World Autism Month
According to the CDC, 1 in 36 children in the United States have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This statistic has almost doubled in the past decade. As ASD becomes more prevalent in our society, it is important for parents, children, educators and clinicians to become familiar with signs, language and interventions.
Signs of ASD are usually prevalent around two to three years, but can also appear in the few first months. Autism Speaks states that limited smiling or eye contact by six months of age can indicate signs of ASD. By 16 months, typical signs of ASD include very few words or no talking at all and little or no response to name.
At any age, typical signs and symptoms of ASD include restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, avoidance of eye contact, repetition of words, resistance to changes and delayed language development. Early intervention has demonstrated to have the most significant impacts. Your child may also be eligible for services in school such as occupational therapy, speech therapy and physical therapy.
It is important to remember that once you have seen one child with ASD, you have only seen one child with ASD. This also rings true for language and how we identify an individual with ASD. Some individuals preferred to be called “:autistic,” while others prefer person-centered language such as an “individual diagnosed with autism.” The only way to find this out is to ask!
As April celebrates World Autism Month, it is important to recognize the achievements of individuals diagnosed with ASD. As more programs become centered around pathways for students with ASD, such as Autism PATH Program at Rowan University, the options for the future can be endless. Most recently, Adin Boyer premiered on season 21 of American Idol. He showed the world his struggles, his typical ASD traits and how he works every day to continue to follow his dream of music. Check out more of Adin’s story here!
