The Facts
Autism a disorder that effects nearly 6 out of every 1,000 children with boys 4 times more likely than girls to be effected. It appears in the first three years of life and affects the brain’s social and communicative development. There is still much unknown about autism, but genetics seem to play a big role. There are many things over the years that have been rumored to contribute to Autism. They include:
- Vaccines: again there is no proven correlation, but if you are worried about your child, all routine childhood vaccines are available in single-dose, mercury free formulas
- Diet: gluten free or other allergies are sometimes thought to relate. Sometimes people have also thought inability of the body to properly use vitamins and minerals or digestive tract changes
A Video
Here’s a video on how Autism works from someone effected…
Signs of Autism
If you are worried about autism and your child, here are some signs to look for:
- Babbling by age one
- Pretend Play around 2-3 years old
- Single words by 16 months and two-word phrases by 24 months
- Poor Eye Contact
- Responsiveness to name
- Any regression in development
If you have any concerns, talk to your doctor and find a developmental pediatrician.
