Jo-anne | Autism In Toddlers

Three of the Most Common Signs of Autism in Toddlers

Jo-anne Early Signs Of Autism December 5, 2019February 1, 2020Signs of Autism in Toddlers

Understanding some of the most common signs of autism in toddlers can help a parent in determining whether a child is displaying autism signs or whether the child is just going through normal childhood growing patterns.

Autism is a very serious disorder that affects so many children in so many of different ways. Sometimes it is not known whether a child has autism for quite some time and, when it becomes known, many things need to be done in order to help that child in every way.

So, what are some of the most common signs of autism in toddlers?

This article will answer that question by discussing the top three signs that may show that a particular child is suffering from autism.

Social Interaction

One of the early common signs of autism in toddlers involves social symptoms. Many children who have autism may find it hard to engage with others and socially interact with people, especially those who they don’t know. For example, a child who is suffering from autism may not want to be hugged or may not want to cuddle at all.

To add to that, children with autism may not be able to fully understand what other people are feeling or thinking, which affects their ability to socially interact with others since it affects their communication skills.

Repetitive Behavior

Another one of the most common signs of autism in toddlers involves repetitive behaviors. Children who are suffering from autism may do the same thing over and over again.

In fact, a child with autism will usually appear to be physically normal and may also appear to be fully in control of his or her muscles, however, they may also show some signs of lack of control. For example, some children with autism may flap their arms, walk differently, and some may just freeze their entire body for no apparent reason at all.

To add to those behaviors, a child suffering from autism may become infatuated with one particular object whether it’s a vacuum cleaner or some sort of toy.

Communication Problems

Communication problems are also associated with toddlers who have autism.

What problems a child may have will differ from child to child. For example, there are some children who have autism that will be mute for a long period of time whereas others may speak but do so by speaking with only one word or using the same phrases over and over again. Either way, this greatly affects a child’s ability to communicate with others.

By understanding the causes of autism we can better understand what’s required to treat autism in toddlers at an early age.

Check out these great reads!

Hopefully this article has been beneficial to those wondering about some of the most common signs of autism in toddlers in order to better understand the disorder.

Autism Diagnosis

Jo-anne Autism in toddlers October 16, 2019February 1, 2020Autism Diagnosis

There is no happy ending after an autism diagnosis – unless the child is not diagnosed with the long term condition. But, more often than not, an autism diagnosis usually results in positive findings, which make it more overwhelming for the parents and the whole family.

Being a lifelong disorder that affects human development, life after an autism diagnosis can change the lives of the entire family in just a snap. Why is that? Because the emotional and physical demands needed in taking care of the special child will eventually take its toll on all family members which can make daily living difficult for everyone.

To be able to maintain a normal functioning family despite the condition of one of its members, experts say that each and every family member should have a deep understanding of the disorder and should be willing to accept and adjust to the demands needed by the situation.

The Autism Diagnosis After Effect

Since autism is a complex disorder, living with somebody who is diagnosed with autism can be challenging and very hard for the parents and other family members as well. Studies show most of the parents that have autistic children show signs of withdrawal from their circle of friends and other relatives because they need to devote the majority of their time and energy in taking care of the child.

There are also cases wherein one of the parents needs to stop working to be able to tend to the needs of the autistic child. Although dealing with autism can be tiring, draining, and exhausting to the family members physically, mentally, and emotionally, this is not enough reason to give up on the child. If help is needed, parents can rely on various support groups to face the challenges brought by the disorder.

Statistics show that one of the challenges parents face after their child has been diagnosed with autism is explaining the condition to other family members, especially to the siblings in order to get support. Below are just some approaches you can use to explain the condition to other family members.

Having a Normal Family Life After Autism Diagnosis

Accept and understand the situation whole heartedly. Although it is difficult to accept that your child’s life can never be normal like others, the best way to cope after an autism diagnosis is to recognize the needs of the child.

By admitting that caring for a child diagnosed with autism is devastating is more practical than making yourself believe it is not because this will only bring about more stress.

Help them understand everything about the disorder. Experts say that one of the reasons why families cannot function properly after one member has been diagnosed with autism is that they don’t have enough understanding of the condition.

For the parents, they should understand and accept the condition first so other family members will follow their lead. By making other children or members of the family understand the disorder, they will also know how to adjust to the situation and adapt to the autistic child’s needs emotionally and physically.

Give them breathing space.

After breaking the news to the family, it is best that you give them time to absorb the information on their own.

Don’t force members of the family to take care of the autistic child if they don’t want to. Each family member has a life of their own so don’t force them to dedicate all their time to the autistic child. What you can do is designate a schedule or task for them in taking care of the child. By doing this, they will learn to care more about the autistic child without being forced to do so.

Everybody needs a break. Taking care of an autistic child is draining physically, mentally, and emotionally. Give yourself or a family member a break by rewarding them a special dish or a treat to the movie theater.

Join a support group. By doing this, you can share experiences with others and vice versa so you can get help. You can also ask other members of the family for a counseling session.

Remind everybody to breathe and relax when the going gets tough.

Ask everybody to keep a journal of their own. Here, they can write down everything they feel and can relieve the stress brought about by taking care of an autistic child.

How helpful is the GFCF diet for Autism?

Check out these great reads!

An autism diagnosis is not the end of the world.

Teenagers with ADHD

Jo-anne ADD & ADHD October 3, 2019February 1, 2020add in teens, how to motivate a teenager with adhd, Teenagers with ADHD

Going from childhood into teenage years can be difficult for anybody. But for teenagers with ADHD it can be particularly difficult to cope. Teens have to deal with normal anxieties and physical developments, but teenagers with ADHD have a much lower tolerance levels and so may react far more strongly to the changes they go through.

It is likely that controlling the ADHD will become harder as a child progresses into a teenager. 400% more teenagers with ADHD are linked to traffic related incidents or speeding fines. And twice as many teenagers with ADHD run away from home. Furthermore, 50% of teenagers in juvenile delinquent centers have ADHD which has not been treated.

Managing ADHD Treatments

Managing ADHD is crucial as many teenagers rebel against the therapies and treatments they were using as a child. Parents may notice that their teenager has stopped taking their medication or is using it less frequently. If this is the case, be sure to communicate to them the importance of using the medication and try to understand why they have stopped using it.

The excuse parents often hear is that they forgot to take it. In this instance, try to get them to establish a system or particular routine so that they don’t forget. Other problems are that taking medication at school is embarrassing and they don’t like to do it. If this is the case, speak to your doctor who may be able to prescribe a slow-release alternative which will only need to be taken once in the mornings.

How to Reason with a Teenager with ADHD

All teenagers have a tendency to rebel against their parents. This is why behavioral management techniques tend to fail with teenagers. If you set many different rules that have to be stuck to, they may do the opposite. At this stage as well, they have out-grown reward systems such as treats and star charts and may find them to be patronizing.

Here you must learn to negotiate with your teen. Compromising on house rules will let them think that they have achieved a small victory and will be more likely to stick to them.

Social isolation is another common problem for teenagers with ADHD. Because one of the main symptoms of ADHD makes you impulsive, it may be difficult to wait for appropriate conversational queues and constantly interrupt others, or speak without thinking. This can be hard for friends to deal with and they may start to socialize with others instead.

It is not uncommon for parents of other children to encourage their child to avoid a teenager with ADHD as they may not understand the condition and label them as a trouble maker. Furthermore, peers that do not understand the genetics of the disorder may pick on or even bully your teenager.

It is understandable, therefore that teenagers with ADHD act out as a result of this. Often over compensating as the ‘class clown.’

How to Motivate a Teenager with ADHD.

Parents can encourage friendships by allowing your teen to have friends over to the house and by teaching them to understand social queues. By doing this, your teen may start to recognize when they have acted inappropriately and their peers are getting fed-up of them and try to tone down the behavior.

Not only this, but it is important to try to boost self-esteem wherever possible. Praising teenagers with ADHD can greatly help to boost their confidence and may counter-act the ‘class clown’ syndrome.

ADD behavior in Teenagers

It has been noticed that teenagers with ADHD are considerably more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol. There are various reasons for this, mainly because of who they end up hanging around with, but it is also due to the impulsiveness that accompanies ADHD. This is really a sign that you should be aware of

Here education is key. As a parent, try to teach your child from an early age the dangers of drugs and alcohol and the consequences of becoming involved in them. However, do not use scare tactics as this may result in your teen rebelling against you.

Alongside this, it is important that as a parent you are aware of the signs of substance abuse and so can recognize if any problems do arise and act immediately.

There are various support groups and educational websites available to both teenagers with ADHD and parents. Utilizing these tools will be hugely beneficial to both parties not only as it will be a great source of education, but because you will be able to meet and talk to people with the same problems and difficulties as you share solutions that have worked.

Being a teenager with ADHD can be extremely hard to deal with, particularly coping at school and with peer relationships.

However there are measures that both parents and teens can take to ease the symptoms and problems linked with ADHD in order to live a normal, happy life.

Symptoms Of Aspergers In Children

Jo-anne Aspergers in toddlers, Aspergers Syndrome September 16, 2019February 1, 2020aspergers symptoms in toddlers, aspergers vs autism, Helping your aspergers child, Symptoms Of Aspergers In Children

The symptoms of aspergers are a little different than those of autism in toddlers, and it’s important to know the differences.

Aspergers is categorized as a less severe case of autism and is characterized by a variety of symptoms.

Parents that are concerned about certain behaviors their child may be exhibiting need to know and understand this disorder in order to know how to cope with it and help their child.

The symptoms of Aspergers, much like autism, begin to present themselves by the age of 3 when they are most obvious. This disorder can be mistaken for autism is some cases, so getting more than one opinion is advisable.

Who Discovered Asperpers Syndrome?

Aspergers Syndrome was originally discovered by Hans Asperger in 1944. He was a pediatrician in Austria.

He noticed that while the 4 children he first observed with what is now Aspergers, had problems with interacting on a social level, but had normal intelligence levels.

These children were clumsy, experienced no empathy towards their peers and lacked the ability to express themselves through non-verbal communication. He felt that this was different from autism even though some of the symptoms were similar in nature.

This has been found to be true.

While some of the symptoms of Aspergers are similar in nature to autism, this particular disorder is different and with it, presents different symptoms.

Here are the most common symptoms of Aspergers.

Talking incessantly about certain subjects that they favor without actually being able to make a point.
Their conversation is more random and is more like a list of facts and/or statistics as opposed to being conversational.
Children with Aspergers tend to approach others to talk to them, unlike those with autism who are withdrawn. However, they are isolated from society due to their lack of social skills and narrow conversational subjects. They exhibit eccentric or inappropriate behaviors that isolate them.
The speech pattern of a child with this syndrome is one of the most noticable symptoms. They usually speak in a monotone voice or with odd inflections in their speech patterns. They also have no concept of matching their voice volume to a situation. You will need to remind them to use indoor voices in cetain circumstances.
They tend to develop depression and/or anxiety early in their young adult life after being active in childhood.
Developmental delays are symptomatic of Aspergers. They may have trouble playing catch or even riding a bike.

There have been no real developments in this disorder to find out what actually causes it, but it is believed to be genetic in some cases.

The symptoms of Aspergers have been found to be related to brain abnormalities similar to those seen with autism.

More research is being done to try to uncover what can cause this disorder. There is no cure, but there are treatments and therapies that can help manage it.

You may also be interested in reading about symptoms of aspergers in Teens and adolescents.

Understanding the Common Signs of Autism

Jo-anne Signs of Autism in Toddlers August 21, 2019November 26, 2019autism in child age 3, common signs of autism

The common signs of autism begin early in childhood, and start before the age of 3 years old.

Even though each toddler might exhibit several signs, you will find that there are three areas of development that exhibit consistent patterns of behavior; dialect, conduct, and social face to face time.

If your baby has trouble with:

looking you in the eye,
does not react to their name,
or even appears like they do not hear you, this can be a tell tale sign that something is wrong.

If they begin talking later than they should, are unaware of how their actions effect others, or even seem like they do not care, these are also signs that should be looked into.
While the signs of autism can be varied and complex, it is beneficial to understand and recognize the symptoms.

Some other indications of a mental imbalance to look out for are :

repeated movements like turning around,
shaking back and forth, or
other repetitive movements.

If your baby has sensitivity to sounds, lights, or touch but seems otherwise oblivious to pain, like not becoming alarmed once they touch something hot, this really is a sign to watch out for.

Any of these signs of autism may appear as severe or can be relatively mild in nature. However, it is always recommended to be on the safe side and get your child tested by a medical professional as soon as possible, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Just as there are numerous signs of autism, there are lots of ways it is possible to aid your autistic infant and help them cope with everyday life. You as a parent, need to become educated in all the nuances of coping with an autistic child.

Praise them often, it reinforces great behavior. Teach them tasks by doing it with them, showing them how, even if it’s something as mundane as brushing their teeth or eating food using a knife and fork.

As they get older, use visual reminders to aid them to remain focused on the task at hand. The disorder itself is incredibly complex. But it is critical that they become knowledgeable about everyday situations, especially common ones like eating and interacting with you as a parent.

More information on the First signs of Autism in Toddlers

What is Asperger’s Syndrome

Jo-anne Aspergers Syndrome August 19, 2019October 3, 2019asperger's syndrome symptoms, signs and symptoms of aspergers syndrome, what is asperger's syndrom

what are the signs and symptoms of aspergers syndrome

Asperger’s Syndrome is a neurological disorder on the “high functioning” end of the autism spectrum. Although people with Asperger’s tend to have similar problems and complications to those with Autism, they tend to have fewer verbal problems than those with classic autism and are usually of above average or average intelligence. Some even tend to demonstrate precocious vocabulary particularly in a highly specialized area of interest.

However, affected children and adults struggle with social cues such as tone of voice, gestures and facial expressions. People with Asperger’s may also exhibit repetitive behaviors, restricted range of interests, and delayed motor development leading to uncoordinated motor movements or clumsiness. On the other hand, an individual’s signs and symptoms can range from severe to mild. Some individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome join the mainstream education system, but most need special education.

Those with Asperger’s Syndrome desire to have friends and fit in socially, but have difficulty making real social connections. In addition, many of them at a higher risk of developing various mood disorders such as depression or anxiety, especially in adolescence.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome?

Parents and caregivers often first notice the signs and symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) when their kids start preschool and begin to interact with other kids. However, each person is different and an individual might some or even all of the described characteristics and behaviors to be diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.

Asperger’s Symptoms During Childhood

Impairment in the use of nonverbal cues such as body posture, gestures, facial expressions and eye gaze to regulate social interaction.
Superior rote memory
Inflexible/strict adherence to routines.
Fascination with routes, globes and maps.
Preoccupation with a specific topic/subject and collects many related facts to the exclusion of all other subjects.
Motor clumsiness and difficulty judging personal space.
Heightened sensitivity and overstimulation by loud noises, odors, food textures, clothing and the environment in general.
Difficulty understanding other’s moods and feelings.
Language and speech impairment in the area of pragmatics, semantics and prosody (rhythm, inflection, intonation, and volume). So your child may take sarcastic comments literally or may not understand some jokes. Their speech may be hard to understand because it lacks tone, accent, and pitch.
Formal style of speaking (little professor verbose).
Difficulty reading and interpreting social cues.
Emotionally and socially inappropriate responses.
Difficulty interpreting implied meanings/literal interpretation of language.
Hyperlexia/extensive vocabulary because reading commences at a very early age.
Repetitive or stereotyped motor mannerisms.
Delayed motor development. They may be late in learning to ride a bike, catch a ball, or use a spoon or fork.
Difficulty maintaining conversation.
They may verbalize internal thoughts.
Stare at others or avoid eye contact.

Asperger’s Symptoms in Adolescents and Teenagers

Adolescents and teenagers with Asperger’s syndrome have deficits in three main areas: physical coordination, communication and development of various interests.

Clumsiness: Teenagers with Asperger’s may seem rather clumsy and often tend to drop things, fall easily, walk swiftly or have odd, repetitious movements. They also try to avoid most physical games that their peers are playing.
Lack of Empathy: Youngsters with asperger’s are neither mean nor cruel, but they may seem oblivious or disinterested in other’s feelings.
Poor math skills: Although youngsters with Asperger’s syndrome tend to have inadequate math skills, they may do very well in vocabulary. However, learning abilities vary from one individual to another.
Limited non-verbal communication: Few facial expressions, a lack of eye contact or looking into space when communication may be a sign of Asperger’s. A teenager with Asperger’s may not pick on humor or indirect speech such as the use of figures of speech or sarcasm.
Unusual speech: Older children with Asperger’s may have a monotone , robotic speech or speak rapidly without noticing that others are speaking more slowly.
Obsessive interests: Obsessive interests can also be a sign of Asperger’s in adolescents and teenagers. They may develop keen interest in one or two subjects and devote and devote a lot of time to taking about them, looking at them, or studying them.

Asperger’s Symptoms in Adulthood

It is particularly important to understand that Asperger’s is a lifelong condition. However, it may stabilize over time and significant improvements may be seen. Most individuals with Asperger’s Syndrome are able to learn and interpret a range of social skills and many are able to live normal lives. In fact, some typical traits of Asperger’s Syndrome such as focused interests and attention to detail can increase chances of career success. Many adults are usually diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome when seeking help for other related issues such as depression and anxiety. However, diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome should be made by a medical professional to rule out other related conditions and discuss proper interventions.

Read more about Developmental Disabilities of Asperger’s syndrome in children

How Helpful Is The GFCF Diet For Autism

Jo-anne Autism Diet July 12, 2019October 3, 2019best diet for ASD, casein autism, gluten free casein free diet for autism

The gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet was initially developed for people with an immune reaction to gluten in the diet known as gluten-sensitive enteropathy (celiac disease). Gluten is a protein commonly found in whet products such as bread, bakery goods and other food products. Casein is also a protein that is commonly found in dairy products and it can also cause severe reactions in some individuals. The GFCF diet can help avoid these health problems when used appropriately.

The theory behind the GFCF diet’s use in ASD is that if an individual is having GI (Glycemic Index) responses to gluten and casein, it can cause inflammation which damages the lining of the intestinal walls, leading to absorption of partially digested molecules.

Moreover, the inflammation damaged intestines cause can interfere with normal functioning of the brain causing problems such as mental difficulties, mood abnormalities, and anxiety and perhaps worsen the symptoms of autism. Despite being quite popular among the autism community, there’s minimal proof that the GFCF diet actually improves ASD-related behaviors.

Studies are few but promising

A research review published in 2009 concluded that the evidence available was not enough to support a gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet for ASD, but some promising findings have emerged lately. A small Danish study conducted in 2010 of kids aged between 4 and 11 years, some children showed improvements after 8 months, 1 year and 2 years on a GFCF diet. Moreover, Penn State researchers conducted a research where they surveyed the parents of 400 children with autism and found convincing evidence that a gluten-free, casein-free diet improved various symptoms such as temper tantrums, speech skills, hyperactivity, problems with eye contact and physical ailments including seizures and skin rashes for some groups of children. The most improvement was observed in children who had a history of digestive issues or food allergies such as diarrhea and chronic constipation, or followed the GFCF diet for at least 6 months.

No one really knows how the diet helps

One of the most popular theories is that autistic kids are unable to break down gluten and casein fully and have leaky guts and hence increased intestinal permeability. Therefore, partially digested or undigested protein molecules leak trough the damaged intestinal walls into the child’s bloodstream. When the molecules reach the brain, they may wreak havoc and lead to significant problems with social skills, speech and behavior.

Is my Autistic Child Allergic to Gluten and Casein?

Another theory suggests that autistic children may simply be in discomfort and pain because of intolerance to casein and gluten. Therefore, when those proteins are eliminated from the diet, children feel and sleep better, tend to get more out of therapies, are more alert and make greater progress.

Will the GFCF diet help All Kids with Autism?

The diet doesn’t work for everyone. A study conducted by Autism Speaks shows that nearly 50% of all children with ASD suffer some kind gastrointestinal disorder. Although it’s possible that casein and gluten trigger the body’s immune response, it is also possible that autism symptoms are aggravated by food allergies and intolerances. Doctors and experts don’t understand why the GFCF diet does not help all autistic kids. Children who have chronic digestive problems or food intolerances and allergies tend to get the biggest benefit from the GFCF diet.

Getting help is Critical

It’s essential to work closely with an expert such as a physician along with a registered dietitian or health practitioner who is well versed in gluten-free, casein-free diets. The health practitioner can assess your kid’s current diet in order to confirm whether they need additional supplements. The doctor will also help you plan snacks and meals. This will help you create a well-planned diet that will not compromise your child’s nutrition, health and growth.

Adopting the GFCF Diet Plan for your Autistic Child can be rather Difficult at first.

Getting rid of casein and gluten basically means eliminating most restaurant and processed food from your diet. Remember, children with autism can be very picky eaters, partly due to sensitivities to certain textures, smells and flavors of food. Many foods that children tend to rely on such as yogurt, cheese, and crackers are not allowed on a strict GFCF diet plan because they are thought to have a significant impact on the child’s brain.

Therefore, many kids may have some withdrawal symptoms when these foods are eliminated from the diet. Parents who’ve had success with this diet suggest removing gluten first and then casein a week or two later. Substitute foods such as gluten-free pasta or casein-free milk can also be introduced gradually. When you first begin the GFCF diet, you might find yourself spending more time preparing food and planning mealtimes. You must also avoid cross-contamination with casein and gluten. For instance, you must avoid using the same toasters, cutting boards or serving spoons.

Patience is key

Some parents may notice changes and improvements very quickly, sometimes within a matter of weeks or even days. However, for others significant improvements can take months or years, and some may not notice any improvements at all. Casein usually clears from the child’s system in 2 to 3 days, but it can take up to 6 months for gluten to clear from the body. Therefore, you should allow reasonable time (at least 6 months) before reassessing your child’s development.

Learn these tips if you care for an autistic child!

Autism Treatment in the First Year of Life

Jo-anne Autism in toddlers July 4, 2019October 3, 2019Autism Treatment in the First Year of Life, How to help my autistic toddler at home, What is infant Start therapy

What is Infant Start Therapy?

Early Intervention with Infant Start Therapy May Eliminate Autism Symptoms. According to a pilot study published in the Journal of Autism and developmental Disorders on 12 September 2017, an interaction-based therapy known as Infant Start Therapy may help improve language and behavior skills in infants with signs and symptoms of autism.

By age 3, infants who received the treatment had fewer symptoms of autism than children who did not receive the therapy. The researchers also found that caregivers quickly learn how to properly administer Infant start therapy and adhere to it. Parents also rate their experiences very highly.

Their findings suggest that the therapy could be a more accessible and inexpensive alternative to most of the conventional therapies which may require up to 30 hours of one-on-one time with therapists per week.

How is Infant Start Therapy Delivered?

Infant Start Therapy was administered over a 6-month period to 6 to 15 month old children who exhibited symptoms of autism, such as decreased engagement and social interest, lack of intentional communication, repetitive movement patterns and decreased eye contact.

The treatment was delivered by parents and has hence proven to be scalable and easier to implement than other forms of conventional therapy. This was attributed to the fact that children usually spend most of their time in the hands of parents who are most in tune with them.

Six out of seven children in the study caught up in their language and learning skills by the time they were two or three years old. In most cases, children with autism spectrum disorder are not even diagnosed by then.

The lead investigator, Sally J. Rogers, professor of MIND Institute and department of psychiatry at the University of California, Davis, said it was the parents who made all the difference because it’s the little moments of feeding, diapering, being on the swing, going for a walk, playing on the floor that are the important learning movements for infants. Therefore, parents can easily capitalize on these moments in ways that nobody else can.

Early Identification and Intervention is Crucial

Kids diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) usually receive intervention when they are three to four years old. This is 6 to 8 times later than the toddlers who participated in this pilot study. However, studies show that the earliest signs and symptoms of ASD may be present even before the toddler’s first birthday. Children first learn communication and social interaction during infancy. This is the main reason why parents of children with autism and researchers have been working on how autism can be identified early in the toddler’s life in order for intervention to begin sooner.

Early detection is essential for effective autism treatment because children with ASD symptoms can begin therapy earlier in life, to mitigate or prevent the full onset of signs and symptoms. Early intervention can also prevent lifelong and severe disability. According to Ozonoff, Director of MIND Institute’s Infant Sibling study, the main goal of the early detection project is to follow children at risk of ADHD or autism from birth to age 3. This will help physicians make referrals for intervention immediately when the symptoms of autism are identified preferably during the child’s early days of life.

Treat Early Signs of Autism with Infant Start Therapy

Treatment based on Infant Start Therapy involves various activities that aim to treat early signs of autism in infants such as:

Unusual visual fixations
Delayed sound development
Delayed intentional communication
Abnormal repetitive behaviors
Decreased interaction (greater interest in toys and other objects).

Treatment is provided at home by parents and trained therapists during daily routines including natural play. Parents were trained to concentrate interactions with their infants on supporting their individualized interests and developmental needs. Parents were also coached to embed these activities and practices into all their care taking and play by focusing on creating fun and pleasurable routines that increase their kids’ opportunities for learning.

Parents and caretakers were encouraged to follow their children’s subtle cues, activities and interests and gauge them in ways that enhanced their child’s engagement and attention. The treatment focused on improving:

Infants’ attention to the voices and faces of their parents
Interactions between the parent and infant that attract the child’s attention bringing delight and smiles to both.
Parent imitation of intentional sounds and actions made by the infant.
Parent’s use of different toys and items to support the infant’s social attention rather than compete with it.

Infant Start Therapy treatment sessions include:

Greetings and progress sharing
Parent play warm-up period followed by discussion of activities and goals of intervention.
Parent-child interaction in a normal daily routine while fostering communication, appropriate play and social engagement, with coaching from trained therapists.
Parents applying the approach with their toddler in 1 or 2 additional routines with caregiving activities or toys.

Lower Autism Scores by 18 to 36 months

The infants’ autism levels were assessed using two screening tools: the ADOS (Autism diagnostic observation Schedule) administered at 18, 24 and 36 months and the AOSI (Autism observational Scale for Infants) administered every 3 months. Visual processing and language skills were also assessed using the Mullen Scales of Early Learning. The researchers also tracked the progress and outcomes of 4 symptomatic baby siblings who were eligible for Infant Start Therapy but whose parents refused to participate in this pilot study.

By the time they were 9 months old, all of the infants in the study had similar or even greater symptoms of ASD symptoms than the comparison group of children who were later diagnosed with autism. However, by age three, the kids who had received the treatment had fewer symptoms compared to the children who did not receive the intervention.

At the end of this initial study, 2 of the 7 infants in the treatment group were diagnosed with autism, compared with 3 of the 4 in the control group.

The results were quite incredible. All babies showed a delay in visual and language skills between nine and fifteen months, but by eighteen months, infants who underwent the treatment began to gradually reverse course and had already caught up with typically developing kids by age 3.

Although the findings need to be properly established and confirmed in larger samples, the idea that infants with autism symptoms can be identified and start early intervention is still an exciting development.

More on understanding the common signs of Autism!

Learn These Tips if You Care for an Autistic Child.

Jo-anne Autism in toddlers November 1, 2013December 5, 2019helping your child with autism, Parents of children with autism

parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder

Helpful Hints for When your Child has Autism:

If you are responsible for an autistic child, you need to be aware that there is not some ultimate resolution for your issues. Being a parent with a healthy child can be somewhat of an ordeal; but when caring for an autistic child, the challenge is multiplied in a number of other ways.

The means as to which these are taken care of depend on the distinctive requirements as per case. We will be probing processes and practices regarding the upbringing of an autistic child and a means for an easier routine.

Schools must now accommodate children with special needs and developmental disorders, however some schools do a better job at this task then others. What you have available in your area is, of course, a deciding factor in what you can do. The other important factor to keep in mind is the needs of your autistic child.

The best resource you have in your local area are other parents who have an autistic child. They can provide you with reliable recommendations and give you sound advice.

Treatments for Autism

Autism is a very confusing disease, that has many different possible treatments. The parents of autistic children should have an open mind to possible treatments yet be skeptical at the same time. Never expect a miracle to happen, yet also be open-minded enough to try different approaches which may actually help.

Certain treatments for autism, depending upon what they are, will be more helpful than others that you try. Always remember that professionals do not know everything, and that autism does not have a cure, so be cautious and careful as you seek the right treatment.

Autistic children seldom respond well to complicated spoken statements or instructions. Each child’s learning pattern is different. Some children learn better visually and some prefer to have directions demonstrated to them.

It’s OK to give your child verbal directions, but it’s important to keep your worlds natural and concise. Don’t use long confusing sentence structures. The order of the steps an autistic child needs to finish to accomplish a task is often hard for him or her to keep straight. A solution to this problem is obvious – give him or her the directions one by one.

Visual cues, a demonstration, and spoken words are usually necessary and helpful when you communicate with your child with ASD. At this point, we have not discovered the cure; however this does not suggest that your autistic child is beyond being educated and developing in many areas.

Our intent is to assist you and your child in experiencing a fulfilling life together. A parents main responsibility is to their children when they are juveniles, an autistic child requires even more care; be aware of the activities that your child has the greatest interest in and run with it; be wary of any advice your physician may give you.

Read about Infant Start Therapy Treatment for Autism here!

Genetic Test to Predict Autism

Jo-anne Autism in toddlers September 12, 2012October 3, 2019

Here’s an interesting article that is reporting that a genetic test has been developed by Austrailian scientists that will help predict Autism in toddlers.

This is the kind of scientific work that brings us closer to finding that elusive cure for this disorder.

Australian scientists have developed a genetic test to predict autism spectrum disorder in children, which could provide a long-sought way for early detection and intervention, according to a study published on Wednesday.

About one in 150 children has autism, with symptoms ranging from social awkwardness and narrow interests to severe communication and intellectual disabilities, said researchers led by the University of Melbourne.

The researchers used U.S. data from more than 3,000 individuals with autism in their study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, to identify 237 genetic markers in 146 genes and related cellular pathways.

By measuring these markers, which either contribute to or protect an individual from developing autism, scientists could assess the risk of developing autism.

The risk markers increase the score on the genetic test, while the protective markers decrease the score. The higher the overall score, the higher the individual risk.

“This test could assist in the early detection of the condition in babies and children and help in the early management of those who become diagnosed,” lead researcher Stan Skafidas said in a statement.

The test correctly predicted autism with more than 70 percent accuracy in people of central European descent, with study into other ethnic groups continuing.

The test would allow clinicians to provide early intervention to reduce behavioral and cognitive difficulties in people with autism.

“Early identification of risk means we can provide interventions to improve overall functioning for those affected, including families,” clinical neuropsychologist Renee Testa said in a statement.

Credit for this story goes to:

Maggie Lu Yueyang; Editing by Elaine Lies and Robert Birsel.

Autism Treatment in Toddlers

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