If you or someone you know has a child that has been diagnosed with AUTISM, you are not alone!!! Just TODAY 50 families will find out their child is autistic. One out of every 250 babies born today will have some form of autism.That equals 1.5 million Americans that have autism.

Boys are 4 times more likely to be affected than girls.Autism is more common than childhood cancer,cystic fibrosis and multiple sclerosis COMBINED! Autism is a brain disorder that affects the ability to communicate,reason and interact with others.It is a spectrum disorder and affects individual people differently.It is often found in combination with other disabilities.You may hear different words used to refer to autism ,such as:Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Autistic, Asperger's Disorder and PDD-NOS sometimes included are Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett's Disorder.

Autism's cause is UNKNOWN but there are strong implications of genetic and/or external, environmental factors.AUTISM IS NOT CAUSED BY BAD PARENTING.CHILDREN WITH AUTISM ARE NOT JUST MISBEHAVING.

There is NO CURE for AUTISM. Evidence shows that early intervention results in a positive outcome. Highly structured, specialized education programs- sometimes one-to-one , are often needed. Other treatments can include occupational, speech or sensory therapy; medications; vitamins or special diets.

DIAGNOSING AUTISM .......

If you have any doubts please see a QUALIFIED Developmental Pediatrican (family practitioners are not always trained to look for the more subtle signs some kids may display,especially High Functioning Autistic or children with Asperger's Syndrome). Make a list of any behaviors that are worrying you.Things to watch for are: NO babbling by 12 months: NO pointing at objects by 12 months: NO single words by 16 months: LOSS of words at any time: NO 2 word phrases by 24 months: ALSO watch for odd play (spinning objects,lining up items): Little or NO eye contact: Doesn't like being held: Laughs, cries,screams for no reason: Doesn't acknowledge when others enter a room: REPETITIVE MOVEMENTS (rocks body,hand flapping,jumping): Doesn't express needs (tired,hungry): May act as if deaf at times: Meaningless repeating of words or phrases (echolalia): Inflexible routines: Inappropriate attachment to objects: Either over or under physically active: Either over or under sensitive to pain,light,sound,touch,taste:May throw temper tantrums and bang own head on floor or hit self repeatedly: MAY eat non-food items (dirt,plaster,paper): May be extremely destructive (books,papers,crayons): May have unusual fear of almost anything (stairs,falling,swings,masks,birds,bugs,water): MAY RUN AWAY ( either when walking outside may suddenly run OR will leave the house and wander away at all times of day and night): May have NO SENSE of DANGER (run into traffic,jump in pools,eat glass,etc.)

For any added information PLEASE see www.autism-society.org which is the web page for the AUTISM SOCIETY of AMERICA, where most of this information came directly from. Please also contact your pediatrican immediately if you have any concerns about a child's development.Early intervention works best when begun before a child is 3!

For a friendly listening ear,feel free to e-mail anytime :) Kim (mom to 9 yr old Matthew -dx'd autistic at age 2). For inspirational gifts about autism, please see my dear friend's store @ www.cafepress.com/awetism :)