A Parent's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorder
April 30, 2020
If you have recently learned that your child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, you are likely wondering and worrying about what comes next. Not every parent is prepared to hear that their child has a disorder, and receiving an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis can be particularly distressing. You may be unsure how best to help your child, or feel bewildered by the volume of treatment advice coming at you from every direction. Or you may have been told that autism spectrum disorder is a lifelong, incurable condition, leaving you worried that nothing you do will make a difference.
There are many therapies that can help children gain new skills and overcome a wide range of challenges, from free government services to in-home behavioral therapy and school-based programs, which provide help to meet your child's specific needs and assist them in learning and reaching independence.
When caring for a child with autism spectrum disorder, it is also important to take care of yourself. Being emotionally strong allows you to be the best parent you can be for your child. These parenting tips can help make life with a child with autism spectrum disorder easier.
Do Not Wait for a Diagnosis
As the parent of a child with autism spectrum disorder or a developmental delay, the best thing you can do is start treatment immediately. Seek help as soon as you suspect something is wrong. Do not wait to see if your child outgrows the problem or not. Do not wait for an official diagnosis. Early intervention is the most effective way to speed up your child's development and reduce the symptoms of autism.
What Comes After Your Child's Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis?
Learn about autism spectrum disorder. The more you know about autism spectrum disorder, the better prepared you will be to make clear decisions for your child. Educate yourself on treatment options, ask questions, and participate in all treatment decisions.
Become an expert on your child. Find out what triggers your child's challenging behaviors and what generates a positive response. If you understand what affects your child, you will be better at troubleshooting problems, handling them properly, and reducing daily challenges for the child.
Accept your child. Rather than focusing on how your child with autism spectrum disorder is different from other children and what is "missing," practice acceptance. Enjoy your child's special qualities, celebrate their small successes, and stop comparing your child to others. Feeling unconditional love and acceptance will help your child more than anything else.
Do not give up. It is impossible to predict the course of autism spectrum disorder. Do not jump to conclusions about what life will be like for your child. Like anyone else, people with autism have an entire lifetime to grow and develop their abilities.
How Can You Help Your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Tip 1: Learning all you can about autism spectrum disorder and getting involved in treatment will go a long way toward helping your child. In addition, the following tips will make day-to-day life at home easier for both you and your child:
- Be consistent. Children with autism spectrum disorder have a hard time applying what they have learned in one setting (such as a center or school) to others, including home. For example, your child may use sign language at school to communicate, but not do so at home. Creating consistency in your child's environment is the best way to reinforce learning. Find out what your child's therapists are doing and follow their techniques at home. Explore the possibility of conducting therapy in more than one place to encourage your child to transfer what they have learned from one environment to another. It is also important to be consistent in how you interact with your child and handle difficult behaviors.
- Stick to a schedule. Children with autism spectrum disorder tend to do best when they have a highly structured schedule or routine. Set up a schedule for your child, with regular times for meals, therapy sessions, school, and bedtime. If a schedule change is unavoidable, prepare your child for it in advance.
- Reward good behavior. Positive reinforcement can go a long way with children with autism, so make an effort to notice good behaviors. Praise them when they behave appropriately or learn a new skill, being very specific about which behavior is being praised. Also look for other ways to reward them for good behavior, such as giving them a sticker or letting them play with a favorite toy.
- Create a home safety zone. Set aside a special private space in your home where your child can relax and feel safe. This will involve organizing and setting boundaries in ways your child can understand. Visual cues can be helpful (marking off-limits areas with colored tape, and labeling items around the house with pictures). You may also need to ensure home safety measures, especially if your child is prone to tantrums or other self-injurious behaviors.
Tip 2: Look for nonverbal ways to communicate.
Communicating with a child with autism can be challenging, but you do not need to talk—or even touch—in order to communicate and bond. You communicate through the way you look at your child, your tone of voice, your body language—and perhaps through the way you touch your child. Your child is also communicating with you, even if they never speak. You just need to understand their communication language.
- Look for nonverbal cues. By being conscious and attentive, you can learn to pick up on the nonverbal cues that children with autism spectrum disorder use to communicate. Pay attention to the types of sounds they make, their facial expressions, and the gestures they use when they are tired, hungry, or want something.
- Figure out the motivation behind the tantrum. It is natural to feel upset when you are misunderstood or ignored, and it is no different for children with autism spectrum disorder. Your child may exhibit certain unwanted behaviors, such as screaming or getting angry, to express frustration or get your attention.
- Make time for fun. A child with autism spectrum disorder is still a child who loves fun and play. For children with autism spectrum disorder and their parents, there must be a life outside of therapy sessions. Schedule playtime for when your child is ready for it. Discover ways to have fun together by thinking about the things that make your child smile, laugh, and interact with you. Your child is more likely to enjoy these activities if they are not therapeutic or educational. There are tremendous benefits resulting from you enjoying your child's company and from your child enjoying quality time with you. Play is an essential part of learning for all children and should not feel like work.
- Pay attention to your child's sensory needs. Many children with autism spectrum disorder suffer from hypersensitivity to light, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Others suffer from "under-sensitivity" to sensory stimuli. Find out what sights, sounds, smells, movements, and tactile sensations trigger your child's "unwanted" behaviors like crying, screaming, or others, and what leads to a positive response. What makes your child enjoy themselves? Anxious? Sad? If you understand what affects your child, you will be better at troubleshooting and solving problems, preventing situations that cause behavioral issues, and creating successful experiences.
- Tip 3: Create a treatment plan for your child
The family's role is pivotal in their child's treatment plan, and an essential part of the success of the provided program.
With so many different treatments available, it can be difficult to know which approach is right for your child. Hearing different recommendations from parents, teachers, and doctors may make things even more complicated. When developing a treatment plan for your child, keep in mind that there is no single treatment method that fits everyone. Everyone on the autism spectrum is unique, with different strengths and weaknesses, and always look for treatments that are scientifically proven to be effective for individuals with autism.
Your child's treatment should be designed according to their individual needs. You know your child best, so it is up to you to ensure that these needs are met. You can do this by asking yourself the following questions:
- What are my child's strengths and areas of need?
- What behaviors cause the most problems? What important skills is my child lacking?
- How does my child learn best—through seeing, listening, or doing?
- What does my child enjoy—and how can these activities be used in therapy and to reinforce learning?
- Finally, keep in mind that regardless of the treatment plan chosen, your involvement is crucial to its success.
You can help your child get the most out of treatment by working alongside the treatment team and following up on therapy at home.
Source
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Originally published in Arabic. This English version was produced with AI-assisted translation; the Arabic original remains the reference.
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