Understanding the Early Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Conversation with Dr. Jed Elison from the University of Minnesota

Summary: <a href="http://www.cehd.umn.edu/icd/research/ELAB/" target="_blank" rel="attachment wp-att-7579"></a>In the early months of life, a child grows and learns by leaps and bounds, making sense of language, emotions, social interactions and countless other aspects of the world around them. Between six months and one year there is a particular burst of development that is a veritable “social revolution.” But, as groundbreaking research is showing, children later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show observable differences from their typically developing peers by one year of age. Yet far too often children displaying early signs of autism don’t receive intervention until years later. <a href="http://www.cehd.umn.edu/icd/research/ELAB/" target="_blank">Professor</a> <a href="http://www.cehd.umn.edu/icd/people/faculty/elison.html" target="_blank">Jed Elison</a> from the <a href="http://twin-cities.umn.edu/" target="_blank">U of M</a>’s <a href="http://www.cehd.umn.edu/icd/" target="_blank">Institute of Child Development</a>, is one of the researchers leading the charge to improve the lives of children with ASD through early identification and intervention. In this week’s Mom Enough show, he calls us all to become informed on the early signs of autism, advocate for services and reduce the stigma of ASD.<br> <br>  <br> <br> What new information did you hear in this Mom Enough discussion about ASD? If early signs of autism are observable as early as 12 months, why do you think the average age at which Minnesota children with ASD get service is 4.9 years? What can you do to help change that?<br> <br>  <br> <br> For the Elison Lab, <a href="http://www.cehd.umn.edu/icd/research/ELAB/" target="_blank">click here</a>.