Data published by the CDC indicates that the number of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in parts of the U.S. grew from 4 per 1,000 in 2004 to 8 per 1,000 in 2006. Health officials attribute this growth to an increased prevalence of these disorders as well as improvements in diagnosis.
While the exact cause of autism remains unknown, early diagnosis and treatment are critical in helping autistic children reach their full potential. This is because the human brain undergoes rapid growth and change during the first few years of life. Intervention during this phase of brain development can greatly influence cognitive and intellectual abilities.
How the human brain develops
According to Psychology Professor Ross A. Thompson, neurons in the brain form connections called “synapses,” which help communicate and store information. In childhood, these synapses form at a rate exponentially greater than during adulthood. As the young brain continues to develop, unused connections are eliminated while those that continue to be stimulated are maintained.
Influencing brain development
Although autism cannot be cured, Dr. Robin Hansen of the U.C. Davis M.I.N.D. Institute notes that “exposure to an appropriate enriched environment can change both the structure and function of brain connections.” A number of studies have confirmed that autistic children diagnosed and treated before age 4 were much more likely to successfully integrate into a regular classroom environment than those who were diagnosed later. Current efforts in ASD treatment seek to diagnose children as early as 18 months.
In addition to improving the capabilities of autistic individuals, early intervention has economic and societal benefits. Dr. Hansen estimates that every dollar spent on early intervention programs will save $13 in ongoing costs.
Difficulty in detecting ASD
While the benefits of early intervention are well documented, detecting the disorder can be difficult due to the non-specific nature of symptoms and different rates of cognitive development even among children who don’t have the disorder. To help parents benchmark their child's progress, the CDC has published guidelines outlining developmental milestones typically observed in early childhood.
Developmental milestones
The following milestones will be observed in a typical child:
- 2 months – smiling, paying attention to faces, following moving objects with eyes, responding to loud noises, and making cooing sounds.
- 4 months – smiling spontaneously at people, enjoying play, perhaps crying when play stops, copying facial expressions, crying in different ways to express different emotions, beginning to babble, responding to affection, improved hand-eye coordination, and recognizing familiar people.
- 6 months - differentiating between familiar faces and strangers, responding to other people’s emotions, looking at self in mirror, responding to own name, beginning to make consonant sounds, bringing things to mouth, exhibiting curiosity about things that are out of reach.
- 9 months – possible fear of strangers, having favorite toys, understanding the word “no,” making different sounds that combine consonants and vowels, pointing at things with finger, playing peek-a-boo, improved dexterity.
- 12 months – shyness with strangers, crying when parents leave, having preferences, handing parent a book if he or she wants to hear a story, extending arm or leg to help with dressing, responding to simple spoken requests, making utterances that sound more like speech, trying to repeat spoken words, shaking, banging or throwing objects to learn about them, beginning to use utensils correctly, and able to put things into or take them out of a container.
- 18 months – playing “pretend,” exploring surroundings, showing affection, having temper tantrums, pointing to objects of interest, speaking words, understanding how ordinary objects like utensils are used, scribbling, and following verbal commands.
Individuals develop at different rates
Different children will progress at different rates. Just because a child has not developed one of the traits by a certain age does not necessarily mean he or she has autism or any other learning disorder. However, if a pattern of consistently missing milestones begins to develop, parents should have the child evaluated by a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
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