Autism Prevention: Can Autism Be Prevented?

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects people for their entire lifetime. There is no cure for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), only ways to treat the symptoms.

Since autism is not a disease or illness, there is no medication that will get rid of it or prevent it from occurring. There are also no blood tests or medical examinations that can be easily done to diagnose it.

Instead, diagnoses are done through observations of a person, and based on the common signs, symptoms, traits and behaviors that they exhibit.

In recent years, a lot of research has been done on autism, and it has helped us understand many different aspects of the disorder. One of those aspects is the potential causes of it.

This has led many people to question whether autism can be prevented. The answer to that question isn’t so straightforward, so we’ll discuss the different aspects of it below.

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Can Autism Be Prevented?

The quick answer to that question is that no, there is no way that you can prevent someone from developing autism spectrum disorder. However, it might be possible to reduce the risk of a child developing it.

There is no definitive research on steps you can take to reduce the chances of autism, or the success of some of these steps. If you pay attention to the factors that influence the risk for developing autism, though, you might be able to mitigate the risk some.

Even still, autism prevention could be completely out of anyone’s hands. That’s because there are genetic factors that are believed to play a role in autism’s development.

Various studies have revealed that if certain gene mutations or genes are present, a child may be more at risk of developing autism. Not everyone who has these genes or genetic mutations will develop autism, though the studies suggest that the risk is higher if they’re present.

If this is the reason why a child develops autism, there is nothing that could be done to prevent it.

What Risk Factors for Autism Could Be Addressed Preemptively?

Some research suggests that environmental factors could play a role in the risk of developing autism. Some of these have to do with the parents themselves, as well as some other factors having to do with the pregnancy.

For example, one potential risk factor is advanced parental age. Studies are showing that older parents could have a higher risk of having children with autism. Having children at younger ages could, in theory, reduce the risk of developing autism.

There are some prenatal conditions, such as the mother being exposed to some medications or having gestational diabetes, that are also thought to increase the risk of autism. While the mother may be able to control some of these factors, even the healthiest mothers sometimes develop gestational diabetes, for instance.

Pregnancy complications are also thought to play a role in autism risk. This includes infections, complications during pregnancy and exposure to certain toxins. Again, it’s hard to say exactly what mothers should do specifically to reduce these risks.

In general, parents who wish to reduce the risk of autism should ensure the mother takes care of herself and eats well during pregnancy, avoids environmental toxins as much as possible and visits her doctor for regular check-ups.

Even with all of this, though, it’s no guarantee that a child won’t develop autism.

What is the Best Way to Approach Autism Then?

Since autism can’t be prevented, the best thing that parents, caregivers and healthcare professionals can do is be vigilant about the early warning signs of autism. By attending suggested pediatrician well visits, parents can ensure they are working hand-in-hand with their child’s medical team to screen for the early signs of autism.

A typical part of these early routine visits are checks on developmental progress to ensure the baby is progressing as they should. If early warning signs are identified, the child may be sent for further evaluation by a professional who specializes in autism.

The reason why early detection and diagnosis is so important is that the earlier intervention treatment programs can be started, the more successful they are. When children start applied behavioral analysis treatment, or ABA therapy, from a young age, they have a much greater outlook for improvement than when they start later in life.

So, while autism can’t be prevented, there’s much that can be done to treat it from a young age.

Blue Gems ABA Helps Children with Autism Build Skills

Autism can’t be prevented, unfortunately, but there may be some steps that you can take to reduce the risk of your child developing it. That being said, the research on that topic is incomplete at best, and even then, it could be completely out of your hands.

That’s why it’s so important to pay attention for the early warning signs of autism so that you can have your child evaluated by a professional if you believe ASD is a possibility.

At Blue Gems ABA, we have a team of clinical psychologists who specialize in evaluating children for autism and diagnosing them with ASD if appropriate. And if a diagnosis is given, we also have a team of experienced BCBAs who are dedicated to administering ABA therapy on a one-on-one basis.

They will create a personalized treatment plan for your child that’s based around their unique strengths and challenges, helping them to build the social, communication and daily life skills with which they may struggle.

To learn more, please contact us today.