Wednesday, April 2, 2008
World Autism Awareness Day
Autism is defined as neurological spectrum disorder that affects development in many areas. It falls under the umbrella category of Pervasive Development Disorders (PDD).
It is considered a spectrum disorder because there are varying degrees of it. Some people with Autism can talk, have full cognitive faculties, and physical abilities, but they may be what others notice as "socially awkward". Others have far less cognitive capacity and are almost infantile in their speech, social skills, emotional management and expression.
Autism is the most frequently occurring PDD, boasting 1 in 150 births, although children are not diagnosed at birth. Children usually exhibit signs of Autism between 18 and 24 months. It is more prevalent in boys (4X) than in girls. It is thought that something in estrogen seems to protect girls better than does testosterone, although girls are diagnosed with Autism.
Autism is getting much more media and medical attention because of the extreme increase in diagnoses. The last ten years have seen an remarkable increase in children diagnosed with Autism. It has become a kind of epidemic for the world of neurological/developmental disorders.
The key is early intervention. Watch your child for the typical milestones, smiling, laughing, eye contact, playing with others, appropriate display or management of emotions. If several of these are amiss, it may point to a problem. Therapy, including speech and social, can help combat some of the prison like symptoms.
There is technically no CURE but that does not mean there is nothing you can do. With early intervention, children can learn to read, socialize, write, swim, and much more that children without Autism can do.
And you can still have a happy family life.
**Keep in mind though, all children develop normally and one delayed milestone does not mean the baby has Autism.
World Autism Awareness Day
Autism is defined as neurological spectrum disorder that affects development in many areas. It falls under the umbrella category of Pervasive Development Disorders (PDD).
It is considered a spectrum disorder because there are varying degrees of it. Some people with Autism can talk, have full cognitive faculties, and physical abilities, but they may be what others notice as "socially awkward". Others have far less cognitive capacity and are almost infantile in their speech, social skills, emotional management and expression.
Autism is the most frequently occurring PDD, boasting 1 in 150 births, although children are not diagnosed at birth. Children usually exhibit signs of Autism between 18 and 24 months. It is more prevalent in boys (4X) than in girls. It is thought that something in estrogen seems to protect girls better than does testosterone, although girls are diagnosed with Autism.
Autism is getting much more media and medical attention because of the extreme increase in diagnoses. The last ten years have seen an remarkable increase in children diagnosed with Autism. It has become a kind of epidemic for the world of neurological/developmental disorders.
The key is early intervention. Watch your child for the typical milestones, smiling, laughing, eye contact, playing with others, appropriate display or management of emotions. If several of these are amiss, it may point to a problem. Therapy, including speech and social, can help combat some of the prison like symptoms.
There is technically no CURE but that does not mean there is nothing you can do. With early intervention, children can learn to read, socialize, write, swim, and much more that children without Autism can do.
And you can still have a happy family life.
**Keep in mind though, all children develop normally and one delayed milestone does not mean the baby has Autism.
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