Today is World Autism Awareness Day and I have to admit that the possibility of my sons had this condition robbed me of sleep many nights when they were still babies. Boys have much higher possibilities of being diagnosed with autism than girls, even though it can happen to anyone, really.
Although in the U.S., each year, more and more kids are being diagnosed with the condition, which involved many different symptoms and problems, it's not yet known what exactly causes autism and one of the few common ways the condition manifests itself is in the affected having difficulties with social interactions.
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Because its causes are unknown and those who are affected by it have such varied symptoms, autism is often and easily ignored or misdiagnosed. Nevertheless, putting your head in the sand like an ostrich and not wanting to know more won't help anyone: Not parents and not children, because the sooner children with autism receive therapy and help, the better.
Following is a list of the most common problems that children with autism display. But don't think that because your child is functional that he is safe. This condition happens in many different levels of intensity. If you suspect that your child suffers from autism, call your pediatrician immediately. Don't delay because of a lack of funds–there are many resources that help parents in need.
Children with autism sometimes:
1. Have language difficulties. Not speaking until they're 16 months or getting to 2 years old without being able to string together sentences.
2. Don't respond to their name.
3. Keep playing alone after 3 years of age.
4. Have difficulty looking into people's eyes when they speak to them.
5. Like to put their things and their toys into neat rows.
6. Don't smile easily.
7. Can't easily create games that require imagination.
__8. Have difficulty changing up routines.
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9. Can't read social cues. They have trouble detecting if people are happy or angry, unless it's obvious.
10. Have trouble handling bad situations and manifest their anger very intensely.
If your child exhibits at least two of these symptoms, make sure he's evaluated for autism. You can make his life much, much easier. If you want more information, check the government's National Institutes of Health's pages on autism for more and great resources.
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