Putting all the pieces together: AUTISM
Children with autism have been around much longer than the condition known as “Autism”. All of these children have varying degrees of Autism Spectrum Disorder, which will affect their behavior, communication skills, ability to relate to others, and, in some cases, their ability to learn in the same way as typically developing children.
According to the DSM-IV-TR, to be diagnosed with autism, a person must demonstrate either delayed or atypical behaviors in the following categories:
- Interaction with others (social interaction)
- Communication (response to others)
- Behavior (examples include bizarre or stereotypical behaviors such as hand wringing or rocking back and forth).
Although each child with autism is distinctive, hence all children with autism spectrum disorders have difficulty in varying levels of language and communication, social relationships, response to sensory stimuli, understanding, and absorbing responses, different behaviors a significant delay in social interaction, such as eye contact or facial expression, a communication delay behaviors including stereotypical behavior, such as intense, almost obsessive, preoccupation with objects, they need for routines that are non-functional and ritualistic, such as lining up all the books or food in a certain manner, repeating motor movements over and over, such as finger-popping or hand flapping. Hyperactivity (very active), Impulsivity (acting without thinking), Short attention span, Aggression, Meltdowns, Unusual eating and sleeping habit, Unusual mood or emotional reactions, Lack of fear or more fear than expected, Have unusual sleeping habits
For example, many young children with autism have gaps in their development ranging from learning skills out of sequence to fixation on objects such as a puzzle or a rotating fan.
For no reason, in particular, your child has a few autism-like symptoms, it doesn’t mean he or she has Autism Spectrum Disorder.
The road to an ASD diagnosis can be difficult and time-consuming. In fact, it is often two to three years after the first symptoms of ASD are noticed before an official diagnosis is made.
By 2 years of age, parents start observing the delays in their child which involve the sign and symptoms mentioned above. The most common sign which has been seen early age of Autism is poor eye contact and speech abnormalities.
It is important to understand the development pattern of your child how he attains different reflex on how he achieved and how they integrate. Parents are the keen and principal observers to understand what problems their child faced with toddlers until now.
Learning that your child has been diagnosed with autism is a powerful moment in your life. Suddenly your life may feel very different from what you expected it to be. You worry first about your child and what it will mean for his or her life experiences. You worry about how you and your family will adjust to this in the years ahead. You worry about the day-to-day challenges of caring for your child with autism. This is an important turning point in your life as well as the lives of your child and other family members. Getting emotional support and factual information to help you cope and promote a positive future for your child and family will be critical during this period.
Children with autism need more structural settings to overcome the varying level of problems they faced in everyday life. Children with autism are the same as other children as they also embody individual preferences and styles. However, those preferences are often expressed in different ways.
All we need to remember is that they all need a consistent touch of empathy and correct guidance to uplift their quality of life. With the right support and access to equal opportunities, children with autism can lead happy lives and reach their full potential. Accepting the diagnosis simply means that you are ready to advocate for your child.
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