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The arrival of a new baby is a life experience that matches few others. As a new parent or grandparent, the thrill of a child’s first smile, first step and first word are moments that get captured on cameras and in the hearts and minds of families worldwide. These memories become part of the individual’s history by defining their character from a very early age. You may hear something like, “Little Amy is such a strong baby, crawling already at 6 months old!” These milestones, when achieved successfully, can become the foundation for many future achievements. But what happens when the child doesn’t seem to meet these milestones and you suspect Autism? Some doctors may say it’s just a stage – no need to worry. Grandma may tell you, “Tommy didn’t walk until he was 2 years old and he’s fine now.” While each child is an individual, as a caregiver you have a responsibility to make sure that your child is progressing along and successfully achieving necessary milestones. When it comes to developmental disabilities and autism – early intervention is critical! Most children diagnosed with Autism will show signs before the age of three. According to the Center for Disease Control, children with Autism may display the following signs:· They may not respond to their name by 12 months · They may not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over) by 14 months· They may not play "pretend" games (pretend to "feed" a doll) by 18 months · They may avoid eye contact and want to be alone · They may have trouble understanding other people's feelings or talking about their own feelings · They may have delayed speech and language skills· They may repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)· They may give unrelated answers to questions· They may get upset by minor changes· They may have obsessive interests· They may flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles · They may have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel Developmental delays can be cause for concern but do not let fear prevent you from taking action. Parents have what is called ‘gut instinct’ – the ability to know that something isn’t quite right with your child. The first step is to go with your gut. If you think something isn’t right, chances are it isn’t. Talk to your doctor about your concerns and let them know that the wait-and-see approach is not an option. Request a referral to Early Intervention (EI) or make the referral yourself by calling Cortland County Early Intervention at 756-3439. Your concerns will be heard and EI will facilitate a comprehensive evaluation to determine if your child has a developmental delay. By beginning this process you are opening the door to helping your child achieve their milestones. Do not let the fear of asking for help or the thought of labeling your child prevent you from taking the steps necessary to help your child. To see a video glossary of typically developing children compared to Autistic children go to www.firstsigns.org , click ASD Video Glossary, click Login (it’s free) and view the videos. For more information on early signs of Autism go to www.cdc.gov/actearly .Kimberly McRae Friedman is the Associate Director of Seven Valleys Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse and an advisory member of CACTC. Her son Gabriel is on the autism spectrum and has received Early Intervention services from the Franziska Racker Centers, the Cortland county Health Department and Family Enrichment Network.
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