Children's Doctors Group Calls for Early Medical and Educational Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorders (1/2)

Last week we reported about new advice on autism from the American Academy of Pediatrics. It said doctors should look for signs of the brain disorder when they examine babies at eighteen months and twenty-four months.

At the same time, the medical group provided new guidelines for care and treatment of children once they are identified as autistic. We promised more information on that part of the new guidelines this week. Autism is a general term for a group of brain disorders that limit the development of social and communication skills. Medical professionals call them autism spectrumdisorders.

Experts say autism is permanent and cannot be cured. But there are ways to treat it that can reduce the severity" class="hjdict" word="severity" target=_blank>severity. The academy says the earlier treatment begins, the better the results. The new guidelines include educationalinterventions, medical care and family support tools.

The American Academy of Pediatrics says young autistic children should enter some kind of learning program. It says such children should be actively involved in the program at least twenty-five hours a week all year long. The group also says it is best if there is a small number of students for each teacher.

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上周，我们报道了来自美国儿科学会关于幼儿孤独症的最新建议。报道称医生在检查十八月和二十四个月婴儿的时，应查找大脑紊乱的症状。

同时，该医学组织提供了一旦被确诊为孤独症患者后，如何护理并治疗孤独症患儿的方案。我们承诺在本周内将提供更多关于新指南的信息。孤独症是一组限制社交技能发展的大脑紊乱综合征的通称。医学专家称为泛自闭症障碍综合症。

专家称孤独症是无法治愈的永久性疾病。但是通过治疗可以减轻其严重性。学会称越早开始治疗，效果越好。新的指南中包括了教育干预、药物治疗和家庭辅助工具。

美国儿科学会称患孤独症的幼儿应该加入一些学习课程。他们必须在整年中每周不少于25个小时积极参与课程。专家同时建议最好每个老师只带几个学生。