April
is Autism awareness month [Bulletin date: April 26, 2026]
Autism is a complex developmental disability which usually appears during the first several years of life. It affects one’s ability to communicate and interact with others. There is no single cause for autism.
The CDC has reported a rise in the prevalence of autism from 1 in 150 children in the year 2000, to 1 in 31 children in 2026. It equally affects racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups but is three times more common in males than in females. Autism may look different from person to person and may vary in severity. This is known as the autism spectrum.
During the first five years of life, a child’s growth and development is monitored closely. If certain milestones (movement, speech, interactions with others) are not met during this time, autism may be suspected. There are notable behaviors that may also be due to autism. These may include little or no eye contact with others, repetitive use of language and/or motor movements (hand flapping, twirling items, etc.), lack of interest in peer relationships, lack of spontaneous or make-believe play, persistent fixation on parts of objects or details.
Autism is treatable especially with early diagnosis and intervention. Treatment may vary based on the individual. Therefore, families should educate themselves about available options and choose what they feel is best for their child and family.
More
information may be found at www.autism-society.org and www.cdc.gov. The CDC website has a downloadable milestone
tracker app to help monitor a child’s development.
St. Ann Parish Nurse
770-552-6400 x6019
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