Here are some helpful facts that parents should know about autism spectrum disorder.

One in 54 children in the US was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in 2020. Autism is a developmental disorder that impacts the way a child communicates, processes information, thinks, learns, and even responds to and socializes with others. Here are some helpful facts that our Monmouth County, NJ, developmental pediatrician Dr. Alison Smoller wants parents to know, whether their child has already been diagnosed or they might suspect that their child has autism.

The Diagnosis May be Overwhelming at First

When your child is first diagnosed with autism it may be scary and overwhelming. We understand completely. It’s important that you give yourself the time to read all the materials that our Monmouth County, NJ, developmental pediatrician has provided you, and to ask our team any questions you might have about your child’s health, diagnoses, treatment options, and more. The more you know the better equipped you’ll be to handle things.

Early Interventions Can Be Incredibly Effective

Detecting and managing your child’s autism as early as possible is important for supporting their growth and development. Some early interventions are geared toward a wide range of skill development including cognitive, motor, behavioral, and communication. Behavioral interventions that teach desired behaviors and then reward these behaviors are great for kids with autism.

Children with High-Functioning Autism will Still Face Challenges

While maybe not as visible or obvious, children with autism who are verbal and display high intelligence may seem like they are better equipped to deal with daily life, especially at school; however, it’s important to be aware that children with autism have trouble understanding certain nuisances when it comes to language and communication. They may have trouble understanding humor, sarcasm, or puns, which can make it challenging for them to socialize and connect with their peers. It’s also important to be able to recognize whether your child may be dealing with issues such as bullying in school.

Changes to Routine May Go Awry

Children with autism thrive on routine. So if little things throw off their schedule, even exciting things like a spontaneous trip to the aquarium, it’s important to be aware that your child may be upset, cry or throw a tantrum. Our developmental pediatrician, therapists, and other members of your child’s treatment team can teach your child coping strategies and behaviors to help them handle these last-minute changes. 

Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Monmouth County, NJ, provides comprehensive pediatric medical care and is proud to serve children and teens all over the state of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. If you’re concerned about autism, call our office today at (732) 660-0220 to schedule an evaluation with our developmental pediatrician, Dr. Smoller.

Know the warning signs of childhood autism.

Does my child have autism? It’s one of the leading questions we get here at our practice. We understand that if you have a child that is displaying odd behaviors or developmental delays that you may be concerned about whether or not they have autism. Our developmental pediatrician Dr. Alison Smoller has worked with countless families throughout Monmouth County, NJ, providing comprehensive diagnoses and care to children and teens with autism.

Catching autism early on in your child’s life is incredibly important for making sure they get the specialty care they need to stay healthy and to make academic and social environments a success. The symptoms of autism range from mild to severe, and they affect a child’s behaviors, interactions, and cognition. Symptoms may start to appear as early as 12 months but the majority of cases aren’t diagnosed by a professional until after 24 months.

The very early signs of autism to appear in infants and toddlers include:

• Not making eye contact
• Not smiling when others smile at them
• Not pointing at or gesturing to objects
• Not responding to cuddling or not wanting to be touched
• Not mocking or imitating movements or facial expressions
• Not responding to someone when they call their name

Children go through so many small developmental stages including babbling, gesturing, smiling, speaking, or imitating what other people say. Children with autism may not pick up any of these typical infant and toddler behaviors.

Furthermore, children with autism may not show interest in other children or may have trouble playing “pretend” or being imaginative. Once children begin to speak you may start to pick up certain habits and behaviors that could also be a sign of autism. These signs include:

• A monotone voice that doesn’t change in cadence or pitch
• Repeating certain words over and over again
• Trouble understanding cliches and certain expressions
• May take jokes or sarcasm literally
• Facial expressions that are inappropriate or don’t coincide with what they are saying

Children with autism may also have trouble changing or adapting their schedules and may become upset or angry when their schedules are altered. Trust your gut; if your child is displaying any of these signs of autism it’s a good idea to turn to our Monmouth County, NJ, development pediatrician for a proper evaluation. After all, you’re in the best position to be able to dictate whether the behaviors or habits your child is displaying seem unusual and may require further evaluation.

Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey proudly serves patients from all over the state of New Jersey including Pennsylvania. If you are interested in scheduling an autism evaluation with our Monmouth County Ocean, NJ, developmental pediatrician, call our practice today at (732) 660-0220.

How your developmental pediatrician in Monmouth County, New Jersey can help

You want your child to be healthy, both medically and developmentally. Early diagnosis and treatment is critical to your child’s continuing good health. Autism is a developmental disorder which can be difficult to detect. That’s why it’s important to schedule a visit with your child’s developmental pediatrician at the first signs of a problem. Dr. Alison Smoller at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Oakhurst, New Jersey can help you and your child. She proudly serves residents from all over the state of New Jersey including Pennsylvania and she can help your family too.

According to the National Autism Association, the signs and symptoms of autism can vary, ranging from mild to severe. A child can appear completely normal up to age 2 and then lose any developmental achievements, resulting in regression to anti-social symptoms. There are some early signs of autism that are important to recognize. You need to pay attention to when your child:

• Doesn’t respond to their name being called
• Doesn’t show any interest in objects or things
• Avoids eye contact and wants to be alone
• Doesn’t understand feelings of others or their own
• Doesn’t speak or shows delayed speech
• Repeats the same words and phrases
• Gets upset by changing events
• Performs actions repeatedly like hand clapping, spinning, or rocking
• Has problems socializing and talking with others
• Doesn’t like physical contact with others
• Exhibits fears and anxiety about unusual things
• Has obsessive habits like lining up toys or playing with toys the same way

If your child exhibits any of the signs of autism, your developmental pediatrician Dr. Smoller can administer a screening procedure specifically to identify autism. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children should receive the screening at both 18 months and 24 months old. The screening can easily be included in regularly scheduled well-child visits.

If you believe your child is demonstrating the early signs of autism, it’s important to seek out help from an expert at diagnosis and treatment. Don’t try to tackle autism alone. To get help, just pick up the phone and call Dr. Alison Smoller at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey, serving residents from all over the state of New Jersey including Pennsylvania. Call today!

Are you concerned that your child may have autism? Interventions that can make a meaningful difference in your child's life are more likely to be successful if they're started as early as possible. Developmental pediatrician Dr. Alison Smoller proudly serves patients from all over New Jersey and Pennsylvania at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Monmouth County, NJ, office. She shares a few signs that you may notice if your child has an autism spectrum disorder.

Autism signs in babies and toddlers

If your baby or toddler has an autism spectrum disorder, you may notice that your child doesn't:

• Smile by 6 months
• Respond to his or name by 12 months
• Attempt to speak or babble by 12 months
• Wave or point to objects by 12 months
• Speak any words by 16 months
• Enjoy cuddling
• Imitate your movements and facial expressions
• Make eye contact during feedings
• Play with others

Autism signs in older children

Autism spectrum signs can be difficult to spot in babies and toddlers, particularly for first-time parents. As your child grows older, the signs may be become more noticeable and might include:

• Difficulty making friends
• Lack of interest in the actions of other children or people
• An aversion to being touched or hugged
• Poor eye contact
• No interest in playing group games or those that involve pretending
• Trouble understanding other people's feeling or points of view
• Lack of response when people try to initiate a conversation
• An obsessive interest in certain topics, toys or objects
• Unusual speech patterns, incorrect use of language, or failure to speak
• Repeating words or phrases over and over
• Strange posture or an unusual gait
• Hand flapping, rocking or other self-stimulatory behavior
• Inability to understand humor and sarcasm or interpret facial expressions
• Difficulty following simple instructions
• Strong reactions to loud noises, textures or smells
• Emotional distress if there even small change to the regular routine

Keep in mind that the presence of one or more of these signs doesn't automatically mean that your child has an autism spectrum disorder. Confirming the diagnosis starts with a visit to our Monmouth County office for a thorough evaluation. If your child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, we can recommend a variety of helpful therapies geared toward his or her specific diagnosis.

Does your child display any of these autism signs? If you live in New Jersey or Pennsylvania, schedule a visit with Monmouth County, NJ, developmental pediatrician, Dr. Smoller of Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey by calling (732) 660-0220.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by communication problems, repetitive behaviors and social and cognitive impairments. Because it is a spectrum disorder, it can be mild or very severe and occur in all types of children. Your Monmouth County developmental pediatrician Dr. Alison Smoller at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey, specializes in diagnosing autism in children of all ages.

Signs of Autism in Children

Some of the most common signs of autism include:

• Not responding to their name
• Not pointing to objects
• Avoiding eye contact
• Preferring to play alone
• Having difficulty understanding other people’s feelings
• Not learning to speak or being delayed in speech development
• Getting upset at changes
• Having obsessive tendencies and/or interests
• Having little to no social skills
• Being unable to answer questions directly
• Having extreme anxiety
• Being hyperactive
• Having a short attention span
• Being impulsive

With the help from your developmental pediatrician in Monmouth County, you can determine whether or not your child is autistic.

Screening for Autism

Development screening is a short test that can tell if a child has the learning basic skills that they should. During this screening, the parent will be asked some questions about the way their child acts and plays. A delay could be a sign of a problem. All children should be screened regularly at their regular well-child doctor visits starting at age 9 months until about 30 months. Additional screening may be required for a child at high risk for problems.

Your Monmouth County developmental pediatrician Dr. Alison Smoller at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Oakhurst, NJ can help diagnose autism in children of all ages. We do comprehensive evaluations that include looking at the child’s behavior hands-on. We also offer recommendations for other medical testing if we see fit. To schedule a comprehensive evaluation call (732) 660-0220 today.