WHAT IS AUTISM
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• Not respond to their name by 12 months of age • Not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over) by 14 months • Not play "pretend" games (pretend to "feed" a doll) by 18 months • Avoid eye contact and want to be alone • Have trouble understanding other people's feelings or talking about their own feelings • Have delayed speech and language skills • Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia) • Give unrelated answers to questions • Get upset by minor changes • Have obsessive interests • Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles • Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel Source: www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/signs.html for additional examples the Childhood Autism Rating Scale Second Edition (CARS TM 2). Careful consideration of parents' responses on the screening instrument allows the pediatrician to determine if there is cause for concern and referral. If the screening indicates a number of red flags, the pediatrician may recommend that the child participate in a multidisciplinary evaluation. Although the initial screening does not result in a diagnosis, it provides valuable information for the parents so they can begin treatment while waiting for an appointment with a full evaluation team. The creators of the M-CHAT-R/F offer the screening tool as a free download at www.mchatscreen.com and provide translations into numerous languages. What red flags may indicate the presence of autism? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists a number of possible red flags that parents or caregivers may notice including: What do these concerns actually look like? The major characteristics common to autism are deficits in social communication and interaction, and restrictive, repetitive behaviors, interests and activities. These traits fall along a continuum from mild to severe and vary from person to person. Difficulty with social interactions Some individuals with autism do not spontaneously reach out to others to share information or feelings. While some may not seem to notice other people at all, others may strongly desire to interact with others but are not sure how to appropriately initiate interactions with others, or may become overwhelmed in social situations due to deficits in social skills. With effective treatment, many people with autism learn social skills and come to enjoy spending time with others. Difficulty with communication Many individuals with autism have delays in or do not develop spoken language. Some may only communicate using single-word utterances or simple sentences. Other speech abnormalities include echolalia (immediate or delayed repeating of information), unconventional word use, and unusual tone, pitch and inflection. Others have complex vocabulary and can speak at length and in depth about topics that interest them, but they may have poor conversational skills. They may also have difficulty understanding common nonverbal cues such as body language, facial expressions and eye contact. Individuals with autism who do not develop functional speech can use augmentative means of communication, such as sign language, picture boards and technological devices. Autism-specific apps can help them to communicate their needs and feelings, as well as to gain independence in their daily activities.
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