Autism in children

The age at which children can show signs of autism varies widely. It is important to note that not every child with autism will show all of the signs and children without autism may also display some of these behaviours. This is why it is wise to have a professional evaluation if you begin to notice some of the signs in your child and start children’s autism treatment as soon as possible.

How to spot autism in your child

The signs for autism vary as the child ages, but generally, they can be split up into infant, younger child and older child categories. Here are a few signs to look for as your child ages.

For infants:

• Avoiding eye contact
• Limited smiles and joyful expressions
• Limited babbling and noises
• Fewer words spoken than expected

For younger children:

• Not responding to their name
• Avoiding eye contact
• Not smiling when you smile at them
• Not talking as much as their peers
• Repetition of certain phrases
• Repetition of certain movements such as rocking, flicking or flapping their hands
• Getting upset or angry at particular smells, tastes or sounds

For older children:

• Having a strict daily routine that causes upset if changed
• Finding it hard to fit in with their peers
• Not being able to read body language
• Taking everything very literally and not being as comfortable in understanding jokes or phrases

How common is autism?

Autism Speaks, a charity that supports those suffering from autism and their families have found evidence to suggest that 1 in 54 people are on the autistic spectrum, with boys being four more times likely to have autism than girls. They also found that there was no socioeconomic or ethnic impact on how likely it was for children to be diagnosed – autism can happen to anyone.

What type of children’s autism treatment is available?

The earlier the diagnosis of autism, the earlier the intervention can begin. The sooner treatment can begin, the more beneficial it can be in improving learning, communication and social skills. There are many different children’s autism treatment types and The Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has split these up into four categories:

• Behaviour and communication approaches such as speech therapy
• Dietary approaches
• Medication
• Complementary and alternative medicine

Every case of autism is unique and if you think you can see some of the signs of autism in your child, contact us today for diagnosis and treatment by Dr Chelvi Kukendra.

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