Autism Spectrum Disorder
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERWhat is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
According to the CDC, about 1 in 44 children in the United States has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Autism is a condition that affects how a child communicates, learns new things, and interacts with others. Children with autism might find it hard to talk about what they need or want, and sometimes they learn words or ideas in different ways.
Some kids with autism may do the same actions over and over, like flipping objects or repeating words they hear. They might have special interests or get upset if something in their environment changes, which can make it tough to feel comfortable in new places or situations. Signs of autism can start showing up before age 3, and some children may even show early signs around 1 year old. Others might develop typically at first but begin to show signs between 18 and 24 months. Autism affects each child in their own way, with different strengths and challenges.
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER SIGNSWhat are the signs?
Some common signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be seen in how a child communicates and interacts with others. These signs might include:
- Not turning or looking when someone calls their name by 12 months.
- Difficulty pointing at things to share interest, like pointing to a plane in the sky by 14 months.
- Not playing pretend games by 18 months, such as pretending to feed a toy.
- Avoiding eye contact and often choosing to play alone.
- Finding it hard to understand other people’s feelings or share their own.
- Delayed speech and language, often repeating words or phrases they hear (called echolalia).
- Giving answers that don’t match the questions being asked.
- Becoming upset by small changes in their surroundings.
- Focusing intensely on certain objects, like always spinning the wheels on a toy car.
- Doing physical actions like flapping hands when excited, rocking back and forth when nervous, or spinning in circles.
It’s important to look at these behaviors together, as every child is different. Some children may have a few of these signs without being on the autism spectrum, and each child with autism may show different behaviors.
AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER TREATMENTHow Speak Easy Mobile Therapy treats it?
Autism is something that a person will have for their whole life, and since every child with autism is different, therapy needs to be personalized to help each child in the best way. A team of experts, like speech therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and special teachers, can work together to support children with autism.
Speech therapy can be especially helpful for kids who have trouble with communication. The main goal is to help kids with autism improve their communication so they can better share their thoughts and needs with others.
Speech therapists, or SLPs, work with kids on skills like taking turns in conversations, asking and answering questions, and playing with others. They might also help kids with autism learn to use other ways to communicate, like gestures, pictures, or special devices. Additionally, they can support kids who have strong reactions to certain foods.
Understanding that kids with autism learn in their own way and at their own speed is key. While many kids learn language through social activities, kids with autism may focus more on their surroundings than on other people, which makes their learning process unique.
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