Breaking News
Autism Mini-Grant Program
The Bureau of Autism Services in the PA Dept. of Public Welfare has is currently offering mini-grants for individuals on the autism spectrum and their families. The deadline for applying for a grant is April 18, 2008. For more information and a grant application, please click here Autism Mini-Grant Program.
American Academy of Pediatrics Recommend Universal Screenings for Autism
At its annual meeting in San Francisco on Monday, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended universal screenings for all children at age 18 and 24 months. Parents or professionals who may have questions or concerns about the signs and symptoms of autism are encouraged to click here to forward their questions to us. Also, we recommend that you click to autismspeaks.org for additional information, including video clips contrasting the behavior of typically developing children and children with autism. The Barber National Institute strongly supports the Academy's recommended treatment that includes at least 25 hours a week of intensive behavior-based therapy, including educational activities and speech therapy.
For the full reports issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, visit AAP.org
How to Identify if Your Child Should be Evaluated
Autism is a spectrum disorder, with symptoms that can range from mild to severe. While every situation must be considered on an individual basis, the American Academy of Pediatrics lists the following "red flags" that it considers to be absolute indications for immediate evaluation:
- No babbling or pointing or other gestures by 12 months
- No single words by 16 months
- No two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months
- Loss of language or social skills at any age
In addition, the American Academy of Pediatrics lists the following "pre-speech deficits" that may warrant further evaluation:
- Lack of appropriate gaze
- Lack of warm, joyful expressions with gaze
- Lack of the alternating to-and-fro pattern of vocalization between infant and parent that usually occurs at approximately 6 months of age (infants with autism spectrum disorders usually continue vocalizing without regard for the parent's speech)
- Lack of recognition of mother (or father's or consistent caregiver's) voice
- Disregard for vocalizations (i.e. lack of response to name), yet keen awareness for environmental sounds
- Delayed onset of babbling past 9 months of age
- Decreased or absent use of prespeech gestures (waving, pointing, showing)
- Lack of expressions such as "oh oh" or "huh"
- Lack of interest or response of any kind to neutral statements (eg. "Oh no, it's raining again")
The American Academy of Pediatrics also offers a checklist for parents that is available to download.
Don't face autism alone. Rely on the experts.
Autism is a neurological disorder that typically appears prior to three years of age. It occurs in as many as 1 in 150 children and is about four times more common in boys than in girls.
There are no medical tests for Autism. Children with Autistic Disorder are found in all cultures and socioeconomic levels.
Autism is a spectrum disorder. The symptoms and characteristics are present in different combinations and with different levels of severity. Autism is one of five Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD). The disorders in the Autism spectrum are: Autistic Disorder, Asperger's Disorder, Rett's Disorder, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).
The symptoms of Autism involve three major areas of development and impact a child's 
abilities to:
- Engage in reciprocal social interactions with others
- Communicate with others in developmentally appropriate ways
- Participate in a range of activities and interests typical for the child's 'age and stage of development
The causes of Autism are not yet known and there is no known cure. Early identification and intervention are keys to optimizing the development of each child. Click here to visit our FAQ's section.
