Autism - Signs, Symptoms, Treatments, Resources, Support for Autism

Even young infants are very social, so it’s possible to detect signs of autism in how babies interact with their world. At this age, a child with an ASD may: Not turn to a mother’s voice Not respond to his own name Not look people in the eye Have no babbling or pointing by age one Not smile or respond to social cues from others Babies who do not have autism can have these behaviors, too, but it's best to contact your doctor right away with any concerns.

Sleep medications should only be used as a last resort with children. There are a number of lifestyle changes and natural sleep aids that can improve sleep time and quality in kids with autism: Avoid giving your child stimulants such as caffeine and sugar before bed. Establish a nighttime routine: give your child a bath, read a story, and put him or her to bed at the same time every night. Help your child relax before bed by reading a book, giving a gentle back massage , or turning on soft music.  Shut down television, video games, and other stimulating activities at least an hour before bedtime. To prevent sensory distractions during the night, put heavy curtains on your child's windows to block out the light, install thick carpeting, and make sure the door doesn't creak. Ask your pediatrician about giving your child melatonin just before bedtime. This dietary supplement is often used as a sleep aid to help people get over jet lag. It may help normalize s...

Autism is a very common medical condition. Many people do not realize that at least eight infants out of each one thousand born each year will be born with autism. Many parents are quite concerned about the rising statistics of autism. It is something that is important, and should be considered by each new parent. It is important to ensure that you understand what the early signs on autism in children are if you are a parent. The quicker that autism is found in a child, the better the possibility is when it comes to the outcome of the medical condition. Here, you will find many of the early signs of autism in children. 1) The first early sign of autism in children is when they do not progress appropriately by the time that they are one year of age. This includes being able to make certain babbling noises, and displaying particular gestures and such. 2) If your child has not said their first word by the time that they are approximately 17 months old, you should be concerned about the po...

There are many symptoms that an individual with autism may experience; however, one of the most frustrating and hard to understand is what has recently been named Theory of Mind. Within the last few decades, this problem has been more thoroughly discussed and studied, but it is still largely a mystery. Because of Theory of Mind problems, social interactions are even more strenuous for autistic individuals. Theory of Mind causes these social behavior difficulties in almost every aspect, from playgroups as children to the social world as adults. The concept behind Theory of Mind is that autistic people fail to recognize that other people in the world have different ways of looking at things. Although an autistic person may not be egocentric, he or she probably inherently assumes that everyone thinks, feels, and knows the same things he or she thinks, feels, and knows. Most autistic people have an inability to lie, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but is clearly unnatural. They don...