Autism

What is autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder affecting 1 in every 150 people. It affects children and adults. Children and adults with autism can show a mixture of behaviors. Two people with the same diagnosis can act very differently from one another.

What are the symptoms of autism?

• Delayed speech or not able to speak
• Avoiding contact with others, such as not touching or hugging you, or not looking at you when you are talking to him or her
• Playing with things in an odd way - like constantly stacking toys or lining them up in a very certain way
• Strong reactions or dislikes to certain colors, textures, or types of food

These behaviors are not always seen by a doctor during a 15-30 minute appointment. Make sure you tell your doctor any symptoms you may be seeing. Early diagnosis is the best treatment for this disorder.

How do I get help?

If your child or family member has unusual behaviors that worry you, here are ways you can get help:

• Talk to your child's doctor.
• Ask for tests to make sure it is not another problem, such as a hearing problem.
• Call your County Mental Health Agency.
• Call your local Intermediate Unit (IU) - to find your local IU go to http://edna.ed.state.pa.us.
• Call the Pennsylvania Early Intervention Hotline (help for children birth to 3 years) CONNECT at 1-800-692-7288.
• Call the Autism Society of America at 1-800-3Autism.
• Log onto these Web sites:
  • http://www.autismspeaks.org/
  • http://www.autism-society.org/
  • http://www.asaphilly.org/
  • http://www.thecenterforautism.org/