11.5 C
New York
Tuesday, November 5, 2024
HomeHealthNew autism guidelines focus on early diagnosis, treatment

New autism guidelines focus on early diagnosis, treatment

Date:

Related stories

Simple Ayurvedic homemade decoctions (kadhas) for common ailments

Ayurvedic kadhas, or herbal decoctions, have been cherished in...

Yoga exercise Surya Namaskar, 12 asanas with multiple benefits

Surya Namaskar, or "Sun Salutation," is a revered yoga...

Indian spices and their little-known health benefits

Indian spices are celebrated not just for their rich...

Revitalize your life: Top ayurvedic practices to incorporate into your daily routine

Ayurveda, the ancient science of life, offers timeless wisdom...

Indian-American from Texas comes up with breakthrough research in OCD

A team of researchers, led by Indian-American scientist Dr....

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on Monday issued its first new autism treatment guidelines in 12 years aimed at helping doctors identify at-risk children and getting them the care they need as early as possible.

Since developmental delays are often present in very young children with autism, the report, published in the journal Pediatrics, urges doctors to check for issues during all well-baby visits and refer children for treatment at the first sign of an issue, rather than wait for a formal autism evaluation.

More than five million Americans are living with autism, a spectrum of disorders marked by deficits in social communication and interaction and repetitive behaviors of widely varying severity.

“The benefit of identifying children as early as possible is they can then be referred for treatment,” Dr. Susan Levy, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and co-author of the report, said in a phone interview.

Early treatment, and particularly behavioral interventions, do make a difference, Levy said.

- Advertisement -

Since 2007, when AAP published its last two guidance documents, the number of children in the United States diagnosed with autism has risen sharply. Autism now affects 1 in 59 children in the United States, up from 1 in 155 in 2007.

In that time, scientists have developed a better understanding of the potential risk factors and genes that contribute to autism, the related medical and behavioral conditions that commonly occur in children with the condition, and have detailed evidence on which interventions work best.

“This report is really focused on educating pediatricians and other healthcare providers about all the options and issues, and working to empower them since they’re in the front lines to make the early referrals,” Levy said.

The report urges doctors to steer families toward interventions backed by research and away from those with flimsy evidence. It specifically calls out many nutritional interventions that “do not have evidence to support their use.”

It also focuses on the need to screen for and treat other conditions that commonly occur in children with autism.

Some 40% of individuals with autism have intellectual disability, the report said, and about 40% to 60% of school-aged children and adults with autism have anxiety disorders. Others include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), language disorders, sleep and feeding disorders, gastrointestinal symptoms and seizures.

The report encourages doctors to share decision making with families and help them plan for when a child transitions to adolescence and adulthood.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here