Having your child diagnosed with autism

Having your child diagnosed with autism can be a life-changing event for you and your entire family, but you are not alone. Autism spectrum disorder has been identified in your child. Some parents may be astonished by the news, while others may have anticipated it. Almost all parents who receive this diagnosis for their child, however, struggle to reimagine their kid’s future with this persistent developmental handicap. The essential thing to remember is that, while there is no known “cure” for autism, there is still hope. Your child will be able to learn, grow, and acquire new skills to the best of their abilities. The first and most crucial actions are to educate yourself about the diagnosis, to adapt the child’s home environment to best fit their requirements, and to seek professional therapeutic treatments.

Children with autism diagnosis fall along a spectrum of symptoms, which can range from those who are quite verbal and described as “high functioning” to those who have no language ability and are described as “low functioning.” Your child’s symptoms and abilities will fall into one of three diagnostic levels, indicating the severity and where they lie on the spectrum, thus check the levels first.

Autistic children are more likely to be visual learners than verbal learners. Visual representations of words will help them understand what you are expressing verbally. Children on the autism spectrum may be nonverbal or only communicate in certain contexts, such as at home or in quiet places. This is not to say that your child isn’t attempting to communicate with you. Child with autism communicate in their own way, and they frequently make up words, mimic others, or refuse to establish eye contact when speaking. Nonverbal communication techniques used by children include pointing, gesturing, drawing, writing, and sometimes physically leading someone toward what they want or need. There are communication tools available to help your child communicate without using words, such as smartphone apps, visual communication exchange systems, or voice output devices.

You should look into different therapies for your child when they are diagnosed, however there are therapies that can help your kid acquire core abilities. While early intervention is preferable, it is never too late to find out if your child is a candidate for some therapies, such as occupational therapy, speech therapy and behavioural or physical therapy. They aid in the development of specific goals for the autistic individual. These will involve social interaction, behaviour, and class performance. Occupational therapists provide aid in two ways: evaluation and therapy.

Go for the assessment, autism assessment team may Inquire about your child’s growth, such as when they began talking, and observe how you and your child interact and play. Read any reports from the doctor’s office and the school A member of the team may also pay a visit to your child’s school to observe them in class and during recess. They will consider any physical or mental health issues, including health checks, anything else that may be difficult or affecting how your child have grown and developed.

Article submitted in conjunction with a speech and language pathologist.