By Suzi Gregg, APRN – The Lanning Center for Behavioral Services
People with autism can improve their quality of life. Recognizing this is what is behind naming April as Autism Awareness Month and April 2 as Autism Awareness Day. The goal is people with autism leading full and meaningful lives as a part of society.
It is important that individuals with autism and their families share their stories and provide opportunities for others to learn and grow, and ultimately to accept people with autism. Chances are, you already know someone with autism. The current rate of autism is one in 54 among children age 8. Autism is a lifelong neurological condition. Individuals with autism are family members (children, siblings and parents), classmates, coworkers and friends.
Autism is officially titled autism spectrum disorders because there is a large range of symptoms of autism. These include challenges with social skills, repetitive behavior, processing sensory information and speech. Individuals with autism may require significant daily support in their lives while others may be able to live completely independently. The broad range can make autism difficult to understand but it is important to recognize that they are all autism. Just because one child is quite verbal doesn’t mean that she doesn’t have autism.
Autism is not the only disorder to have a broad range. Individuals with multiple sclerosis can range from having some numbness in their legs to being unable to walk and care for themselves. However, they all have multiple sclerosis that needs to be recognized and treated.
Learning about autism also gives people a chance to recognize symptoms at an earlier age in their own children and family members. Early recognition and treatment has been found to greatly improve outcomes. Signs of autism usually appear by age 3 but it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months.
- By 6 months: Doesn’t smile or respond with a happy expression
- By 9 months: Little or no back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or facial expressions
- By 12 months: Little or no babbling, not responding to his or her name
- By 14 months: Does not point at objects to show interest, gesture or wave
- By 16 months: Not using single words
- By 18 months: Does not play “pretend”
- By 24 months: Very few meaningful two-word phrases
At any age:
- Loss of previously acquired speech, babbling or social skills
- Avoidance of eye contact
- Persistent preference for solitude
- Difficulty understanding other people’s feelings
- Resistance to minor changes in routine or surroundings
- Restricted interests
- Repetitive behaviors (flapping, rocking, spinning)
- Unusual and intense reactions to sounds, smells, tastes, textures, lights and/or colors
How Can I Participate in Autism Awareness Month?
- "Light it up blue"— light up your home or business with blue lightbulbs.
- Listen to others if they want to tell their story about autism.
- Acknowledge autism on social media #autismawareness.
- Watch TED Talks on the subject of autism, by individuals with autism, their families, and scientists researching autism. They can help you get inspired to learn more about ASD.
- Talk about autism with your children. Help them go beyond awareness and into acceptance.
- Watch a movie featuring characters with autism, a couple of my favorites are Temple Grandin and Wretches and Jabberers.
- Donate to a respected autism associated organization such as the Autism Society of Nebraska or Autism Speaks.