Grandmothers Can Identify Early Signs of Autism: Study

People diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD) face difficulties in their overall social and emotional skills. Repetition of a certain typical behaviour or varying ways of paying attention and learning are other common symptoms of ASD.

One of the most pure forms of relationships in the world is that of a grandchild and his grandparents. Kids with autism who spend a lot of time with their grandmothers may get diagnosed with the disorder at a younger age, a small study suggests.

‘Brain development is maximum in the first three years of life, and that's when the therapies have an impact on an autistic child. Early intervention could even help a child overcome autism.’

"This finding is incredibly important, as these individuals have the potential to lower the age of diagnosis," senior study author Joseph Buxbaum of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York said by email. "Early diagnosis means early intervention, which is critical for improving treatment outcomes."

Even though autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be identified starting when kids are around 2 years old, many children are not formally diagnosed until they are closer to 4, the researchers note in the journal Autism. The earlier autism is caught and treated, the better, because younger kids have more adaptable brains that may respond more to therapy than older children.

People with ASD often have problems with social, emotional and communication skills. They might repeat certain behaviors and might not want change in their daily activities. Many people with ASD also have different ways of learning, paying attention, or reacting to things. Symptoms can be less severe with early detection and treatment.To see how family structure influences when the disorder is caught, researchers examined survey data from 477 parents of children with autism and from 106 close friends and family members.

Children without siblings were diagnosed with autism about six to eight months earlier on average than kids with brothers or sisters living in the household at the time of their diagnosis, the study found. Birth order also matters. Kids with older siblings get diagnosed about nine to 10 months sooner than children who only have younger brothers and sisters.

Source: Medindia