Autism Defined
Autism as defined by the Autism Society of America: " Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a "spectrum disorder" that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.” - Autism Society
Autism is one of five disorders that fall under the umbrella of Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD), a category of neurological disorders characterized by “severe and pervasive impairment in several areas of development.”
Incidences on the rise
From recent CDC reports:
-
About 1 in 36 children has been identified with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
-
ASD is nearly 4 times more common among boys than among girls.
-
About 1 in 6 (17%) individuals aged 3–17 years were diagnosed with a developmental disability, as reported by parents, during a study period of 2009-2017. These included autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, blindness, and cerebral palsy, among others.
Recognizing the Early Signs
Outlook
Although science has yet to discover a specific cure for autism, it is comforting to know that its affects and symptoms are treatable. There is little doubt, however, that a long journey awaits the parents of an individual with autism. Early diagnosis and intervention are extremely important and can lead to significantly improved outcomes.
With the right treatment and the love and support of family and practitioners, individuals with autism can grow to live full, healthy and productive lives.
Just as an individual's development is expected to reach certain stages in their height and weight from birth to 5 years, the same individual should also attain certain milestones in the way in their ability to learn, play or speak. Delays in reaching these milestones, can be a sign of a developmental disability or Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The CDC and its partners have created a campaign called the "Learn the Signs. Act Early" to better educate and inform parents about development in areas such as identifying early warning signs, and information on screening, treatment and intervention. Further information can be found here.
Behavior Therapy Clinic (BTC) was established with the goal
of providing individuals and their families an avenue in which to access information, resources, comprehensive education, first class effective treatment, and services for individuals with developmental and learning related difficulties. The overall goal of our center is to increase
the quality of life for all our clients and their families.
BTC 15760 Ventura Blvd., Suite #1060, Encino, CA 91436 ph. 818-788-2388 email info@behaviortherapyclinic.com