Sherwood Autism Center

DONATE TODAY

Autism Facts & Resources

What is Autism?

Quick Facts about Autism:

●  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain.

●  The cause of autism is not known. Some people with ASD have a co-occurring condition.

●  Scientists believe there are multiple causes of ASD that act together to change the most common ways people develop. We still have much to learn about these causes and how they impact people with ASD.

●  Early Intervention is recommended following a diagnosis. Early intervention services can greatly improve the development of a child with ASD. All autistic individuals can continue to learn and grow throughout their lives with appropriate supports.

Source: CDC

middle school one scaled 1
4 months

Common Signs of Autism

Concerned about your child’s development?

 

 

Act early! If you think your child might have an ASD or you think there could be a problem with the way your child plays, learns, speaks, or acts, contact your child’s doctor as soon as possible, and share your concerns. Don’t wait. Acting early can make a real difference.
CDC's Learn the Signs, Act Early Materials

CDC’s free resource kit for parents contains information on developmental milestones by age (2 months to 5 years), developmental screening, and a growth chart.

Screening for Autism

Key Points:

◗  Diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be difficult because there is no medical test, such as a blood test, to diagnose the disorder. Doctors look at the child’s developmental history and behavior to make a diagnosis.
◗  Diagnosing ASD involves several steps.
◗  Some people with ASD are not diagnosed until they are adolescents or adults. This delay means that they might not get the early help they need.
You can use a brief checklist of milestones to see how your child is developing. If you notice that your child is not meeting milestones, talk with your doctor or nurse about your concerns and ask about developmental screening.
 
Source: CDC

Autism Treatment &
Intervention

Key Points:

●  Current treatments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) seek to reduce symptoms that interfere with daily functioning and quality of life.
●  Treatments can be given in education, health, community, or home settings, or a combination of settings.
●  As individuals with ASD leave high school and grow into adulthood, additional services can help improve health and daily functioning, and facilitate social and community engagement.
 

There may be other treatments available for individuals with ASD. Talk to a doctor or healthcare provider to learn more.

 

Source: CDC

art gallery scaled 1
Learn about Sherwood's Programs

Frequently Asked Questions about
Autism Spectrum Disorder

A: Many studies have looked at whether there is a relationship between vaccines and ASD. To date, the studies continue to show that vaccines are not associated with ASD.
CDC knows some parents and others still have concerns. To address these concerns, CDC is part of the Inter-Agency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC), which is working with the National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) on this issue. The job of the NVAC is to advise and make recommendations regarding the National Vaccine Program. Communication between the IACC and the NVAC will allow each group to share skills and knowledge, improve coordination, and promote better use of research resources on vaccine topics.
A: More people than ever before are being diagnosed with ASD. It is unclear exactly how much of this increase is due to a broader definition of ASD and better efforts in diagnosis. However, a true increase in the number of people with ASD cannot be ruled out. We believe the increase in the diagnosis of ASD is likely due to a combination of these factors.
CDC is working with partners to study the prevalence of ASD over time, so we can find out if the number of children with these disorders is rising, dropping, or staying the same.
We do know that ASD is more common than we thought before and should be considered an important public health concern.
There is still a lot to learn about ASD. In addition, increased concern in the communities, continued demand for services, and reports estimating a prevalence of about 2.8% show the need for a coordinated and serious national response to improve the lives of people with ASD.

A: Yes, adults can be diagnosed with ASD. Diagnosis includes looking at the person’s medical history, watching the person’s behavior, and giving the person some psychological tests. But it can be more challenging to diagnose an adult because it is not always possible to know about the person’s development during the first few years of life, and a long history of other diagnoses may complicate an ASD diagnosis.
Because the focus of ASD research has been on children, we still have much to learn about the prevalence and causes of ASD across the lifespan. Behavioral interventions can be effective for adults coping with a new diagnosis of autism.

from CDC – for more FAQs, visit CDC’s ASD FAQ webpage

music scaled 1 1

Enroll at Sherwood

Interested in enrolling your loved one in Sherwood Autism Center’s programs? We’re here to support your loved one across their lifespan.

Contact Us
loop moss scaled