Autism is a neurological development disorder, that impacts normal brain development in areas of social interaction, communication skills, and cognitive function. Individuals with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. Many kids on the spectrum also have some form of ADHD, OCD, speech delays, and/or sensory processing disorder.

All children are unique and have different developmental patterns, cultural backgrounds, and behaviors. These are factors that can make diagnosing autism a sensitive subject. The concerns you may have about your child's development can be a stressful process if you don’t have all the facts. The best course of action is to have all the correct information and not jump to conclusions. Autism presents at all different stages in life. Some parents can get a diagnosis for their child as young as 18 months. While other signs don’t fully present until pre-K into elementary school. The amount of adults recently being diagnosed with Autism is increasing yearly. Early intervention is the best possible course of treatment to build independence and social confidence later in life. While the majority of children typically present more with textbook signs, some can present a lot differently than the most common information. This is why it is always a good idea to make sure you are checking all possibilities for concern about your children. Seek out professional evaluations and get an early intervention started.

• Avoids eye contact

• Drastic Fluctuation in behaviors due to changes in settings/environments

• Repetitive Behaviors

• Difficulty Calming Down

• Hyper/ hypoactivity

• Lining up or organizing toys

• Frequent problem behaviors particularly in the school setting

According to the Autism Society, 1 percent of the world’s population has autism spectrum disorder. 1 in 59 births in the United States receives a diagnosis. More than 3.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder.

Use this diagnosis as a starting point to provide your child with the care and assistance they need to succeed in life as you would as the great parent you are. Advocate for your child's needs in school and seek other options outside of the school system that can meet your child's needs such as evidence-based medically recognized intervention ABA therapy. Clinicians utilize data to monitor progress and modify clients’ individualized programming.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy is a scientifically researched based approach to improve and teach socially significant behaviors. Through the understanding of behaviors and the analysis of behaviors, we can teach social and daily-living functional skills to increase clients’ ability to communicate effectively, self-regulate, cope, and problem-solve. With an increase in functional skills, we can decrease maladaptive behaviors such as self-injurious behaviors, physical aggression, and tantrum behaviors. ABA therapy uses reinforcement and core principles to motivate clients to attend and lead.