Can Autism Be Prevented? Research Suggests Parents Can Play a Pivotal Role
Recent autism research is beginning to open the door to autism prevention.
A typical child shows pretty predictable behavior. If there are cookies in a glass container, the toddler is likely to reach out to grab the jar recognizing the cookies inside. If he or she is unable to get the wonderful treat, he will look longingly at his mom for help. This pleading for help, using his eyes, perhaps hand gestures and sounds is clearly recognized by adults as a desire for the cookies trapped inside the jar.
Yet autism research shows us that some toddlers lack this ability to clearly indicate that they want a cookie. At Vanderbilt University, a little boy, working with Wendy Stone, a psychologist, wants a cookie. He places her hand on the glass jar…but does little else…no sounds, no eye contact, nothing extra to indicate he wants the cookie. In this autism research case study, when this does not work, the poor lad gives up dejectedly.
Typical Toddlers React to Emotions
Turn on a TV show or movie and watch the reaction of the typical 18-month old child. They will react to scenes of strong emotion…violence or a kiss. Yet this same autism research shows that some toddlers, especially those with autism, are often transfixed on other scenes in the movie.
Researchers at Yale Child Study Center focus their autism research on toddler's eye movements…especially when a child stops blinking, often an indication that the child is focused on the scene. A typical toddler will focus on a kiss, while a toddler with autism may focus his gaze on a door opening.
Autism Research Focuses on Finding Early Signs of Autism
There is a lot of on-going autism research and especially on very young children. This and other autism research, such as that being done in Columbia University's Teachers College, focus on finding early signs of autism.
Psychologist Wendy Stone at Vanderbilt University's Treatment and Research institute for Autism Spectrum Disorders says, "the average age of first concern is 17 months, though a diagnosis isn't typically made until age 3. That's a long time to be concerned and not know what to do."
Doctors are Screening for Autism Earlier than Ever
Due to the results of resent autism research, doctors are frequently screening toddlers for autism early, often at 18 months. There is one problem in that there are no set standards that can provide a dependable diagnosis at 18 months. Because autism is a spectrum disorder, there is a great deal of variability from one child to another.
The director of the University of Michigan Autism & Communication Disorders Center, Catherine Lord, recognizes the challenges of individual differences between children as well as the fact that many of the indicators of autism… repetitive movements, delayed speech, fixation on a toy or object…require motor skills and/or speech skills that many toddlers at this age have not developed yet. Because of this, many therapists conducting autism research will look for the lack of classic behaviors rather than the prevalence of autism indicators.
Autism research shows that the following strongly suggest the possibility of autism at 12 months:
- lack of pointing or gestures that would be appropriate for a toddler
- not responding to his or her name
- indifferent or non-existent eye contact
- not showing happy or joyful facial expressions
- lack of babbling
- focusing for a long period at stationary objects
Autism Researchers often study home videos that were taken early in the life of children later identified with autism. These patters have been uncovered by studying these videos. While no child will exhibit all of these symptoms, the presence of several should provide enough concern to bring your baby to see a specialist. Most autism research indicates that it is difficult to diagnose autism with certainty before age three. Yet if your child exhibits many of these autism signals, it is wise to begin a program of early-intervention.
Autism research has shown that the earlier a child begins with an intervention program, the better the life-long success will be. The earlier we can identify at-risk children the better.
Early Intervention May Lessen the Degree of Autism
Many researchers now feel that if a child can get help at a very early age they may never develop autism symptoms as severe as those who were not helped at such an early age.
Autism research conducted by Geraldine Dawson points to brain development as one reason this may be true.
"The environment in the early years has an active role in shaping the brain," says Dawson. "What we see in autism may be partly the result of not engaging with the social environment. So if you engage the baby through an intervention, you might prevent or at least reduce the development of autism symptoms."
The theory goes that if a child is not interacting with his or her parents in a typical fashion…responding to voices, babbling, smiling when appropriate, responding to touch, wanting attention, using hand gestures to communicate needs…then the child is not acquiring critical learning that helps the brain develop. If the child never gets to first base, how will they make it to second base or home plate? Autism research suggests that without developing these simple, foundational communication skills, the child will be stunted in developing more complex and intricate communication and social skills at a later age.
Ami Klin, a researcher at the Yale Child Study Center, points out that most children naturally develop social cues and skills, while children with autism are more likely to focus on physical objects such as toys, the movement of doors or a shadow on a wall.
Parents Can Help in Early Child Intervention
Autism research conducted at the University of Washington sponsored by the National Institute of Health begins at-risk intervention as early as 8-months. According to Geraldine Dawson,
"What we are doing is teaching the parents how to structure interactions to promote eye contact and babbling."
In this study parents are given instruction on how to help their toddlers focus on language and facial expressions. Specially designed quiet environments are used to minimize distractions. The parents are shown techniques to calm and pacify toddlers who are easily distracted or where social activities upset them. The researchers stress making the learning fun and playful.
Says Dawson, "Parents get very confident and are able to learn this quickly."
One goal of the autism research is to develop in parents the skills needed to help children develop these needed social and communication skills early enough that the full onset of autism is prevented.
To learn more about how parents can help their children with autism, see The Autism Survival Guide. There parents can benefits from the advice and wisdom of other parents who have contributed to the development of this helpful guide.
Have an opinion? PLEASE SHARE YOU COMMENTS!
I enjoy and appreciate the information, anything to help my son and my own understanding of what life is like for Nicholas. It also helps me educate my son's teacher and EA which this process is ongoing and at times very frustrating.
My name is Matt Turner from Australia. I have a 6 y.o. with autism (fairly mild). I found your work insightful and helpful - my wife is a doctor and spent many hours wading through medical texts to no avail. Our son Finley Turner is a very bright, friendly, healthy, unconditionally loved boy who can lose it sometimes. The guide helped us understand what to do and it helps him as much as us. Thanks for the work and I have recommended you to other parents in similar situations.
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10. February 2012 at 1:56 am
i agree that parents know their children and know when something is wrong. i took my son to the dr when he was just over 1 as he wasnt babbling, the dr said i was a first time parent and was sent on my way. my son has mixed receptive expressive speech and language disorder and special needs, he is now being assesed for autism and he is 9 years old. alot of the time the parents do go to the drs but the drs dont always listen. this also needs to be looked at as the system has let my son down and in my experience alot of other people down aswell.
23. August 2011 at 11:32 am
I have been saying for years that the correct intervention in infancy can lessen the effects of an autism diagnosis. With the potential for altering brain activity through a program of infant massage and specialized exercise along with activities designed to promote social interaction with a primary care-giver and other infants, progress would be unavoidable. I am certified in infant massage and stimulation and have worked in social intervention with children for many years. I could start this program. Since siblings are at risk, this may be a possible starting point. I am in Pittsburgh, PA is anyone interested in a funded pilot program at their facility?
Totlots@aol.com
21. August 2011 at 11:13 am
This article is very useful. Pl. tell about what parents should do to minimize Autistic behaviour in grown up chidren who could not get early intervention due to some reason.
Thanks.
SK Sharma.
21. August 2011 at 1:52 pm
I am a mother of one autistic daughter. I regularly read journals from mail which i received & it’s gives me mental support to manage my daughter. We have a special school for those children. This school is run by the parents of disable children as here is no scope for special children. In the monthly sitting of parents i exchange my views with special reference of these journals that may be helpful to other parents also. Regarding behavior modification i need more information. So far, from my experience i feel the main problem with the children with autism is behavior and communication. Regarding School if i get better suggestion it will be helpful for me.
with regards
suchitra sarkar
20. August 2011 at 5:18 pm
This article is so meaningful., tq
21. August 2011 at 11:03 am
actually i did aresearch paper about the the impact of psychoeducational program to develop parents awareness and knowledge regarding autism and i found that parents can play a major role in prevention and early detection and interventions .so, i agree that parents play a piovotal role in autism prevention and intervations.