Is Your Child at Risk for Autism?
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are most often diagnosed between the ages of 18 months and 3 years old. Studies indicate that autism is four times more likely to affect boys than girls. There is also increased risk if a sibling has been diagnosed with autism.

Autism is a severe disorder of brain function marked by problems with social contact, intelligence and language, together with ritualistic or compulsive behavior and bizarre responses to the environment.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are most often diagnosed between the ages of 18 months and 3 years old. Studies indicate that autism is four times more likely to affect boys than girls. There is also increased risk if a sibling has been diagnosed with autism.

Possible indicators, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, include:

• Does not babble, point, or make meaningful gestures by one year of age.

• Does not speak one work by 16 months.

• Does not combine two words by 2 years.

• Does not respond to name.

• Loses language he had once mastered.

• Loses social skills.
Other Red Flags:

* Is he unable to follow simple commands such as "Bring me your shoes?"

* When you speak to him does he look away rather than meet your gaze?

* Do you or others suspect hearing loss?

* Does he have an unusually long attention span?

* Does he often seem to be in his own world?

At 18 months old, a child will typically do the following:

• Point to objects.

• Interact with his siblings.

• Bring you items to look at.

• Look directly at you when you speak to him.

• Follow your gaze to locate an object when you point across the room.

• Engage in "pretend play" such as feeding a doll or making a toy dog bark.

• No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter.

• No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by nine months or thereafter.

Autism is a developmental disability that impairs social and language development. It occurs in families from every class, culture and ethnic backround. It is not a mental illness and it is not caused by trauma - it is neurobiological and its symptoms can be greatly reduced by early diagnosis and treatment.

Most parents tell me “I thought there was a problem at 14 or 15 months...and they told me let’s wait and see because sometimes some kids grow out of it.’ Well, that’s not a good answer. We’ve got to make the distinction between less important problems, where we can wait and see from core problems, which involve a lack of reciprocity and a lack of getting to know your world. For these core problems, we have to act on it yesterday. We can’t wait nine months, we can’t wait two months.” (Stanley I. Greenspan, M.D., Child Psychiatrist)

Early diagnosis along with intervention provides the greatest chance for success.