 Marianne
Krouk, D.O., held the rough draft of a brochure she had been
recently writing. By distributing the brochure, she intends to promote free,
confidential autism screenings. The service is intended for children
between 18 months to 3 years of age.
Dr. Krouk poses
questions in her brochure such as, “Does your child turn and look at
you when you call him or her by name?” A “no” could be a big red
flag. Not playing pretend may be another warning sign, as children
on the autism spectrum seem to lack active imaginations.
“There is
no ‘one’ autism,” Dr. Krouk clarifies. “There is a genetic potential
for autism that may be unlocked by an environmental factor or an
infection in utero. Some stimulus seems to activate the gene,
setting up the progression of the illness.”
Just as the syndrome does not stem from one cause, autism does
not show itself by one symptom. Therefore, Dr. Krouk’s brochure
points to a number of signs to watch:
- Children on the autism
spectrum may not share their toys or discoveries with their parents
or play pals.
- Autistic children may appear to be more preoccupied by
objects rather than playful, meaning they may not exchange animated
expression or openly share their enjoyment.
- Odd mannerisms, such as
tip-toe walking or hand-flapping, may be concerns.
- Wondering if a
child might be deaf signals another reason to consider a screening.
- The loss of developmental milestones, such as forgotten words or
“back to babbles,” may be more arrows.
“A positive screening is not a diagnosis,” Dr. Krouk stresses. “A
positive screening just makes your child a candidate for further
assessment.”
Early interventions involving communication, social development
and behavioral therapies may later be recommended by pediatricians
or qualified clinicians. Such strategies aim to help place a child
back on a more typical developmental trajectory.
“Everyone seems so worried because autism seems so prevalent and so
scary,” says Sherri Campbell, ARNP, co-director of the Neonatal
Developmental Follow-up Clinic. “More than anything, we hope this
will provide a lot of peace of mind. Hopefully,
we can reach the ones who need early care and give what they need to
reach their highest potential.”
The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and Ronald McDonald
House Charities are to thank for the initial free screenings. Once a
month, the Ronald McDonald bus will travel to various locations
across Southwest Florida. Screenings will take
approximately 30 minutes and be offered in English and Spanish.
Medical professionals recommend scheduling an appointment in
advance by calling 239-985-3608.
The following is a schedule of upcoming screenings:
Mar. 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Miromar Outlets |
To learn more about services offered at The Children's
Hospital,
click here.
|
