Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 4-15-22

Health
It’s Autism Awareness Month, which means it’s a good time to take a look at some of the common mis- conceptions out there about autism spectrum disorder. This informa- tion will not only increase your knowledge of the dis- order but will also be ben- eficial when you’re interacting with those who are autistic.
Autism Refers
To a Spectrum
Initially, autism was thought to be the name for an all-encompassing disorder.
However, years of research have shown that it’s more of a spectrum. There is a wide range of conditions that can have mild to severe symptoms. Generally, an autism spectrum disorder includes having diffi- culty with communication, speech, social skills, and repet- itive behavior.
There Are More People With It Than You Know
According to recent data, the number of people who have been diagnosed with autism has increased over time. It’s es- timated that this growing num- ber is likely being caused by
increased awareness of the symptoms of the disorder.
The Symptoms Are Apparent In The Early Years
It’s possible to diagnose a child with autism before the age of 4. In fact, the disorder has been identified in children as young as 18 months. The di- agnosis is possible because tell- tale signs of autism include developmental delays such as smiling or babbling.
It’s More Likely To Be Diagnosed In Boys
While it’s been estimated that 1 in 68 people have autism spectrum disorder, the data suggests that it’s 4 or 5 times
more likely to be diagnosed in boys. It’s uncertain why this discrepancy occurs.
Girls May Be Misdiagnosed or Underdiagnosed
As a follow-up to the previ- ous point, recent data shows that only 1 in 151 girls are being diagnosed with autism. To ex- plain the discrepancy, health experts suggest that the symp- toms may manifest a little dif- ferently in girls so it’s not as easy to identify.
There is also evidence that minorities tend to go under- diagnosed as well.
Verbal Skills Can Develop Over Time
Having issues with com- munication is one of the well- known characteristics of autism. However, just because someone starts out as being nonverbal, it doesn’t mean that they will stay that way. With the right programs, many peo- ple can learn to be functional and even fluent.
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