The first blog in this series gave you an idea of some of the statistics of autism and a more in depth look at the most complex area of symptoms, stereotypy. Even though I chose to focus only on this aspect of autism, it is crucial that parents and professionals evaluate the big picture of a child’s functioning when there are concerns about their development. The three main areas of development that are impaired in people with autism are verbal and nonverbal communication, social interactions, and limited interests or unusual behaviors and routines. Being observant and informed about some of the developmental red flags is crucial because the earlier you intervene, the more favorable the outcome is. However, there is a great deal of gray area the younger the child is because these impairments can show up in several different forms in childhood. Some of the early warning signs of autism can also be confused with normal developmental pattern shifts. Since autism affects several different developmental areas, it is important to bear in mind that there are often isolated areas of development (i.e. speech/language, hearing, large or gross motor, and sensory) that require more specifically focused attention. The younger a child is, the more difficult it is to distinguish which end is up on the developmental scale.
The following links provide further info on what some of these early warning signs are: autismweb.com, autismeducation.net, autismspeaks.org and firstsigns.org.
If you suspect there is something wrong with your child, your first course of action should be either a visit to the pediatrician or some time spent making some initial phone calls. National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, your local early intervention agency (under the age of three), or the local public school system (over the age of three) are all available to assist you in getting the resources you need. Any of these programs will be able to steer you in the right direction on the path of getting a referral for your child to have a screening completed. Often times, I read and hear about parents who feel misunderstood or devalued after expressing their concerns with a doctor or other professional. If you feel that your voice isn’t being heard, then get a second opinion. Once you have a referral for an evaluation, it is important to prepare as much information about your child as possible. Any time frames, medical history, environmental factors, specific observations or patterns family, friends, or the child’s daycare provider have noticed, developmental milestones, appetite history, etc. are all important variables that should play into the bigger picture I’m referring to in terms of a child’s functioning. Information such as this will be helpful in the process of determining a diagnosis and subsequent treatment programs.
The most ideal professionals to conduct the screenings are psychologists, pediatric neurologists, and developmental pediatricians. Check out the qualifications of the person doing the screening. It is important that they have actual experience with children on the autism spectrum. This is very different that just being textbook educated. The type of report this person writes will determine the services your child receives, so the more experience they have with the population, the more likely it is they comprehend the larger picture of what will be needed.
The following links provide further information on commonly used screening tools used to diagnose autism spectrum disorders: firstsigns.org, autism-society.org, and autismeducation.net. You can complete an online screening here.
Parents should understand how these tools work and what their findings mean. When setting up an appointment for the screening, it is appropriate to ask about the person who will be conducting the evaluation and what tools they are going to be using when doing so. The more comprehensive evaluations should also include a naturalistic observation of the child and information gathered from a childcare provider and parent via interview and/or questionnaire.
The final blog in this series will provide further information on the diagnosis, resources available for a child who receives a diagnosis, and the treatment options available.
Southerner
Great information. I know next to nothing about autism, other than a couple of documentaries I’ve seen, but they did not discuss diagnosis much at all.
I have read the person responsible for the Viginia Tech incident was thought to have been autistic. Could that possibly have been the reason for his anti-social tendencies?