Autism Story | Treatment Works | A Great Need | Consideration Amount | Pledge Card
According to recent statistics by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), one in every 150 children born in the US has autism with rates 4 to 5 times higher in males than females and these numbers are only increasing. Just like Kyle, there are currently 24,000 Kentuckians with autism. Autism does not recognize socio-economic or religious barriers and the rate of autism is consistent throughout the world. Autism affects a child’s communication, socialization, and behavior.
A child with Autism typically:
- Has poor eye contact
- Resists affection such as holding and cuddling
- Is unaware of the feelings of others
- Has delayed speech or no speech at all
- Loses once acquired ability to say words or sentences
- Does not respond to his or her name
- Performs repetitive movements, such as rocking, spinning or hand-flapping
- Develops specific routines or rituals
- May be captivated by parts of an object, such as the spinning wheels of a toy car or the blades of a ceiling fan
- May experience sensitivity to touch, light, or sound and yet be unaware of pain
The clinical diagnosis of autism is complex; assessment should be conducted by medical professionals with appropriate qualifications and training. These resources are difficult to locate and some parents are forced to wait up to a year or more for an evaluation. Once a child has been diagnosed with autism, parents must face the devastation of the diagnosis, the emotional pain, and the frustration and uncertainty of “what to do next.”
Research indicates that children who receive early, intense (25-40 hrs a week) behavioral intervention make significant progress in their communication, socialization, and behavior. The best outcomes have been reported for children who start treatment before age 5 and optimally, by age 3.