Autism and Communication Center - Fall River, MAFall River Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician Doctors for Autism and CommunicationType of Physician: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician What is a Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Pediatrics; practitioners have a special interest in the developmental, learning, and behavioral problems of children, and in the support of parents and children during normal development and illness. Specialty: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Common Name: Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrician Doctors in Fall River * Child and Adolescent Health Specialists PC  Children's Hospital Boston Developmental Medicine Center  Children's Hospital Boston Developmental Medicine Center  Children's Hospital Boston Developmental Medicine Center  Children's Hospital Boston Developmental Medicine Center  Children's Hospital Boston Developmental Medicine Center  Children's Hospital Boston Developmental Medicine Center  Children's Hospital Boston Adolescent Substance Abuse  Children's Hospital Boston Developmental Medicine Center  NEMC Center for Children with Special Needs  NEMC Center for Children with Special Needs  NEMC Center for Children with Special Needs  NEMC Center for Children with Special Needs  NEMC Center for Children with Special Needs  NEMC Center for Children with Special Needs  NEMC Center for Children with Special Needs  NEMC Center for Children with Special Needs  Pediatric Associates of Medford PC  Patriot Pediatrics Fall River, MassachusettsUpcoming Local Events2012-05-26
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AutismWhat is autism?Autism is a developmental disorder that is characterized by impaired development in communication, social interaction, and behavior. Autism afflicts one out of every 100 to 166 children and it affects the lives of many children and their families (DiCicco-Bloom et al, 2006). It tends to affect about five boys to every one girl (First, 2008). Autism is classified as a pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), a category of disorders that is often described interchangeably with the broad spectrum of developmental disorders affecting young children and adults called the autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). The range of these disorders varies from severely impaired individuals with autism to other individuals who have abnormalities of social interaction but normal intelligence--Asperger's syndrome. The ways in which autism is exhibited can differ greatly. Additionally, autism can be found in association with other disorders such as mental retardation and certain medical conditions. The degree of autism can range from mild to severe. Mildly affected individuals may appear very close to normal. Severely afflicted individuals may have an extreme intellectual disability and unable to function in almost any setting. In the past, autism has been confused with childhood schizophrenia or childhood psychosis, and may have been misunderstood as schizotypal personality disorder in some adults. As additional research information about autism becomes available, the scope and definition of the condition continues to become more refined. Some of the past confusion about the disorder has been resolved.
What are the symptoms of autism?The current Diagnosis and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition, Treatment Revision (DSM-IV-TR) identifies three features that are associated with autism:
Recommended Reading Related to Autism Spectrum Disorder (In Children and Adults)Autism Screening and Diagnosis » Autism screening and diagnosis overviewDiagnosing autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) can be difficult, since there is no medical test, like a blood test, to diagnose the disorders. Doctors look at the child's behavior and development to make a diagnosis. ASDs can sometimes be detected at 18 months or younger. By age 2, a diagnosis by an experienced professional can be considered very reliable. However, many children do not receive a final diagnosis until much older. This delay means that children with an ASD might not get the help they need. Diagnosing an ASD takes two steps: Developmental screeningDevelopmental screening is a short test to tell if children are learning basic skills when they should, or if they might have delays. During developmental screening the doctor might ask the parent some questions or talk and play with the child during an exam to see how she learns, speaks, behaves, and moves. A delay in any... Other Related Autism and Communication ArticlesEmergency Contact for Fall River
Nearby Fall River Hospitals *Charlton Memorial Hospital Saint Anne's Hospital New Bedford Rehabilitation Hospital St Luke's Hospital Bradley Hospital Taunton State Hospital Morton Hospital & Medical Center Hasbro Children's Hospital Rhode Island Hospital Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island Newport Hospital Southern New England Rehabilitation Center St Joseph Health Services Butler Hospital Kent Hospital Eleanor Slater Hospital Pastore Center Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island The Miriam Hospital Providence VA Medical Center  Roger Williams Medical Center  Sturdy Memorial Hospital  Arbour-Fuller Hospital  Our Lady of Fatima Hospital  Tobey Hospital  Boston VA Healthcare System Brockton  South County Hospital  Rehabilitation Hospital of Rhode Island  Caritas Good Samaritan Medical Center  Landmark Medical Center  Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital  Kindred Specialty Hospital Stoughton  Falmouth Hospital  Jordan Hospital  New England Sinai Hospital & Rehabilitation Center  Massachusetts Hospital School  Kindred Specialty Hospital Braintree  Martha's Vineyard Hospital  Pembroke Hospital  Caritas Norwood Hospital  South Shore Hospital  Rehabilitation Hospital of the Cape & Islands Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
Suggested Reading on Autism Spectrum Disorder (In Children and Adults) by Our Doctors
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Seizure (Epilepsy)
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Learning Disabilities
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Asperger's Syndrome (Asperger Syndrome, Asperger Disorder)
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