Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

- Lack of eye contact or steady gaze
- Lacking or underdeveloped motor skills
- Intense and specific focus on particular interests
- Poor conversation skills
- Overly-sensitive to physical contact
- An inability to say single, comprehensible words by the age of 16 months
- No babbling or cooing by the one-year age marker
- Lack of using hand gestures, such as waving bye-bye or pointing, by one-year-old
- Will not say or use simple two-word phrases by the age of two years
A Closer Look at Autism Diagnosis
Being concerned that a child has autism usually brings a natural reaction from parents to look for help and advice from a lot of different professionals. Doctors, psychologists, experts in the field, educators, and even caretakers often have a hand in the indirect diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder. While all of these observations are important, Autism Spectrum Disorder usually relies heavily on the comprehensive assessment of the child's behavior based on reports from several different situations and not one singled-out example will suffice to achieve an appropriate diagnosis. This is because there are other processing issues and disabilities that can first appear to be Autism Spectrum Disorder, when they are actually something else entirely. The act of diagnosing a patient with something similar to Autism Spectrum Disorder is known as differential diagnosis. A medical diagnosis is the most efficient way to diagnose Autism Spectrum Disorder. This is accomplished with a medical professional who takes various steps to determine the likelihood of the presence of Autism Spectrum Disorder. An assessment will be done of the varying degrees of behavioral symptoms that a child portrays in different areas of their life. But, diagnostic testing will also be performed. The professional will use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual to guide them in making a specific diagnosis according to specific symptoms listed and the spectrum to which they are present.Autism Treatment Methods
There is no known cure for autism and no single factor that is known to cause the disorder. However, there are many different approaches to treatment, both in the home setting and in medical or even educational institutions. These approaches may be able to address some of the prevailing challenges that come along with parenting and raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Intervention can involve treatments on a behavioral level and medications, either alone or in conjunction. Intervention may also involve treating other medical conditions that can be associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder, such as sleep disorders, seizures, and gastrointestinal distress. By tending to the other medical issues, it may be possible to improve present behavior and attention. Intervention can also be effective to help with disruptive behavior. Because every patient with autism can have a completely different set of symptoms, there is never a single approach that will be effective for each patient that could be classified at varying degrees of the spectrum. Treatment plans are built on an individual basis, designed to cater to the needs, interests, and weaknesses of the patient. Every parent of a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder must know that their personal involvement in treatment is crucial to the success of any treatment path chosen. Following through with therapy sessions at home and working directly with professionals is vital.