I am pleased to have Dr. Lynette Fraga guest posting on Acting Balanced today as part of Autism Awareness Month. Dr Fraga, Ph.D., is the VP of Early Care & Education and Special Populations at Care.com
Early Signs
My nephew was born into a large extended family filled with great love and
hope for his promising future. He was an
easy baby, rarely fussed, and was effortlessly cared for by family and
friends. My sister was grateful for his easy
temperament as she attended school and worked hard for both of them. Yet as
he grew older, there were marked differences in his development. Typical developmental milestones were missed and
worry about his healthy growth increased. Could he have Autism?
It is a question many more parents are
asking these days.
A recent report released earlier this month by the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) reported 1:88 children in the United States have been identified
with an Autism
Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a 23% increase since 2009. ASD is also 3-4 times more common in boys
than in girls. With more children being
diagnosed at earlier ages, a growing number by 3 years old, parents are asking
more questions about their own child’s development. What should they do if they think something
doesn’t feel quite right about their child in their early years?
As the mother of two children, I recall recording many of their
developmental milestones when they were little: their first smile, first words,
first steps or first solid food. My
friends and I would talk about what our children were accomplishing and share
articles, websites, and books we had read.
Most challenging were the fears that would creep in, like my sister’s,
when it was becoming clearer that something wasn’t quite okay.
As parents we need to be
empowered to discuss our concerns when we think something isn’t right with
our child. In fact, we should “act early” because early
identification and earlier intervention means you can do more to support your
child’s healthy development when there is a problem.
Here are some important steps to follow:
( 1) Observe
your child – Children
develop at different rates and there is a range of “typical” development. Check out the CDC’s website to learn more
about developmental
milestones.
Some signs of Autism or red flags you may want to take particular note
of include:
a.
Social Differences – Your child may not
be smiling as you expect or may not cuddle like other children. Eye contact may
be elusive and you may not get a response when you call their name.
b.
Language/Communication
Differences –
Your child may have language delays and is not reaching typical developmental
milestone. For example, not waving
“bye-bye” by 12 months, or not using words by 15-16 months.
c.
Regression – Your child may
have reached typically developing milestones, but is regressing and “losing”
some of the skills they may have had.
It is important to recognize that every
child is different and can have different symptoms. Just because your child may have a red flag does
not mean they have Autism. However, when
you identify a concern it does warrant following up with your pediatrician. Additional information about red flags can be
found on the American Academy of Pediatrics website for parents.
( 2) Talk to
your pediatrician – If
you are concerned about your child’s development, discuss your concerns with
your child’s doctor, make a list of your concerns, and be specific about what
you are observing. This can be helpful
to guide the conversation and provide the pediatrician with helpful information
to support you and your child.
( 3) Get a
developmental screening – The
American Academy for Pediatrics recommends screening for all children during
well child visits at 9 , 18 , and 24 or 30 months. You don’t have to wait for your well child
visit! If you are concerned, talk to your
pediatrician and request a screening. Parents
can also contact their state early intervention service or their local school
district to get an evaluation. Early
identification is critical to promoting your child’s healthy development and
getting the support he or she needs.
It is also important to keep in mind as
well that many children with ASD have other kinds of disabilities or
conditions. As with all children, each child with an ASD is unique, with his or
her own gifts and challenges. Work and partner
with your circle of care, team with the professionals and resource groups at
your disposal, and reach out for support when you need it. An excellent resource for parents beginning
to address their child’s special needs is the National Dissemination Center for Children
with Disabilities.
