Autism: Early Detection and Treatment is Crucial

Worrying about the well-being of their children is nothing new for mothers. Many sleepless nights are not uncommon with a new mother who may lay awake in bed for hours listening for the cry of a child or wondering if her child is developing the way he/she should be. This is not a revelation to doctors, in fact they see if every day; mothers come in and ask questions like, “Should my child be doing (fill in the blank) yet? Do you think my child is advanced, delayed or right on target in terms of development? Should I be concerned because my child isn’t doing (fill in the blank) yet?” Often these questions are brushed off by doctors with a “let’s wait and see” attitude. Dr. Pauline Filipek, a child neurologist at the University of California-Irvine, is trying to change this response so often given by doctors. According to Filipek, "I hear this from parents all the time, that the pediatrician said, 'Don't worry,' or 'You're imagining things' or 'let’s wait.’ When I give lectures to pediatricians, I tell them, 'Get these phrases out of your lexicon. Get them out of your vocabulary.'" Filipek made this statement in regards to the often overlooked and missed diagnosis of autism. Doctors today are in too much of a hurry to rush through patient visits and too quick to write off the concerns of their patients. The relationship between patient and doctor has been reduced to a five minute exchange, of which the doctor is probably thinking of a handful of different things, none of which focus on the patient. While this is not always the case, it too often is and that is why parental vigilance is essential to ensure sufficient time is taken to properly diagnose their children.

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, “Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests.” On average, autism is diagnosed by the time the child is three years old. However, recent studies have shown that the earlier a child is diagnosed with autism, the sooner treatment can begin and the better odds the child has at overcoming this developmental disorder. One such study, published and released by the American Academy of Pediatrics in October 2007, sited two clinical reports that, “will help pediatricians recognize autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) earlier and guide families to effective interventions, which will ultimately improve the lives of children with ASDs and their families.” The most common form of treatment focuses on behavioral and environmental interventions, in which “therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills. Family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with autism often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with an autistic child.” Family counseling is very important.

The first years of a newborn’s life are crucial in terms of being able to relate to and engage with their parents and family, so now imagine a new mother struggling to connect with her new baby, who refuses to be held or even make eye contact with her. The difficulty in bonding during this time can have long-term negative effects for both mother and child. In an article posted on CNN.com and written by Elizabeth Cohen, a correspondent with CNN Medical News, Briana Vartanian spoke of her experience encountering these problems with her daughter Lola. According to Briana, “Lola never looked at me--she looked through me. She had no idea who Mommy was. And other kids love it when someone comes up to them and smiles. She'd freak out if someone approached her--even if it was me or my husband." Briana knew her daughter was different and, more importantly, she knew something was wrong. But when she approached her doctor about this she, like countless others before and after her, was brushed off and placated with a “Let’s wait and see.” Briana was not satisfied and sought out a second opinion, this time from a pediatric neurologist. Lola, now fourteen months old, was immediately diagnosed with autism and began treatment right away.

The case of Lola is just one of many children whose condition goes unnoticed and undiagnosed for too long before someone realizes that this is not a “Let’s wait and see” situation. Early intervention is vital to the successful treatment of children with autism. This is the premise behind the new push to have all babies screened for autism not once, but twice before the age of two. The American Academy of Pediatrics is pioneering this shift in realizing how crucial early intervention is, especially when dealing with developmental disorders, such as autism. The earlier the better is the way autism and the treatment of it works. The Autism Society of America clearly supports this notion as it states on its website, “Research indicates that early diagnosis is associated with dramatically better outcomes for individuals with autism. The earlier a child is diagnosed, the earlier the child can begin benefiting from one of the many specialized intervention approaches treatment and education.” There is absolutely no evidence to support the idea that waiting to diagnose a child with autism has any benefits. Although, it must be mentioned that many parents may not want to deal with the reality of having a child with autism and so may be decline having their child tested. However, this mentality is not in the best interest and welfare of the child.

According to an article written by Lindsey Tanner and posted on the Associated Press website just yesterday, “Experts say one in 150 U.S. children have the troubling developmental disorder [autism].” Parents are more aware of the signs that may indicate their child is autistic and this awareness is the first step toward helping their child. However, the key element here is still early intervention. If a child has any signs that may point to autism, get them screened today. The earlier a diagnosis is made, the sooner a treatment plan can be implemented, and this will give the child the best odds possible of overcoming this developmental disorder. Children who have been diagnosed with autism and their families deserve the best possible chances and those come with the earliest detection and action possible. This is something parents do not want to “wait and see” on; every day counts so have parents need to have their children screened today.