Autism, warning signs

WHAT IS AUTISM?

Autism spectrum disorder (TEA) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent deficits in verbal and non-verbal communication and social interaction, in addition to restrictive and repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests or activities.

Despite advances in medicine, there are no biological markers (lab or imaging tests) that serve for the diagnosis of ASD, Thus, diagnosis is based on clinical examination.

Early signs of autism are:

Early detection ensures early access to interventions. Early signs of autism develop between the 9 Y 16 months of age

• It's hard to make your baby look at you
• He has fun with you on a few occasions
• He rarely shares his interests with you
• Rarely responds to your name or other attempts at interaction
• Show limited use of gestures, how to show or point
• It is difficult for him to look at you and use a gesture and a sound
• Does little or nothing to imitate other people
• Use your hand as a tool
• Shows greater interest in objects than people
• Move your fingers, hands or body in unusual ways
• Repeat unusual movements with objects
• Develops rituals and gets very upset with changes
• Has an excessive interest in specific objects or activities
• Focuses on or becomes very attached to unusual objects
• Reacts in unusual ways to sounds, images or textures
• Shows interest in unusual sensory experiences

If your child shows 8 or more of these early signs, request an evaluation with the specialist in Child Neurology

Immediate warning signs

• Absence of babbling at 12 months
• It does not respond to its name to 12 months
• No gestures (point, say hello with your hand) to the 12 – 14 months
• Absence of simple words to 16 months
• He has no imaginative games to 18 months
• No combine 2 words (non-ecological) to the 24 months
• Loss of social skills at any age

Remember: Early intervention is associated with a better outcome.

Our goals are:

• Minimize deficits in communication and social interaction
• Improve and / or decrease repetitive behaviors
• Maximize functional independence
• Facilitate the learning and acquisition of adaptation skills
• Minimize, eliminate or prevent behavior problems