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Early detection and treatment are critical for autistic patients.
Mary Graber
Parents who suspect their child may have autistic tendencies generally experience a wide range of emotions. In many cases, these suspicions arise less than a year after the birth of their child. So the initial euphoria of an apparently healthy birth is quickly diminished by anxieties about the future. Shortly thereafter comes the realization that the social development of their child might be slower in comparison with what they witness in other infants.
When parents do find themselves in such a situation, it is important to know what to look for and, most importantly, how to react.
Within that first year of life, warning signs include the absence of a social smile and the baby’s apparent lack of effort in attracting the attention of the mother or father. Concern is also warranted if the child isn’t babbling by his or her first birthday, is not pointing and waving or has not spoken any single words by 16 months. Also, we are especially concerned if the parent feels like the child had a certain social skill at an earlier age, but no longer exhibits that capability.
Any time parents have such concerns, they should immediately check with their healthcare provider. At that time, generally what we as pediatricians can do is incorporate selected screening tools to serve as a checklist for parents to see if their concerns are substantiated. In our office, we routinely provide developmental screens at nine months and, at 18 months, we administer another developmental screen and one specifically for autism.
If the child fails the screen, we would then discuss proper next steps with the parents. If, for instance, the child is behind in speech development, we wouldn’t necessarily wait until we have a full diagnosis. We would immediately schedule a visit to a speech therapist for the purpose of generating a tangible plan for speech improvement.
While it is difficult to get a full diagnosis of autism at such an early age (9-18 months), if the child truly does have autism, he or she should exhibit some signs during that period of time. Usually, by six months, we can start to pick up certain characteristics. The most important issue, however, is not necessarily making the diagnosis early, but starting the child on proper therapy and seeing how things progress.
First Steps
Parents, if you are not satisfied with what your healthcare provider says in response to your concerns, you have the right to contact Indiana First Steps (infirststeps.com) directly and request an evaluation by someone who will administer a developmental assessment. First Steps is an early intervention system for infants and toddlers with special needs.
If, after evaluation, you find that your child does have autism, the main emphasis should be on seeking communication therapies right away and have your child closely followed by the therapist and healthcare provider. When therapies are started early, we see these children making significant improvement. Just because there is a diagnosis at 18 months of autism, or autism spectrum, doesn’t necessarily mean the child will end up on the very severe side. It could mean that, while the patient may always have some difficulty with social skills, he or she can still perform well in school and be successful in life.
As a parent myself, I know the extreme highs and lows of parenting in the early years of your child’s life. And how suspicion of an extreme condition or illness can be cause for great concern. My advice is that you channel that emotion into aggressive action to seek answers to your concerns and guidance for the future. Only then will you be truly able to provide the care and assistance your child needs.
