Early Signs of ASD Can Include
- No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months
- No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or facial expressions by nine months
- No babbling or response to name by 12 months
- No back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, reaching or waving by 12 months
- No words by 16 months
- No meaningful, two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating) by 24 months
- Any loss of speech.
Diagnosis
Fortunately, nowadays, we are able to diagnose ASD at increasingly younger ages; the current agreement is that most children with ASD can be diagnosed by 24 months.
If you suspect that your child has an autism spectrum disorder, or your child’s pediatrician or teacher has raised concerns, our team at the ASD diagnosis and counseling unit at Abdali Hospital is here to help.
Our multidisciplinary team includes pediatricians and neurologists who are specialized in the early detection of ASD as well as experts who are trained on the gold standard tools to diagnose ASD.
Our services at the ASD diagnosis and counseling unit include:
- A comprehensive diagnostic clinic, ASD Diagnostic Testing at our clinic involves:
- A clinical perspective from a pediatric and/or neurologist with expertise in ASD.
- A structured, “gold standard,” empirically validated measures of ASD, specifically the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) and the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R). These measures include a direct observation of a child’s emerging cognitive, language, and social skills in a play-based format and a comprehensive interview with the parents.
- A written ASD diagnostic testing report will be reviewed and discussed in a diagnostic feedback meeting with caregivers.
- Family Counselling and support services
- Consultation with families following an ASD diagnosis to discuss options and plan care paths
- Assistance in accessing the therapies that offer the best outcomes
- Providing the training “More than words- The Hanen Program” for parents of young children with ASD to improve their social communication, imitation, and play skills by providing.
Interventions
There is no cure for autism, but early treatment that targets the core behaviors of ASD can make a big difference in development for a child with ASD. Many individuals with ASD have additional medical conditions such as sleep disturbance, seizures and gastrointestinal (GI) distress. Addressing these conditions can improve attention, learning and related behaviors.
Every child or adult with autism has unique strengths and challenges, so what works for one child might not work for another. Each autism intervention or treatment plan should be tailored to address the person's specific needs. A treatment plan can include behavioral interventions, speech therapy, occupational therapy, medicines or a combination of these.
It is important that you talk to the specialists about the needs of your child and the interventions that can address those needs.
