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Symptoms of ASD Children with autism often experience: Difficulty with social interactions Limited eye contact Limited emotional response (not smiling at parents) Delayed/unusual speech patterns Limited use of nonverbal communication Repetitive speech or body movements Unusual sensory interests/ sensitivities What causes ASD? While there is no single cause of autism, recent research has identified several genes that increase a child’s risk for ASD. Children who have a sibling with ASD, for example, are more likely to have ASD as well. Children born to older parents are also at increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorder. “Ultimately, ASD is thought to be the result of a complex combination of genetic and environmental risk factors,” says Dr. Gulsrud. Subscribe to Health Tips for Parents at uclahealth.org/HealthTips 1-800-UCLA-MD1 (1-800-825-2631) All health-related information contained in this publication is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for a visit with a healthcare professional. Health Tips for Parents Diagnosis Autism spectrum disorder, which affects roughly 1.5 percent of children, is oſten characterized by repetitive motions, limited social and emotional interaction, and delayed speech and language skills. “Symptoms can vary greatly from one child to the next, but typically develop within the first two to three years of life,” explains Amanda Gulsrud, PhD, clinical director of the UCLA Child and Adult Neurodevelopmental Clinic. Children develop certain skills and abilities at their own pace. However, if you are concerned your child is not meeting milestones, you should meet with your doctor to discuss your concerns. “A pediatrician can screen for ASD symptoms and provide referrals to professionals who specialize in diagnosing ASD,” Dr. Gulsrud says. “Evaluations oſten include direct observation of the child, interviews with the caregiver, questionnaires, and interviews with the child’s teacher.” Treatment Although no “cure” for autism currently exists, several behavioral interventions have proven successful in improving a child’s functioning and behavioral symptoms. “e most well-known treatment is applied behavior analysis (ABA), which provides families with interventions that can be folded into their daily routines,” Dr. Gulsrud says. “ABA is used to build skills across all areas of development (e.g., cognitive, play, socialization, and daily living skills) and reduce challenging behaviors such as tantrums and aggression.” Additional forms of treatment include language and communication therapy; occupational therapy and physical therapy. ere are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat ASD, but medications are sometimes used to treat related symptoms, such as inattention, anxiety, depression, irritability, repetitive behaviors, self-injury and sleep disturbance. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) Autism spectrum disorder describes a wide range of neurodevelopmental disorders that can cause significant social, behavioral and communication challenges. APRIL 2017 | VOLUME 131
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Health Tips · Health Tips for Parents Diagnosis Autism spectrum disorder, which affects ... repetitivas, autolesiones y alteración del sueño. ABRIL DE 2017 | VOLUMEN 131

Sep 28, 2018

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Page 1: Health Tips · Health Tips for Parents Diagnosis Autism spectrum disorder, which affects ... repetitivas, autolesiones y alteración del sueño. ABRIL DE 2017 | VOLUMEN 131

Symptoms of ASD

Children with autism often experience:

• Difficulty with social interactions

• Limited eye contact

• Limited emotional response (not smiling at parents)

• Delayed/unusual speech patterns

• Limited use of nonverbal communication

• Repetitive speech or body movements

• Unusual sensory interests/sensitivities

What causes ASD? While there is no single cause of autism, recent research has identified several genes that increase a child’s risk for ASD. Children who have a sibling with ASD, for example, are more likely to have ASD as well. Children born to older parents are also at increased risk of developing autism spectrum disorder.

“Ultimately, ASD is thought to be the result of a complex combination of genetic and environmental risk factors,” says Dr. Gulsrud.

Subscribe to Health Tips for Parents at uclahealth.org/HealthTips

1-800-UCLA-MD1 (1-800-825-2631)

All health-related information contained in this publication is intended to be general in nature and should not be used as a substitute for a visit with a healthcare professional.

Health Tips for Parents

Diagnosis

Autism spectrum disorder, which affects roughly 1.5 percent of children, is often characterized by repetitive motions, limited social and emotional interaction, and delayed speech and language skills. “Symptoms can vary greatly from one child to the next, but typically develop within the first two to three years of life,” explains Amanda Gulsrud, PhD, clinical director of the UCLA Child and Adult Neurodevelopmental Clinic.

Children develop certain skills and abilities at their own pace. However, if you are concerned your child is not meeting milestones, you should meet with your doctor to discuss your concerns. “A pediatrician can screen for ASD symptoms and provide referrals to professionals who specialize in diagnosing ASD,” Dr. Gulsrud says. “Evaluations often include direct observation of the child, interviews with the caregiver, questionnaires, and interviews with the child’s teacher.”

Treatment

Although no “cure” for autism currently exists, several behavioral interventions have proven successful in improving a child’s functioning and behavioral symptoms. “The most well-known treatment is applied behavior analysis (ABA), which provides families with interventions that can be folded into their daily routines,” Dr. Gulsrud says. “ABA is used to build skills across all areas of development (e.g., cognitive, play, socialization, and daily living skills) and reduce challenging behaviors such as tantrums and aggression.” Additional forms of treatment include language and communication therapy; occupational therapy and physical therapy.

There are currently no FDA-approved medications to treat ASD, but medications are sometimes used to treat related symptoms, such as inattention, anxiety, depression, irritability, repetitive behaviors, self-injury and sleep disturbance.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)Autism spectrum disorder describes a wide range of

neurodevelopmental disorders that can cause significant social,

behavioral and communication challenges.

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Los síntomas del ASD Los niños con autismo suelen dar muestras de:

• Dificultad con las interacciones sociales

• Contacto visual limitado

• Respuesta emocional limitada (no sonríen a los padres)

• Patrones de habla atrasados/inusuales

• Uso limitado de la comunicación no verbal

• Habla o movimientos corporales repetitivos

• Sensibilidades/intereses sensoriales inusuales

Suscríbase a la publicación “Health Tips for Parents” en uclahealth.org/HealthTips

1-800-UCLA-MD1 (1-800-825-2631)

Toda la información relacionada con la salud en esta publicación es de carácter general y no se debe usar con la finalidad de sustituir una consulta con un profesional de atención médica.

Trastorno del espectro autista El trastorno del espectro autista (ASD, por sus siglas en inglés) describe una amplia gama de trastornos del neurodesarrollo que pueden causar serios problemas sociales, de conducta y de comunicación.

¿Qué causa el ASD? Aunque el autismo no tiene una causa única, estudios recientes han identificado varios genes que incrementan el riesgo del ASD en los niños. Los niños con un hermano que tiene ASD, por ejemplo, tienen mayores probabilidades de tener ASD también. Los niños cuyos padres son de una edad algo avanzada también tienen un mayor riesgo de dar muestras del trastorno del espectro autista. “En definitiva, se cree que el ASD es resultado de una combinación compleja de factores de riesgo genéticos y ambientales”, declara la Dra. Gulsrud.

Diagnóstico

El trastorno del espectro autista, el cual afecta aproximadamente al 1.5 por ciento de los niños, se caracteriza con frecuencia por movimientos repetitivos, una interacción social y emocional limitada y un retraso en las habilidades de habla y lenguaje. “Los síntomas pueden variar mucho de un niño a otro, pero normalmente se manifiestan en los primeros dos a tres años de vida”, explica Amanda Gulsrud, PhD, directora clínica de la Clínica de Neurodesarrollo Infantil y de Adultos de UCLA.

Los niños desarrollan ciertas destrezas y habilidades a su propio ritmo. No obstante, si a usted le inquieta que su hijo o hija tenga un desarrollo más lento de lo que suele ser habitual, debe hacer una cita con su médico para discutir el tema. “Los pediatras pueden realizar pruebas para detectar síntomas del ASD y recomendarle profesionales especializados en el diagnóstico del ASD”, indica la Dra. Gulsrud. “Las evaluaciones incluyen a menudo la observación directa del niño, entrevistas con el cuidador, cuestionarios y entrevistas con el maestro del niño”.

Tratamiento

Aunque no existe actualmente una “cura” para el autismo, varias intervenciones conductuales han probado su eficacia a la hora de mejorar los síntomas de conducta y funcionamiento de los niños. “El tratamiento más conocido es el análisis conductual aplicado (ABA), el cual proporciona a las familias intervenciones que pueden incorporarse a sus rutinas diarias”, manifiesta la Dra. Gulsrud. “El ABA se utiliza para fomentar habilidades en todas las áreas del desarrollo (es decir, habilidades cognitivas, de juego, socialización y de la vida diaria) y para reducir conductas problemáticas, tales como los berrinches y la agresión”. Existen otras formas de tratamiento, tales como la terapia del lenguaje y la comunicación, la terapia ocupacional y la terapia física.

En la actualidad no hay ningún medicamento aprobado por la FDA (Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos) para el tratamiento del ASD, aunque algunas veces se utilizan medicamentos para tratar síntomas relacionados, tales como la falta de atención, ansiedad, depresión, irritabilidad, conductas repetitivas, autolesiones y alteración del sueño.

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