PARENTS are being urged to examine their children's responsiveness and
behaviour during the early stages of development in an effort to
identify and treat any disorders, including autism.
The advice, from Professor of Child Health, Child Development and
Behaviour at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Maureen
Samms-Vaughan, comes as Jamaica joins the world in marking World Autism
Awareness Month in April.
The UWI professor, who was addressing a Jamaica Information Service
Think Tank, said that "autism, at present, is the single commonest
developmental disorder affecting children". The disorder, she added,
affects at least one in every 50 children, and is more likely to affect
boys than girls.
Additionally, she said, statistics reveal that an estimated 900 children are diagnosed with autism each year in Jamaica.
Professor Samms-Vaughan said "early identification and early
intervention are absolutely the most important aspect of improving that
child's life."
"We want you to take your child to see the health provider and ensure
that the child is assessed because the earlier the intervention, the
better the outcome is for that child," she added.
Professor Samms-Vaughan, who is chairperson of the Early Childhood
Commission, said that autism is identified when the child reaches
18 months.
"The first sign that parents notice about their children is speech delay
(which) can present in many different ways," she said, noting that the
child may not be able to say the usual words like 'mama' and 'dada',
make small three-word sentences, or speak at the required pace and later
regress. Other symptoms include lack of social interaction with peers
or family members and repetitive behaviour by the child.
She said that although the direct cause of autism is unknown, research
has indicated that the disorder can be spread through genetics.
Environmental factors, such as the presence of lead and mercury, as well
as children born to parents over 35 years, are also risks for autism.
Source: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Parents-urged-to-look-for-early-signs-of-autism_14051899