![\"English:](\"http:\/\/commons.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/File:Autism-stacking-cans_2nd_edit.jpg\" "\\"English:")
<\/a>As a parent, you never want to believe that your precious bundle has a problem. But when it comes to autism, catching it early\u2013ideally by the age of eighteen months\u2013makes a huge difference. The younger your child, the greater the impact of treatment on symptoms of autism. But no matter your child’s age, don’t lose hope. Treatment can reduce the disorder’s effects and help your child learn, grow, and thrive.<\/p>\n
As a parent, you\u2019re in the best position to spot the earliest warning signs of autism. You know your child better than anyone and observe behaviors and quirks that a pediatrician, in a quick fifteen-minute visit, might not have the chance to see. Your child\u2019s pediatrician can be a valuable partner, but don\u2019t discount the importance of your own observations and experience. The key is to educate yourself so you know what\u2019s normal and what\u2019s not.<\/p>\n
This was true for my 3-year-old son. At around 16 months of age at his well child visit I would bring up my concerns. His pediatrician wanted to take the wait and see approach, I noticed regression and lack of language development. I was persistent and his pediatrician made a referral to a developmental specialist. At 2 years and 11 months he was officially diagnosed with autism. Here are some steps to take:Monitor your child\u2019s development. Autism involves a variety of developmental delays, so keeping a close eye on when\u2014or if\u2014your child is hitting the key social, emotional, and cognitive milestones is an effective way to spot the problem early on. While developmental delays don\u2019t automatically point to autism, they may indicate a heightened risk.Take action if you\u2019re concerned. Every child develops at a different pace\u2014so you don\u2019t need to panic if your child is a little late to talk or walk. When it comes to healthy development, there\u2019s a wide range of \u201cnormal.\u201d But if your child is not meeting the milestones for his or her age, or you suspect a problem, share your concerns with your child\u2019s doctor immediately. Don\u2019t accept a wait-and-see approach.<\/p>\n
Many concerned parents are told, \u201cDon\u2019t worry\u201d or \u201cWait and see.\u201d But waiting is the worst thing you can do. You risk losing valuable time at an age where your child has the best chance for improvement. Furthermore, whether the delay is caused by autism or some other factor, developmentally delayed kids are unlikely to simply \u201cgrow out\u201d of their problems. In order to develop skills in an area of delay, your child needs extra help and targeted treatment.Trust your instincts. Ideally, your child\u2019s doctor will take your concerns seriously and perform a thorough evaluation for autism or other developmental delays. But sometimes, even well-meaning doctors miss red flags or underestimate problems.<\/p>\n
Listen to your gut if it\u2019s telling you something is wrong and be persistent. Schedule a follow-up appointment with the doctor, seek a second opinion, or ask for a referral to a child development specialist.Regression of any kind is a serious autism warning sign .Some children with autism spectrum disorders start to develop communication skills and then regress, usually between 12 and 24 months. For example, a child who was communicating with words such as \u201cmommy\u201d or \u201cup\u201d may stop using language entirely, or a child may stop playing social games he or she used to enjoy such as peek-a-boo, patty cake, or waving \u201cbye-bye.\u201dAny loss of speech, babbling, gestures, or social skills should be taken very seriously,as regression is a major red flag for autism.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
As a parent, you never want to believe that your precious bundle has a problem. But when it comes to autism, catching it early\u2013ideally by the age of eighteen months\u2013makes a huge difference. The younger your child, the greater the …<\/p>\n