Each year, thousands of children receive an autism spectrum diagnosis. In some cases, these children are nearly teens or adults, but children are often diagnosed when they are only a few years old. Unfortunately, there is a significant amount of misinformation and stigma related to this condition, leaving many parents lost and confused when their child gets diagnosed. It’s critical to learn the autism spectrum disorder facts to reduce the spread of misinformation.
At EMIT Therapeutics, we want to help you understand this condition and what it means for your child. If your child has recently received an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis, our center for autism treatment in NJ can help. Contact EMIT Therapeutics today at 844.983.0240 for more information about your child’s treatment options.
What is Autism?
Before we get into the autism spectrum disorder facts, it’s vital to understand what autism is. Autism spectrum disorder, also known as autism or ASD, is a group of neurodevelopment disorders. Individuals with autism often show a series of repetitive and unique behavioral patterns, as well as challenges with social interaction and communication. Autism spectrum disorder symptoms appear during early childhood and affect the child’s ability to function on a daily basis.
Because autism is a spectrum disorder, there is a range of levels of disability, symptoms, and skills that may appear. For instance, some individuals with autism spectrum disorder require a significant amount of support to perform everyday activities. However, other individuals can perform all daily living activities without help.
What Types of Autism Spectrum Disorder Are There?
There are several types of autism spectrum disorders. Asperger’s syndrome, pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), and childhood disintegrative disorder are all part of ASD. When your child receives their diagnosis, their doctor or mental health specialist will assess their intellectual ability and language skills.
Are There Specific Causes of Autism Spectrum Disorders?
Autism spectrum disorders can affect people of every race, socioeconomic class, and gender can get autism. However, boys are more likely to receive an ASD diagnosis than girls. Contrary to some so-called autism spectrum disorder facts, vaccines do not cause this condition.
In fact, most research suggests that genetics tend to be the most likely cause of autism spectrum disorders. If a parent has a child later in life, that child is more likely to have autism. Furthermore, if one child has autism, the chances of having a second child with this condition increase. In addition, if you have identical twins, and one of the twins has an autism spectrum disorder, the likelihood of the second twin having a similar diagnosis increases significantly.
Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders
A range of symptoms can indicate that your child has an autism spectrum disorder. For instance, your child may not point at specific objects to show their interest in them or respond when you point at something. They may also struggle to relate to other people. Many people with autism want to be alone and don’t make eye contact with the people around them. Other symptoms of an autism spectrum disorder include:
- Struggling to talk about or understand feelings
- Not wanting to be held or cuddled
- Not responding to people talking to them
- Being overly sensitive to sight, sounds, textures, or smells
- Refusing to play pretend games
- Repeating words, phrases, or actions in place of regular language
Seek Autism Treatment at EMIT Therapeutics
Having a child with autism doesn’t mean that you love them or that they love you any less. However, it does mean that they will need a certain level of assistance to get through day-to-day challenges. At EMIT Therapeutics, our team members will come to you and work with your child in your home to provide the care and support they need. We offer a range of services, including:
- Applied behavioral analysis
- Telehealth services
- Early intervention program
- Speech therapy
- Occupational therapy
For more information about the autism spectrum disorder facts or about seeking autism treatment in NJ, please contact EMIT Therapeutics today at 844.983.0240.
