Autism services offered in Virtual Office, Columbus, OH
Do you or a child struggle in social situations or appear awkward because of autism? At Source 23 Psychiatry, LLC, in Columbus, Ohio, board-certified psychiatric/mental health nurse practitioner Kimberly Gilbert MSN, APRN, PMHNP-BC, diagnoses and treats patients with autism so that they can live their best lives. Call her office today to book an evaluation or use the online scheduler.
Autism Q&A
What is autism?
Autism is a common condition that affects the ability to interact appropriately in social situations. It can also affect your senses, making your body overly sensitive to sound, light, and touch.
While there’s no cure for autism, getting treatment with Kimberly can reduce its bothersome symptoms. Treatment will help you or your child perform better at work, school, and in social situations.
What does autism look like?
People with autism can exhibit the following traits:
- Social isolation
- Awkward social behaviors
- Having few or no friends
- Speaking in a robotic, monotone voice
- Head banging, rocking, or hand flapping
- High sensitivity to light, sound, and/or touch
- Preferring to be alone
- Lack of eye contact
- Delayed childhood development
- Diminished communication skills
The symptoms of autism range in severity. They can be mild and not very noticeable or extreme, making it challenging to interact appropriately in everyday situations.
What are the risk factors for autism?
While the cause of autism isn’t known, potential risk factors include older maternal age, toxin exposure, or being born prematurely. Boys are about four times more likely than girls to have autism. While there’s no surefire way to prevent it, an early diagnosis and treatment is the best way to minimize troublesome behavior patterns and optimize social and communication skills.
How does my specialist diagnose autism?
Kimberly asks questions to get to know you or your child. She completes a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to assess behavior patterns and social interactions. Kimberly also screens for additional mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. She then tailors a treatment plan best suited to you or your loved one.
How is autism treated?
The standard autism treatments are medication management, behavioral and communication therapies, occupational therapy, physical therapy if needed, and speech therapy. Making lifestyle changes and getting the assistance necessary to thrive at school or work is essential.
Eat nutritious foods, stay physically active, and minimize stressful situations. Set a regular routine that includes getting plenty of sleep.
Kimberly offers therapy as often as needed to help her patients with autism live healthy, happy, and fulfilling lives.
Call the Source 23 Psychiatry, LLC, office today to schedule an autism evaluation or use the online booking feature.
