WHAT IS AUTISM?

New statisitics reveal a national crisis: 1 in 150 children has autism, making this disorder more common in children than Downs Syndrome, cancer, cerebral palsy and juvenile diabetes. It is increasing at a rate of 20% each year. Because autism itself and its causes are so puzzling, the international symbol of autism is a puzzle piece.

Autism is a complex developmental disorder that begins in early childhood and whose cause is a mystery, but whose devestation affects all races, genders and economic classes. This disorder causes a wide range of symptoms that are difference in every child - from communication difficulties, agressive behavior, over reaction to touch, vision or sound, to an inability to express or receive affection. Autism traps bright children inside minds that prevent them from socializing, playing or even thinking like other children. Left untreated, autism inhibits an person's individual growth to such a degree that many will require life long support. However, intensive treatment and education can help many children with autism lead productive and independent lives. In fact, with effective treatment, many children with autism can become indistinguishable from their peers.

EARLY DETECTION

Early detection is critical. The CHAT (Checklist for Autism in Toddlers) is a simple screening that can be done during a child's routine 18 month developmental checkup. It can identify with high accuracy those children at risk for autism and developmental delays. Contact FEAT-NT at www.featnt.org for a copy of the CHAT and consult with your pediatrician.

EARLY DIAGNOSIS

Time is of essence. A child showing any tendencies towards autism should be referred for diagnosis to a liscensed psychologist, developmental pediatrician, or neurologist specializing in autism and related disorders. Although early diagnosis is critical it is never too late for treatment.

WARNING SIGNS OF AUTISM

- Child lacks speech, or had words and lost them
- Child appears to be deaf
- Child has absent or abnormal eye contact
- Child does not play appropriate with toys
- Lacks imaginative play, plays with parts of toys,
mouths or fiddles with toys
- Child lines up objects or catagorizes toys
- Child ignores or does not play with others
- Child babbles in repetative fashion'
- Child displays self-stimulatory behaviors: body
rocking,handflapping, spinning of objects, orself eye
gazing(at T.V., mirror or hands)
- Child displays seld injurious behavior
- Child is difficult to control

For more more information on autism
visit the following websites:

Families for Effective Autism Treatment-North Texas
www.featnt.org

Autism Speaks
www.autismspeaks.org

Autism Society of America
www.autism-society.org

Center for the Study of Autism
www.autism.org

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/

Autism Resources
www.autism-resources.com

Complelling Autism Speaks Video shown at the
2007 Sundance Film Festival -
www.autismspeaks.org/sponsoredevents/
autism_every_day.php