Autism Spectrum Disorder: Early Detection Matters

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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects individuals differently.

It's considered a "spectrum" disorder because its symptoms and severity can vary significantly from person to person, but the common symptoms are challenges in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors.

For parents, caregivers, and educators, understanding the signs of autism and the importance of early diagnosis and intervention can make a world of difference in supporting children with ASD.

Main symptoms of Austism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

What Is Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Autism Spectrum Disorder is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a developmental disorder that involves a range of challenges in two main areas:

Social Communication and Interaction: Children with ASD often struggle with things like understanding social cues, making friends, and expressing themselves. For example, a child might avoid eye contact when talking to someone, or they may not understand why a friend is upset even though they are crying. They might have trouble holding a conversation, often speaking about a topic they love but not responding when others share their thoughts. For instance, a child who loves dinosaurs might only talk about dinosaurs and have a hard time switching to a new subject, even if someone wants to talk about something else.
Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors: This includes repetitive actions or a strong need for routine. For example, a child may line up their toys in a very specific order and get upset if even one is out of place. They may repeat the same action over and over, like flapping their hands when excited or rocking back and forth. A child might also have an intense focus on one particular interest, such as a passion for trains, and may want to talk about or play with trains all the time, even if others aren’t interested.

For a diagnosis to be made, these behaviors must be noticeable early in childhood and cause challenges in daily life. As we have mentioned, the way these symptoms show up can be very different from one person to another, which is why it’s called a "spectrum."

What are some early signs to look for?

Now, every child with ASD is unique and it shows up differently in each child. But sometimes, we can see early signs, even as young as 18 months, or sometimes even way earlier. Parents should pay attention to developmental milestones, such as:

Lack of speech or delayed speech development by 12-18 months
Limited or absent eye contact
Difficulty with pretend play or engaging in social interactions
Intense focus on specific objects or activities
Sensitivity to sensory input, like lights, sounds, or textures

It's natural to have questions, and maybe even some worries. This is why recognizing autism early on can be challenging for parents, as some children may develop more typical social and communication skills as they grow, while others may require more intensive support.

What You Need to Know

For parents, receiving an ASD diagnosis for their child can bring a range of emotions. It's essential to remember:

You are not to blame: Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition, not a result of parenting choices.
It's okay to feel overwhelmed: Allow yourself to process your emotions and seek support.
You are not alone: Many families are on this journey, and there are resources available to help.

If you notice any signs, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at Jolene Psychology and Hypnosis Centre. We offer comprehensive Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessments, conducted by our Certified Autism Specialist and licensed Clinical Psychologist. An accurate assessment is essential to understanding a child’s unique needs.

As part of our process, we use the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale, Third Edition (GARS-3), a standardized tool designed to identify and assess the severity of autism in individuals aged 3 to 22.

We believe in meeting children where they are.

If you have any concerns about your child's development, please reach out. Early identification is key, as undiagnosed disorders can sometimes lead to challenges with self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.

Remember, a diagnosis is not a limitation, but rather it opens a way for us to understand and support our children. We need to realize that trying to make a child fit into our world isn’t the way to go. Instead, we should focus on stepping into their world and learning how to communicate in their way.

自闭症谱系障碍：早期发现，早期干预

自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 是一种复杂的神经发育障碍，对每个人的影响都不同。

之所以称其为“谱系”障碍，是因为其症状和严重程度因人而异，但常见的症状包括社交沟通困难、受限兴趣和重复性行为。

对于父母、照护者和教育工作者来说，了解自闭症的表现以及早期诊断和干预的重要性，对于帮助患有 ASD 的儿童至关重要。

什么是自闭症谱系障碍？

根据《精神障碍诊断与统计手册》第五版（DSM-5）的定义，自闭症谱系障碍是一种发育障碍，主要表现为以下两个方面的挑战：

社交沟通与互动 : 患有 ASD 的儿童往往难以理解社交线索、建立友谊和表达自己。例如，一个孩子在与人交谈时可能会避免眼神接触，或者他们可能无法理解朋友哭泣的原因。他们可能难以进行双向交流，经常谈论自己喜欢的话题，但当别人分享想法时却不作回应。例如，一个喜欢恐龙的孩子可能只谈论恐龙，而无法切换到新的话题，即使对方希望谈论其他内容。
受限和重复性行为 : 这包括重复的动作或对固定日常安排的强烈需求。例如，一个孩子可能会以特定顺序排列玩具，如果顺序被打乱，就会感到不安。他们可能会不断重复某个动作，比如兴奋时拍手或来回摇晃身体。此外，他们可能对某个兴趣有极度的专注，比如对火车充满热情，总是想谈论或玩与火车相关的东西，即使其他人对此不感兴趣。

如果要确诊 ASD，这些行为必须在幼儿时期就已明显表现出来，并影响日常生活。正如我们所提到的，这些症状的表现因人而异，因此被称为“谱系”。早期识别这些迹象可以帮助父母或照护者为 ASD 儿童提供适当的支持。

早期诊断：关键的第一步——有哪些早期迹象？

每位 ASD 儿童的情况都是独特的，但有时我们可以在婴幼儿时期发现早期迹象，例如 18 个月或更早。父母应关注孩子的发育里程碑，例如：

12 至 18 个月时仍未开口说话或语言发展迟缓
目光接触较少或完全缺乏
难以进行假装游戏或社交互动
过度专注于特定物品或活动
对感官刺激（如光线、声音或触觉）异常敏感

许多父母可能会有疑问，甚至感到焦虑。这是可以理解的，因为有些儿童可能在成长过程中发展出较典型的社交和沟通技能，而另一些则可能需要更深入的支持。

您需要了解的事项

当父母得知孩子被诊断为 ASD 时，可能会有各种情绪反应。请记住：

✅ 这不是你的错：自闭症是一种神经发育障碍，并非由养育方式造成的。

✅ 感到不知所措是正常的：给自己时间去接受这个事实，并寻求支持。

✅ 你并不孤单：许多家庭也在经历同样的旅程，并且有很多资源可以提供帮助。

如果您发现孩子有类似迹象，请随时联系我们的 Jolene 心理与催眠中心。我们提供全面的自闭症谱系障碍 (ASD) 评估，由 认证自闭症专家 和 持证临床心理学家 进行。精准的评估有助于理解孩子的独特需求。

在评估过程中，我们采用 《吉列姆自闭症评定量表》第三版（GARS-3），这是一种标准化工具，可用于评估 3 至 22 岁个体的自闭症严重程度。

我们相信，应当尊重每个孩子的独特性。如果您对孩子的发育有任何担忧，请联系我们。早期识别至关重要，因为未被诊断的障碍可能会导致自尊心问题、焦虑或抑郁。

请记住，自闭症诊断并不是限制，而是帮助我们更好地理解和支持孩子的机会。我们需要认识到，试图让孩子适应我们的世界并不是最好的方式。相反，我们应该努力走进他们的世界，并学习用他们的方式进行沟通。