Many children do not receive an autism diagnosis until they are three or four years of age or older. But choosing to have children screened early can mean they are diagnosed and treated as infants, which raises their success rate.
Determining if your child has autism should be done as soon as possible if something is suspected. That is generally because getting your child into an early intervention program for autism in Little Rock can make a difference in how well they are able to cope with this particular disorder as they grow and develop.
In many cases, a child who gets prompt treatment for autism in Little Rock, especially when they are still an infant, can grow out of their diagnosis and no longer fall on the autism spectrum at an older age. That can help them both in school and in interpersonal relationships.
Looking for Signs of Autism in Your Child
There are a number of signs that the professionals look for when determining if your child may have autism. Among those signs are both learning and social differences when compared with the baseline of how children in that age group normally act. Lack of eye contact and verbalization are two of the most significant issues that are often noticed in autistic children.
But there are other ways to look for autism, and because it is a spectrum disorder some children will be more obviously affected by it than others. Children with a very mild form of autism may function very normally, while children with severe autism may need long-term care and support services.
So, How Early is a Diagnosis Really Possible?
For children who are younger than 30 months (2.5 years), there are play-based tests and assessments that can be used to screen for autism. Many of the autistic child support services in Little Rock are focused on infants, and these start working with children as young as seven months of age. For children who are diagnosed when they are only a few months old, prompt intervention is one of the ways to help ensure that they reach their full potential as they grow.
Depending on the severity of their autism they may or may not outgrow their diagnosis, but they can certainly have an improved quality of life. In addition to the tests that are play-based and other types of assessments, brain scans may also be a source of information about autism. These scans can potentially show whether a toddler or even an infant may later develop traits that would be considered consistent with autism.
When you are seeking help and guidance for your child, and you want to explore whether they may have autism, reach out to Integrity, Inc. today by calling (501) 406-0442. We can give you the resources and information you need to take the right steps toward helping your child reach their full potential.
