Public Service Announcement RE: Autism Spectrum Disorders
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Approximatley 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and is four times more common in boys than girls. Children as young as two years old can be diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum. A tool that is commonly used to assist health care professionals and educators to assess a child for the possible presence of autism is called the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) (Autism Speaks, 2012). A recent study completed by Matson, Kozlowski, Fitzgerald, and Sipes (2013) found that children often were not identified by the M-CHAT as being on the autism spectrum (false negative result) when in fact, they were later identified as having an autism spectrum disorder. The M-CHAT also identified some children as having an autism spectrum disorder when they had another developmental disability but did not have autism.
Children with an autism spectrum disorder require early intervention to maximize their speech, language, cognitive, social, and academic potential. If a child with an autism spectrum disorder is not diagnosed as early as possible, treatment is also delayed. Because the M-CHAT is commonly used to assess children for possible autism spectrum disorders, it is significant that the tool is not as sensitive to identifying autism spectrum disorders as it was initially thought to be.
There is not any medical test such as an xray or blood test that can be used to diagnose autism spectrum disorders. Parents are typically the first ones to express concern about their child's behavior. Parents must also advocate for an accurate diagnosis so that their child can receive the most appropriate treatment. Parents are encouraged to seek more than one opinion when searching for an accurate diagnosis and treatment for their child.
Autism Speaks. (2012). What is autism? Retrieved from www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism
Matson, J.L., Kozlowski, A.M., Fitzgerald, M.E., & Sipes, M. (2013). True versus false positives and negatives on the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7, 17-22. Retrieved from www.ezproxy.twu.edu:2055/science/article/pii/S1750946712000700
Hello Kimberly,
ReplyDeleteGreat service announcement! Unfortunately, there is a lack of awareness about Autism. I have a friend who has twins with Autism and it has been a daily fight getting people to understand what Autism is and the needs of her children. Her children were not diagnosed with Autism until the age of five. She had to change pediatricians twice before finally finding a doctor who would listen and help her. Autism is a foreign area to many people; with Autism affecting 1 in 88 children there is a great need to bring awareness to the public National Autism Association, 2012).
Hopefully through campaigns and movements, such as World Autism Awareness Day, Autism Speaks, National Autism Association, and the Special Olympics we can educate parents, pediatricians, family members and friend about Autism and make a difference through awareness.
Tracy
References
Autism Speaks. (2012). Autism speaks it’s time to listen. Retrieved from http://www.autismspeaks.org/
National Autism Association. (2012). About. Retrieved from http://nationalautismassociation.org/
Special Olympics. (2012.) Who we are. Retrieved from http://www.specialolympics.org/
World Autism Awareness Day. (2012). What is Autism? Retrieved from http://www.autismspeaks.org/ what-autism/waad
Hi Kim,
ReplyDeleteGreat article and PSA! This demonstrates the important of evaluation. We need to continue to evaluate our tools to determine just how reliable they really are. Ongoing evaluation sheds light on areas that need improvement and helps us continue to better our diagnostic, intervention, and treatment methods.
I'm glad you're bringing attention to this issue. Autism really is misunderstood and it can be so complicated as no two children(cases) are the same. There is a lot of variation along that spectrum and every child's abilities and needs will be different.
The amount of funding autism receives gives us insight into just how much it is misunderstood and probably ignored.
Prevalence vs. Private Funding
Leukemia: Affects 1 in 1,200 / Funding: $277 million
Muscular Dystrophy: Affects 1 in 100,000 / Funding: $162 million
Pediatric AIDS: Affects 1 in 300 / Funding: $394 million
Juvenile Diabetes: Affects 1 in 500 / Funding: $156 million
Autism: Affects 1 in 88 / Funding: $79 million
References
Autism Speaks. (2012). Facts about autism. Retrieved from http://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism/facts-about-autism
Office on Women's Health (2012). Autism. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/PageManager.jsp?dn=girlshealth&lic=175&cat_id=142&article_set=22573
I don't know much about Autism except what I have seen on TV or read about. Your post has helped me understand a little more about the condition. AutismSpeaks sites that early intervention is very important and as Kimberly said about her friend it took diligence to find a doctor who would consider this condition for her children. Speech and other areas of communication development must be addressed as soon as possible to allow the child to live a more normal life.
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