Governor’s Column - February 9, 2007
by Governor Matt Blunt
It is Time to Do More for Autism Treatment
As I travel across Missouri, I have visited with family after family that is impacted by autism. Today autism affects more children than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. We must do more to help with early diagnosis and treatment of autism and that is why my budget includes $3.9 million to help the growing number of children with autism.
Autism affects a child’s ability to effectively communicate, impacts their social skills development, and is associated with repetitive behaviors like obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms range from mild to severe and are four times more likely to affect boys than girls. The five Autism Spectrum Disorders are Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder.
Fortunately autistic disorders can be reliably diagnosed very early in a child’s life, sometimes as early as six months. Parents typically are the first ones to notice unusual behaviors in their child’s development. It is important for parents to have their children screened for autism if there are concerns with their child’s development.
Early intervention is vital for children to receive the maximum benefits from current autism therapies. Effective treatment programs focus on the child developing communication, social, and cognitive skills. Today there are no cures for autism and no preventative measures for the disorder. Research shows that early intervention can result in significant improvements for many young children.
We must do more to help effectively treat Missourians living with autism and encourage early diagnosis to help children growing up with the disorder.