Understanding Autism and What is Covered Under the Spectrum Umbrella

HealthStar Home Health is presenting a series on various mental health and behavioral topics. In this series of articles, we take a look at different subjects and provide information to help you know how best to care for your loved one.

Autism Speaks defines autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder, as a range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication, as well as by unique strengths and differences.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that an estimated one in 68 children in the United States has autism and considers autism a national public health crisis. Furthermore, approximately four out of five individuals with autism are male. With these dramatic numbers, more families than ever are affected by autism, and evidence shows that an early intervention has positive results.

Here at HealthStar Home Health, we serve individuals in our adult and children’s mental health programs that are diagnosed with autism. When serving individuals with autism, one of our main goals is to help treat the mental health condition that is often underlying such as depression, anxiety, or PTSD. Often times individuals who have a neurodevelopmental disorder tend to be “overlooked” by mental health professionals, thus the underlying mental health condition is missed and not treated at all. In turn, this becomes an important focus for the HealthStar Home Health mental health team of professionals. Our team is committed to helping these individuals reach their full capacity and achieve the highest level of independence while simultaneously improving their quality of life.

Research shows there is not just one autism but many types, each triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The term spectrum in autism spectrum disorder refers to the wide range of strengths and challenges each individual with autism lives with.

Typically, the symptoms begin to appear around the ages of 2 and 3 years, although sometimes even earlier. If your child exhibits symptoms of autism, it may be a good idea to follow up with further evaluation, but keep in mind that children without autism may also show some of the risk factors. The following are possible red flags to watch for in the development of babies and toddlers:

  • Limited eye contact
  • Lack of smiles or joyful expressions
  • Lack of nonverbal communication, including gestures such as reaching or pointing
  • No babbling or use of words
  • No response to name

As autism awareness has grown, many older children and even adults have been diagnosed. Similar risk factors may suggest autism at any age:

  • Struggles with emotions and other people’s feelings
  • Avoids eye contact as well as social settings
  • Remains nonverbal
  • Is affected by changes to routine
  • Performs repetitive behaviors, such as rocking, as well as repeats words or phrases

We invite you to learn more about the mental health services offered by HealthStar Home Health. Both our Children’s Therapeutic Services and Supports (CTSS) and Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services (ARMHS) feature cultural sensitivity and are provided with empathy to the underserved members of the communities and regions we serve.

Our highly trained and culturally competent multi-disciplinary team of mental health professionals, practitioners and behavioral aides provide CTSS and ARMHS services in the home, at school, and in the community.

HealthStar Home Health understands how overwhelming and challenging it can be to care for a loved one at home and also offer a variety of home health care services to help support your loved one to live a more independent and fulfilling life at home. To learn more about the various mental health and behavioral health topics being presented in this series, such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) visit our blog.

With cultural care values as the foundation, our caregivers are able to provide quality service, delivering it with increased awareness and perspective. As we serve our clients and our communities, we are motivated by our desire to bring services to everyone in need. Call us today at 651-633-7300 for more information or to schedule a no-charge consultation.