Rachel Lyman English 2010 12/05/13 So you think your child has Autism?

Read this report if you suspect that your child may have Autism and you are looking to know more about the signs and symptoms!!! I have put together some aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorder that may be a guide to directing your conclusions about your child. A child sits in a Kindergarten classroom in the corner playing with die cast cars, lining them up all in a straight line, mumbling gibberish that no one could possibly decode. He is all alone and it doesnt bother him, its as if he doesnt realize that there are 23 children laughing and playing around the room. A child approaches him and says can I play cars with you, but he doesnt make eye contact or even respond, he just continues to line his cars up. Shortly after that the teacher asks the children to stop playing and clean up, but the boy playing with his cars doesnt stop lining his cars up. She asks repetitively to stop what he is doing and clean up the cars, he does not respond or even look at her. She puts her hands on both of his cheeks and asks him to look at her, but he will not make eye contact. The teacher assumes that he is being defiant and not respecting her authority, she grabs his arm and pulls him away from the cars, she sets him in a chair facing the corner and tells him not to turn around for five minutes. Five minutes go by and is reminded by her to turn around over 25 times. She feels like he is a trouble maker and disrupting the class. She takes him to the principals office, which is not easy he is kicking and screaming down the halls of the school, and the Principal calls his parents. The mother of the boy comes down to the school and is asked to get her son to listen to his teacher and respect authority, but she is puzzled and doesnt know what to do to help him.

I am the mother of the struggling, confused and scared little boy in that kindergarten classroom. When he was a baby I was unsure of exactly when he should meet his developmental mile stones. It was a confusing situation, but I felt that something was not exactly right and it was important that I get him help so he could develop to his full potential. It has been said that the first five years of a childs development are the most important and I believe that. To help parents in a similar situation that are just unsure, I want to go over some signs of detecting Autism. My son and I have lived and learned through the challenges this disability brings, so I feel the experiences and research will help other parents of children with similar difficulties. I would like to start by explaining what Autism or ASD (autism spectrum disorder) consists of. From reading my report so far, you already know that there are developmental delays and social challenges. ASD are a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. (C.P. Johnson) ASD can affect each person in different ways and some are more or less severe than others. Individuals with this disability process information in their brain differently than others. You may see signs or symptoms of ASD in as little as three months to 2 years old. Some symptoms will be more apparent than others at different times in your little ones development. Remember not all Autistic children have the same symptoms, it can vary significantly. In the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children concerns about vision and hearing were more often reported in the first year, and differences in social, communication, and fine motor skills were evident from 6 months of age. Repetitive behaviors and differences in play, imitation, and feeding habits were reported in the

second year. Differences in temperament emerged at 24 months of age and bowel habit by 30 months. (Steer 4) Some Red flags are not responded to their name by 1 year, not pointing at objects by 14 months, avoiding eye contact, delayed speech, repeating words, giving answers that dont relate, dont respond well to change, obsessive interest, spinning in circles or flapping hands and having unusual reactions to their senses. A child with Autism most likely has an average intelligence, however is socially not interested in others. Communication: They usually struggle with communication either they chose not to speak or incorrect use of grammar, mixing pronouns, giving unrelated answers, uses body gestures, repeating words, does not understand jokes or sarcasm, or had learned some words but did not retain them. Social Skills: Avoiding eye contact is a common symptom that most Autistic kids share. A child with ASD may prefer to play alone, not be interested in others, have a dull or inappropriate facial expression, avoid or resist physical contact, not like to be comforted by others when necessary, have trouble understanding others feelings or even their own. Social issues: Social issues are one of the most common symptoms in all of the types of ASD. People with an ASD do not have just social "difficulties" like shyness. The social issues they have cause serious problems in everyday life. Typical infants are very interested in the world and people around them. By the first birthday, a typical toddler interacts with others by looking people in the eye, copying words and actions, and using simple gestures such as clapping and waving "bye bye". Typical toddlers also show interests in social games like peek-a-boo and pat-a-cake. But a young child with an ASD might have a very hard time learning to interact with other people. (Steer)

Unusual Interest and Behaviors: Some behavior that you might see may be lining up toys or objects, plays with the same toy every time, obsesses over certain objects (wheels on a toy car), very organized, upset by minor changes, has to follow certain routines, flaps hands, rocks body or spins self in circles. Other Symptoms: Some symptoms you may notice not mentioned earlier may be hyperactivity, very impulsive, short attention span, aggression, temper tantrums, unusual eating and sleeping habits, unusual emotions, unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look or feel. Keep in mind these symptoms are usually expressed among most autistic children. Finding out that your child has ASD or another learning disability can be hard, but it is our job as parents to advocate our childs needs and overcoming their challenges. It is important to seek out special education, so that they can be taught in a way they can understand and relate and not fall behind or miss out on their development. I took my son to the local school district and they offered special education before preschool and after summer school during his off season. The summer school helped him to maintain consistent learning so that he could retain what was learned without losing that information during the summer. There is not a cure for Autism, however with appropriate services and support, training and information, children on the autism spectrum will grow, learn and flourish, even if at a different developmental rate than others. The first years are the most crucial, parents keep your eyes and ears open and of you are noticing symptoms of ASD talk with your pediatrician and school district and get your child started on the road to learning that fits their individual learning process. Dont let your child end up like the confused little boy in the classroom with the confused frustrated teacher and baffled mother who didnt know what to do for her son.

Work cited: Johnson, C.P.. Early Clinical Characteristics of Children with Autism In: Gupta, V.B. ed: Autistic Spectrum Disorders in Children. CDC.gov. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc, 13 May 2010. Web. 26 Sept. 2013. Steer, Colin D. "Autism Spectrum Disorder and Autistic Traits in The Avon Longitudinal Study Of Parents and Children: Precursors And Early Signs." Jaapcap.com. Journal of The American Academy Of Child And Adolescent Psychiatry, 8 Dec. 2011. Web. 26 Sept. 2013.