February 11, 2009 5:22 PM

Autism Resources

By
Melissa McNamara
(CBS)  The largest U.S. study of childhood autism to date, which included some children in Arkansas, has found that about 1 in 150 have the disorder a higher prevalence than previous national estimates.

What Is Autism?
According to AutismSpeaks, autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines.

How Does Autism Develop?
No one knows for sure. According to AutismSpeaks, recent studies suggest a strong genetic basis for autism - up to 20 sets of genes may play a part in its development. Genetics alone, however, can't account for all the cases, and so scientists are also looking into possible environmental origins, as well as other triggers.


How Can I Tell If A Child Is Autistic?
No two autistic kids are alike, but there are some signs that many of them share and that experts agree may be as recognizable as early as the toddler years, or even sooner. Children on the spectrum generally have difficulty relating to others; they may hardly speak, and if they do, they may not communicate in ways that other people can easily understand (they may screech loudly when they're upset, for example, instead of crying).

According to AutismSpeaks, they don't usually sustain eye contact - it's too intense - and have trouble reading social cues. They're also prone to repetitive behaviors, flapping their hands constantly or uttering the same phrase over and over again. They may also be more sensitive than typically developing children, or dramatically less so, to sights, sounds and touch. Click here for more on the signs.


What Are Some Of The Red Flags Of Autism?
AutismSpeaks recommends that if your baby shows any of these signs, please ask your pediatrician or family practitioner for an immediate evaluation:
  • No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter
  • No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions by nine months or thereafter
  • No babbling by 12 months
  • No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving by 12 months
  • No words by 16 months
  • No two-word meaningful phrases (without imitating or repeating) by 24 months
  • Any loss of speech or babbling or social skills at any age


  • How Do I Get Help For A Child?
    According to AutismSpeaks, you can start by making sure he has a reputable healthcare team by his side. That means finding doctors, therapists, psychologists and teachers who understand and have experience with autism and can respond to his shifting needs appropriately. Ask your child's pediatrician to recommend a developmental pediatrician with whom you can consult about the next step. She, in turn, can guide you toward various intervention programs and suggest complementary therapies.


    To Learn More About Autism:
    • Click here for resources from Autism Speaks.

    • The Center for Autism Research is dedicated to uncovering the causes of autism through MRI studies to identify the brain structures that are abnormal and describe their atypical growth from late infancy through adulthood.

    • The Autism Research Institute has additional resources.

    • Learn more about a special camp called Surfer's Healing.



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    Add a Comment
    by aspergersmum September 5, 2009 5:01 PM EDT
    This forum is for parents and carers of children/Adults with ASD's, diagnosed/undiagnosed.

    http://autismandaspergersinthefamily.freeforums.org/
    will take you to a page full of help and resources uk and worldwide


    PDD & PDD/NOS
    PDD IS The catogory not a diagnosis all autistic spectrum disorders falls under this catorgory however many get confused with PDD and PDD/NOS
    PDD/NOS is a diagnosis

    AUTISM
    Everything Autism

    ASPERGERS SYNDROME
    Everything Aspergers

    RETT SYNDROME

    CO - MORBID AND RELATED DISORDERS
    There are many other conditions that can run alongside ASD,these are a few of them.

    MEDICATIONS
    meds for all aspects of ASD

    BEHAVIOURS

    INTERVENTIONS PECS ,Facilitated Communication,cognative therapy
    speech and language resources , Songs for getting interaction,Printable PECS (if you need specific pictures please ask) ABA resources,
    speech and language , Action Songs for getting interaction and communication.
    DAN, BIOMED, GFCF diet,allegies etc
    and much more and much more.


    SENSORY ISSUES
    touching,hearing,sights,textue ,eating or not being the case for many

    TOILETING

    SOCIAL STORIES
    feel free to add any that you have.or take any that you need.

    SCHOOLS
    UK/USA/WORLDWIDE


    BENEIFITS AND ENTITLEMENTS and FINANCIAL AID
    UK
    USA
    WORLDWIDE


    OUTSIDE UK and UK RESOURCES

    LIVE CHAT
    Reply to this comment
    by leslief3 February 8, 2007 11:20 PM EST
    Risk of a child being autistic rises with the age of the father at a child's birth. This has been shown in studies as far back as 1980. Burd found this in 1999 in Utah and Lauristen in Denmark in 2005 and of course Reichenberg in 2006. The highest risk of autism was in families with autism or autistic syndrome of Asperger's in another family member. With the upswing in average paternal age the number of cases of autism was expected to increase and will keep on increasing unless there is a change in the age of fathering.
    Reply to this comment
    by lionheart- February 8, 2007 10:22 PM EST
    The cause of autism is in the vaccines given to our children. All vaccines contain a preservative called THIMEROSAL. This preservative contains mercury, a deadly poison. The government mandates that children receive 24 vaccines. The vaccines are given in massive amounts, up to 400 times the amount that the FDA and EPA designate as safe. Much more than is needed. Mercury accumulates in the body. Antibiotics also contain thimerosal.
    The cure? Stop giving vaccines. Those who have received vaccines need a heavy metal cleanse.
    Autism did not exist before the 1930's, when thimerosal was first introduced in vaccines.
    You can refuse on medical grounds to have vaccines given to your children.
    Reply to this comment
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