The Autistic Voice Blog

More than 3 million people in America are affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), with prevalence on the rise in recent years. While the symptoms of this group of brain development disorders vary, these are signs that a person may be on the autism spectrum. By Ilisa Cohen 1. Trouble with verbal communication | “While babies hit language milestones at various times, if there is a delay beyond certain ages, it’s important to seek a professional evaluation,” says Paul Wang, MD, senior vice president and head of medical research at Autism Speaks ( autismspeaks.org ). Potential signs include no babbling or no back-and-forth gestures like pointing or waving by 12 months; no words by 16 months; or no meaningful, two-word phrases by 24 months. 2. Challenges with social reciprocity | “Healthy children show their connections with other people by sharing a smile, a hug, or a knowing look,” says Dr. Wang. If you’re not seeing big smiles or other joyful expressions by six months of ...

By Lisa Jo Rudy, Autism Spectrum Disorders Expert Definition: Autistic Disorder is one of the five Autism Spectrum Disorders (also known as Pervasive Developmental Disorders). It is among the most severe of the disorders, which include Asperger Syndrome, PDD-NOS, Rett's Disorder and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. Children with Autistic Disorder develop symptoms before their fourth birthday, and may have such issues as total lack of spoken language, marked inability to interact with others, and difficulties with meeting others' eyes. If you suspect your child may have Autistic Disorder, it is important to schedule an evaluation as early as possible. Early intervention, including a variety of behavioral and developmental treatments, can make all the difference for your child. Most important will be developing a reliable means of communicating with your child, even if he or she is not verbal. PECS (a picture-card based communication system) has been proven to be a very e...