DESCRIPTION

Mark Bertin, MD
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
New York Medical College
Private Practice in Developmental Pediatrics
Pleasantville, New York

Author of:
The Family ADHD Solution: A Scientific Approach to Maximizing Your Child’s Attention and Minimizing Parental Stress

A child who shows signs of disability should be evaluated early. This is important for the child’s long-term progress. Delays in speaking and decreased or absent social interactions are signs that should be evaluated in a young child. Also, child’s failure to point and gesture may indicate social skill delays before the child starts to talk. Children whose disorders are identified early on can be started on treatment that will help them as well as their families. Parenting a child with autism is frequently stressful, and Dr. Bertin also discusses the importance of their self-care. He encourages parents to seek support early on in order to maintain their own health and well-being.