The early signs and symptoms of autism was one of the topics discussed last Thursday in a seminar hosted by Innovative Learning and The Eden Family of Services in association with Santa Ynez Valley Special Education Consortium and Buellton Unified School District. The seminar on “Assessment and Goal Selection for Students with Autism” was presented by Anne S. Holmes, M.S., C.C.C., B.C.B.A.
Lack of relatedness and warmth is an early warning sign, observed in infants as young as 4 months. Between 9 and 12 months, if babbling is not becoming more complex it may be a sign of a language delay. Another sign that can emerge at this age is a lack of joint attention or shifting, for example looking from a toy to a caregiver to share the pleasure of the toy. Symptoms observed from 12 to 14 months include: single words not emerging, lack of reciprocity or back and forth interactions, and lack of problem solving. From 18 months on, lack of motor gestures, inability to pretend and limited use of language for social interaction may be cause for concern.
If you are a parent or early childhood educator and you notice any of these signs in a child, do not wait, have the child evaluated. Research on children with autism shows that the earlier intervention is started, the greater the progress. The same is true if you are concerned about a delay in any area of development; motor, cognitive, communication, social or emotional. The child’s pediatrician can do an initial screening and let you know about resources in your area. Evaluation and early intervention services are available free of charge to children under 3 through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the United States. Each state has its own system for providing these services. In California, for example, you would contact the Regional Center. To find out who to call in your state, check the State Resource Sheet at http://www.nihcy.org. For children with developmental delays who are age 3 and over, special education services are available. Your local elementary school can tell you how to arrange an evaluation with the special education system in your district.
Innovative Learning - Families 