Recognizing Early Signs of Autism

Be Proactive: Recognize the Early Signs of Autism

It is a parent's nightmare: that their child may have a health problem that will significantly affect the quality of their life. Though it's hard to imagine, it is important that you know and can recognize the early signs of autism, because the younger your child is when they begin to receive treatment, the more that treatment will benefit them throughout their lives.

If you are a parent of a very young child (or children,) you are in the best position to notice specific early signs of autism so that you can inform their pediatrician as early as possible if you suspect a problem. Here is a short list of the most common early signs of autism:

·         Your child begins to regress rather than continuing to develop. This is one of the most serious early signs of autism – a child develops to a certain point in terms of communication, and then seems to regress. If your child is between one and two years old and seems to lose any of the linguistic or social skills they have already developed, speak to your pediatrician right away.

·         Your child seems extraordinarily late to develop linguistic, behavioral, or motor skills. Of course, all children develop at their own speed, so you don't necessarily need to be concerned if they don't seem to be progressing in some areas as fast as you think they should. However, there are a set of age-appropriate developmental goals all children should reach as they grow, and if your child does not, it's appropriate to bring your concerns up with your child's pediatrician.

·         Your child doesn't seem to interact with you in a recognizable way. All infants are different, but some of the most important early signs of autism are deficits in a child’s ability to interact with their parents. The web site HelpGuide offers this list of delays (that) warrant an immediate evaluation by your child's pediatrician.

• By 6 months: No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions.
• By 9 months: No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions.
• By 12 months: Lack of response to name.
• By 12 months: No babbling or “baby talk.”
• By 12 months: No back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving.
• By 16 months: No spoken words.
• By 24 months: No meaningful two-word phrases that don’t involve imitating or repeating.

 It can't be emphasized enough: you are in the best position to notice the early signs of autism because you spend the most time with your child. If you are concerned your little one may have a problem, talk to your pediatrician right away. The sooner you catch it, the better chance your child will have of responding to treatments, and with a little help, living the rest of their lives to the fullest.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR AUTISM

Four Types of Medication for Autism

The most effective methods for treating autism are not pharmaceutical treatments. Language and speech therapy, approaches to education such as structured teaching, and other behavioral approaches are the most important and effective methods for working with autistic individuals. However, in some cases, medication for autism may be prescribed to remediate self-injurious or repetitive behavior, or to control irritability and reduce the frequency of “temper tantrums”.

The most common types of medication for autism include:

·         Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

·         Antipsychotics, either first-generation or second-generation

·         Anticonvulsants

·         Stimulants

SSRI Medication for Autism 

SSRIs are a type of medication that increase the available amount of serotonin, an important neurotransmitter molecule, in the brain. They are sometimes prescribed to autistic persons in order to control some of the restricted, repetitive behaviors common in autism spectrum disorders.

Some common SSRI medications include:

·         Zoloft

·         Prozac

·         Paxil

SSRIs are most commonly used to treat anxiety and depression. In autistic persons, they are applied to individuals demonstrating anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, or repetitive behavior patterns.

Although these medications are sometimes used to treat autistic behaviors, recent analysis of available research data have suggested that, in the past, the benefits of SSRIs for treating autism behaviors may have been decidedly overstated. 

Anti-Psychotic Medication for Autism 

When behavioral approaches such as applied behavior analysis are not effective on their own, aggressive or self-injurious behavior in autism is sometimes treated with anti-psychotic medications,  

There are two main classes of anti-psychotics. The older class of antipsychotics includes:

-          Haloperidol

-          Chlorpromazine

-          Thorazine

-          Fluphenazine

These may produce side effects, including sedation, muscle stiffness, and abnormal movements.

The newer class of antipsychotics includes such drugs as:

-          Zyprexa

-          Risperdal

-          Geodon

-          Seroquel

Side effects of the newer class of antipsychotics include increased appetite and weight gain.

Anti-psychotic medications function as dopamine receptor antagonists, meaning they prevent excessive uptake of dopamine by brain cells. 

Anticonvulsant Medication for Autism 

Anticonvulsants are a type of medication most commonly used to treat seizure disorders. Among people with autism, approximately 25% also experience seizures, so it is not uncommon for autistic individuals to be on an anticonvulsant.

Common anticonvulsants include:

-          Topiramate (Topomax)

-          Lamotrigine (Lamictal)

-          Valproic acid (Depakote)

Stimulant Medication for Autism 

Stimulants are sometimes used to treat inattention and hyperactivity in the context of autism. Commonly used stimulants include:

-          Ritalin

-          Concerta

-          Dexedrine

-          Adderall

Stimulants, anticonvulsants, antipsychotics, and SSRIs are all sometimes used as medication for autism. These drugs help treat behavioral abnormalities, such as restrictive and repetitive behaviors or hyperactivity. However, none of them are effective by themselves to treat autism. The best approach to autism is a behavioral approach. Methods such as Applied Behavior Analysis and Structured Teaching, along with speech and language therapy, work with autistic children to improve language abilities and social skills. Medication for autism remains somewhat controversial, with some recent studies indicating that they may not be as effective in treating the disorder as was previously believed. 

BIOFEEDBACK FOR AUTISM