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=Growing up =  by: Deanna Armstrong, Kristin Herrick, Amanda Lord

Early Indicators of ASD Evident in Communication
 Relative to current medical understanding, Autism is a relatively new diagnosis and yet affects as many as 1 in 100 American children (Autism-Society.org). Credited with the first significant description of the syndrome, Leo Kanner recognized the stereotypical behaviors in a group of young children. Since early recognition in the 1940s, Autism research and education has grown tremendously. We now know that Autism is defined as “a behavioral syndrome, present from early life and defined by deficient social interaction, language and communication difficulties, and bizarre restricted or repetitive behavior patterns” (Browndyke, 1). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV (DSM-IV) classifies Autism as a Pervasive Developmental Disorder, or PDD. This means that a diagnosis of Autism falls within a wide spectrum of conditions known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Diagnostic criteria are composed of behavioral traits only. Typically, Autism is recognized before the age of 3. Because even typical children of this age do not always have easily recognizable communication habits, professionals currently recognize several distinct behaviors in children with ASDs. Additionally, diagnosis can be difficult due to varying behaviors. Some of the early indicators of Autism include: lack of vocal communication, lack of facial expression, poor imitation, lack of eye contact, low language usage, and a lack of response to communication.

Communication Chart [|communication chart.doc]

Communication Development [|Typical Development.doc]

Bibliography [|Bibliography .doc]

Video web site: This site has videos of typical young children side by side with video of autistic children []