Autism

How Can Autism Affect My Child?

His Story of Autism One of the best ways to share the autism experience is to share the story of someone who has autism. Perry’s experience is probably a lot like many other kids who have autism.  As his mother Mary Elizabeth recounts, “Our personal journey into…autism began…with the birth of our son, Perry. Since the beginning, he struggled immensely. The first thing we noticed was that he seemed very restless.” There are many areas in a child’s growth that are directly impacted by autism. A few of these issues are gastrointestinal (GI) problems, feeding issues, disrupted sleep and anxiety. GI Problems According to the Autism Speaks and Interactive Autism Network websites, GI problems are very common among children with autism.  There seems to be more information and studies compiled on the link between autism and chronic constipation. However, there are several other GI problems associated with autism, such as: abdominal pain, gastroesophageal reflux and … Keep Reading…

Autism: Red Flags

Diagnosing Autism As a condition that affects 1 in every 59 children, autism spectrum disorder or ASD is a serious issue.  You’ve heard about it on the news, seen it portrayed in movies, and chances are you probably know someone with autism. While there is no cure for ASD, it can be managed with treatment. In fact, the sooner a child with ASD can be treated the better. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) some studies have shown that parents recognize signs of autism before the age of one.  Studies also showed that 80 to 90 percent of all parents of kids with ASD definitely recognized signs of autism by 24 months of age. Ultimately it’s the job of a trained professional to diagnose the neurological disorder ASD, but there are red flags that you should be on the lookout for. Speech-language pathologists do not diagnose autism, but we often work with a … Keep Reading…

Getting to Know Autism

Autism  Until very recently autism was considered a psychological disorder and children with autism and their parents were looked down upon.  It seems that public opinion about autism has made a complete turnaround. In fact, you would have to be living under a rock to have never heard of autism. But do you know the facts about autism? What: Definition Autism is not a psychological disorder like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has a wide range of symptoms.  The term neurodevelopmental disorders is used because it is a neurological disorder that originates in the brain.  Autism is developmental because it is most often recognized and diagnosed when a child is young. Who: Those Affected How many children are diagnosed with ASD? 1 in 150 kids were diagnosed as having ASD in 2000 1 in 59 kids were diagnosed in 2014 Children from all walks of life (cultural, socioeconomic, etc.) … Keep Reading…