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New Screenings for Autism
Week of February 11 - Now infants as young as three-months-old will be screened for autism. The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued new recommendations aimed to catch the disorder early. Dr. David Winter tells us more in tonight’s HealthSource report.
DR. WINTER
Donovan’s is just seven… but he’s been learning how to thrive as an autistic child now for almost five years.
DONALD TURNER
Donovan’s Dad
”It made a big difference doing it early… otherwise he’d basically be on his own figuring out how to do things.”
DR. WINTER
Many times autism—which today is diagnosed in as many as one-in-150 children—is not caught until kids are school-aged. But now a new recommendation by the American Academy of Pediatrics is aimed to change that.
NICOLE BRIN
Outpatient Therapy Manager
Our Children’s House at Baylor
“Some of the things they’ve told pediatricians to look for are things like ‘are they pointing or gesturing to things that they want? Are they making eye contact with their familiar caregivers?’”
DR. WINTER
Now—pediatricians following the new guidelines are screening children for autism at least twice before the age of two. At regular check-ups they’re paying close attention to whether or not the child has hit a checklist of key developmental milestones.
NICOLE BRIN
“The main hallmark is that it’s a communication disorder overall and so they’re looking at ‘are they engaged in the environment that they’re in, do they notice things in their environment?’”
DR. WINTER
The hope is that more autistic children will benefit from early intervention… like Donovan.
NICOLE BRIN
“So the families are going to be more equipped to deal with the kids, and the children are going to more able and equipped to be successful in school.”
DONALD TURNER
“They may or may not ever overcome it fully, but at least you give them a chance to.”
DR. WINTER
Again, these screenings are going to be done at routine well visits starting at three months old. Pediatricians will have a checklist like this one. It lists milestones such as – babbling, which a 9-month old should do regularly. There is also a possibility that your pediatrician may have you fill out a questionnaire to help them determine if your child has met key developmental milestones at the appropriate time.