What is Autism, or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
It's a developmental disability that affects the typical development of communication, behavioral and social skills. Some children develop in some of these areas and may have difficulties in others. One thing for sure is that the child’s learning, thinking and problem-solving abilities will have delays and may worsen over time without additional support from specialists.
What should I do next?
Express your concerns to your doctor, and then he or she will ask for a referral to a specialist. An in-depth evaluation of your child could be beneficial to confirm the diagnosis and give referrals to support health professionals (i.e. occupational, physical, and speech therapists).
What are the signs?
Disclaimer: Not every child or person with Autism has every single one of these signs because those with Autism are on a spectrum. Every person with ASD is going to be different from the next.
- does not point at objects to show an interest (like an airplane overhead)
- does not look at objects when another person points at them
avoids making eye contact and wants to be alone
- prefers not to be held or cuddled, or might cuddle only when they want to
has trouble expressing their needs using typical words or motions
- does not play “pretend” games (for example, not pretend to “feed” a doll
- repeats actions over and over again
- has trouble adapting when a routine changes
- has unusual reactions to the way things smell, taste, look, feel, or sound
What does Sensory Processing mean?
Sensory processing refers to how your child interprets the information from the ears, eyes, mouth, joints, and skin. This may mean your child may cover his/her ears with sudden sounds and noises. Your child may either avoid or seek hugs and being touched. Very severe tantrums, known as meltdowns may happen easily.
What kinds of treatment are available?
Occupational, physical, and speech therapy! Luckily, Circle Creek Therapy offers all of those disciplines. If you're interested in how we can further help those with Autism, please don't hesitate to call us at 253.237.3405. We are always willing to help!