Advocating Autism Awareness

Early intervention is critical for autistic children

Help is Here

The Children’s Hospital was recently named a member of the Autism Treatment Network (ATN) — a system of medical treatment and research centers around the country dedicated to providing quality medical care to children with autism.

Located in the main hospital, the ATN clinic helps facilitate referrals to specialists, organize testing and procedures, and aid families in navigating insurance issues.

Call Children’s ATN clinic today at (720) 777-6602, or learn more about autism resources at The Children's Hospital.

Autism is a neurological disorder that affects a child’s social and communicative development and typically surfaces during the first three years. Since these formative years are vital for the most effective treatment of autism, new recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) urge parents to have their children screened for autism at 18 months, and then again at 24 to 30 months.

“Children with autism or autism spectrum disorders can make marked progress if they receive intensive early intervention,” said Ann Reynolds, MD, director of the Child Development Unit at The Children’s Hospital. “Studies have shown children who begin treatment before the age of three-and-a-half appear to make the greatest gains.”

Autism Checklist

In addition to screening recommendations, the AAP has released a list of common warning signs of autism to watch for in children, including the following:

• Not showing big smiles or other expressions of joy by six months
• Not sharing back-and-forth smiles, sounds or other facial expressions by nine months
• Not babbling or using gestures, such as pointing or waving good-bye, by 12 months
• Not using single words by 16 months
• Not using two-word “spontaneous phrases” by 24 months (without repeating or mimicking someone else)
• Losing language or social skills at any age

“Often, autism is caught earliest by parents who notice these signs and make an appointment with their child’s pediatrician,” said Tim Benke, MD, PhD, interim section chief for pediatric neurology at Children’s and assistant professor of pediatrics, neurology and pharmacology at the University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine. “From there, parents are usually referred to a specialist at Children’s where developmental evaluations can be used to confirm an autism diagnosis.”

Are Vaccines and Autism Linked?

Concerns have been raised that an ingredient, thimerosal, commonly found in vaccines for children younger than two years old, may be contributing to a higher risk of autism in children. Thimerosal is a mercury-containing preservative widely used in immunizations until 1999, but is now found only in flu vaccines.

A recent study did not support a connection between thimerosal-containing vaccines and autism development. More information about vaccine safety is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.