DEALING WITH AUTISM

Introduction

Autism is a complex neurological disorder that affects someone’s ability to associate and communicate with others. Autism in itself is not a disease, but rather a general term that covers a group of related disorders collectively called autism spectrum disorders ASDs. This spectrum describes a wide range of symptoms and their severity varies from one victim to another. Any individual diagnosed with a type of autism disorder has some combination of developmental delays. However, the exact combination is what makes a difference among the types of autism.

What are the possible causes of autism?

To be able to effectively deal with autism, it is important we consider its possible causes. Unfortunately, no one is certain about the real cause of autism but the disorder usually appears during the first three (3) years of their lives.

Who Can Be Affected?

A survey conducted by professional health organizations show that about 1 out of every 166 children in America is affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Autism does not only affect children: It can affect anyone, regardless of the sex, age or race. If one member of a family has any type of autism, then the entire family will feel the effect, social stigmatization and the financial problems that will follow.

Who is more at risk?

Everyone, both male and female is at risk of being a victim of autism. But one known fact is that males are about 4 times susceptible to having autism than girls.

Signs And Symptoms Of Autisms

While every autism victim is unique in their own way, the following are some of the major signs and symptoms that can tell if a child is autistic

• Delayed speech
• Difficulty in verbal and non-verbal communication
• Distinct resistance to change in schedule or routine
• An abnormally low threshold for pain
• Self-injurious or aggressive behavior
• Poor social skills
• Abnormal reaction to sensory issues, like touch, sound, smell and even light
• Repetitive actions or activities
• Avoidance in making eye contact
• A tendency to focus on a single object for a very long period of time
• Non-response to their names when called

While some of these signs and symptoms, done independently, may not suggest autism, it is their combinations that tend to send signals that testing would be advised.

How can autism be detected?

There is currently no conclusive laboratory test(s) that can specifically show whether or not a person has autism. There are, however, several traits that autistic people display that can give a clue to the possible presence of autism. Generally, the symptoms of autism are detected in the early years of a child’s life.

Is There Any Cure For Autism?

At the time of this writing, there is no single known therapy for autism. The only thing that can, however, be done is to help autistic victims live a better life.

HOW TO DEAL WITH AUTISM

It is very natural and normal to feel disappointed, emotionally upset and very heartbreaking,
knowing that your child or loved one that used to be flawless and active is diagnosed with autism. It can affect the child everywhere, from home to school, and can even damage a perfectly normal relationship. Overcoming this hurdle is in no way an easy one, which is why you need to learn the effective ways to deal with autism. Bear in mind that there are lots of different levels of care that autistic patients potentially need to receive. While some may need a lifelong care and continuous attention, others may be able to succeed in the real world and lead great lives full of independence.

To deal with autism, you need to first accept the fact that the situation is neither your fault nor that of your child and that there is nothing that could have been done to prevent it. You need to understand that the only way to address the situation is with determination, clarity and utmost dedication. You also need to understand that the only primary help the autistic child need is YOU.

Where To Get Help

• Meet with other people in similar situations

If you have an autistic child, you are not alone. There are several people out there, even in your community who are dealing with the same thing. Meet with them to help each other out, ask questions you are not cleared about, and autism disorder will cause much less pain than it normally would.

• Enroll for a behavioral therapy session

Another way to deal with autism is to immediately enroll the child for a behavioral session with a reliable therapist, who understands your child’s syndrome. They will teach the child about the significance of body language and also how to recognize the meanings in a social setting. You also need to be actively involved in the therapy sessions by learning, watching and applying cognitive behavioral techniques on a daily basis, thus reinforcing positive behavior. Under no circumstances should you quit the behavioral therapy sessions, even if the child has made noticeable progress. Their approach towards coping with this condition has to be constant and their daily practices well-planned to cover playtime and to prevent repetitive, unwanted behavior.

• Read autism books

There is nothing scarier than something you don’t know. By reading as many autism books as possible, you can learn different techniques on how to deal with the various challenging behaviors even so much more than you know from your physicians. You can get lots of books on autism here.

• Seek help from support groups

If you have gotten to a point where you think the child has not made any recovery progress or you feel depressed, helpless or desperate, there are lots of support groups both online and within your locality that can help you cope with the situation. They specialize in helping autistic parents ease lots of the stress of having an autistic child, and you would be able to get some sort of encouragement and support from people who have been there.

Conclusion

Having a child with autism poses lots of challenges that parents are always not prepared to handle. Regrettably, the number of people suffering from ASDs is continuously increasing. Until a successful treatment is discovered, the entire society and parents must go beyond and above to help the autistic by showing them absolute love and care and getting help from support groups. By so doing, the situation can definitely be effectively managed.

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