Curious About Autism Spectrum Disorder?
According to the CDC, 1 in 36 children in the United States has autism. This means that in every 2 classrooms, there is around 1 child with autism.
Autism is incredibly complex because of its infinite variations. Really and truly, each child and young adult with whom I have been lucky to work is just as unique as the range of people I know without autism. Autism spectrum disorder IS A SPECTRUM, ranging from very mild to very severe depending on the level of supports needed.
There are cognitive, behavioral, and social patterns or characteristics of autism that are important to understand when an individual is struggling to adapt to everyday life. While the DSM-V (the diagnostic manual for behavioral health experts) criteria are used to make an autism diagnosis, these are a simplification meant for an expert. Visit the Autism Speaks website to see details: https://www.autismspeaks.org/autism-diagnostic-criteria-dsm-5
Without a thorough evaluation, a child could be misdiagnosed with autism because some symptoms are better explained by another disorder (e.g., Language Disorder, ADHD, anxiety). Alternatively, a child with high functioning autism may not receive a diagnosis because their symptoms are relatively mild. Symptoms also change across development.
Here are the core features of autism:
- Does your child have a hard time keeping friends? They might be okay with initiating social interactions, but do they have trouble sustaining friendships? Do they prefer to be with younger or older children and adults? Are they getting invited to birthday parties and playdates? When you observe their play or interactions with others, do they seem to be in their own world? Do they play best with others only when they follow their lead? Do they have trouble talking about things outside their interests? Do they seem overly serious, or do they make limited eye contact? How do they respond when they observe someone crying? Can they talk about their own feelings? Do they seem awkward in social situations, or do they miss social signals from others? Does your child prefer to be alone and tend to avoid groups due to overwhelm?
- Does your child seem inflexible or sensitive? Do they “get stuck” easily and have trouble shifting to new ideas, tasks or activities, settings, people, routines, or situations? Do they get upset when things don’t go as expected? What about small changes in their day or with their toys and belongings? Do they need structure and routine, and this makes weekends, holidays, summers, and even extracurricular activities (e.g., recess, lunch, PE, art) a challenge? Do they have highly focused interests and love to dive deep into them, but others view these as fixations or obsessions? Do they seem to be highly sensitive to their environment (e.g., loud sounds, clothing tags, food textures)? Do they seek out some sensory experiences (e.g., swinging, pacing, watching lights or fans)? Do they under register other sensory experiences (e.g., pain, hunger, bladder or bowel)? Do you notice any repetitive movements or behaviors?
While some children with autism may have impairments in intellectual functioning and/or language, these are not core symptoms of autism. A clinician will specify when these concerns are also present.
For children presenting with what could be symptoms of autism, I’ve had many parents ask: Why does a diagnosis matter?
- If your child is thriving and there are no concerns, a diagnosis may not be helpful. But it’s important to monitor your child across development because a child with autism may experience greater challenges at different ages.
- If your child is struggling at school, a diagnosis can help ensure they get more support. If accommodations cannot be provided, it’s critical for parents to know as early as possible when a school is not the right fit.
- If a child is struggling at home, a diagnosis can help parents get the support they need to manage challenges. Does your family “walk on eggshells”? Do you change your routines, outings, or family gatherings to accommodate your child? Are meltdowns or tantrums common? Do you notice more challenges than expected with sibling conflict?
If your child is struggling in daily life and you suspect autism, don’t ignore your concerns and wait for them to “outgrow” this stage. You need answers. You need a plan. And your child needs you to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Carefully research and select a professional you can trust to explore your concerns. Contact us for a free consultation to learn more about evaluation services at the Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Center: [email protected]
