[00:00.00]From VOA Learning English, [00:03.24]this is the Health Report in Special English. [00:07.17]Children with autism have difficulty [00:11.50]with social skills and communication. [00:14.89]They often behave in restricted and repetitive ways [00:19.71]and have what seem like abnormally intense interests. [00:25.00]A widely used medical guide will list autism [00:30.28]under a new definition and name, "autism spectrum disorder." [00:36.56]The changes will appear in the fifth edition [00:40.84]of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, [00:46.46]to be published in May. [00:48.85]The "spectrum" represents a group of developmental brain disorders, [00:55.13]ranging from mild to severely disabling. [00:59.71]A milder form commonly called Asperger's syndrome [01:05.08]will no longer be listed as a separate disorder with its own name. [01:10.86]Autism is more common in boys than girls. [01:15.69]What causes it is not clear. [01:19.12]Scientists are studying genes and possible environmental influences. [01:25.65]Doctors usually cannot confirm a diagnosis of autism [01:32.22]until a child is about three years old. [01:35.46]Rebecca Landa is a researcher at the Kennedy Krieger Institute [01:41.09]and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland. [01:45.57]Professor Landa wanted to find out [01:49.00]what differences in development might be seen earlier. [01:53.14]She led a new study that observed 235 babies [01:58.97]between six and 36 months of age. [02:03.74]"At six months of age, [02:05.54]the signs of some risk for developing [02:08.92]communication and social delays, [02:11.75]including autism, include motor delays. [02:15.54]Like when you lay your baby on their back [02:18.12]and you pull them by the arms gently into a seated position, [02:22.30]the baby's head may nod back behind the shoulders, [02:26.19]like poor head control. [02:27.98]So that does not mean that the baby is going to have autism, [02:31.57]but it does mean the baby needs to have some exercises [02:35.05]to strengthen their body. [02:38.28]And when they strengthen their body, [02:40.78]they are better able to play with toys and engage with people, [02:44.47]which then goes on to help them have better outcomes." [02:48.05]By the time a baby is one year old, [02:51.23]signs of possible autism include difficulty in using words [02:56.67]and not looking eye-to-eye or reaching out to other people. [03:01.99]By 14 months, the baby might smile less and use language less. [03:09.61]However, Professor Landa says these signs can be so small [03:14.88]that they might be missed during a short health exam. [03:18.92]"It's important for parents to stay tuned in to their children's development, [03:23.01]and if a parent is concerned about a child's development, [03:26.24]for professionals to listen to them." [03:28.03]The earlier parents notice delays, she says, [03:31.52]the sooner they can begin doing simple things [03:35.25]that may help improve their child's development. [03:38.59]For example: talking to the child about what they are doing, [03:43.47]commenting when the child shows them something, [03:46.85]and playing simple games that keep the child's attention.

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