Salama is a healthy one-year old, but her parents are worried about her development because she’s not doing many things that her older brother did at her age, like playing peek-a-boo and mimicking expressions and gestures. Salama’s mom and dad try to engage her with toys, songs, and games, but nothing they do gets her interest, let alone a laugh or a smile. In fact, she rarely makes eye contact. And although her hearing has been checked and is normal, she doesn’t babble, make other baby noises, or respond when her parents call her name. Salama needs to be checked out in our KidsHeart Medical Center by the child neurologist, neurodevelopmental specialist and child psychologist/psychiatrist right away.
What to do if you’re worried
If your child is similar to “Salama”, or if you’ve observed other red flags for autism, schedule an appointment to talk with Dr. Imad Yassin, Consultant Pediatrician and Pediatric Neurologist right away. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children receive routine developmental screenings, as well as specific screenings for autism at 9, 18, and 30 months of age.
A number of specialized screening tools have been developed to identify children at risk for autism at KidsHeart Medical Center, Abu Dhabi/Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
If we detects possible signs of autism during the screening, your child should be referred to a specialist for a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation.
Seek early intervention services. Children who demonstrate several early warning signs may have autism. They will benefit from early intervention whether or not they meet the full criteria for an autism. In other words, there is more risk involved in the wait-and-see approach than in receiving early intervention.