Time for a super important topic: Spotting those early signs of autism in kiddos! If you've been feeling something's a bit different with your little one or maybe a friend or teacher has raised some questions, you're definitely not alone and this is the episode for you!

We'll share our insights as clinicians in the field, giving you the lowdown on what to watch for, how to approach it, and how to trust your gut without jumping to conclusions. Plus, we'll provide you with practical tips and resources to help navigate this journey together. So, whether you're a parent or a professional, tune in for some great advice on recognizing those early signs and fostering connection and communication with your child.

Timestamps:

(01:25) - Welcome & Introduction

(13:05) - Understanding Autism: Communication and Interaction

(21:35) - Understanding Sensory Differences in Children

(31:28) - Looking At Earliest Months Of Life

(33:36) - Understanding Parental Gut Feelings

(35:05) - Where To Start & First Steps To Take

(37:00) - Things to Try At Home

(39:34) - Visual Support Strategies

(40:39) - Setting Up Predictable Routines

(41:25) - Our Closing Message

Mentioned In This Episode:

Kennedy Krieger Institute, Early Signs of Autism Video

Articles:

• Gale, C. M., Eikeseth, S., & Klintwall, L. (2019)1. Children with autism show atypical preference for non-social stimuli2. [Journal title, volume, issue, and page/article numbers not explicitly provided in source excerpts].
• Okoye, C., Obialo-Ibeawuchi, C. M., Obajeun, O. A., Sarwar, S., Tawfik, C., Waleed, M. S., Wasim, A. U., Mohamoud, I., Afolayan, A. Y., & Mbaezue, R. N. (2023). Early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder: A review and analysis of the risks and benefits. Cureus, 15(8), e43226.
• Salgado-Cacho, J. M., Moreno-Jiménez, M. d. P., & de Diego-Otero, Y. (2021). Detection of early warning signs in autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Children, 8(2), 164.
• Shultz, S., Klin, A., & Jones, W. (2018)45. Neonatal transitions in social behavior and their implications for autism67. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 22(5)45, 451–46945.
• Supekar, K., Kochalka, J., Schaer, M., Wakeman, H., Qin, S., Padmanabhan, A., & Menon, V. (2018)1011. Deficits in mesolimbic reward pathway underlie social interaction impairments in children with autism12. Brain11. [Volume, issue, page numbers, and DOI not explicitly provided in source excerpts].
• Volkmar, F. R., & van der Wyk, B. (2017)13. Understanding the social nature of autism: From clinical manifestations to brain mechanisms13. In J. B. Leaf (Ed.)13, Handbook of Social Skills and Autism Spectrum Disorder13 (pp. 11–25)13. Springer International Publishing AG13.

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Have a question or a topic that you'd love to hear on the show? Get in touch with us at [email protected]