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.

Does your child have a learning disability? Dr. Allison Smoller of Developmental Pediatrics of Central New Jersey in Monmouth County and proudly serving patients from all over the state of New Jersey, including Pennsylvania, can help you determine that. Whether you see developmental delays, distractibility, or just sense that your child is not performing in school as he or she should, Dr. Smoller can help. You and your family are not alone in helping your child feel and be successful in school.

Determining how your child's strengths and weaknesses

Frankly, it often takes an expert outside the home, school and family medical practice to assess if your youngster performs poorly in school because of a neurological, or brain, difference. These brain differences may be related to heredity, birth trauma, toxins in the environment or other compromising factors. At Developmental Pediatrics of Central New Jersey in Monmouth County, Dr. Smoller and her team can look at your child's behaviors and skills and make recommendations for modifications in the home and learning environment.

The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities says that a full 20 percent of Americans of all ages have some kind of learning problem in varying degrees. Common early indications of learning disabilities include mispronunciation of everyday words, reversing letters when printing, poor spelling skills, and lagging behind in basic math and reading skills.

Your developmental pediatrician will address the concerns you and your child's school have. She'll provide the correct assessments to pinpoint delays and neurological differences which make your child's ability to learn slower or different from that of his or her peers.

Count on Dr. Smoller to:

• Make a correct diagnosis
• Give recommendations to you as the parent and to the school for program modifications
• Refer for occupational, speech and physical therapy as needed
• Communicate her findings to the primary care physician

Key to a child's learning success is a team approach involving the home, school and any medical/psychological interventions. Dr. Smoller brings her expertise to this team effort and assists parents in getting the services they require for a youngster's optimal functioning.

Possible learning disabilities

There are many. Dyslexia is a common one and involves trouble with reading, handwriting, spelling and can even extend to math skills. Dysgraphia impacts handwriting, while children with dyscalculia struggle with math concepts and computation. Auditory, sensory and visual processing disorders affect how a child's brain uses the information garnered by hearing, touch and sight.

Find out more

Fortunately, Dr. Smoller's practice is not limited to just a few learning disabilities. So if you suspect one of the conditions described here, or are just not sure what's going on, please contact the office for a confidential consultation.

Dr. Smoller is highly qualified in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. She also has earned many professional and community accolades for her service to children and their families in Monmouth County and all over the state of New Jersey, including Pennsylvania. She and her staff would be honored to see your child and help him or her be successful in the school environment. Please call (732) 660-0220 for an appointment.

What your developmental pediatrician in Oakhurst wants you to know

If you’ve noticed your child has trouble concentrating or completing tasks, it’s easy to assume it’s just part of your child’s personality. The truth is it could be a treatable condition. Your child could be exhibiting signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD.

Dr. Alison Smoller at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey in Oakhurst, NJ wants to share the signs and symptoms of ADHD. She proudly serves patients from all over the state of New Jersey including Pennsylvania, and she can help you and your child.

According to the Child Development Institute, the main characteristics of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. These characteristics can show up in many different ways, including:

• Fidgeting, squirming or tapping hands and feet
• Inability to remain seated for long periods of time
• Inappropriately running, climbing or other activities
• Excessively talking and blurting out answers to questions
• Inability to focus on details
• Difficulty listening and following directions
• Poor organizational skills
• Frequently losing items
• Easily distracted and forgetful

If your child does have ADHD, it can dramatically affect many aspects of your child’s life including learning, socialization and behavior. Your child may exhibit:

• Destructive behaviors
• Poor grades
• Inability to form friendships
• Aggressive, belligerent behaviors
• Moodiness, depression, and frustration
• Physical growth issues
• Difficulty sleeping

ADHD is a developmental disorder that can be effectively managed and treated using a combination of therapies including:

• Behavioral therapy, involving both child and parents; this therapy focuses on techniques to minimize destructive, aggressive and inappropriate behaviors.
• Lifestyle modification, including diet (limiting sugar, increasing vitamins and nutrients), and exercise
• Medication therapy, using medications to increase focus, improve brain function, and increase self-control; common medications include Adderall and Ritalin, among others.

If your child is displaying the signs and symptoms of ADHD, it’s time to take action while your child is still young. Early treatment of ADHD can result in a much better treatment outcome and less likelihood of problems as an adult. It’s time to call Dr. Alison Smoller at Developmental Pediatrics of Central Jersey. She proudly serves patients from all over the state of New Jersey including Pennsylvania. Don’t wait, call today!

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.