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Helping Children With Autism

Duration: 65 minutes

Program ID: 907 | Purchase Price: $105.00 (DVD)

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by a triad of impairments involving a delayed or deviance communication, social interaction and restricted patterns of behaviour. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a collective term that includes Autistic Disorder, High Functioning Autism, Asperger Syndrome and Pervasive Development Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). 

Aetiology is idiopathic but research indicates genetics as the key role and also implicates environmental exposures. Clinically, each child will present differently but all demonstrate core characteristics, approximately 75% will have a concurrent intellectual disability. Diagnosis, made by a multidisciplinary team, can be protracted, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to the appropriate specialists may be limited, however it is the key to accessing appropriate support and intervention services.   
 
Early intensive educational and behavioural intervention in the preschool years has been shown to produce positive outcomes for children and is vital to equip children with the skills needed to participate in school. The minimum requirement for early intervention is 20 hours per week over 2 years for a child to make significant gains.  A recent national Government initiative has increased access to early intervention funding aimed at providing appropriate and adequate access to services and assistance to children and their families. Appropriate school placement is a priority for children and families and ideally is determined by the needs and strengths of each child, however in rural and remote areas this is more often than not determined by choice. 
 
This program discusses diagnosis, early intervention, appropriate referral and the access to services both in the preschool and school years.
 
The August 2009 issue of Australian Rural Doctor features a "How to Treat" section which is based on this program.

Program Presenters

  • Chair: Dr Norman Swan - Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National
  • Mr John Christie - Principal, Giant Steps, Deloraine, Tasmania
  • Ms Christine Kendall - Speech Pathologist, Spectrum Speech Pathology, VIC
  • Dr Natalie Silove - Developmental Paediatrician, Head of the Child Development Diagnostic and Assessment Services of The Children’s Hospital, Westmead Sydney NSW
  • Dr Michael Taylor - General Practitioner, Mount Barker and Medical Director, Adelaide Hills Division of General Practice, SA
  • Mr Anthony Warren - Director Young Children & Families, Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect)
See details of presenters for this program

Learning Outcomes

  • Use a systems based approach to facilitate a diagnosis of ASD
  • Identify early intervention strategies to effectively support children and families who are affected by ASD
  • Identify appropriate referral patterns for children and families with ASD
  • Correctly apply the Helping Children with Autism Initiative MBS Item numbers

Broadcast Dates

This program was first broadcast on the Foundation's satellite network on Tuesday 28 April 2009.

Funding Bodies

This program has been funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.

Accreditation

This program is accredited or endorsed for CPD/CPE by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Royal College of Nursing Australia and the Australian Physiotherapy Association.