A startling diary reveals the onset of autism

February 11, 2005

Feb. 11, 2005

Hamilton, ON - A meticulous diary kept by a mother of twins has revealed

indicators of autistic behaviour in children as young as six months of age.

The findings are published today in Neurocase.

Mel Rutherford, assistant professor of psychology at McMaster University,

says the diary provides a rare and unprecedented opportunity to observe the

early development of autism. She says the mother of fraternal twins recorded

her observations almost daily for about five years, beginning before the

twins’ birth. She charted the children’s development in speech, social

interactions, growth, and sleep disturbances, unaware that one twin was

autistic until a diagnosis was made at three years of age.

“It appears that children with autism develop normally for six months, and

then begin developing atypically,” says Rutherford. “As typical children

begin to accelerate in social development, the child with autism makes only

minor gains.”

During the first six months, both twins smiled, engaged in socially

responsive vocalization, and showed a preference for family members over

other people. By the age of one, however, the male twin showed less eye

contact, less verbal communication, and less affection toward others than

did his sister. His sleep patterns were also noticeably different from his

sister’s. By the age of two, the boy had developed a fixation on particular

patterns and puzzles; at age three, a child psychologist noted the boy “did

not offer comfort if others are in distress and will not come for comfort is

he is hurt.” The mother’s diary tells of her son’s facial expressions that

ranged from limited to “spaced-out'.

The twins are now 12 years old. Rutherford reports that the female twin is

doing well and read an early draft of Rutherford’s research manuscript. The

male twin “continues to struggle with language development, but is usually a

happy child.” The twins’ mother has started a nation-wide organization that

funds autism research.

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