Is My Child Autistic?

All parents want the best for their children — especially where their health is concerned. Even if prenatal care has been excellent, most parents have no idea of the forces shaping children’s development and behavior. Expectant moms dutifully go to each prenatal medical appointment and expectantly count fingers and toes when their child finally arrives in this world. Surprisingly, despite the fact that autism is a neurological disorder, many parents feel guilty — as if the condition is due to poor parenting.

Autism is a developmental disorder that occurs to varying degrees in six out of 1,000 people. It causes an impairment of skills that most of us take for granted, and usually results in behaviors that seem strange to the general public. Living with autism has always been a challenge, but increased understanding of the disorder has led to better treatments and greater acceptance.

The symptoms of autism are usually recognizable by age three, and sometimes much earlier. When detected early, the child can usually benefit greatly from therapy. Depending on the level of impairment, however, an autistic person could have special needs throughout life. Even high-functioning autistics must learn to cope with being viewed as different from normal, people — and that is no small feat.

It’s hard to know exactly what to do if you’ve never been down this road before. Here are some tips to get you going in the right direction –

Understand where your child is on the autism spectrum. The term “autism” is actually used interchangeably with several related disorders, each one with its own characteristics. Some forms of autism are mild enough that they won’t make a big difference in a child’s life, while others require more treatment. If you’re not sure where your child stands, talk to his doctor about it. And if he doesn’t explain it sufficiently, consider seeing another one.

Learn about treatment options. There is currently no cure, but there are many treatment options that can produce favorable results. Therapy can improve an autistic child’s language and social skills, and medication can help alleviate emotional and physical symptoms.

Get support. Raising an autistic child can be very trying, draining parents both physically and emotionally. Counseling and respite care can help parents cope with the challenges.

Make sure the needs of your other children are met. Being the sibling of an autistic child presents its own unique challenges. Siblings may resent the extra attention the autistic child requires, and they may become frustrated with the questions and misunderstanding of others. Making special time for siblings and providing the opportunity for counseling will help them deal with these issues, and maybe even strengthen their relationships with their autistic brother or sister.

Stay informed about new developments in the fight against autism. Autism still isn’t well understood by doctors, but research is beginning to provide some answers and bring forth ideas for new treatments. Staying on top of the latest autism news can give parents hope and encouragement.

Autism management means different things to different people, but its goal is always the same: to improve the individual’s ability to function normally. More autistic people than ever before are achieving some degree of independence, and some are able to take care of all of their own needs. Finding the right combination of treatments can make a world of difference in an autistic person’s life.

Resources: Autism Symptoms: Resources For Parents and Caregivers