spotting signs of autism

7/28/2019 Spotting Signs of Autism

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Spotting Signs oF

AutismFrom Birth through Kindergarten

This presentation is brought to you by Leslie Burby of

Autism Parenting Magazine. More Information can be

Found at www.AutismParentingMagazine.com
http://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/http://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/


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Five Most Common

Types of Autism


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What I thought Autism WAS Loses abilities that once had

Cant walk

Delayed Speech

Doesnt make eye contact


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Then I became a parent


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CDC if youre concerned-

ACT early


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Should you be concerned?

The Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Monitoring (ADDM) Network

Most not diagnosed until after age 4

Aspergers the median diagnosed age is 6

Parents notice a developmental delay by 6

months

http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.htmlhttp://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html


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At birth

Your baby slept through the night?

You are so lucky. Was I? Babies are supposed

to wake when hungry.


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feeding issues

I mean not being able to get a baby to

drink from a bottle or having a baby

with such low muscle tone that they

dont even have enough facial muscles

to suck formula without half the

contents running down their chin.


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Developmental Milestones Cognition (thinking, problem-solving, etc)

Motor Coordination (gross/fine)

Social Interaction (initiating peer contact)

Adaptive (dressing, eating, washing)

Please note that having a developmental delay in one ora few categories DOES NOT make a child autistic. There

needs to be a combination of several delays and sensory

issues to warrant a series of tests for a diagnosis.


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Motor delaysBy age one

Gross Motorsits without support

crawls

pulls self to standing position

and stands unaided

walks with aid

rolls a ball in imitation of

adult

Fine Motor

reaches, grasps, puts object in

mouth

picks things up with pincer

grasp (thumb and one finger)

transfers object from one

hand to the other

drops and picks up toy


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Motor skills by age 2Between ages one and two

Gross Motor

walks alone

walks backwards

picks up toys from floor without falling

pulls toys, pushes toys

seats self in child size chair

walks up and down stairs with hand held

moves to music

Fine Motor

builds tower of three small blocks

puts four rings on stick

places five pegs in pegboard

turns pages two or three at a time

scribbles

turns knobs

throws small ball

paints with whole arm movement, shifts hands, makes strokes


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Six months old

Not placing feet on floor Using feet against hard surface


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Speech/Lang Milestones

By Age One By Age Two

Recognizes name

Says 2-3 words

Imitates familiarwords

Understands simple

instructions

Recognizes words assymbols for objects

(car: garage)

Understands NO

Uses 10-20 words

Combines two words

Waves good-bye

Plays pat-a-cake

Makes animal sounds

Points to body parts

Uses words like more


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Sensory IssuesMore than just 5 senses!

3 Less Known Senses:

1. Vestibular-feeling of

balance, movement and

position in space

2. Proprioceptive body

awareness and posture

3. Interoceptive internalbody and organ perception and

regulation No need for a playpen my

daughter wouldnt leave a

blanket for fear of touching

the prickly grass.


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Sensory Processing DisorderHypo= less sensitive

Hyposensitive Vestibular Dysfunction

Craves fast, spinning, and/or intense movement experiences

Loves being tossed in the air

Could spin for hours and never appear to be dizzy

Always spinning in a swivel chair/getting upside down positions

Loves to swing as high as possible and for long periods of time

Is a "thrill-seeker"; dangerous at times

Rocks body, shakes leg/s, or head while sitting

Likes sudden or quick movements


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SPD continued

Hyper = more sensitive

Hypersensitivity to Oral Input

Extremely picky eater (diet mainly of

mushy things)

Drinks must be a certain temp

Extremely picky about cups and feel of

nipples

Never mouthed objects


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My Daughters list As a toddler Mary

Is constantly seeking thrill

Loves to swing as high and fast as possible

Becomes distressed about having nails clipped or things in her hair

Likes to wear hats/hoods

Must have a hat/hood on to keep her hair from flapping against her head when jumping or swinging

Hates the wind or anything that causes her hair to move

Has frequent temper tantrums that can last 45 minutes

Has many mood swings

Becomes violent at times with herself (for no apparent reason will start hitting herself on the head or head-banging things)

Needs to be wrestled down to have her diaper changed

Likes to wear sunglasses

Does not stay asleep very easily awaken

Is nearly impossible to get to sleep

Loves hugs...although they usually have to be requested or initiated by her

Likes to sit on different objects will sit on books, boxes, cans, toys, etc.

Sucks two fingers upside-down to soothe self

Randomly throws herself onto the floor

Is extremely difficult to feed (she is a very picky)

In constant motion when sitting or excited her legs and arms are constantly flailing

Bangs or hits her head not just when frustrated

Purposefully sticks her fingers in the back of her throat to initiate her gag-reflex

Seems very lazy if anything is too heavy or too much work she gives up


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Comorbid Issues Gastrointestinal disorders

Sensory problems

Seizures and epilepsy

Intellectual disability

Fragile X syndrome

ADHD

Bipolar disorder

Obsessive compulsive disorder

Tourette syndrome

General anxiety disorder Tuberous sclerosis

Clinical depression

Visual problems.

http://autism-help.org/comorbid-disorders-autistic-spectrum.htm
http://autism-help.org/comorbid-gastrointestinal-disorders.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-sensory-problems.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-seizures-autism.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-mental-retardation.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-fragile-x-syndrome.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-adhd-attention-deficit.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-bipolar-disorder-autism.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-obsessive-compulsive.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-tourette-syndrome-autism.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-general-anxiety-disorder.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-tuberous-sclerosis.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-depression.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-visual-problems.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-disorders-autistic-spectrum.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-disorders-autistic-spectrum.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-disorders-autistic-spectrum.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-disorders-autistic-spectrum.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-visual-problems.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-depression.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-tuberous-sclerosis.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-general-anxiety-disorder.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-tourette-syndrome-autism.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-obsessive-compulsive.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-bipolar-disorder-autism.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-adhd-attention-deficit.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-fragile-x-syndrome.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-mental-retardation.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-seizures-autism.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-sensory-problems.htmhttp://autism-help.org/comorbid-gastrointestinal-disorders.htm


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Early Intervention


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Who to turn to

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) at

1-800-695-0285 or visit http://nichcy.org/

Birth to Three Program www.birth23.org

Department of Developmental Services www.ct.gov/dds
http://nichcy.org/http://www.birth23.org/http://www.ct.gov/ddshttp://www.ct.gov/ddshttp://www.birth23.org/http://nichcy.org/


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Who to turn to

Click icon to add picture

National Dissemination Center for

Children with Disabilities (NICHCY) at 1-

800-695-0285 or visit http://nichcy.org/

Birth to Three Program www.birth23.org

Department of Developmental Services

www.ct.gov/dds
http://nichcy.org/http://www.birth23.org/http://www.ct.gov/ddshttp://www.ct.gov/ddshttp://www.birth23.org/http://nichcy.org/


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For more information about Autism Parenting

and to pick up your free Trial issue visit

http://www.AutismParentingMagazine.com
http://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/http://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/


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