More than the Terrible 2s
Researcher says certain developmental delays should prompt parents to seek out medical advice.
A Temple University researcher says some of the hallmark symptoms of one kind of autism overlap with a very normal, but frustrating, stage of child development.
Listen:
[audio:sci20081217twos.mp3]
Transcript:
Many parents know the signs of the Terrible Twos when tantrums and defiance seem to rule. That kind of misbehavior is typical between a child’s 1st and 2nd birthdays, according to neuropsychologist Gerry Stefanatos, but he says certain social or language setbacks can signal a serious problem.
Stefanatos: If they fail to acknowledge that their name is being called. If children cease to acknowledge the presence of parents or siblings who would normally engender a visual response.
Researchers are trying to better understand the wide-ranging communication and behavior disorders that fall under the umbrella of autism. One condition — regressive autistic spectrum disorder — is marked by seemingly normal development early on. Then around ages 18 to 24 months children with RASD begin to have setbacks.
Stefanatos: So children who were using five to 10 or 20 words and then lose the ability to express those words over a period of weeks or months, that would be a cause for concern.
He says those kinds of developmental losses should prompt parents to ask for a medical evaluation.
More info:
(Gerry Stefanatos’ writes about RASD in the December issue of the journal Neuropsychology Review.)
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