• Good NIH Article or Genetic Causes:
  • Rylaarsdam, L., & Guemez-Gamboa, A. (2019). Genetic causes and modifiers of autism spectrum disorder. Frontiers in cellular neuroscience, 13, 385.
• CDC’s Milestone Tracker App
• Act Early Ambassador for Mississippi is Leslie LaVergne 
  • Email: Leslie.lavergne@usm.edu

Speak Up

Speak UP Too

Spinny Wheel

Talking Tom (and others in this series)

Free Candle

Chicken Scream

My Talking Pet

Funny Movie Maker

Voice Changer and Voice Changer Plus

ChatterPix

Decibel

My Friend Daniel Doesn't Talk (Longo)

Leo's Words Disappeared (Bos)

Lola's Words Disappeared (Bos)

Maya, The Brave! (Bos)

Milo, The Brave! (Bos)

Maya's Voice (Cheng)

Sophie's Story: A Guide to Selective Mutism (Joffe)

Learning to Play the Game (Kohlmeier)

Selective Mutism in Our Own Words: Experiences in Childhood and Adulthood (Stutton and Forrester)

o Deficits in nonverbal communication

o Deficits in social and emotional reciprocity

o Deficits in maintaining relationships.

-Restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interest, and activities

o Stereotyped motor and verbal behavior

o Unusual sensory behavior

o Excessive adherence to routines and ritualized behaviors

o Restricted fixated interests

-Symptoms present in early childhood (manifest when social demands exceed capabilities).

*Individuals with a well-established DSM-IV diagnosis of autistic disorder, Asperger’s disorder, or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified should be given the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. Individuals who have marked deficits in social communication, but who’s symptoms do not otherwise meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder, should be evaluated for social (pragmatic) communication disorder.

1. Acknowledge the family as the constant in the child’s life:

2. Build on family strength.

3. Support the child in learning and participating in his or her care.

4. Honor cultural diversity.

5. Recognize the importance of community-based services.

6. Promote an individual and developmental approach.

7. Encourage family-to-family and peer support.

8. Support youth in transition.

9. Develop policies, practices, and systems that are family-friendly and family-centered in all settings; and,

10. Celebrate successes.

-ASD is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.

-ASD is nearly 4x more common in boys than girls.

-About 1/6 (17%) of children aged between 3-17 years were diagnosed with a developmental disability. These included autism, ADHD, blindness, and cerebral palsy, among others.

SCD: "SCD encompasses problems with social interaction, social understanding, and pragmatics. Pragmatics refers to using language in the proper context" (autismspeaks.org). It pertains to both verbal and non-verbal means of communication and includes difficulties with sharing info, matching contexts, managing conversation, and understanding ambiguous language.