Autism Spectrum Disorder affects the communication patterns, social interaction and development of almost 1 percent of all American children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The earliest signs can be seen in the first year for many children, but other children develop normally and then regress. Recognizing when a child is not developing in a healthy way can allow parents to access early, intensive treatment.
First Year Behavioral Signs
Two of the earliest indicators of autism are the lack of a social smile and failure to sustain eye contact, which are usually seen at 6 to 8 weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An autistic child commonly doesn't begin babbling or pointing during the second half of the first year, as healthy children do. Failing to respond to his own name by the end of the first year is an additional cause for concern.
Other Explanations
Many children who exhibit first year signs of autism do not have this disorder. The smile of an infant, for example, requires good vision and a smile to mimic. If a child is neglected, he may not smile. Likewise, a child with a hearing loss may not hear others speak and therefore doesn't have the stimulus for babbling or responding to his name. Infants born prematurely are ofter late in reaching these milestones but eventually catch up. Brain damage from infection, nutritional deficits and other genetic disorders must be ruled out before a doctor can begin assessing whether a child has autism.
Head Circumference
Over half of all children later diagnosed with autism have a particular pattern of head growth. They are born with smaller than expected head circumferences for their height and weight. They have a sudden growth spurt in head size between months 1 and 2 and again between months 6 and 14. This pattern was found in 59 percent of children with autism studied by a team of neuropsychiatrists at the University of California, San Diego. The study was published in the July 2003 issue of the "Journal of the American Medical Association." A baby's head circumference should be measured at each visit with the pediatrician.
Value of Early Detection
A diagnosis of autism that is reliable and stable can be made by age 2. Until then the diagnosis of developmental delay is given, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But that doesn't mean earlier intervention cannot begin or that it might not be beneficial. Private insurance companies and Medicaid, however, may refuse payment for services specific to autism until a diagnosis is made, an important consideration for many families.
Early Intervention
When autism is suspected before age 1 and diagnosed soon after the second birthday it affords the child access to effective early interventions that may make a difference.
The Early Start Denver Model of intervention for children with autism was developed by Dr. Geraldine Dawson of the University of Washington. It combines intensive work at home and at a training center.
The National Institutes of Health says that this intervention model can help children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder achieve better outcomes in terms of IQ, language and behavioral skills. They noted that an average 15.4 IQ points were gained by autistic children who had one year of intensive intervention, as opposed to the 4.4 IQ points gained by autistic children who received the normal community care for developmentally delayed children.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders: December 2009
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Know the Signs, Act Early: 2008
- "Journal of the American Medical Association"; Evidence of brain Overgrowth in the First year of Life in Autism; Eric Courchesne, Ph.D. et al; July 2003
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Diagnosis of Autism
- National Institutes of Health: Autism Intervention for Toddlers Imrroves Developmental Outcomes: December 2009
