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General Information about Autism Spectrum Disorders
What is autism? Autism is a complex, neurobiological pervasive developmental disorder with multi-system involvement. In everyday language, that means that it is a very complicated disorder that affects all areas of a person's life and many parts of the body are involved. Much of the world still considers autism to be a disorder you are born with and there's really not much that can be done. The truth is, autism is treatable! Nearly 95% of the cases of autism today are regressive. A child is developing normally until 12-24 months and then begins to regress, losing language, eye contact, social skills, and cognitive ability. Autism is one diagnosis of the Autism Spectrum Disorders. This is a group of disorders that have similar features but vary in complexity and severity. The spectrum is generally accepted as including (listed in order of severity):
Many practitioners today also include ADD and AD/HD on the low-end of the spectrum. Research done at UCLA in 2007 indicates that the damage done to the myelin sheath in children with ADD and AD/HD is the same as that with children with autism, and many children with an autism diagnosis have a concurrent diagnosis of ADD or AD/HD. Autism affects boys four times more often than girls. It is believed this is due to the fact that the myelin sheath protects the nerves in their brains are much thinner than girls', so it is more easily damaged. There are very clear warning signs for autism. If at any time you think your child is not meeting their developmental milestones or that something is wrong, seek help from your pediatrician and be insistent. All too often parents are told, "boys develop more slowly than girls," or "he is a late bloomer." Every minute counts. Look for these signs in your child:
A delay in speech and a lack of response to mom's voice are usually the first two key indicators that there is a problem. Do not delay getting help! What to Do: First, go the Autism Research Institute website at www.autism.org. There, you can download a checklist that you can complete before you go to your pediatrician. This will help you communicate your concern and not leave anything out during your conversation. Make an appointment with your doctor and tell him/her your concerns. If he/she dismisses your concerns, be persistent! Ask for a referral to a developmental pediatrician. He/she is an expert in developmental disorders and can arrange a full assessment. Once you get a diagnosis from a physician, you need to call your local Regional Center. For Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, it is the Inland Regional Center. They will arrange an evaluation for services. Depending on the severity of your child's disability, you may receive in-home ABA therapy, speech services, occupational therapy, respite care, etc. Once you are an IRC client, you are also eligible to attend two conferences per year, paid for by the IRC. If your child is 3 or older, you can also receive services from your local school district. Contact the Special Education Department at your local school district and tell them your child was just diagnosed with autism and you need to know what kind of services he is eligible to receive there. Most districts have an autism preschool program and all offer speech therapy. Be sure that the speech evaluation is not just for articulation (saying the sounds and words), but also for pragmatics (how you use speech in every day life-asking for water, telling mommy your stomach hurts, greeting a friend), as this is a serious deficit for children with autism and is often overlooked by speech therapists at the younger ages. Nest, get educated. You need to read everything you can get your hands on. We highly recommend you visit Talk About Curing Autism at www.tacanow.org and sign-up to get a free Families With Autism Journey Guide. This amazing handbook will take you step-by-step through your journey. In addition, TACA also hosts periodic New Parent Seminars, for those new to the diagnosis. These are a must-attend event. You can get information on these seminars on the TACA website. We have a lending library you are welcome to borrow books and videos from as well. Finally, get supported. Join a support group. There are several in the area to choose from, including IEASA's in Temecula and Hemet and ours in Menifee. You need to meet other parents who are going through your situation-they are a wealth of information. It is important, too, that you know you are not alone in this battle. The world of autism is a big family. If you need more help, call us! (951)757-0875.
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