By the time a child has reached 12 months of age, certain milestones in development has been learned. By the age of 12 months a child is usually talking gibberish, or baby talk, and making gestures. They are usually trying out one word at a time by 16 months. Phrases containing 2 words are usually evident at 16 to 24 months. Keep an eye on the way your child seems to be developing, and if something doesn’t seem to fall into what you think is “normal,” seek medical advice. Perhaps the child is just a little behind and no need to worry.
Autistic children display all of the above tendencies, and many more. Your child may become overly aggressive, or more passive than usual. They often refuse to interact with other people, both children and adults. They prefer the quiet of their own company. They may startle easily, or not at all. An autistic child doesn’t start or maintain any kind of conversation. You may notice that they are slow to react to any stimulation, yet they will repeat certain movements over and over. In your confusion, you may mistakenly decide that your child is just being stubborn. Punishment for these tendencies is the wrong thing to do.
Social interaction is normal in a baby’s development. If your child seems withdrawn and prefers to be alone, and doesn’t participate in play time with other children his age, you should schedule an appointment with a specialist. Autistic tendencies begin to show themselves at an early age and treatment should start as soon as possible after a diagnosis of autism. Some forms are manageable with medication, while more severe types of autism may require therapy of some type, along with medicine. Generally, speech therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy are required.
Withdrawal is another classic symptom of autism. The child simply has no interest in anything that is going on around him. It’s not that he is doing this on purpose, but just doesn’t have the abilities of a child who isn’t autistic. Something has gone wrong in the brain function. Your child may become obsessed with repeating the same phrase over and over, perhaps something that he has heard in a conversation, or from the television. Again, it not something that your child is doing on purpose. It simply can’t be helped.
Treatment for an autistic child must be started at an early age, or when the child is diagnosed. There are many medications available today that seem to work very well on relieving the symptoms and allow the child to have a somewhat normal life. Physical and occupational therapists will work one on one with your child to develop abilities that will allow him to function in the outside world. Look into treatment as soon as you begin to suspect that something is not right with your child’s development.
Early, intensive treatment is necessary for a child who exhibits autistic tendencies. Treatment is geared toward the particular needs of each individual, and may include physical therapy, medication, and occupational and speech therapy. A therapist will work one on one with each child. Results have been shown to be very effective in the treatment of autism and its related disabilities if started at an early age. Most autistic children can go forward and lead a full, productive life.
Brent McNutt really enjoys socializing and networking with healthcare professionals online and also likes talking about Landau Scrubs and Landau Shoes and also likes writing articles about various topics.
