An observant parent may be criticized as being overbearing, but for an infant, it’s important that parents notice all their child’s firsts. Autism is a disorder that can be diagnosed very early and it starts at home. Most parents are in awe of their baby’s first word, first smile, first laugh, first coo, but when their child is not showing any signs of these things, it might be time to talk to your doctor. Stop making excuses and get professional help because autism often goes unnoticed, especially among the Latino community, where many haven’t even heard of autism.
Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorder is a mental condition characterized by having difficulty communicating, and forming relationships with others. What causes autism? According to Autism Speaks, scientists have identified a number of rare gene changes, or mutations, associated with autism. In most cases, autism is caused by a combination of genes and environmental factors. Women can reduce their risk of having a child with autism by taking prenatal vitamins that contain folic acid during and after their pregnancy.
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One of the problems among the Latino community is that children are diagnosed with autism at a later age and with more severe symptoms. This is why if you notice any of the following, it’s important to talk to you doctor and get your child evaluated for autism:
- No words by 16 months
- No babbling or any signs of social skills by 12 months
- No pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months
- No smiling or joyful expressions by 6 months
- No two-word phrases by 24 months
It’s crucial to pay close attention to your child and not make excuses for their delayed speech or socialization skills. There are behavioral treatments, such as therapy and medicines that will help autistic children. The longer treatment is prolonged, the higher the chance of developing severe autism.
People with a severe form of autism have very low IQ’s, they can be sensible to light, sound, touch, taste and smell and even have repetitive behaviors. They can become aggressive and hit, bite or kick. They also run the chance of running away for no reason. In some cases, they can develop sleeplessness, epilepsy, mood disorders and even gastrointestinal issues.
This is why it’s so crucial to pay attention to your child and get him or her diagnosed as soon as possible. Even though children improve with their therapies, autism is not something that goes away.
Check out this video, which puts autism into perspective:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0idZghw97dc&w=560&h=315]
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