How Do I Tell Someone Their Child Has Autism?

When your child has autism it can be a very difficult situation to deal with. Oftentimes, parents may suspect there is something developmentally wrong with their child, but consciously coming to grips with the situation can be extremely hard to accept. There are many cases where an autistic child is treated as if he or she is a completely normal child, out of a sort of blind, but wishful thinking, and these situations can be particularly troubling, for parents and child.

If you know someone close to you and you believe their child has autism, it is best that you voice your concerns even if you risk upsetting the parents. The reason being is the quicker a diagnoses is confirmed, the faster interventions and treatment can be started. Simply ignoring the problem will never make it go away. In fact, pretending that a child does not have autism can actually exacerbate symptoms and problematic behaviors instead of redefining and helping to structure them. Raising an autistic child, depending on the severity of the disorder, can be an extraordinarily difficult task that can take both an emotional and physical toll on parents and family members.

However, there are forms of treatment and interventions that can truly help, so the sooner a child is diagnosed the easier it can be.

Basic psychology suggests that when you approach someone about a potentially troubling situation it is better for all concerned if the situation is handled in a gentle manner. Obviously, if you are going to tell someone close to you that you believe their child is autistic, it pays to be sensitive. If you are straightforward and discuss the matter in a calm, sensitive way, you can avert any possible hostility in return. Many parents may react angrily and deny the suggestion their child is autistic, so it is probably a good idea to have some literature with you to back up why you feel their child may be autistic. It is also important to explain the different levels of autism and their effects.

If you are prepared to provide some meaningful information on autism you should first learn as much about the disorder as you can. If you are going to approach parents and suggest a diagnosis of autism, you should know what you're talking about. Furthermore, it is a good idea to be supportive and honest when you tell someone you believe their child is autistic. Remember many people do not fully understand what autism really is, so it will be up to you to be able to explain the disorder and answer any of their initial questions.

In addition, autistic children, like other children with developmental disabilities, have special needs. If you really want to help, you should be ready to provide information on how to access services that address the special needs of the child in question. When a parent faces the fact that her child may be autistic, it can be an overwhelming sensation due to the fact that the resulting changes will be life-altering for the people directly involved.

When you raise your concerns with someone in your family or really close to you, you should always try to do so sensitively - pick your moment and don't just blurt it out at a family gathering or in public. Remember, the news you are going to deliver can be initially devastating. Make sure you know enough so you can answer the majority of questions that will be thrown at you. Most importantly, be yourself and make sure the person knows that you care and are concerned for them and their child.

Try to offer information about methods of treatment that will shed some positive slant on autism. Inform your friend or family member that there are thousands of scientists and researchers working on ways to better treat autism. You should also have a list of resources available. This list can include websites, local clinics, cutting-edge research and anything else you feel can give a realistic, but positive approach to autism. Have a look through the previous posts on the blog for links to sites that could provide a great starting point for a parent learning about autism for the first time.

Rachel Evans writes a Free Autism Newsletter, designed to help families understand and manage autism effectively. To find out how an sign up, click here: Free Autism Newsletter or for more information on signs of autism in a child visit our blog.

Autism: Children in Their Own World, Parents in the Dark

About two years ago, our oldest child was diagnosed with Autism. Without knowing it for sure but suspecting it, my husband tried for about a year to prepare me to the possibility of our son being Autistic. He read and did a lot of research on Autism Spectrum Disorder. As a teacher, I refused the diagnosis as I was afraid of labeling him. As I was a late bloomer myself, I thought that he just needed a bit more time to learn how to walk and talk but as the time went by, I started to have concerns of my own.

During the summer of 2003, I have noticed some negative comments about my son's behavior by people in the park or at the pool. One mother even approached me about the possibility of Autism. At first, I refused this possibility but since then, the idea of Autism started to eat me alive. After all, I knew so little about Autism but just the thought of it sounded just like a prison sentence.

Was it possible that my son's lack of speech was not related to timidity but to Autism? What kind of future would my baby have? What did I do to cause him to possibly be affected by this disorder? Did I do something wrong during my pregnancy? As time went by, questions drowned my mind to the point where I could not take it anymore.

For my son's sake, I needed the help of medical specialists to discover why my son never said the word: "Mommy" to me yet. Either way, I needed to know what was going on and how to help him and make him happy, no matter what the diagnosis would be. I owed that much to my child.

As he had his annual check up with our family physician, I shared my husband's concerns and mine with her. A few weeks later, we received a long and detailed questionnaire about our son's behavior, weaknesses, habits, etc. Then a month or so later, the appointment was given to us. From then on, both my husband Kevin and I went on an eternal roller coaster ride until that day, not knowing what to expect, how to deal with it and more importantly, how would it affect our son's life?

On December 17, 2003 I went to the appointment with my son as Kevin was caring for our young daughter at home. Both my mind and my emotions were a mess. What would this specialist on Autism tell me? How would she test him? When would I find out the results of her tests and observations? Little did I know that on this day, both my son's and family life would change forever. Following a series of tests and observations, done through play while being observed by other medical staff and advisors, the doctor shared the results: "Mrs. Leochko, your son has Autism."

My first reaction was to break down in tears. What had I done to cause my son to be affected by this disorder? The only things that I knew about Autism were that children live in their own world, loosing touch with reality and also, like most people, I had seen the movie. Was my son a little "Rain Man"?

Realizing that I needed to know more about this disorder, my next question was: "What is Autism?" This question was then followed by: "What can we do to help my son?" and "What are the services that can be put in place for him and how do we proceed?" Like any parents newly hit by this diagnosis, several questions followed as well as a shower of answers which were not all assimilated as well as desired since my mind was racing at high speed.

The next step was to inform my husband. He was not surprised and was a lot calmer than me. He comforted me and asked me to look at our son while he was playing, enjoying himself and laughing out loud. He made me realize that we could help our son and that our main goal was to ensure his happiness. On December 22, 2003 two ladies came to meet us to start things rolling to get the services in place as soon as possible for Dasan. As they explained to us, early intervention is crucial as it gives our son better chances in life.

As time went by, services were slowly but surely put in place. Little did we know that our one year old daughter would be also referred and a year later, also diagnosed with Autism. Kaylee is situated higher on the spectrum because of her milder level of Autism while our son Dasan ranges from moderate to severe. It made us realize the difference on the spectrum. In a way, Dasan's diagnosis, help us identify our daughter's Autism at an earlier age: two years old. This way, the services have been put in place even earlier which gives her better chances of progression and a higher quality of life.

Since our son's diagnosis, I must say that both my husband and I have learned a lot about the Autism Spectrum Disorder also known as ASD. As parents of Autistic children, we did not only learn but also have decided to share this precious information with other parents, relatives, teachers or other people involved with individuals affected by the Autistic disorder. How did we do that? By researching information, ideas and also by using our own experience, ups, downs and tips on blogs and websites.

We are no experts and we certainly have no medical degree but as parents which have been living with Autism twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, we thought that at the beginning of this "adventure" all we knew and felt was: "Children in their own world, parents in the dark..." and now we see the light as there is one for everyone.

Autism is a disorder and affects our dealings with individuals with a different perception of life but let me tell you that it does not change the fact that our children are special in more than one way and that we do not only love them as they are but also, we would not change them for the world. The best gifts that we can give them are: love, patience, understanding, support and all the resources and services that can make a difference in their life.

My name is Sylvie Leochko. I am the mother of two children affected by the Autism Spectrum Disorder. If you wish to learn some facts and other information, I invite you to visit our websites: http://autism-spectrum-disorder.com or http://autism.findoutnow.org

Autism Treatment – How Long Do Parents Need To Do Therapies For Their Autistic Children? Part 2 of 2

Posted on 13 July 2010 by autism

Autism Treatment – How Long Do Parents Need To Do Therapies For Their Autistic Children? Part 2 of 2 from Brian Woeller on Vimeo.

In the first part of this 2 part series we discussed how some biomedical interventions for Autism can replace some medications that are used to treat Autism and also just how safe these therapies are. But, there is also no set timeframe to expect when using a biomedical approach. And in speaking about very safe, and well proven therapies, inevitably the gluten and casein free diet is discussed. Some wonder how this diet could be around for so long. Well a good reason is because it works for a good portion of individuals, it does not work for everyone but many, many people see good results on it. On average it is effective for 65% – 70% of the kids I see in my practice and I know other physicians from around the country who have similar results from just implementing the diet alone.

Another important intervention includes supplement therapy because what supplement therapy does is fill in those nutritional gaps. The deficiencies can include things like B vitamins, essential fats, zinc or other minerals, or other vitamins. And when there is a deficiency you do want to supplement for it. Many children with Autism tend to have very limited diets and are not getting the nutrients they need. So it is quite clear as to why you would want to use some specific supplements to support these nutritional needs.

I have a website at www.autismsupplementscenter.com that has a great deal of information on it about supplements. I have videos that I have created on the website where I discuss supplements that are useful for individuals on the Autism spectrum. I also have supplements broken down into categories so you can learn more about supplements that can aid with various issues. For example you can look up what supplements are helpful for hyperactivity or which supplements can aid with sleep problems or which supplements are helpful for constipation. I have created a ton of useful information that is available on the internet. I also do monthly webinars through www.Greatplainslaboratory.com where I cover different topics in regards to biomedical interventions. So there is a lot of information out there to help you improve your child’s quality of life. What you need is to investigate, open your mind and take the time to learn more.

View the original article here