Does your child often seek solitude and prefer to be left alone? Does your child respond to their name when you call them? Do they avoid eye contact? Are they captivated for long periods of time with the same activity? Do they have little to no speech? Do they seem overly placid?

If any of these questions made you sit up a little straighter and think “that sounds like my child” then I couldn’t be more pleased that you picked up this article.

In 1988 Dustin Hoffman won an Academy Award for his portrayal of an Autistic Savant named Raymond Babbitt in the movie Rain Man. Ever since this movie was released Rain Man has been deemed the poster boy for Autism. However, even though Rain Man was indeed Autistic, this character doesn’t give a real representation of what Autism is. In fact there cannot be a poster boy for Autism because no two children with Autism will present with the same characteristics and behaviours. There is as much variation between the severities of this disorder as there is in the types of impairments.

WHAT DOES AUTISM LOOK LIKE?

At face value children with Autism look no different from that of a typical child. The difference will be noticed more in their behaviours. Aspect, who is the leading service provider for people with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Australia, provides the following description:

“Autism is a dysfunction of some parts of the central nervous system (i.e. the brain and nervous system) that affects the way the individual refers to how information is taken in through the senses and stored in the brain). It is how we understand our world and what is happening around us. Children with Autism will show impairments or delays in three main areas commonly known as The Triad of Impairments. These areas are;

1. Communication

• Verbal – delayed speech, no speech, rote or repetitive speech or quite verbal

• Non verbal - Use little facial expressions or gestures

2. Social interaction skills

• Tend to play alone and so not seek attention from others and will not show understanding of others feelings

3. Repetitive behaviours and restrictive interests

• Body movements e.g. hand flapping toe walking

• Likes the same story or movie over and over again

• Lines things up instead of playing with the toy as intended”

The more subtle symptoms can often go unnoticed and can sometimes leave its subjects blending into the background. Early concerns can often be dismissed or explained away, especially by those closest to us - usually with comments like “he will talk when he is ready” or “he’s a boy, they develop much later than girls”

If you are like any other loving, caring parent when it comes to seeing your child’s flaws, you are protected by your rose colored glasses. Let’s look at what you can do to increase your chances of recognising the early warning signs.

Remember no two children will present the same. Some of the symptoms may apply while others won’t. These following warning signs are not a diagnosis; they are an indication only that there may be a delay worth investigating in your child’s development.

SEEING THE RED FLAGS

• Lack of babbling or pointing by 12 months

• No sharing of interest of objects or activities with another person

• No single words by 16 months, or no two-word phrases by 24 months

• Any loss of language or social skills at any age

Early warning signs;

Joint attention behaviours

• Not turning when one’s name is called

• A lack of interest in others

• Poor eye contact

• Avoiding the gaze of others

• Reduced ability to follow the point and gaze of others

• A lack of showing or pointing

Suggested lack of empathy

• Reduced emotion

• Appearing overly placid

• Failing to demonstrate a typical range of facial expressions

• A lack of response to social cues such as smiling

Unusual play behaviors

• Repetitive and non function use of objects ( lining up objects as opposed to using them as intended)

• Attachment to particular objects

Sensory abnormalities

• Abnormal responses to sound or appearing deaf

• Excessive mouthing of objects

• Oversensitivity to taste, smells and touch

• Watching hand or finger movements

• Showing interest in minor details

• Visual staring and fixation of object

• Looking at objects from unusual angles

• Insensitivity to pain, heat or cold

If you have identified some of these symptoms in your child you may be feeling a bit uneasy. Try not to jump to any conclusions by letting your thoughts wander too far down the track. Your initial reaction may be to seek further information and given the immediacy of your situation, and the Internet is probably the first place you will look. Unfortunately, because of the nature of the internet, your search will give you the good, the bad and the ugly, and there are sites that might cause you unnecessary panic or confusion. In an effort to avoid this, I have listed some websites which should provide you with a good quality of information;

First Signs

http://www.firstsigns.org/index.html

Department of Health and Human Services

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/facts.html

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect)

http://www.aspect.org.au

EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER

As a parent, being faced with the possibility that your child could have Autism is a very frightening and emotional experience. When you first come across information relating to Autism and you start to identify and relate the behaviours to that of your child’s, a sense of dread comes over you. There is nothing that can prepare you for what you are about to go through. And of course, your response will be as unique and individual as you are, so here are some common responses and feelings you may experience:

• Confusion - you may feel distant and numb like your life has just been turned upside down

• Shock - you may feel as if things are moving in slow motion and you cannot comprehend what is happening

• Denial – you may find it hard to entertain the idea that this disorder can affect your child (this is especially common with fathers and their boys)

• Anxiety - you may fear and question what the future holds for your child and your family

• Anger – you may be angered that this could happen to you and your child

• Guilt - you will probably start to think that you have done something to cause the Autism

This site is helpful if you require further information on dealing with your emotions http://www.yourguidetoautism.com/how-to-cope-with-autism.html

These are just a few feelings you might experience from time to time. Before you arrive anywhere near a place of acceptance, you may well experience everything listed. For this reason, having a good support network is such an important aspect of your journey. Knowing who to see and where to get help will assist you in alleviating some of the anxiety you will face. The earlier you seek assistance, the better off your child will be. These are all great places to start:

WHERE TO GET HELP

• Early childhood centres or health nurses – Give your health nurse a call and express your concerns. She may be able to fit you in right away, or book you in for an appointment. By doing a few simple play tests, the health nurse will assess whether you have any cause for concern. If you haven’t done so already, ask her for a copy of the Developmental Milestones for your child’s age. This may help to give you a better indication of what is typical behaviour for their age. She will also be able to refer you on to other health professionals.

• Community Health Centre –Your community health centre usually provides the services of Paediatricians, Psychologists, Speech Therapists and Occupational Therapists.

• Local GP – You will need to visit your GP to gain a referral to see your Paediatrician. During the course of your child’s life you will need to refer back to your GP, so make sure you keep them in the loop.

• Paediatrician – Definitely arrange to speak to your paediatrician and voice your concerns. There may be a lengthy waiting period, so set up an appointment as early as possible, and in the meantime see one of the other listed services.

Using the above professionals should help to identify and ease your most pressing concerns, however, going in with an expectation of coming out with a diagnosis will leave you bitterly disappointed. It is the same for every parent - you just want to hear someone say “yes they have Autism, or no they don’t. Obtaining a diagnosis is usually a lengthy process, and you will find practitioners are very reluctant to issue opinions; especially when the child is below the age of 3. This is due to the uncertainty and degree of change and development children below this age group undergo. If your paediatrician does find cause for concern, it’s a good idea to start therapy as soon as you can so ask for contact details for the following professionals:

• Speech Therapist – for assistance with verbal and non-verbal communication

• Occupational Therapist – for assistance in a wide range of things including everyday care, social strategies, sensory information and even suggest play and learning activities

• Early Intervention Services – specifically designed for children with developmental delays. There are many different types of Early Intervention so make sure you get a recommendation from your paediatrician; or you can use the link below to locate services in your state or area

http://www.ecia.org.au/links.htm

A MOTHER’S INSTINCT

We seek professionals for their expertise and advice, but let me tell you right now that no-one knows your child better than you do. So if you are sure something is not right and you are being dismissed and labelled as a neurotic mother, you need to persist. I can’t stress this enough. Professor Tony Attwood is a clinical psychologist who specialises in ASD and has done so for the past 26 years. In his opinion, one of the key factors to successful outcomes with children under 3 who have Autism is to have a determined and willing parent. You must fight for your child and keep pushing until you receive the services that your child needs. There are no chauffers on this journey; you need to have your hands firmly on the wheel because your child’s destination is in your hands.

By far the most invaluable support that you will find out there is that of other parents in the same situation. Think nothing of leaving a wet patch on their shoulder, for next week there will be one on yours. You will take turns in sharing your emotions and the excitement of your child’s latest’s achievements. Other parents are an untapped resource, and together you will find not much goes past without at least one of you knowing the ins and outs of it.

The information provided here is just a speck of what you will need to know if you have a child who has Autism. Yes, having a child with Autism can be really trying; but mostly it’s about living and celebrating every little treasure that’s hidden inside their hearts. And there is nothing more rewarding than that.

RESOURCES:

Australian Autism handbook – By Benison O’Reilly and Seana Smith

AAP General News – HighBeam Research – www.highbeam.com

Your Guide to Autism – www.yourguidetoautism.com

Centre for Disease control and prevention – www.cdc.gov

First Signs - http://www.firstsigns.org/index.html

Dept of Health and Human Services - http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/symptoms.htm

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) - http://www.aspect.org.au/publications/infosheets.asp