Autism and Communication Center - Gaithersburg, MD
Gaithersburg 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 Gaithersburg * University of Maryland Behavioral & Developmental Pediatrics  University of Maryland Behavioral & Developmental Pediatrics  Franklin Square Pediatrics Gaithersburg, MarylandUpcoming Local Events2012-06-02
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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 Gaithersburg
Nearby Gaithersburg Hospitals *Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital of Maryland Potomac Ridge Behavioral Health Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Adventist Hospital  Montgomery General Hospital  Suburban Hospital  National Institutes of Health  Holy Cross Hospital  Walter Reed Army Medical Center  Sibley Memorial Hospital  Psychiatric Institute of Washington  Washington Adventist Hospital  Reston Hospital Center  Inova Loudoun Hospital Center  Georgetown University Hospital  Howard County General Hospital  Laurel Regional Hospital  National Rehabilitation Hospital  Providence Hospital  Washington DC VA Medical Center  Washington Hospital Center  Children's National Medical Center  Virginia Hospital Center  The HSC Pediatric Center  Howard University Hospital  The George Washington University Hospital  Dominion Hospital  North Spring Behavioral Healthcare  Inova Fairfax Hospital  Inova Fairfax Hospital for Children  Northern Virginia Mental Health Institute  The Specialty Hospital of Washington  Inova Fair Oaks Hospital  Gladys Spellman Specialty Hospital  Prince George's Hospital Center  Doctors Community Hospital  Graydon Manor Behavioral Health  Springfield Hospital Center  Inova Alexandria Hospital  Saint Elizabeth's Hospital  Frederick Memorial Hospital  Sheppard Pratt at Ellicott City  United Medical Center  The Specialty Hospital of Washington-Hadley  Northwest Hospital  Spring Grove Hospital Center  Inova Mount Vernon Hospital  Kernan Hospital  Saint Agnes Hospital  Prince William Hospital  Baltimore Washington Medical Center  Fort Washington Hospital  Carroll Hospital Center  Bon Secours Baltimore Health System  Southern Maryland Hospital Center  Harbor Hospital Center  Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center & Hospital  Sinai Hospital of Baltimore  Baltimore VA Medical Center  University of Maryland Medical Center  University Specialty Hospital  Maryland General Hospital  Mt Washington Pediatric Hospital  Mercy Medical Center  Union Memorial Hospital  Kennedy Krieger Institute  Johns Hopkins Hospital  Greater Baltimore Medical Center  Sheppard Pratt Health System 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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Asperger's Syndrome (Asperger Syndrome, Asperger Disorder)
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