More Than Words | RTS Blog

What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

National Autism Awareness Month is underway, and it’s time to “Light It Up Blue” to increase understanding and acceptance for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and provide support to their families.

A neurological and development disorder caused by genetic and environmental factors, autism is characterized by a variety of issues including social and relational challenges, speech and non-verbal communication deficiencies, and repetitive behaviors. Estimating that 1 in 68 children in the U.S. has autism, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention affirms that:

There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people. The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less.

As with most disorders, early diagnosis and intervention are key to helping improve a child’s prognosis. Though it is becoming more common to diagnose autism spectrum disorders earlier and earlier, the most obvious signs and symptoms of autism emerge between 18 months and three years of age.

Signs of Autism

The symptoms and effects of autism may vary widely from child to child. While some children may have only a few, mild symptoms, other children may be faced with more severe challenges. Either way, autism is a lifelong condition which affects people of every race, gender, and background.

While there are many warning signs to watch for as your child develops, the most common autism red flags include: impaired social skills, communication struggles, and behavioral difficulties.

Autism: Social Difficulties

A child struggling with autism spectrum disorder social and relational difficulties may demonstrate the following:

  • Appears to be distant, in his or her own world
  • Does not frequently respond to his or her name when called
  • Lack of warm, joyful facial expressions such as smiles
  • Difficulty playing with others or making friends
  • Aversion to being cuddled or touched
  • Trouble engaging in pretend play or using toys in abstract ways
Autism: Communication Difficulties

A child struggling with autism spectrum disorder verbal and non-verbal communications difficulties may demonstrate the following:

  • Avoids eye contact
  • Difficulty communicating simple needs and wants
  • Offers no spoken words by 16 months
  • Echolalia or “parroting” questions and words offered to him or her without comprehension of the communication offered
  • Trouble understanding routine directions or simple questions
  • Uses few gestures such as pointing, waving or reaching
  • Does not understand facial expressions
  • Appears sensitive to sounds, smells, and textures
Autism: Behavioral Difficulties

A child struggling with autism spectrum disorder behavioral difficulties may demonstrate the following:

  • Self-stimulatory behaviors such as rocking, hand-flapping, moving fingers in front of his or her eyes, spinning, or head banging
  • Appears to be inflexible with routine
  • Difficulties adapting to changes in routine or environment
  • Arranges objects or toys in certain ways such as color, shape, or size
  • Seems fixated on certain toys or strange objects including light switches, rubber bands or keys

The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers—Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F™)

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children receive autism screening between 18 and 24 months of age by using The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F).

The M-CHAT-R/F is a checklist tool that pediatricians use to identify children who may need a more thorough assessment of possible early signs of autism or developmental delays. If the results of initial screening indicate the need for further evaluation, parents will be directed to contact the local Children’s Developmental Services Agency to begin the process of evaluation and therapy as warranted.

Does My Child Have Autism?

If you are concerned that your child may be exhibiting signs of autism, contact your pediatrician to schedule an appointment to voice your concerns.

Your pediatrician will speak with you about observations and conduct an assessment of your child as well to determine next steps.

 

Autism Speaks | The World of Autism PSA

  Filed under: Advocacy, Autism, Parent Education, Raleigh Therapy Services


Inspiration: Jory Fleming, Rhodes Scholar

Incommunicative and acutely sensitive to lights and sounds as a child, Jory Fleming paved a path to become a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University in England.

He spoke with Sunday TODAY Reporter Harry Smith about his first year at the prestigious university saying, “It just has opened up for me more than anything, that while there may be many paths to get there, if you know where you’re going you can make a start.”

Jory’s story is an inspiring reminder that an autism diagnosis and sensory challenges shouldn’t stand in the way of a child’s future successes.

Watch the full Sunday TODAY news segment to learn more about Jory’s story.

Source: Today.com

 

  Filed under: Advocacy, Autism, Inspiration


Thumb-Sucking Solutions

Are you battling your little one’s thumb-sucking habit?

Children are born with natural rooting and sucking reflexes that often cause them to put their fingers and hands in their mouths. Very often this action makes them feel safe and secure and becomes a habit that helps to soothe and calm.

When should my child give up thumb-sucking?

Many children will give up their thumb- or finger-sucking habit by the age of 5 without impeding dentition and speech sound development.

However, if thumb-sucking persists past kindergarten and becomes a more long-term practice, it can affect the development of the child’s teeth and jawbones and may alter normal speech sound development.

What issues can long-term thumb-sucking cause?

One of the most common speech-sound development issues that prolonged thumb-sucking may cause is a tongue thrust or reverse swallow. This occurs when the tongue lies too far forward at rest or protrudes between the top and bottom teeth during speech and swallowing. The speech sounds most often distorted by a tongue thrust include forms of d, l, n, s, t, and z. For example, a child may say “thumb” instead of “some.”

A child who persists with thumb-sucking for longer periods may also experience increased illness from placing dirty fingers in his mouth, social insecurities arising from peer pressure and teasing about the habit, or an eventual need for orthodontics.

If you are concerned that your child’s habit may be causing some of these issues, please consult with a pediatric dentist who can further assess his tooth eruption and the alignment of his jaw and teeth. A speech-language pathologist can also help evaluate your child’s speech development and tongue movement.

What can I do to help my child stop?

Curbing a long-term thumb-sucking habit can be challenging, especially if the child isn’t ready to give it up yet. Here are some ideas to consider.

Talk about it

Talk with your son about his thumb-sucking habit and his own desire to stop. Empower him to be a part of the plan to quit the behavior. The best results often happen when a child is motivated to quit on his own accord.

Ignore the habit

For some children, negative attention is better than no attention at all. If you are continuously drawing attention to your son’s thumb sucking, you may be reinforcing the behavior. Simply look the other way.

Skip punishments

Your child is most likely sucking his thumb to calm down, and punishing that self-soothing behavior can be ineffective. Avoid placing a plastic thumb guard or glove on his hand and stay away from putting awful tasting mixtures on the thumbnail. These types of products are generally ineffective and may cause your child frustration and anger.

Switch and swap

Have you figured out when, where and why your child sucks his thumb? Does he do it when he is tired, hungry or upset? Does he do it more often in his bed or on the couch while watching TV? Once you’ve determined the source, try and offer age-appropriate alternatives to the behavior like offering him a stuffed animal toy or gum.

 

  Filed under: Parent Education, Parenting Tips, Speech and Language Development