how can i support my autistic child as they develop?

Question

When can you tell your child is autistic?

Answer 1

Toddlers who have : language & whose parents learn & implement autism interventions at least 25 hours/week have improved outcomes. See www.autismspeaks.org/science/science-news/parent-training-program-shows-clear-gains-toddlers-autism. Parents who reinforce behavioral techniques their kids of any age learn in therapy promote better outcomes. Social skills therapy from developmental age 6 & > also helps greatly.

Answer 2

1st check vision &: Hearing, even if it requires conscious sedation for a visual evoked response, brainstem auditory evoked response & eeg if any sign of seizures. 2nd, a neuropsychologist can test his ability to process shape, location & spatial orientation of objects, fine motor & visual construction ability & executive functions. Non-verbal learning disabilities are common in Asperger syndrome, not autism.

Answer 3

Joint attention: Precedes social communication; i.e., the child looks at an object to which you point & demonstrates shared interest +!points at objects to share interest with you. Intensive, repetitive behavioral therapy (aba or the denver early start model) works best & many states require insurance companies to fund them. Also, see federal law idea. At www.Autism-society.Org for early intervention & ecse.

Answer 4

Depends on child: Some children may never acquire meaningful verbal language but the majority will but it is usually delayed. Those who who are not able to express themselves verbally may be able to communicate pictures. The ability to understand others may be present even though the ability to express themselves is delayed. Early intervention with speech and other modalities like music therapy is key.

Answer 5

Incorrect term: Cure is not the correct term and definitely not for those who have a genetic cause such as fragile x. You can, in some cases, make such significant improvements in the level of functioning that they no longer meet diagnostic criteria. This is more likely the younger the child at the time intervention begins and the more multifaceted the approach. Any delay deserves evaluation.

Answer 6

Lots of help availal: There is seldom a "cure" in that all symptoms disappear but there are many interventions that relieve many of the most distressing symptoms of autism in many children.

Answer 7

The Early Start Den-: Ver model is the only comprehensive early intervention model proven effective in reducing autistic behaviors & increasing cognitive, language, & adaptive skills when begun by 18-24 months & continued for at least 2 years at an intensity of 15 hrs./week by trained therapists + 5 hours:week by parents or caregivers. The goal is for the child's behavior to be indistinguishable from his peers'.

Answer 8

Good question.: The only proven method to help youngsters overcome autisms challenges is science based intensive individualized intervention using an applied behavior analysis model. As a healthcare provider and father if child with autism, i regret to report there is no quick fix, however, we know more about autism today than ever. Feel free to message me if you would like more specific information.

Answer 9

No cure but help: Some individuals with autistic traits, especially at young ages may improve over time; e.g., pdd. However, there is no "cure, but speciialized thera[ies, educational programs, behavioral techniques, social skills training, etc. Can help ameliorate symptoms. Medication can often help too.

Answer 10

Controversial : Some feel vitamins have no place in care of autistic kids. However, in light of how well our other treatments are working, it seems worth a try. An option: a physician mother of 3 autistic children developed a liquid vitamin called "agape." one of my patients did settle his episodic agitation. It's expensive, though. See for info & contents: http://www.Awakennutrition.Com/agape/about.Html.

Answer 11

Probably none.: Most chidren, autistic or not, eat an adequate diet and do not require vitamns past the infancy period. If an autistic child does not eat a variety of foods, or eats alot of non-food items, then he might benefit from a multivitamin. Vitamins are not an appropriate treatment for autism.

Answer 12

So Far None: I agree that we need an open minded approach, but i would like to see research with proof of effectiveness.There is none.Individual "testimonials" are often biased and very few have turned out to help.See " lorenzo's oil" , a "cure " for a birth defect that was sworn to work, but did not.Megavitamin therapy is another such mishap.At present, nothing has been proven.

Answer 13

Slight risk: We do not understand the genetic mechanisms for autism. We do know that there is an increased risk in families with a history of autism. However, since we have not found a definite cause and only recently noted chromosomal changes in autistic children, we cannot say what the risk is for certain. There may even be environmental components at work, so avoid toxins perinatally.

Answer 14

Much research is : Is focused on siblings of children with autistic spectrum disorder. Each specific genetic disorder found on comparative genomic hybridization or dna probe for fragile x carries its own risk. Otherwise, prospective studies show that 20-30% of younger siblings display signs of asd, but very early intervention led to some later diagnoses of language disorders or milder symptoms than their older sib.

how can i support my autistic child as they develop?

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