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12-12-2008, 06:19 AM
We all know how infants can act up during their terrible twos, but when these behaviors are accompanied by developmental setbacks, they could point to something more serious.
Researchers are currently learning more about regressive autistic spectrum disorder (RASD), which describes children who have been diagnosed with autism who demonstrate a history of a regression. The regression refers to a marked loss of previously acquired developmental skills such as language or social ability.
"Often children with regression aren't being seen by professionals at the time of the loss of skills. The parents are aware of a problem, but not sure what it is so they don't seek medical or psychological help until the symptoms persist for over a year," said Gerry A. Stefanatos, D.Phil., an associate professor in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Temple University.
Stefanatos writes about RASD and the growing research into this disorder in the December issue of Neuropsychology Review. He estimates RASD comprises about 25 to 30 percent of the population of children eventually diagnosed with an autistic disorder.
Children with RASD seem to develop normally until about 18-24 months. At that point they have acquired small vocabulary and act social, but then over the course of weeks or months, they lose their speech and no longer use words they had previously learned. They have problems comprehending speech they used to understand and no longer follow commands.
"One of the more obvious cues for parents is if the child no longer responds to his or her own name. Often times this is accompanied by deterioration in behavior. They child can become irritable, prone to tantrums," Stefanatos said.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/132505.php
Researchers are currently learning more about regressive autistic spectrum disorder (RASD), which describes children who have been diagnosed with autism who demonstrate a history of a regression. The regression refers to a marked loss of previously acquired developmental skills such as language or social ability.
"Often children with regression aren't being seen by professionals at the time of the loss of skills. The parents are aware of a problem, but not sure what it is so they don't seek medical or psychological help until the symptoms persist for over a year," said Gerry A. Stefanatos, D.Phil., an associate professor in the department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Temple University.
Stefanatos writes about RASD and the growing research into this disorder in the December issue of Neuropsychology Review. He estimates RASD comprises about 25 to 30 percent of the population of children eventually diagnosed with an autistic disorder.
Children with RASD seem to develop normally until about 18-24 months. At that point they have acquired small vocabulary and act social, but then over the course of weeks or months, they lose their speech and no longer use words they had previously learned. They have problems comprehending speech they used to understand and no longer follow commands.
"One of the more obvious cues for parents is if the child no longer responds to his or her own name. Often times this is accompanied by deterioration in behavior. They child can become irritable, prone to tantrums," Stefanatos said.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/132505.php