Health Report - Watching for Early Signs of Autism in Babies

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Adapted	By	From	Health	Institute	Manual	She	abnormally	at	autism
babies	communication	diagnosis	disorder	genes	girls	include	its	list	might
mild	notice	old	reaching	spectrum	things	up	will	with

VOA Learning English, we welcome you to news about . Children with autism have difficulty with social skills and . They may seem different, have repetitive behaviors and have intense interests. A widely used medical guide will now autism under a new definition and name, "autism spectrum ." The changes will appear in the Diagnostic and Statistical of Mental Disorders, to be published in May. The " " represents a group of developmental brain disorders, ranging from to severely disabling. A milder form called Asperger's syndrome no longer be listed as a separate disorder with own name. Autism is more common in boys than . What causes autism is not clear. Scientists are studying and possible environmental influences. Doctors usually cannot confirm a of autism until a child is about three years . Rebecca Landa is a researcher at the Kennedy Krieger and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland. wanted to find out what differences in development showed earliest. She led a new study that observed 235 between 6 and 36 months of age. She says, 6 months, a baby may show risk signs for in the form of delays in communication or movement. the time a baby is one year old, signs difficulty in using words and not looking eye-to-eye or out to other people. By 14 months, the baby smile less and use language less. The earlier parents signs, she says, the sooner they can begin doing to improve their development, like playing games and talking their child. For VOA Learning English, I'm Alex Villarreal. ( from a radio program broadcast 23Jan2013)

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