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Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Subtle signs may point to autism in child
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
He didn’t play with the other kids in preschool.
He only drinks milk, and doesn’t eat any meat or vegetables.
Initially, friends and family told Laura Jaynes not to worry about Kyle, her 4-year-old.
They’d explain away his atypical behavior and delayed developmental milestones.
He’s just a picky eater, they’d say. He probably has sensory issues that will work themselves out with time, they’d reason. He’s just a boy — slower at developing than girls, they’d suggest.
But in her heart, like most moms, Laura Jaynes knew something wasn’t right, that there was an abnormality to the way he played, learned, spoke and acted.
Last year, a clearer picture emerged. Kyle attended a two-day preschool program at McKendree United Methodist Church. His teacher told Jaynes that he was withdrawn and didn’t play with others. And he was enamored by a stained-glass window.
A school specialist observed Kyle in class. That led to further testing at the T. Carl Buice Center, a pre-k center in Sugar Hill. They didn’t make a medical diagnosis, but specialists at the center told the Jayneses that Kyle exhibited characteristics of a form of autism, a brain disorder.
“I look back now and, though I knew something wasn’t right, I never thought autism,” said Jaynes, a married mother of two in Lawrenceville.
“My only point of reference was ‘Rainman.’ “
Jaynes has since educated herself about the developmental disability. Now, she encourages parents to look for red flags or subtler signs that may suggest mild, moderate or severe symptoms of the disorder.
The earlier the intervention, the better, Jaynes said.
“The longer you wait, the harder it is,” she told me. “Had I not put him in preschool. …”
Autism, says the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is more common than people realize. The agency’s research has shown that about 1 in 150 children have the disorder.
April is Autism Awareness Month, but Jaynes contacted me about May. She wants Gwinnettians to take part in the Georgia Walk for Autism, set for May 19 at Atlantic Station. The event, one of 60 nationwide, will benefit efforts in research and treatment by Autism Speaks, a national organization, and the Marcus Institute, an affiliate of Emory University.
Jaynes has culled together a team called “Miles for Kyles.” Its goal: To raise $10,000 in pledge money.
You don’t have to join Jaynes’ team. Organize your own. Show up May 19 with your walking shoes on for the 3-mile trek at Atlantic Station.
Since August, Kyle has attended a special-needs preschool program at Walnut Grove Elementary in Lawrenceville. Changes, though subtle, have been for the better. He may stay in the program one more year, then move to a regular kindergarten classroom.
“He’s got autism,” Jaynes told me.
“But he’s smart.”
For more information about the Georgia Walk for Autism, visit www.autismwalk.org.
— Rick Badie’s column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail rbadie@ajc.com.
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