Autism services offered in Silver Spring, MD
Autism causes problems with social communication, interactions, and behavior. This developmental disability requires management like that offered at E&B Behavioral and Medical Clinic LLC by Beatrice Tekah, DNP, PMHNP-BC, FNP-BC, and Ernest Keyaka, NP, PMHNP-BC, AGPCNP-BC. Autism management helps you manage your learning, moving, and daily activities so you can participate fully in life. Call the Silver Spring, Maryland, office or use the online tool to schedule a consultation.
Autism Q & A
What is autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder that affects how a person learns, thinks, and solves problems. People with autism have differences in their brains that cannot be cured. Autism, however, can be managed, so patients live a full life.
What are the symptoms of autism?
Autism is usually diagnosed early in life. Symptoms that suggest a young child should be evaluated for autism include:
- Failure to respond to their name by one year of age
- Lacking the ability to show interest in objects by pointing by 14 months
- An absence of “pretend” games by 18 months
- Unusual movements, such as hand flapping, body rocking, or spinning in circles
- Intense reactions to smells, tastes, and how things feel and/or look
These characteristics usually show up by age three. Older children and adults with autism have behaviors that include evasion of eye contact and preferences to be alone and avoid social interaction. Autism can cause difficulty sleeping, problems with concentration, and obsessive thinking. Physical symptoms include upset stomach, dizziness, and heart palpitations.
When is autism diagnosed?
Although autism is usually diagnosed in childhood, there are individuals who are diagnosed with autism in adulthood. If a patient has mild symptoms or fails to get adequate care as a child, their autism may have been missed.
Autism is not a condition that you outgrow. People with autism can learn to manage their symptoms but often face social, work, and learning difficulties that benefit from management from experts like those at E&B Behavioral and Medical Clinic LLC.
How can you help manage autism?
Autism is not curable, but getting help as soon as possible can help you better manage your or your loved one’s condition. With the right interventions and support, people with autism can hold down a job, experience serious relationships, and live independently. The extent to which autism is managed depends on the particular case.
Autism is sometimes mistaken for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or a learning disability. Some patients with autism also struggle with anxiety. Proper evaluation, diagnosis, and management of underlying mental health problems help people thrive despite their condition.
Behavioral health services help autistic men, women, and children learn how to manage daily life. Regular routines, cognitive behavioral therapy, and group therapy are effective treatments.
If you or a loved one needs help with autism management, call E&B Behavioral and Medical Clinic LLC today. Use the online tool to set up an appointment as well.