Autism Spectrum Disorder -SpeechandOT

1. Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Toddlers Autism is a developmental disability that happens within a person’s brain. Nobody knows for certain what causes this difference, but these differences don’t make your child look any different. Since there isn’t anything about how an autistic toddler looks that sets them apart, it’s important to understand the disability’s other signs and symptoms. Social Skills One of the most common areas where autistic children struggle is with their social skills. This is something that’s seen in everyday life. In a toddler it may exhibit itself as: Not responding to their own name Avoiding eye contact A strong preference to play by themselves Has flat facial expressions Avoids or resists physical contact Isn’t comforted by their parents during times of distress A lack of interest in the world around them Failure to copy words and actions Not clapping or waving goodbye Not wanting to play peek-a-boo or pat-a-cake Communication It’s important to understand that each person with autism has different communication skills. While some can speak fine, others can’t speak at all. It’s also quite common for children with autism to have some words by the time they’re 18-months-old then lose them. Other signs your toddler may have autism include: Echolalia: the continued repetition of words or phrases Not pointing at anything or responding when you point to something Having few, if any, gestures: Not waving goodbye Not engaging in pretend play like feeding their doll Unusual Interests and Behaviours People with autism are known to have unusual interests and behaviours. Your toddler may demonstrate this by: Lining up their toys Playing with their toys in the exact same way every time

2. Preferring to play with a specific part of a toy like its wheel Getting upset by minor changes to their routine Flapping their hands, rocking their body, or spinning in circles Developmental Delays Toddlers who have autism will have delays in the development of some of their skills, but not in others. The skills that are affected varies depending on the child as each one develops differently. You may also notice that they’ll learn a harder skill before learning an easier one. Although getting a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not something anyone wishes for a child or adolescent, it also comes with unique learning opportunities for family members to discover ways to help their loved one grow and flourish. While the degree of impairment will vary significantly among those with ASD, there are tried-and-true approaches that family members can incorporate into their relationships with their loved one with ASD that can be applied at any level of impairment. Don’t try to go it alone. Before you can provide support for your loved one with ASD, it’s essential that you maintain basic self-care, as well as actively seek services and resources available in your community. Certainly, you want the best for the child in your life with an autism spectrum disorder, and you can’t effectively provide support for them if you don’t have the help you need from those who’ve gone before you. You will glean insight from multiple health professionals, from your child’s pediatrician to their speech and occupational therapists. In addition, you can learn from your child’s special education teachers and numerous autism support groups, including Autism Speaks, which provides valuable resources for family

3. members of those with ASD, including reviews of apps and a 100-day program kit for the first 100 days following your child’s diagnosis. Provide consistency. Because children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder have difficulty applying what they learn in one setting to other settings – such as from the therapist’s office to home and vice versa –it’s important to create consistency in your loved one’s environment. This will reinforce learned behaviors from other settings with alternative ways to learn the same things at home. Set up a structured schedule including regular meal times, school, therapy appointments and bedtime. Find non-verbal ways to communicate. Pay close attention to non-verbal clues from your child, in order to pick up on what different clues mean about your child’s comfort level. As you become more aware of these clues, you will also become aware of the motivation behind them and you can create ways to communicate using similar non-verbal clues. Make time for play. Remember that your child or adolescent with an autism spectrum disorder is still a child and needs more than just rigid routines and endless lessons. Figure out the things that make your child with ASD smile or laugh and reserve time every day for playtime and allow your child to let loose a little. A diagnosis of ASD is never celebrated, but there are also wonderful learning opportunities for family members who want to lend support. Speech and Occupational Therapy of North Texas is available to be a part of your support network as a family member of a child or adolescent with ASD. To learn more, contact us for a consultation. WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER? Autism is a developmental disorder. It is primarily associated with problems with social interactions, not communicating verbally or non-verbally correctly, and behavioral problems. Some of these problems include repetitive behaviors and interests that have a very narrow focus. Autistic children can have varying degrees of symptoms. While the disorder itself cannot be cured, the good news is that therapies have been developed that can help a child with autism better integrate with their peers, their family members, and those around them. In this article, we will focus on a broad look at the three major types of autism spectrum disorders.

4. Autistic Disorder Autistic Disorder is what would be considered “classic” autism. It is also the most severe form of autism. The symptoms of Autistic Disorder are what most people think of when someone is said to be autistic. One of the first hints that a child has Autistic Disorder is a delay in language development. By the age of two they should be speaking and able to communicate their needs to you and understand what you are asking of them. Children with Autistic Disorder may have trouble making friends because they are unable to recognize the social clues needed to do that. They may also engage in restrictive or even rigid behavior. They also may seem to be engaged in repetitive behavior that is almost compulsive. Asperger Syndrome Asperger Syndrome is a milder form of autism. Children with Asperger Syndrome do not have the problems with language and communication that those with Autistic Disorder have. They are able to make their needs known and can understand what others want of them. Many people with Asperger Syndrome are not affected by intellectual disabilities that do affect those with Autistic Disorder. People with Asperger Syndrome have trouble with social interactions. They may be tied to specific schedules or ways of doing things. Upsets in their routine can cause them difficulties. They frequently have problems with understanding social clues and may not understand simple social norms, such as invading someone’s personal space. They are also subject to hypersensitivities such as light and sound.

5. However, they do have certain strengths which are tied to their intellectual ability such as being able to maintain a strong focus, pay attention to detail, and excellent pattern recognition abilities. Pervasive Developmental Disorder Pervasive Developmental Disorder is an atypical form of Autism. This diagnosis is determined when a person meets some of the criteria for Autism Disorder and Asperger Syndrome, but do not meet all of the criteria of either of these disorders. This is considered the mildest form of Autism and generally causes only social or communication problems. If you think you have a child who exhibits any of these symptoms, contact Speech & Occupational Therapy of North Texas. We have several clinics in the North Texas area and have been helping families with an autistic child for almost 20 years. Of course, it’s important to understand that each child develops at their own pace so you shouldn’t rush into making a diagnosis. However, if you have a toddler in Plano, Texas who’s exhibiting any of these signs or symptoms, you should reach out to Speech & OT for help. We have helped many parents raise successful children with autism and look forward to helping you do the same.