Diagnosing Autism
by jmmillerThe word ‘autism’ sets fear in the hearts of parents. Many people mistakenly believe that autistic children are somehow devoid of emotion; that they will be unable to feel or express love for their parents.
Autism is actually a spectral disease. This means that it affects different children in different ways. If your child is demonstrating symptoms that could indicate autism, your physician will perform medical tests to rule out other causes for the behavior first.
As the tests rule out medical conditions, your doctor will send your child to a pediatric neurologist or psychiatrist. They will study patterns in your child’s behavior and make a recommendation from there.
It is important to note that having a child who displays one or more of these symptoms occasionally does not necessarily indicate that they could be autistic. However, if the signs and behaviors are repetitive or continuous, it’s important to seek medical help immediately. Early intervention will help you and your child learn to deal with the condition.
The following are possible signs of autism:
- an unwillingness to play with others
- delays in speech development
- speaking in a monotone voice
- unusual behavior, such as repeated clapping or spinning
- difficulty making eye contact with others
- preference for activities such as counting, lining up objects, or sorting
- echoing the words of others (as their only method of speech)
- stopping speaking altogether
- spontaneous displays of emotion, such as laughing or crying
- refusal to change daily routine
- no response to calling their name
- no fear or concept of danger
- obsessive behaviors regarding their routine and toys
- difficulty receiving or showing affection
Displaying one, or even several, of these symptoms does not necessarily mean that your child is autistic. However, it warrants a visit to the doctors for investigation.
There are many theories circulating about the cause of autism. The truth is, no one really knows what causes it. It could be a combination of factors.
One such theory is that autism is caused by childhood vaccinations. However, trying to ‘protect’ your child from autism by refusing to vaccinate them against potentially fatal illnesses is not a responsible move. You are doing your child the best service possible, as well as all of the other children they come into contact with, by protecting them against mumps, measles, rubella, chickenpox, etc.
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