Autism
Autism & Learning Disabilities
The Early Signs of Autism
These developmental landmarks may be used as a guide to gauge a child’s development. When there are any concerns about a child’s development, or if there is a loss of any skills at any age, talk to a doctor as soon as possible.
Autism usually manifests in the first year of life. Its onset is usually no later than 3 years.
Contact our special needs trust today for further information
What is a Learning Disability?
The Organisation for Autism has defined a learning disability as a reduced intellectual ability and difficulty with everyday activities. Therefore, children and adults with learning disabilities see, hear, and understand things differently, which can affect them throughout their lifespan. This causes children to have problems in learning new information and skills and putting them to use. Additionally, children with learning disability are more likely to develop mental health problems, for example anxiety, or have additional developmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorders.
The Early Signs of Autism
This type of regression doesn’t happen with all children with autism. However, approximately 20% to 50% of parents of children with autism report that their child lost some of his or her skills during the second year, usually around 18 months of age.
- 01
Not Babbling
such as simple sounds like “ba”, “da”, “gee”. One-year-olds should look at someone when they babble, and take turns babbling with caregivers, like a real conversation.
- 02
Not pointing
this includes pointing to ask for things, or pointing to get someone’s attention.
- 03
Not showing objects
one-year-olds should hold up interesting objects and show them.
- 04
Lack of gestures
one-year-olds should be reaching to be picked up, waving, and shaking their heads.
- 05
Repetitive Actions or Movements
for example, spinning a car wheel over and over instead of playing with the toy appropriately. Another example could be repetitive hand-flapping. Babies with autism demonstrate these actions frequently.
- Spinning a car wheel over and over instead of playing
- Repetitive hand-flapping
- Doing the same action again and again
- Babies with autism show these actions frequently
- Paying more attention to objects than people
- 06
Limited Play with Toys
a young child with autism may only engage with a small number of toys, or play with just a part of the toy rather than the whole object.
- 07
Not Responding to Their Name When Called
young children with autism don’t respond when their name is called even though their hearing is fine. This is due to difficulties with paying attention and understanding language.
- 08
Poor Eye Contact
not looking at caregivers when communicating or playing .
- 09
Not Copying Actions or Sounds
not imitating actions like clapping hands, banging on a drum, or people’s speech sounds.
For toddlers between 18 – 20 months, loss of words, skills and social connection is also a red flag.
Autism Treatment Plans
A good treatment plan will:
Places to start include:
Build on Your Child’s Interests
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Offer a Predictable Schedule
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Teach Tasks as a Series of Simple Steps
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Actively Engage Your Child’s Attention in Highly Structured Activities
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Provide Regular Reinforcement of Behaviour
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Involve the Parents
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Paying More Attention to Objects than People: all children are fascinated with toys and interesting objects, but young children with autism will spend much more of their time with objects than people.
Lack of Shared Enjoyment: a child’s desire to interact with others for the simple sake of connecting. Ignores pointing finger: not looking in the direction of a caregiver’s finger when he or she points to something.
Slow Learning and Learning Disability
A “slow learner” is a child of below-average intelligence, whose thinking skills have developed significantly more slowly than the norm for his or her age. The child will go through the same basic developmental stages as other children, but will do so at a significantly slower rate. However, this development, while slower, may nevertheless be relatively even.
A child with learning disability is one of average or above-average intelligence who has specific difficulties that make learning very difficult. There may be deficits in any of the basic central nervous system functions, which have to do with the acquisition and use of listening, speaking, reading, writing, reasoning, or mathematical abilities. This includes attention, memory, language, auditory and visual perception, motor coordination and planning, spatial orientation, impulse control, and sequencing.
- Age
- Autism usually appears in the first year of life
- Onset is usually no later than 3 years of age
- Around 20-50% of parents report a loss of skills around 18 months
- Learning disability is different from being a slow learner
- Involve the Parents gives every child the best start
- Exposure to certain chemicals or environmental factors
- Long-term infections
- Hormonal factors
- Genetic factors
In short, there is a discrepancy between the child’s potential and actual achievement.
Get in touch
Contact our special needs trust today for further information
- Address: The Resonance Centre, 599 Ashton New Road, Clayton, Manchester M11 4RU
- Email: info@dimobitrust.org.uk
- Phone: 0161 937 5332
- Would you like to help us? Can you spare some time?
- We are always very grateful to receive financial support.
- They go through the same developmental stages - just at a slower rate
- A child with a learning disability learns and uses new information differently
- Children with learning disabilities are more likely to have additional needs, such as autism
- Seeking medical advice when something doesn't feel right