Understanding your child, and getting them the right support early.
Autism refers to a range of conditions characterized by differences in social communication and interaction, repetitive behaviors, and unique strengths. The "spectrum" reflects how widely abilities and challenges vary from one person to the next.
Early signs
- In infants: limited eye contact, no social smiling by six months, no babbling by twelve months, or loss of previously acquired skills
- In older children: avoiding eye contact, difficulty reading emotions, delayed or repetitive speech, strong need for routine, narrow intense interests, and unusual reactions to sounds, textures, or lights
Signs usually emerge by age two or three, and diagnosis is possible as early as 18 months. Early intervention makes a meaningful difference in outcomes.
What we know about causes
Autism develops from a combination of genetic and environmental influences. It runs in families. Vaccines do not cause autism.
How we help
Dr. Shaikh's child and adolescent psychiatry training includes years running specialty clinics at Texas Children's Hospital. We provide diagnostic evaluation, treatment for co-occurring conditions that often accompany autism (ADHD, anxiety, sleep problems, depression, OCD), medication management when appropriate, and coordination with schools, therapists, and pediatricians.