Does Your Baby Have Autism?

Whether or not your baby has autism is a question that probably hasn’t crossed your mind – and don’t worry, they probably don’t. However, autism rates are on the rise, so it’s a good idea to know what the early signs are. This is really important, since starting therapy early has been shown to improve the quality of life for autistic children. It’s a question that you probably don’t want to ask, but you owe it to your child to be on the lookout.

 

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Most babies will smile back at you if you smile at them, and if you bend over their cot, the chances are that they will reach out to you to be picked up. On the other hand, autistic babies often don’t respond in this way – they have trouble relating to other people’s emotions, and therefore don’t behave in the same way that other infants do. This is one of the earliest autism signs to look out for, and if you are concerned you should talk to your pediatrician.

As your baby starts to get a little bit older, there is nothing more exciting than hearing their first words. Normally, they have started to make baby talk by the time they are 12 months old, and have spoken their first real words by the time they reach 18 months. However, language development in autistic children can be delayed – and some children with severe cases are never able to speak – so this is another sign you should look out for. Don’t get too concerned early on, since babies develop at different rates. However, if there is no sign of speech by 18 months, you should probably have it checked out.

There are other signs to look out for, including as your baby becomes a toddler. For instance, if they don’t play normally with other children, this may be a sign that something is wrong. Also, it’s normal for babies and children to imitate your gestures – and if they don’t, then this too might indicate that they have some sort of autistic disorder.

If you do discover that your child has autism, then don’t despair. Many children with autism grow up to live relatively normal and productive lives. One thing that seems to be key is to start treatment early – as just mentioned – and to tailor the treatment to a child’s specific needs. The symptoms and severity of autism vary widely between children, and so many treatment centers use autism therapy management software to help them track the progress of each child and plan targeted therapy – so that they have the best opportunity to develop.

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Finally, remember that autistic children often don’t respond to the same things that other children do. For instance, many of them don’t like strange things – and get upset when things change. So, while it would seem unfair for a child without autism, many children with the condition respond better to a highly structured and regimented routine. Also, some autistic children behave in extreme ways, and you will need help to learn how to deal with this. 

Happy that Lancet retracts study that linked autism to vaccination

When my daughter underwent ureter operation, Mom met her former officemate who is a wife of a pediatrician. They talked and Mom told me that her former officemate mentioned about vaccination being linked to autism in children. I was really surprised and at the same time alarmed because since birth, my daughter is complete with vaccination that is appropriate for her age because we want our daughter to be protected from diseases that are preventable through vaccines. After knowing it, I had second thoughts of continuing some of the vaccinations that Keona has not been given yet. The thought of possible autism of my child through vaccines is really scaring me off. This made me remember also my friend Roy, whose son never had a single vaccine because his wife is not in favor of it. The family of Roy's wife were not immunized with any vaccines and yet they grow up healthy so they are doing the same for their son.

But this week, the highly reputable medical journal The Lancet withdraw the 1998 study that linked vaccination to autism. The study, led by Andrew Wakefield, has been viewed as the cornerstone research for those parents and activists who believe inoculations can cause or spur on autism in children.

The Lancet stated decisively, "We fully retract this paper from the published record."The publishers are not alone in dismissing the research or Wakefield himself. In fact, ten of the thirteen co-authors of that 1998 study wrote a "retraction of interpretation" in 2004.Still, there will be those who continue to defend Wakefield and the research that has been called into question. The study suggested that there may be a link between the MMR triple-vaccination that helps prevent measles, mumps, and rubella and the development of autism. This spurred a trend among parents in the United States, England, Canada, and New Zealand to opt out or reduce the number of vaccinations their children were given. The impact continued with the rise of measles in some areas and much debate about whether or not vaccines are healthy for young children.

I will break here to point out that I personally have a lot of trouble with the anti-vaccination movement. I fully support research and funding directed to find a cure for autism. Families who are caring for children with autism or any other spectrum disorder clearly have to find the strategies, therapies, and support that best suits their kids, their lives, and their beliefs. I respect that. But I also believe that the scare tactics some people in the anti-vaccination movement have used can be dangerous to many children who are at risk for developing diseases that can be prevented with the medical resources we now have.