Autism
We are expanding services to include the diagnosis of Autism and interventions that have been shown to lessen the impact of autism. Just like other children with special needs, early diagnosis is essential and allows for early intervention and treatment to be implemented. A diagnosis of autism will give parents and children access to special services that are designed to promote communication, play, academic skills, motor skills, and social/emotional skills.
What is autism?
Autism is the most common disorder in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). This complex disorder typically appears in the first three years of life and involves difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and repetitive, unusual, or severely limited interests and behaviors.
What causes autism and who is affected by it?
While there is currently no single known cause for autism, research has shown that it is related to abnormalities in the brain structure or function. A report on the prevalence of autism was published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007. Based on their findings, it is now believed that 1 in every 150 American children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, and almost 1 in 94 boys.
What are the most common characteristics of autism?
There are three primary areas of limitation that characterize autism. Children and adults with autism display problems with verbal and non-verbal communication, impaired social interactions, and repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. Autism is defined as a “spectrum disorder” which means it affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. Therefore, the difficulties experienced in these areas may range from mild to disabling. Some “red flags” or early signs of autism include:
- Lack of or delay in spoken language
- Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)
- Little or no eye contact
- Lack of interest in peer relationships
- Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
- Persistent fixation on parts of objects
How is autism diagnosed?
Early signs of autism are often first recognized by parents who notice “red flags” in early development. Due to the wide range of difficulties experienced by children with developmental disorders, autism often goes undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Because there is no single medical cause of autism, there are no medical tests for diagnosing autism. Parental reports in addition to input from the child’s teachers and/or other caregivers aid in diagnosis and provide essential information regarding the child’s behavior, medical history, and early development across a variety of settings. In addition, an accurate diagnosis of autism must be based on observations of the child in the areas of communication, social interaction, and free play.
What can I do if I think my child has autism?
Schedule an appointment with Community Psychological Services to meet with a clinician who is trained in autism assessment and diagnosis.
For information on The Scott Center for Autism Treatment located at Florida Tech, please visit http://research.fit.edu/scottcenter/. The Scott Center is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in Summer 2009. Until then, all Autism-related treatment will be performed at CPS.