One of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders today, autism spectrum disorder manifests itself in multiple areas of life, impairments in speech and social interaction, and repetitive behaviors. Autism is a developmental disability characterized by a lack of responsiveness, an inability to relate to others, and difficulty communicating. Children with autism have difficulties communicating, socializing, and learning. Their difficulties adversely affect their ability to function throughout their lives. Perhaps you are hereafter discovering or getting a diagnosis of autism for your child. Parenting autism is not Easy. These parenting tips can ease the burden of raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
7 Tips For Parenting Children With Autism
You’re probably wondering and worried about what comes next after your child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. An ASD diagnosis can be especially frightening to parents because they are never prepared to hear that their child is differently-abled. It is possible that you are unsure how to best support and help your child. The following tips will help you get started.
1. Accepting The Diagnosis
Your child’s diagnosis has probably come to you with a new set of feelings and thoughts. Usually, the very first reaction a parent has is disbelief and denial. Even when you see the obvious symptoms and consult several professionals to confirm the diagnosis, you still think, “There is nothing wrong with my child, or there must be a mistake”. As you adjust to the diagnosis, you may experience some denial as a natural, temporary response. it will take time for you to accept and adjust to the diagnosis. Give yourself time to react to the diagnosis and use this period to process and understand autism.
You will also frequently experience a range of painful and unpleasant emotions such as anger, depression, despair, fear, and anxiety that may overwhelm you and make you worry about the uncertain future. The best way to deal with these emotions is to acknowledge and accept your feelings. Do not try to suppress your feelings, instead take the time to sit back and get support from friends, family, your doctor, or a therapist. Eventually, after having experienced and worked through these emotions, you will likely feel hopeful and begin your journey of acceptance. There will be times when you feel encouraged by your child’s small successes and are positive about treatment and therapy.
Acceptance means recognizing that you have some control over the situation and that, with the right approach, you can help your child live a fulfilling life. You will also learn to accept and deal with your feelings. Once you accept the diagnosis, you will see your child as a person and not as a disability.
2. Educating Yourself About Autism
Know what autism really means. Start learning about autism little by little. As you gain knowledge, you will feel less and less confused and you will be in a better position to make informed decisions. In other words, Learning what Autism is will reduce your anxiety by enabling you to understand what your child’s symptoms are and guiding you to the treatment options that will best suit your child. It will take time, but you will get there. You may turn to the Internet, books, or doctors to gain an understanding of and help for ASD.
The Internet gives you access to an enormous amount of valuable information. However, some information you find on the internet can also be misleading or unreliable. You can find out if your child is eligible for services and funding through a variety of local support groups. Furthermore, several books and E-Resources can be found on websites that are run by people who have ASD to help people learn about their journey and how they cope.
3. Finding The Best Intervention Program:
An autistic individual diagnosed at ten, sixteen, twenty-five, or even forty-five has different therapy and treatment needs than someone diagnosed at age five or six. For example, a toddler may require intensive early intervention to learn to speak. Children with limited social skills all people with Autism Spectrum Disorder are visual learners, so visual strategies will work for all of them. This isn’t true, as some individuals learn auditory. Knowing your child’s preferred sense is helpful. Hence remember, Intervention programs should be tailored to the individual child, taking into account the child’s unique characteristics, strengths, and challenges.
Parental involvement in the intervention as well as setting goals and priorities is important. Your goal may be to help your child achieve his full potential. It may be to address a certain aspect of their lives or a specific area where practical or coping skills are needed. Once you are able to identify your child’s strengths and goals you can search for treatment intervention. The following tips will help you assess the effectiveness of an intervention program you are considering. (The National Research 2001)
- The intervention must begin as soon as possible.
- Each intervention program should be tailored to each child’s unique needs.
- Training and supervision of the intervention program must be provided by a qualified professional team.
- The intervention program should provide for ongoing monitoring of progress
- Progress should be evaluated in every skill area, and alterations to the intervention program should be made when there is no progress.
- Intervention activities must include the child’s active participation
- Structured intervention should be provided to a child for at least 25 hours a week.
- Interventions should be based on evidence-based practices. In other words, the intervention should be scientifically tested and proven to be effective.
4. Managing Your Child’s Behaviour
Dealing with the challenges put forward by autism can be challenging. Focus on how you can manage the behaviors that are the most troublesome for him or her. Doing this is never easy, and sometimes it is downright impossible. However, you are now responsible for this little one, no matter how difficult it may seem. Getting him inline requires your help. You must try to control and eliminate his disruptive behaviors. You can manage problematic behaviors through the use of positive behavior techniques. Practice will help you develop the necessary skills to use these techniques. Information about how to use behavioral techniques can be obtained from the doctor and local autism support groups.
Also, there are a variety of books that can explain everything in an easy language. Organizing activities and creating schedules, incorporating healthy habits, and setting routines for your child can help you reduce your daily life hassles. By doing so, you will be able to introduce and apply positive behavior techniques more easily and effectively. Sometimes you as parents may feel shame about not having the perfect child. Especially in public settings where you may become more anxious about what people will think of your child’s behavior. However, you don’t have to worry about what other people think about you and your child.
In the end, it doesn’t matter. The child you have is adorable. You will feel blessed to be parents to him despite his differences. In addition, you will be respected by a significant portion of those around you when they see you dealing with challenging behavior with patience and ease.
5. Taking Care of Your Family
As you focus on your child with ASD in the first few months or even years after their diagnosis, you may overlook the needs of other family members. However, it is also crucial that you take the time to assess what your family’s needs are, in addition to your own. While taking care of your child with ASD, you may feel overwhelmed by the thought of caring for yourself, your spouse, and other children. We acknowledge it will not be easy for you. You can still take measures to manage your relationship with your family members.
Communication is essential in every relationship. Through communication, all aspects of a relationship can be healed. Take the time to engage in conversation outside of ASD. Talk about other topics that are meaningful to each of you. Discuss the activities and daily routines of your partner. Show you care for them. Share your concerns and feelings. Engage in active listening and express empathy for his or her feelings.
Make time to spend exclusively with each of your children if you have other children. This gives your children a chance to enjoy some time alone with you. Spend time listening to your child. Have fun playing with them and talking to them about their friends, school, or problems. Siblings need to feel that this is their special time when you focus all your attention on them during these times. In addition, you should explain autism to your children in a way that they can understand. Hopefully, your children will understand why you are focusing more on the child with autism, and won’t develop any insecurities.
6. Taking Care of Yourself:
It’s easy to put yourself last on the list of priorities. Don’t do it! You will only be able to care for others if you first take care of yourself. Therefore, it’s important to evaluate your health and well-being periodically and take steps to ensure your physical and mental wellbeing. Relax, take a few deep breaths, or utilize your favorite relaxation technique. Don’t isolate yourself. Get involved with local organizations and socialize with other families who have children with autism or other disabilities. Consider spending some time with other families who are not in a similar situation to you if you feel comfortable doing so. Participate in fun activities and hobbies.
Have fun and laugh often. Spend time listening to music and watching uplifting media. By keeping a positive attitude and a positive mood, you can stay healthy and feel less stressed. Keep your physical health in check by watching your diet and sleeping schedule. Work out or engage in physical activity. Seek help if you suffer from burnout, anxiety, or depression. You may be able to share your caregiving duties with others. It is wise to ask someone else to assist you with these responsibilities, whether it is a family member, a daycare provider, or a friend. There are also respite care and babysitting services available for persons with developmental disabilities and chronic conditions. Such services can allow you to relax and enjoy time alone or with your loved ones.
7. Seeking Help and Support
Make sure you don’t isolate yourself or your child. Be prepared to reach out for support. Invest in creating a strong social network that gives you a sense of belonging, self-worth, and support. Ensure you surround yourself with people from whom you can seek and receive support. Be sure to rely on those who care about you when things get tough. Keeping in touch with friends and family. You need to build a strong relationship with people who love you and are willing to listen and offer encouragement. You can also reach out to parents who are experiencing similar stressors or join an online social network.
Parents of children with ASD are more likely than other parents to experience prolonged stress, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other mental health issues. Contact your doctor or a mental health professional if you feel like you are going through any of these issues. Medication and behavior modifications are very effective in treating such mental health issues.
Reading Recommendations:
Autism in Adults: Symptoms, treatment, and coping strategies