Dorothy, CA – BNI Treatment Centers is a local facility treating mental health conditions in teens. Their latest article investigates how to know if a teen is on the autism spectrum and how parents can help.
“It’s important to know that you cannot develop ASD later in life. Signs of autism are evident at a very early age, though they may appear to ‘worsen’ during adolescence. This is due to the changes happening at this stage in the teen’s life, not any physiological changes caused by ASD.
Adolescence comes with new obstacles and opportunities for growth. Individuals with ASD rarely react well to change, so this fact alone can complicate matters during the teenage years. These signs could also indicate your teen is on the autism spectrum: black-and-white thinking, extreme reactions to disruptions to their routines, misinterpreting social cues and conversations, poor eye contact, difficulties ‘fitting in’ and forming in-person relationships, touch sensitivity, becoming overwhelmed by noisy areas, trouble understanding and expressing their emotions, anxiety, seizures, and difficulty in school,” the article reads.
ASD is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The heritability of ASD is between 80% and 90%, making the genetic component significant. Some genetic mutations can contribute to ASD and aren’t inherited. Evidence also shows that maternal smoking and vaccinations do not cause autism. However, certain environmental factors can contribute to the development of ASD, including parents being older, birth complications such as ischemia (lack of blood flow) and hypoxia (low oxygen), maternal obesity, maternal diabetes, being born via cesarean section, being born prematurely, vitamin D deficiency, the presence of inorganic mercury and lead, and air pollution.
Because autism is something children are born with, the risk factors are the same for teens as they are for any other child. It’s possible for youth with high-functioning autism to mask their symptoms well enough not to receive an autism diagnosis early in life. These symptoms might become more obvious in adolescence due to puberty, increased stress, and other life changes involved in growing up.
“If you suspect your teen is on the autism spectrum but they do not have a diagnosis yet, taking them to a mental health professional is vital. While ASD is not a condition to ‘cure,’ autism treatment can provide these adolescents with strategies to manage ASD and live fulfilling, functional lives. While it’s ideal to start some form of treatment earlier in childhood, it is certainly still effective and important for adolescents as they approach adulthood,” the article continues.
To be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, teens will have to experience at least two of the following signs: repetitive motor movements, speech, or use of objects, inflexibility and irrational insistence on sticking to a routine, extreme fixation on a specific area of interest, or sensory concerns, such as light, touch, and sound sensitivity, indifference to pain or temperature, or a fascination with sensory aspects of the environment. These symptoms must be present in early childhood, significantly impact the teen’s functioning, and may not be attributed to any other condition.
BNI Treatment Centers is a psychiatrist-owned facility specializing in addressing the various mental health concerns adolescents face. The dedicated team combines evidence-based practices and medication management in a small, intimate setting, ensuring each teen receives the individual attention they deserve. With locations along Southern California, they provide a safe space for teens to turn for mental health care.
To learn more about BNI Treatment Centers, call (888) 522-1504 or visit their website.
BNI Treatment Centers: Science-based, evidence-backed, compassion-led.
