For Your Health: Autism

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Autism, a developmental disability which affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others, is diagnosed in one out of every 150 American children.

Mikey White is one of those children.

At three and a half years of age, Mikey has has come a long way since he was first diagnosed.

“Our pediatrician noticed when he was about two years old…because he wasn’t responding to his name,” said Mikey’s mother, Michele White.

Some of the other more common warning signs include a delay in or lack of language, a repetitive use of language or movement, little or no eye contact, a lack of interest in peer relationships, a lack of spontaneous or make-believe play, and a fixation on parts of objects.

Occupational therapy is one of the services he receives at Jefferson Rehabilitation Center where he’s one of eight autistic children who attend the integrated pre-school program.

No two children with autism are alike and neither is their treatment.

“Maybe the most common situation for our children is that they all get speech and language therapy. Part of the reason for that is because among children with autism delays in language development are almost always identified,” said Neil Metevia, JRC Administrator.

While there’s no cure for autism, for any treatment to be successful early diagnosis is important.

According to the Autism Society of America, 1.5 million Americans are living with the effects of autism.

See Cindy Habeeb’s report:

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