Is your child having problems in school (e.g. poor grades) and in social situations? Is

happy-654713_640she at times described as “tamad” (lazy) or “matigas ang ulo” (hard headed)?

It may be good to answer the following questions to see if there is more to your loved one’s condition than the usual issues of a child:

1. Does your child have difficulty organizing tasks and activities?

2. Does he/she lose things necessary to perform these tasks and activities, such as toys, school assignments, pencils, books?

3. Does your child make careless mistakes in schoolwork and is not able to give close attention to details ?

4. Does he/she have a difficult time following through on instructions and finishing schoolwork and chores?

5. Does your child have difficulty sustaining attention in tasks and play activities?

6. Does he/she seem not to listen when spoken to directly?

7. Is your child forgetful in daily activities?

If the answer is yes to most of the above questions then your child may be manifesting a condition called ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder) predominantly Inattentive Type *

If you notice these problems in your child, you can take the following measures:
– talk to your child’s teachers regarding their observations in the classroom;

– consult a Developmental Pediatrician and/or Psychologist for a formal assessment/diagnosis, intervention planning and referrals to appropriate professionals.

It is best to set an appointment with the “Dev Ped” as soon as possible as the waiting period may take as long as 6-8 months!

Teamwork with the Dev Ped, Psychologist, Teachers and other allied medical professionals (Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists etc) will help you assess and document your child’s condition, and determine the interventions and accommodations needed to help your child and the family manage the situation effectively.

*(Source: DSM-IV-TR, pp 92-93)

The signs of autism in older children are more varied but still revolve around the following (DSM-IV-TR):

a. Impaired social interactionsea-261612_640
-little or no eye contact,
-unable to develop friendships with peers,
-unable to enjoy and share interests and activities with others
-unable to use imagination or engage in pretend play

b. Qualitative impairments in communication
-delayed development of spoken language or none at all,
-speaks in an abnormal tone of voice,
-repeats what others say,
-takes whatever is said too literally;

c. Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior
-repetitive motor movements such as hand flapping/rocking back and forth,
-preoccupation with objects such as spinning wheel, cars
-has narrow topic of interest and obsesses/memorizes facts such as train schedules, maps
-follows a rigid routine and gets upset with unexpected changes.

Source: DSM-IV-TR

brothers-764670_640As defined by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention:
“Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction,verbal and non-verbal communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent before a child is three years old.” It is important to watch out for early signs of the condition in you child. The earlier the diagnosis, the earlier the interventions, the better the outcome for the child. The better the outcome the better the quality of life for everyone in the family. The early signs are:

Early signs of autism in babies and toddlers
– Doesn’t make eye contact (e.g. look at you when being fed).
– Doesn’t smile when smiled at.
– Doesn’t respond to his or her name or to the sound of a familiar voice.
– Doesn’t follow objects visually.
– Doesn’t point or wave goodbye or use other gestures to communicate.
– Doesn’t follow the gesture when you point things out.
– Doesn’t make noises to get your attention.
– Doesn’t initiate or respond to cuddling.
– Doesn’t imitate your movements and facial expressions. (Source: Helpguide.org)

If you notice any of these behaviors in your baby, consult your pediatrician or a developmental pediatrician soonest.