Senator Kenneth P. LaValle today announced that legislation he cosponsored to ensure that autism disorders are identified in a timely manner has been signed into law. Beginning January 1, 2009, pediatric primary care providers will be required to screen children for autism spectrum disorders.
While studies have shown that early childhood screening can increase detection of developmental delays and allow for more effective treatment, only one-third of pediatricians screen for ASDs. According to Senator LaValle, the new law requires the Commissioner of Health to establish the best protocols for pediatric care providers to employ early screenings to detect developmental delays, including autism, at regular intervals throughout a child’s development. The guidelines would also facilitate a dialogue between service providers and parents for the purpose of educating parents and provide an appropriate referral mechanism for children who require further evaluation.
A 2007 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report indicated that autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) affected 1 in 150 eight-year-old children (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/). The Autism Society of America defines the disorder as a complex disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and reports that early intervention allows for tremendous progress in children by the time they enter kindergarten (http://www.autism-society.org).
"Physicians and parents are in the best position to detect problems in the physical, social, emotional, and mental development of a child," said Senator LaValle. "This law will help ensure that doctors and parents are working together to identify early signs of developmental disabilities and that parents and children have access to early intervention therapies."
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