Children in the grip of autism

Four times more common in males than females, according to the Cure Autism Now Foundation, autism affects people from all socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. It involves a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild to severe, but all have three areas in common: communication problems, impaired social relationships, and unusual patterns of behavior.

“Most children come into the world set up to be experts on people,” says Volkmar. “But children with autism don’t have this. They’re set up to be experts on things, their inanimate environment.” Research shows they tend not to look at faces as much and have difficulty reading body language. They can also develop unusual behaviors, such as repeatedly twitching their fingers, rocking, spinning, or rolling their eyes.

Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders typically takes place around age 3 or 4 when a child has not begun speaking, although many children, such as patients with Asperger Syndrome, do develop language skills. In some instances, a child appeared to be making normal progress in most areas of development, but then began to regress. In other cases, parents were worried about their children long before the diagnosis, but were mistakenly reassured by their pediatricians that there was nothing to be concerned about.

If a parent suspects autism or other developmental delays, it’s important for them to push their doctor for an evaluation with a trained specialist, says the MIND Institute’s Ozonoff. “The fact is most parents are not going to bring this up unless there is a problem. Parents never want their child to have autism, so the only person who would pursue this is someone who’s really concerned.”

And for most parents, the initial diagnosis is devastating. “My first thought was that they’re wrong,” said Sara DiFucci of Albany, N.Y., whose 6-year-old daughter Amanda has mild autism. “The only autism I knew was from the movie 'Rain Man,' and my child was certainly not like that.”

MORE FROM HEALTH

Health Section Front

It's down to the final four on 'Biggest Loser' Being thankful ... you’re not like mom and dad Woman meets the stranger who saved her life 6 tips for overcoming holiday diet fears   One girl’s wish for an organ transplant   Supporting St. Jude’s Children Hospital   Getting out of a workout rut Holiday gatherings could spread swine flu   Women bare all for prostate cancer Gasp! Babies’ fat rolls being airbrushed away? Health Section Front   Add Health headlines to your news reader: