Autism

Known as a “spectrum disorder,” autism can affect different people in a variety of different ways. At its core, autism is a developmental disability that can mildly or significantly impact a persons social skills, language capabilities, and overall behavior. Where one child may be a vibrant speaker, others may exhibit shy or isolated behavior that can become worrisome for most parents. Autism translates to “aloneness” or “living in one’s own world” and should not be confused with less severe disorders such as Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) or Asperger’s Syndrome where in most cases patients will have completely normal speech but show other autistic signs such as the social or behavioral issues.

Autistic patients have various degrees of behavioral and learning difficulties. These behavioral difficulties can be related to ADHD features, Obssessive Compulsive Disorder with Anxiety, and some patients have subtle seizures. We, at Oakland Child and Adolescent Neurology, look for these challenges and address each of these problems, to have ongoing improvement.

In the mildest cases a patient may find it difficult to understand and relate to other people and peers. Emotional cues and individual perspectives might prove incredibly difficult for many people suffering autism to grasp. In the most severe cases, a child can become totally isolated and lack any kind of social ability, which often is what leads to speech and behavioral problems. On the opposite side of things, autistic children can in some cases be quite gifted and possess seemingly unique “abilities” that allow them to thrive in a number of areas like math, music, and more. No matter where your child may fall on the autism spectrum, it is important to know that there is hope. Not hope for a cure, but rather hope that your family will learn and adapt together and that your child will absorb the tools necessary to thrive and understand what it takes to become a productive member of society.

Many years ago autism was considered rare, with only a mere five children being affected out of a total ten thousand. Today, that number has risen to over sixty out of every ten thousand children becoming diagnosed with an ASD in the United States, according to the US Federal Centers for Disease Control. These staggering numbers only goes to show how important it is for those who may be autistic to seek treatment. With less than eight percent of primary care pediatricians routinely screening for autism in this day and age, it’s up to the parents to be aware of the signs and know the steps to take to get the help they need. If you feel like your child is showing signs of autism, or other mental or behavioral disorder, don’t wait any longer. Make an appointment at Oakland Child and Adolescent Neurology with Dr. Kheir M Al-Zouhayli, also know as “Dr. Al.”

Dr. Al is a healthcare specialist in Pediatric Neurology, with a focus on patients with autism. He has dedicated over twenty years of his life and career to assisting patients and families in need find an effective treatment plan that benefits everyone. For exceptional treatment services provided by the leading specialist in Pediatric Neurology, contact the office of Dr. Al today at 248.720.2470. Or for emergency after-hour services call 248.456.8507. We look past the diagnosis and explore treatments that allow patients understand their potential and manage their own progress and success, creating lasting results.