-a-boo’
• Being over-sensitive or reacting strangely to some tastes, smells or sounds
• Not pointing at interesting objects or looking when you point
• Being very late starting to ‘babble’ and talk, not talking as much as other children or being able to say fewer than ten words at age 2 years old
• Repetitive movements, for example rocking their body, flicking their fingers or hand-flapping
• Repeating the same phrases over and over.

Some children develop well at first, but then slip back (regress) and lose some of the language and skills they once had.

Confirming a diagnosis is not straightforward, especially in quite young children and may take several appointments spread over time. Also remember that many of the signs might be explained by other developmental conditions.

ARE THERE ANY EARLIER WARNING SIGNS?

Some babies have a higher than average chance of developing ASD, for example if they have an older brother or sister with ASD, if they were premature (by five weeks or more) or if they have certain other medical conditions. Some researchers say that these babies can show some early warning signs from around 6 to 12 months; however these are not practical things that parents can spot themselves and currently we have no reliable way to screen babies or toddlers for ASD.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I THINK MY CHILD MAY HAVE ASD?

Because there isn’t a national screening programme for ASD in the UKit’s down to parents and carers to be alert to any early signs of ASD and to seek help if they suspect there may be a problem. If you’re worried talk to your health visitor or GP – even if your little one is less than 2 years old – and explain your concerns. It can be useful to keep a behaviour diary to list the signs that make you wonder if your child has ASD.

You know your baby better than anyone else and will be in tune with their abilities and behaviour so follow your instincts. In fact there’s some evidence that parents are better at spotting ASD-type behaviour in 12- and 18-month-olds than medical professionals.

Initially your health visitor or GP might complete a screening questionnaire with you called M-CHAT (Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers). If they’re concerned they will then refer your little one to a local team of professionals for assessment. This team might include a paediatrician, a speech and language therapist and a specialist psychologist. It can take some time between referral and your child having their assessment: while waiting do continue to keep a behaviour diary so that you can share it with the team when you and your child attend.

Following the assessment you will be informed of the findings, and should the diagnosis be ASD your child and your family will then be in a position to access the extra support needed. This may include family support, occupational therapy, speech therapy and educational support going forwards.

Help and support

National Autistic Society

Helpline 0808 800 4104 (Mon to Thu 10am-4pm, Fri 9am-3pm)
www.autism.org.uk opens in a new tab/window

Ambitious About Autism

Источники:

Источник — https://www.tpathways.org/faqs/can-a-child-be-slightly-autistic/

Источник — https://www.emmasdiary.co.uk/baby/baby-health-and-illnesses/autism-in-babies-and-young-children