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" Diagnosing autism early\u2014and getting the right help\u2014can dramatically affect a child&amp;#039;s prognosis, according to research from the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. In an Institute study, 50 toddlers with autism participated in a group-based early intervention program for six months. Each child spent 10 hours per week in a classroom setting where they participated in activities aimed at encouraging communication (babble or talk) and play with different objects. Half of the children, however, were put in a group that had an extra emphasis on the development of social skills. At the end of the study, all the kids showed improvement\u2014but those who received extra socialization instruction made the most significant advances in speech, eye contact and attention.   Most autistic children aren&amp;#039;t diagnosed until age 3 or 4, but the average age of children at the start of this study was 27 months. That&amp;#039;s why it&amp;#039;s important for parents to be on the lookout for any possible signs of autism\u2014such as delays in talking or babbling, poor eye contact and not responding to being called by name\u2014and discuss them with your pediatrician, says lead study author Rebecca Landa, PhD, director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. If your doctor thinks that autism is a strong possibility, Dr. Landa recommends that parents consider seeking out a specialist who has experience working with young children with social impairments. Helpful resources to begin your search include Autism Speaks and The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.womansday.com/health-fitness/womens-health/advice/a5515/the-benefit-of-treating-autism-early-116827/?src=shelter_footer>