In the News Autism Awareness – Part II

(Continued from Part I…)

A child or adult with autism spectrum disorder may have limited, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities, including any of these signs:

• Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning or hand flapping.
• Performs activities that could cause self-harm, such as biting or head-banging.
• Develops specific routines or rituals and becomes disturbed at the slightest change.
• Has problems with coordination or has odd movement patterns, such as clumsiness or walking on toes, and has odd, stiff or exaggerated body language. 

When should I seek medical advice regarding my child and autism?

Signs of autism spectrum disorder often appear early in development when there are obvious delays in language skills and social interactions. Your doctor may recommend developmental tests to identify if your child has delays in cognitive, language and social skills, if your child:

• Doesn't respond with a smile or happy expression by 6 months.
• Doesn't mimic sounds or facial expressions by 9 months.
• Doesn't babble or coo by 12 months.
• Doesn't gesture — such as point or wave — by 14 months.
• Doesn't say single words by 16 months.
• Doesn't play "make-believe" or pretend by 18 months.
• Doesn't say two-word phrases by 24 months.

Loses language skills or social skills at any age.