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Raising An Autistic Child

Table of Contents

What is Autism
Different Types of Autism
Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders
What Causes Autism
After the Diagnosis
Treatments and Therapies
Treating the Family
Teaching an ASD Child in Public School
How to Teach YOUR ASD Child
ASD and Adolescence
Autism and Holistic Medicine
Language and Speech
At Risk for Autism
Research and Development
When Your Child Grows Up
 What is Autism

Looking At The World From A Different Set Of Lenses

People have long established the norms of society. Long ago they founded

the textbook that will dictate what is acceptably “normal” to the civilization

at large. For most of the time that man has been doing this they have

also branded the things that they encounter and could not understand as

“abnormal.” Only a handful of individuals would actually spend time to

understand the phenomenon that baffles everyone else.

During those times, people were called heretics and blasphemers because

they wouldn't take the answer that the common society was feeding them

so they went to seek out their own answers. While some tried to look for

answers to their questions, some people have all the answers they will

ever need cached in a different lens where they can look at in their own

time and at their own pace.

These types of people are considered as having "special needs" a subtle

way of addressing people that are unable to conform to the standards of

"normal" society. People with special needs are often regarded as people

who are abnormal to the sight of the world because in their own world
everything is peaceful and beautiful as opposed to the "real world" where

"normal people" live. A world of chaos, greed, lack, and suffering.

There are several kinds of developmental disabilities that plague our

society. Most of them are caused by genetic codes of the family or

hereditary flaws to the gene structure. Some are results of threatened

miscarriage and trauma and others are from birth defects due to

substance abuse. One of the most common forms of developmental

disability is autism.

Opening up to autism

Autism is a type of complicated developmental disability that causes

troubles with societal relations and contact. Indications typically start by

age three and can cause interruptions or problems in many diverse skills

that build up from childhood to maturity. Autism hinders a child’s ability to

communicate with other people because of the difference in the

development pace of a person with autism and a normal developing baby.

A person with autism may be a few years behind when it comes to

maturity. Because of this people with autism usually develop inter and

intra-personal skills very late in their life and in some cases never. People
with autism can also experience difficulties exacting their messages,

talking to people, and expressing their thoughts.

In older times, people with autism were said to be the manifestation of the

sins of the family. That meant deformities affiliated with autism were a

very powerful stigma. This is the reason why families traditionally kept

people with autism from plain view of the public because of the possible

dishonor and the shame that befell them back then.

But in modern times, people have begun to realize the importance of

understanding things that baffle and elude us. People who were called

heretics and blasphemers for their quests for answers are now the same

people we look up to for guidance and knowledge. Studies and researches

have been undertaken in the past few decades that may have some light

to shed on people with autism. So far some of the breakthrough

knowledge researchers and experts have managed to come up with is a

table that separates fact from fiction when it comes to autism.

Here are a couple of the myths and the facts that are helpful in

understanding people with autism

Myth number 1: Autistic people are the same in all aspects and ways.
Fact: The only thing that people with autism have in common is the

difficulty in communication. Everything else is a myth. Though they may

have the same problem, autistic people develop different personalities,

emotions, and gestures that make them different from one another.

Myth number 2: Autistic people are emotionless rocks.

Fact: Contrary to popular belief, people with Autism are actually some of

the most emotion filled people you will ever encounter. They can express

love and are surprisingly sweet and very empathic.

Myth number 3: People with autism are different so they should be treated

differently.

Fact: People with autism are not so different from you and me. They can

also build relationships, marry, have children, achieve great things and do

everything that a normal person can do. The only difference is that they

see the world as their beautiful playground and they see life through a

different set of lenses.

 Different Types of Autism

The Multi-faceted Disorder Called "ASD"

Until now, there is no exact factor that causes autism. What the parents

can do is to be alert, vigilant, and observant about their child's

development and behavior patterns in the first three years of life so they

can do the necessary intervention early.

An insight to autism

Autism is probably one of the most common developmental disability that

plagues our society. There are more than a serious number of people who

are affected by autism. These people experience more than a relevant

number of issues concerning understanding and knowledge.

One of the issues that affect people with autism is lack of understanding

for the kind of autism a person has. There are several kinds of autism and

not all them have the same symptoms and characteristics. Most of the

time, these people are victims of over-generalization. One of the reasons

for this is due to the fact that autism in varying levels of seriousness still

counts as autism. Though the gravity of the affliction is different it still

called by its common name.

Dissimilar people with autism can contain extremely diverse symptoms.

Health care givers deemed autism as a spectrum disability, this means it's

a collection of disorders with parallel features. One individual might have

placid symptoms, whilst another may well have grave symptoms. But they

equally have an autism disorder.

Presently, the autism spectrum disorder class comprises:

- Autistic disorder (also called classic autism)

- Asperger syndrome

- Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (or atypical

autism)

These are the three most common kinds of ASD. Though it is not clear yet

if they are the only three kinds of autism or if there some cases where a

combination of two or more of the kinds can be detected.

Classic autism is the autism in its purest form. Unlike in other spectrums,

classic autism is not in combination with other kinds of disorders. Take the

case of the Asperger syndrome, because it can be in combination with

other disorders like learning disorders, the effect of it on its own is not

known.
Classic autism is a stand-alone case of autism that in most cases needs to

be further checked if it's clustered with another disease or disorder. It has

the same symptoms like lack of communication skills, retarded growth,

delayed language skills, antisocial behaviors, repeated mood swings,

repetitive behaviors, awkward habits and monotonous sets of activities.

Other symptoms of people with autism is lack or too much focus,

insensitivity, aloofness, lack of coordination, lack of awareness and lack of

social skills

One of the distinct traits of people with autism is putting things in order,

unraveling them, and then fixing them again. That is commonly mistaken

with obsessive compulsiveness because of its close association. Experts

say that there are several differences between the two. One of those

differences is the repetitive nature of a person with autism's habit. They,

people with autism, would put things in order, take apart, and put in order

again while obsessive-compulsive people cannot help themselves but do it.

Asperger syndrome, on the other hand, is one of the conditions found in

the autism spectrum disorder, this is a group of conditions or disorders

that combines autism and other disabilities with related symptoms. Some

of the symptoms that are shared are difficulties with language and
communication, and cyclic or restraining patterns of views and manners.

People with Asperger disorder comprise autism-like troubles in areas of

social communication and interaction, but have ordinary cleverness and

oral skills. These are the people who we often see as aloof and weird.

Though it is still autism, people with Asperger still have a fair chance of

having a normal life. Asperger condition is more often than not thought to

be the mildest of the autism spectrum disorders. If people with Asperger

disease are treated correctly and monitored properly, they have a very big

chance of getting past the disease.

One of the most distinctive indications of Asperger syndrome is having a

fanatical concentration in a solitary entity or theme so great that the

person pays no attention to other things, matters or feelings. Unlike

several children with autism spectrum disorders, kids with Asperger

syndrome have a propensity to have excellent vocabularies and grammar

skills. But they regularly encompass other language problems, such as

being very exact and having difficulties understanding non-verbal

communications, such as body language.

Other signs of Asperger syndrome may comprise of obsessive or repetitive

routines and rituals, motor-skill problems including clumsiness,

uncoordinated body movements, and delays in the development of motor

skills, social skills and interaction problems evident in their inability to

communicate with other people, sensitivity to various sensory information

like varying levels of light, sounds, textures, and tastes.

Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorders

Special People That Walk Among Us

While we have discussed that there are some people who walk among us

that are not really like us, we need to delve deeper into the specific

symptoms of autism spectrum disorders.

It's not that these people are aliens or anything, it's just that they have

something that we can only hope to understand. These people are the

ones inflicted with developmental disability. These people walk the same

roads, travel the same routes, and mostly do the same things that we do,

but the difference is that they see the world in a different light. Most

people don't understand how it is to walk the road they do.

Though some of the developmental disabilities are easy to spot just by

looking at their physical appearance, Autism is actually not that easy to

distinguish because there are no physical deformities or distinguishing

characteristics that accompany it. So the only way to single out a person

with autism is to know the symptoms or the characteristics of autism.

Knowing the symptoms of this lifelong disorder

There are different signs and symptoms that accompany autism, but there

are some symptoms that are easily distinguishable and there are minor

symptoms that can be found only in some people and not all. There are

main signs and symptoms of autism though, and they are the most

common in all cases.

Communication is one of the most common skills that autism regresses or

under develops and it is also one of the most commonly noticed symptoms

of autism. Communication skills that are affected are both verbal skills

(spoken word or verbal communication) and also non-verbal skills

(unspoken which includes facial expressions, body language, pointing and

smiling and other wordless forms of communication). It is easier to

distinguish the symptom in children, especially children who are still in the

early development stages. Typically children would start learning their

mother tongue by the age of one. Though some cases may vary, a general

truth is that children learn to talk at this young age. Even if some children
are yet to actually utter words, children should employ other forms of

communication at the age of one. Some of these non-verbal forms of

communication are hand gestures, body movement, pointing and smiling.

If children at the age of one do not exhibit any knowledge of such skills it

may be a sign that they do have autism.

Another skill that autism exhibits is a person's social skills, though we can

say that it could be partly because of the lack of communication skills. A

person with autism is usually reserved and unsociable. Oftentimes people

misconstrue shyness and reserve as symptoms of autism. But there is

more to not talking than having autism. The major difference is that

people with autism don't usually choose to be withdrawn. They are

compelled by an unknown force to be solely attracted to their own world.

Though they may engage people in conversation the span of time that

they are focused on the conversation can either be really short or fleeting

on and off. There are other social skills such as sharing deep-seated

emotions with people, comprehension of how others think and feel about a

certain issue and showing concern towards others. Though some of the

symptoms can be associated with other developmental disabilities, the

intensity and the gravity would dictate at what level they are.

Another distinct symptom of people with autism is evident in his or her

habits, mannerisms, or cyclic behaviors, otherwise known as "typecast

behaviors." Habits such as repeating terms or actions, fanatically following

usual actions or plans and playing in monotonous habits is clearly related

to the development of autism. The signs of autism can more often than

not be observed by 18 months. There are a lot of likely crimson flags for

autism - behaviors that may be ciphers or indications of autism. Some

features might denote a holdup in one or other areas of improvement,

while others could be more distinctive of autism spectrum disorders.

These are just some of the most common indicators or symptoms of

autism but these are not the only ones. There other symptoms that are

documented but sometimes they are associated with other developmental

disabilities. Though some of them do occur in most of the developmental

disabilities, these symptoms are some of the most common and are the

most prevalent in the case of autism.

What Causes Autism

As we discussed earlier, there used to be particular stigma attached to

developmental disabilities. When the time came that people started to

realize the actual importance of knowledge and understanding, serious

effort was put into the medical field and studies and researches were
conducted in order to better understand different diseases, plagues,

disabilities and to find the root of the problem so the solution can be

formulated.

Even though many subjects were studied and cases documented, the real

cause or causes of autism is still indefinite. Some experts say that it is

hereditary or it is passed on in the person's genes. Some say it can be

incurred during the pregnancy stage or even in the developmental stage of

the fetus while others say it can be caused by certain vaccines

administered to infants. Though most of these probable causes have some

truth in them, the real source or the singular source or cause of autism is

still undefined.

Possible culprits

Taking a closer look in to the probable causes of autism may shed a little

more light on this gloomy topic. This is also for people to better

understand what is going on in the research field and what has been

uncovered so far.

Researchers around the world are on their toes to know what makes

autism tick and find out what is to blame. The following are just some of
the causes of this long-term disorder.

1. Vaccines can cause autism. There are two speculations that connect

autism and vaccines. The primary theory implies that the MMR (Mumps-

Measles-Rubella) vaccine may be the reason for intestinal troubles leading

to the development of autism. The second theory mentions that a

mercury-based preservative called thimerosal, found in quite a few

vaccines, could be associated to autism. Though they are plausible the

actual effects of the vaccines may still vary in the long run.

2. Genetically imprinted flaws may also cause the disorder. It is highly

possible that autism has a genetic imprint or copy of sorts. Many

researchers have discovered that parents from ancestries with autistic

members are very likely to have autistic offspring. It is also possible that

many families with a single autistic child are at heightened risk of having

more than one autistic child. Autism therefore is concluded to have a

genetic component: Autism can be ruled as hereditary, that means

children with autistic relatives in their family are more prone to becoming

one than children with no autistic relatives. Researchers are on the right

track when it comes to finding out more about genes playing a large part

in having autism, but the final outcome is still pending.

3. The function of the brain. Recent research shows that autistic brains

grow and develop at an unusual rate between the ages of one and two and

then, after that short period of ultra rapid growth, it will slow down again

to a normal person's brain rate growth. Some of the images that doctors

are studying suggest that there are certain areas in the brain noticeably

larger than what is typical. Further study is ongoing to determine if the

differences in brain size could cause autism.

After the Diagnosis

Passing Through And Overcoming The Grief Cycle

Since autism is not a simple condition more help and resources are

available not only for the child but also to those people around him or her

such as parents, siblings, and other family members.

The following are just some of the first few steps to recovery after

knowing the result of the autism diagnosis. These are simple steps but can

aid parents and siblings alike to pass through the grief cycle and overcome

all challenges it will bring to the entire family.

1. Don’t be terrified. Although the thought of autism is quite terrifying,

parents should learn to be more level headed once they have read all the

diagnosis results. It is only common to feel dizziness and weakness over

the diagnosis but there is nothing left to do but to accept it and face the

situation with a positive attitude. Yes, life with a child or a sibling that

suffers from autism will not be easy but it can be better. This happens

when the parents and siblings do not panic and stick together to think of

ways to adjust to the situation.

2. Nothing's changed. It would be better if the family will think that the

child that has been diagnosed with autism is still the same child they love

and care for. Thinking that the child is different will lead parents and

siblings to treat him or her differently. The diagnosis only stated the

medical condition of the child but it does not mean that she or he should

be left behind. Remember that all the good qualities the child exhibits will

always be there. Some things and behavior might change in the future

because of the child's condition. What parents and siblings can do is to

help the child bank on his or her good qualities so he or she can use these

to compensate for the condition.

3. Again, be level headed especially when it comes to taking any action.

Although early intervention is vital, experts say that parents should not

rush into action because this can worsen the condition of the child.
Although it seems appealing to try any therapeutic treatments, don't jump

into immediate action until you have consulted with a professional about

what is best for the child.

4. Enrich your knowledge about the condition. Having enough knowledge

and deep understanding about the disorder can help you accept and

adjust to the situation easier. You can do this by reading various resources

such as books and magazines and by asking questions about what you

don’t understand regarding the condition. By using the internet, parents

and siblings can also now browse for different websites and find a support

group where they can share and exchange ideas on how to manage the

situation.

5. Be aware of the needs of the special child. Determining the child's

needs above all else should be the topmost priority of families who have

member/s diagnosed with the condition. Depending on the level of the

child's autism, the family should be able to list all he or she might need

and provide it.

6. Allot enough time to research possible resources. After determining

what the child needs, parents can now determine what are the possible

treatments that can be used and how accessible it is for the family. You
can do research about the immediate resources and programs offered by

the local government to support your needs.

7. Know the basics and start with it. Today, there are many treatment

options available for children diagnosed with autism. Don’t be

overwhelmed with the more expensive and complex ones hoping that

these are better because they might not be. The most practical thing to do

is start with simple treatment options that are already available,

appropriate, and well-funded. These basic treatment options involve

speech, physical and occupational therapy and other home-based

therapeutic programs especially for young ones.

8. Take it slowly. The burden of autism can only be alleviated by a series

of therapies. But, this does not mean that you should try each and every

treatment and therapy there is at the same time. What you can do is add

therapies and treatments slowly so you can give yourself and the child to

adjust to each session.

9. Try to be positive. The situation is already here and there's nothing you

can do to change it. What you can do is try to be positive about it and try

to live each day as normal as possible especially for the child.

 Treatments and Therapies

"Fixing Up" A Person With Autism

There are many people who are afflicted with autism in the four corners of

our societies. These people walk among us everyday but seeing things in a

different perspective. They see things as if they were walking a different

road within the same road and live in their own little world.

Though it is not their fault sometimes you have to ask yourself, what does

it feel like to live inside their world and see things from a different

perspective?

There are some families that strive to give their special ones the chance to

walk among us. This means that want their loved ones to know the feeling

of how it to be normal.

Possible treatments people with autism can use

Over the years and after painstakingly studying the different kinds of

autism and their gravity, researchers, doctors and experts have come up

with different kinds of treatments to help out people with autism. They've
developed ways of bringing out the normal person from an autistic person

depending on the seriousness of the case.

These treatments are developed carefully so as not to create a rift in a

persons psyche taking them to a point of no return. Some of the therapies

and treatments include medication and work out of different sensory

devices that people have. Some of them include:

1. Use of medication. Some researchers have established valuable effects

of antidepressant drugs such as fluoxetine and clomipramine in adults with

autism. Furthermore, the newer antipsychotic tablets such as Risperdal

and the older treatment haloperidol have been found to be useful,

probably owing to the prevalence of co-morbid disorders in those with

autism. In many cases, quite a few medications may be tried ineffectively,

and painkilling drug treatments might mislay a great deal of their

efficiency for extenuating symptoms later on in life. Distinguishing

between helpful, analgesic, and damaging treatments is not clear-cut. The

repayment of drug usage in autism is doubtful. Crusade groups such as

Autistic People Against Neuroleptic Abuse have recommended that even

though disposition, apprehension and obsessive disorders do take place in

a number of people with autism, autistic people are not commonly

psychotic, apprehensive, miserable or bipolar and they disapprove of the

over-prescription of drugs to take care of these morose psychological

circumstances.

2. Sensory therapy. Developmental neurologists have discovered that

autistic children have a tendency to be hyposensitive and/or

hypersensitive to one or more than a few sensory stimuli, and that their

gross and fine motor skills are more often than not impaired to unstable

levels. These are symptoms constant with Sensory Integration

Dysfunction.

3. Visual therapy. Colored lenses were popularized by autistic writer

Donna Williams in her book Like Color To The Blind and went on to turn

out to be extensively used by people with autism for the visual perceptual

disorder of Scotopic Sensitivity Syndrome. Visual rehabilitation as

established by Melvin Kaplan and others, make use of prism lenses that

warps the child's mental picture, forcing him/her to use his/her focal vision

more prolifically.

4. Auditory therapy. Auditory therapies center on teaching the child to use

his/her sense of audible ranges more successfully in the course of

techniques such as auditory incorporation education. This would help a

great deal in making the child more familiar with the variety of sounds
that they will come across and how they interact with it. Letting the

patient randomly listen to sounds carries out this technique and then they

would match sounds with the maker of the sounds. It's like a game of

matching. Though the theory is quite simple the application is difficult due

to the minimal attention span of most patients.

5. Occupational therapy. Occupational therapy has demonstrated triumph

in helping autistic children deal more effectively with sensory images, use

their five senses more successfully and productively and turn out to be

more conscious of their bodies. Probably the most effectively therapy and

treatment for autism, it employs all of the senses rather than using just

one. The advantage of this is that the patient learns that there should be

interaction between the other senses to make sure that a task can be

accomplished.

Although there are many treatment and therapies available out there, it’s

sad to say that there is no definite "cure" for the disease. But, it does not

mean there's no hope for improvement. Parents can help their children

diagnosed with autism to increase their skills and try to have a life as

normal as possible.

Other treatment options many include different techniques such as a

biomedical approach, behavioral approach and an arts-based approach.

You can try these treatments and therapies but make sure that you

discuss it first with your physician to avoid further complications.

Treating the Family

Having a Normal Family Life After Autism Diagnosis

There is no happy ending after an autism diagnosis unless the child is not

diagnosed with the long tem condition. But, more often than not, autism

diagnosis usually results in positive findings, which make it more

overwhelming for the parents and the whole family.

Being a lifelong disorder that affects human development, autism can

change the life of the entire family in just a snap. Why is that? Because

the emotional and physical demands needed in taking care of the special

child will eventually take its toll on all family members which can make

daily living difficult for everyone.

To be able to maintain a normal functioning family despite the condition of

one of its members, experts say that each and every family member

should have a deep understanding of the disorder and should be willing to

accept and adjust to the demands needed by the situation.

The "treatment" from the family

Since autism is a complex disorder, living with somebody who is

diagnosed with it can be challenging and very hard for the parents and

other family members as well. Studies show most of the parents that have

autistic children show signs of withdrawal from their circle of friends and

other relatives because they need to devote the majority of their time and

energy in taking care of the child.

There are also cases wherein one of the parents needs to stop working to

be able to tend to the needs of the autistic child. Although dealing with

autism can be tiring, draining, and exhausting to the family members

physically, mentally, and emotionally, this is not enough reason to give up

on the child. If help is needed, parents can rely on various support groups

to face the challenges brought by the disorder.

Statistics show that one of the challenges parents face after their child has

been diagnosed with autism is explaining the condition to other family

members, especially to the siblings in order to get support. Below are just

some approaches you can use to explain the condition to other family
members.

1. Accept and understand the situation whole heartedly. Although it is

difficult to accept that your child's life can never be normal like others, the

best way to cope after an autism diagnosis is to recognize the needs of the

child. By admitting that caring for a child diagnosed with autism is

devastating is more practical than making yourself believe it is not

because this will only bring about more stress.

2. Help them understand everything about the disorder. Experts say that

one of the reasons why families cannot function properly after one

member has been diagnosed with autism is that they don’t have enough

understanding of the condition. For the parents, they should understand

and accept the condition first so other family members will follow their

lead. By making other children or members of the family understand the

disorder, they will also know how to adjust to the situation and adapt to

the autistic child's needs emotionally and physically.

3. Give them breathing space. After breaking the news to the family, it is

best that you give them time to absorb the information on their own.

4. Don’t force members of the family to take care of the autistic child if
they don’t want to. Each family member has a life of their own so don’t

force them to dedicate all their time to the autistic child. What you can do

is designate a schedule or task for them in taking care of the child. By

doing this, they will learn to care more about the autistic child without

being forced to do so.

5. Everybody needs a break. Taking care of an autistic child is draining

physically, mentally, and emotionally. Give yourself or a family member a

break by rewarding them a special dish or a treat to the movie theater.

6. Join a support group. By doing this, you can share experiences with

others and vice versa so you can get help. You can also ask other

members of the family for a counseling session.

7. Remind everybody to breathe and relax when the going gets tough.

8. Ask everybody to keep a journal of their own. Here, they can write

down everything they feel and can relieve the stress brought by taking

care of an autistic child.

Teaching an ASD Child in Public School

Educational Resources And Options For Special Children

There is nothing more painful experience for parent or sibling than

knowing that his or her most precious child or beloved sibling is diagnosed

with a lifetime condition such as autism.

Considered as the most common form of developmental disorder in the

group of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), autism is known to affect

people across the globe regardless of race, gender and overall status in

life. Also known as classical autism, this condition is said to affect an

average of four to six children out of 1,000-population and is more likely

to affect males compared to females.

Characterized by evident impaired social interaction problems with others,

autism is known to affect not only the patient's social skills but also his or

her means of communicating whether it is verbal or nonverbal and is

evident in his unusual, routine or repetitive and limited lines of interests

and set of activities.

Studies show that autism can be detected as early as the infancy stage.

Infants who cannot respond to their parents or other people, those who

tend to be absorbed by a certain thing for so long, those who do not

respond when their names are called, and those who shun eye contact

with others have early tendencies of autism.

In toddlers, autism can be detected if the child starts to withdraw from

people, stop communicating with a specific group and develop indifference

to other people. Autism in preschool stage can also be determined if the

child shows difficulty in understanding and interpreting others' thoughts

and feeling, cannot take in social cues from a person like a facial

expression or voice tone and having a hard time showing empathy

because they lack it.

Another distinct sign of autism in children is repetitive activities or

movements like sudden twirling or rocking and recurring showcase of self-

abusive behaviors like heavy banging of their heads and biting

themselves. Delayed speech is also another noticeable symptom of autism

as well as less sensitivity to pain but over sensitivity to various sensory

stimulations such as mild touch or soft sound.

These are just some of the behaviors that lead to autism. While some of

them may seem normal, parents should be very observant of their child's

behavior because the range in impact of these symptoms or behavior can

be extreme and disabling in the long term.

Available resources for special children

Teaching a "special" child can be exhausting and draining especially if the

parents do not know the proper way of doing it. It is indeed a challenging

and demanding task but with various support systems and institutions that

teach proper education, parents and other family members can learn to

adjust and thrive eventually.

Parents with autistic children are not aware that there are so many

available resources for them and for the education of their children.

One of the most reliable public resources to education of an ASD child is

the school. In fact, those schools that have a school system designed for

the ASD child can be an enormous resource and help. In this set up,

teachers who have deep understanding about the disorder and who have

experience in training and teaching them are present to help you guide

the autistic child. In the school, educators and teachers help the autistic

child to build on his or her special skills. By building on the child's interest,

the child is encouraged to show his or her talent in various fields such as

art, music, mathematics, or memory.

Today, there are many special schools that are open for autistic children

that employ trained and qualified staff. But, if your budget cannot afford

this specific type of schooling, you can opt for various public schools that

offer special curriculum for autistic children. Several public schools even

have their respective exceptional education departments so they can

respond to the demands of teaching ASD children by incorporating various

programs designed for their needs.

Aside from schooling, another means of educating ASD children is by

incorporating various alternative treatments such as development of

special diets or by developing a facilitated communication strategy for the

child. Although this approach to teaching an ASD child has not been

proven scientifically, it can be effective for your child. You can also ask

around, especially those parents who have autistic children, on how they

teach their child. Some of the treatments may work for your child but

make sure that you consult a professional first.

Lastly, you can opt for the service of occupational therapists or OTs in

teaching an ASD child because they are trained to teach special children

improve various motor delays such as writing, dressing, cutting, and

coloring.
 How to Teach YOUR ASD Child

The ABCs Of Teaching Social Skills To An ASD Child

Experts say that one of the best things parents can do before they start

teaching their child with ASD is to talk to other parents who are in the

same situation. By doing this, they can get advice on how to effectively

teach ASD children. They can also get some tips on how to teach ASD

children with basic social skills and what effective methods and treatments

can be used. But, before trying any method or alternative treatment,

parents should discuss it with their physician first.

The following are some tips for parents before they start teaching their

children the basic social skills they need to learn:

- Muster lots of patience. Since the symptoms of autism are characterized

with repetitive activities and poor social skills, parents should be patient

with their children especially in behavior management.

- Educate yourself. Read lots of resources about the disorder and how you

can teach your children basic social skills. It will also count if you

familiarize yourself with disability rights so you know what your child's
rights are when it comes to government assistance, education, and

possible benefits.

- Familiarize yourself about Non-Profit Organizations (NGOs) that focus on

autism so you can get help in teaching your child when it comes to social

skills.

- Don’t stop giving the child treatments. Autism affects the child's

language development; that is why you need to continue giving him or her

speech therapy while your teaching him or her other social skills.

- Don't force the special child to do a task. Studies show that autistic

people strongly oppose any changes in their monotonous set of activities

or routine. So it is not advisable for parents to repeatedly drill a task to a

child because it can cause trauma.

The teaching attitude

Teaching an ASD child can be major stressor the lives of parents especially

when they are still confused and frustrated. The best thing to do is to be

the best parent any child could have; patient, understanding, loving,

caring, and persistent. Social skills such as saying "hello," taking turns,
sharing, waiting, listening, potty training, and staying on topic or

practicing reciprocal conversation can help your child to live a normal life

as possible.

The following are just some of the steps on how parents can teach their

autistic children basic social skills.

1. Aim for one skill at a certain time. By doing this, you can promote

understanding and achieve success in the goal of teaching him or her a

specific social skill. It will also be beneficial for you both to break down the

set of targeted social skills and work on that skill individually.

2. Practice positive reinforcement. Rewarding the child in learning the

targeted social skill can do this. Other external reinforcements may be

required to a child's motivation. All you need to do is to explain the

importance of the skill in a easy-to-understand manner.

3. Teach a certain social skill in a 1:1 setting. Autistic children can easily

be distracted by certain things around them so it would be advisable to

teach them in a place where there are no possible distractions in order to

get an initial response.

4. Work on individual skills in different settings. After the child has

mastered a specific social skill, parents or educators should begin teaching

another skill in a different setting. By doing this, the child can differentiate

one skill from another. In order to maintain a specific skill that has been

mastered, verbal praise should be used.

5. Always be consistent. In teaching social skills to special children,

consistency is the main key for success.

6. Take time to evaluate the child regularly. By doing this, you can get

enough information about their personality, weaknesses and strengths.

Once you have all this information, you will know how to teach a specific

social skill to a child.

7. Assess the child's readiness. Before teaching any social skill to an

autistic child, make sure that you already did an assessment about his or

her readiness. This is very important because his or her interest in

learning the social skill will be the main key to be successful in the

teaching process.

ASD and Adolescence

Dealing With ASD During Adolescence

Experts say that autism is a complex mental disorder that requires

extensive and comprehensive evaluation and diagnostic process. Since

autism is a very sensitive condition to label a child, physicians are very

careful in the evaluation procedure.

To review what we have already learned, although distinct behavioral

patterns during infancy count, diagnosis should start at three years of age

if the child exhibits great difficulty in socializing, communicating, or

unusual and restricted behavior.

To prevent the further complications once a family member is diagnosed

with autism, it is a must that parents give their child who show signs of

autism guidance and proper medical attention.

The painful diagnosis process

Diagnosis for autism usually requires two-stage process: the first stage is

based on the "well child" check up which involves developmental and

behavioral screening and the second stage where thorough evaluation and

extensive assessment is conducted by the multi-disciplinary group.

During the "well child" check-up, a developmental screening test is usually

conducted. Here, parental concerns and observations are matched with

that of the physician's in order to screen the child properly. This screening

may include rigorous reviews of various baby albums, videotapes, and

photos of the family with the baby to trace the developmental milestones

of the child. The process includes the use of a specially-developed

questionnaire and various screening instruments such as parent

observation or parent and doctor observation in order to get valuable

information regarding the child’s pattern of behavior and development.

If the child exhibits grave tendencies related to autism in this initial

examination, physicians would require more thorough assessment and

extensive evaluation such as the Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation

which is the second stage of diagnosis conducted by a multi-disciplinary

team composed of professionals such as a psychologist, a speech

therapist, a neurologist, and a psychiatrist.

Only after the rigorous evaluation and thorough assessment of the child's

language and cognitive behavior can the team conclude if the child suffers

from the disorder. If the child does, the group needs to explain to the

parents everything about the diagnosis and the results of the assessment
so they can be well-informed about the condition of the child.

Facing the challenges of ASD during adolescence

Today, there are many autistic adults that were able to overcome their

disability and actually are successful in their respective fields. These

successful individuals were able to make it despite of their challenging

condition because of the proper transition from childhood to adolescence

and to adulthood.

Experts say that the transition of autistic children from childhood to

adolescence is very important because this will determine if they are

capable of pursuing different fields later on. Being a parent of an autistic

adolescent is indeed an exhausting and tiring job, but this is not the time

to show weakness. In fact, this is a very crucial time because you have to

teach your autistic child how to deal with imminent challenges ahead.

1. Social skills. Various social skills such as proper interaction and dealing

with others should be emphasized to autistic adults so they can learn to fit

in to the social community.

2. Sex and sexuality. Educating your autistic adolescent about sex and
sexuality is very important because it can veer them away from possible

sexual abuse. You make them understand who are the authorized people

to touch them or ask them to undress, what is the difference between a

good or bad touch, how to behave in a bathroom, independence inside the

locker room, and the importance of reporting recent events. Parents can

also educate their children about sex and sexuality by being proactive,

speaking technically and concretely about body parts, consistency in

reminding sexual safety, reinforcing appropriate behavior at all times, and

by redirect inappropriate behaviors especially masturbating in public.

3. Physical changes during puberty. Be sure to explain the different

changes in their body and make them understand that these changes are

normal.

4. Hygiene. You can teach them day-to-day hygiene by demonstrating the

basics of hygiene and safety.

5. Getting a college education. You should help them understand the

process of getting a college education such as gaining an admission to a

desired college, moving away from home, managing emergent social

situations and conditions, time management, transportation, and

budgeting, completing a specific course work, securing services needed,

and life after college.

This may sound like a daunting task, but if you have taught him properly

throughout his life this training will be a natural extension of what he has

learned. Remember, patience is the hallmark here.

Autism and Holistic Medicine

Holistic Medication For Autism

Thousands of studies were conducted since the first case of autism was

publicized. Despite all the efforts exerted by so many specialists and

scientists, up until now, they still cannot pinpoint what exactly causes

autism.

According to various studies, the only possible causes of autism, so far,

can be associated with genetics and with the environment. As we have

already discussed, studies show that the number of genes and

irregularities in several parts of a human brain can largely contribute to

autism.

Others suggest that people who suffer from this lifelong condition because
they have abnormal levels of neurotransmitters and serotonin in their

brain that usually lead to delay of standard development of the brain in

early stages. Yet, other studies suggest that parental practices may also

lead to the possibility of autism. But, none of these studies can be

considered as "official" because they still require further research and

findings.

Understanding autism – let’s review

Autism is considered as a severe disorder of communication and behavior

that develops before age three. The most common form of developmental

disorder in the group of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), autism affects

people in all walks of life around the world. Also called classical autism this

condition affects an average of four to six children out of a 1,000-

population and is more prevalent in males rather than in females.

Experts say that there are three major distinguishing behaviors that

differentiate people with autism. These three distinct actions that are

considered common signs of autism include difficulty in dealing with others

included in a social circle, exemplifying difficulties with communicating

with other people and monotonous set of behaviors evident in their

compulsive or limited interests.

Up until this moment, there is no specific factor that can be considered as

a major cause of autism. Many studies suggest that autism can be

associated with genetic and biochemical problems that are related to the

brain. Some say that this disorder can be cause by certain allergies in food

while other look into the possibility of unhealthy parental practices. But,

there is still no definite or known cause for this disorder, which makes it

even harder to cure.

Universal approaches for autism

The following are some of the general holistic or alternative medicine

systems that can be helpful to people with ASD.

1. Homoeopathy. This is a natural and holistic form of medicine that is

based on nature. Homoeopathic remedies are recommend for people with

ASD because with the use of the correct homoeopathic medication, it can

help the patient improve his or her physical, mental, and emotional state.

2. Acupuncture. Developed and derived from China, acupuncture is

recommended for people with ASD because of its potential effect in the

patient's nervous system and on the GI tract. If acupuncture is done and

applied properly, it can heal various nerve damages and can even improve

the patient's gastrointestinal functions.

3. Chiropractic. Because of the adjustments made to the patients' spine

and other body structures, chiropractic is said to help autistic children to

develop positive behaviors by adjusting some of the patient's senses.

4. Naturopathy. This holistic medicine is based on the principle of using

products that come from nature. Naturopathy uses nutritional and natural

medicine in treating patients.

5. Orthomolecular medicine. This approach uses mega dose vitamins in

therapy. But since overdose in vitamins have evident side effects, make

sure that you discuss its possible advantages and disadvantages with a

licensed physician or registered nutritionist.

6. Osteopathy. Just like in chiropractic, osteopathy adjusts the patient's

muscular-skeletal system to improve the function of the brain.

Craniosacral therapy, an osteopathy-related treatment, is usually

recommended to children that have neurological problems such as ASD.

7. Ayurveda and other traditional medicine. Going back to basics,

traditional and natural products have become a trend in the medical field

nowadays. Among these traditional medications, herbal remedies are

being patronageused by more and more people who have illnesses and

even those who have family members that suffer from ASD. Ayurveda

from India and various traditional Chinese medicines are famous in this

category. These holistic medications suggest that appropriate and

balanced diet, healthy lifestyle, and various therapeutic meditations can

help people with ASD cope with their condition. So far, the only proven

benefit of these to autistic people is that they cleanse the patient's

digestive tract.

Language and Speech

Dealing With Language Problems In Autism

It is only common for parents and even other siblings to feel anger, grief,

and frustration when a child or a family member has been diagnosed with

a condition such as autism.

Why is that?

After years taking care of a child, a disorder with no known cause will only
steal the child's chance of having a normal life in a snap. But, no matter

how painful the situation is, this is not the time to lose hope, grieve, and

break down because more than ever, the child needs all the love,

understanding, and guidance he or she can get from the people closest to

him.

Breaking language and speech barriers

Among all these symptoms of autism in children, some parents would

agree that the problems in language and speech is the most difficult to

handle because it closes the possible communication lines between a

parent and a child.

Indeed, repetitive, unusual, and stereotyped use of language by an

autistic child is difficult and frustrating to deal with because it requires lots

of patience. To be able to muster enough patience in dealing with

language problems in an autistic child, a deeper understanding about the

development of language, about the cause of language and speech

problems in autistic children and thorough research about its possible

treatments should be conducted.

In normal children, speech and language starts to develop from age one to
three because this is the time when a baby's brain starts to mature.

Sights, sounds, and regular exposure to language and speech of

surrounding people stimulate this growth in language. But in special

children, this development does not progress maybe because of a wide

range of symptoms that affect the brain that take place before, during,

and after birth. Experts say that these symptoms interfere with the baby's

ability to interpret, communicate, and interact with the outside world.

Studies show that language and speech problems in autistic children

greatly depend on his or her social and intellectual development. In fact,

there are those who can talk about a lot of topics because of rich

vocabulary while there are also those who cannot utter even a single

word. This problem in language of autistic children is not connected to

pronunciation but in the use of language itself because they are having

difficulties in rhythm, intonation and in deciphering the meaning of a word

or a sentence.

Characterized by a high-pitched voice or robot-like speech pattern when

speaking, language and speech problems in autism lead people who suffer

from it to be unresponsive to others' speech and exhibit an inability to

respond when their names are called. Another major language problem in

autistic people is the inability to use pronouns correctly. These language

and speech problems in autism also result in poor eye contact, less

attention span and inability to use gestures to communicate.

Experts say that the most effective means of treating language and

speech problems in autistic children is early intervention through autism

diagnosis. As early as a child is diagnosed with autism, he or she should

be referred to a speech-language pathologist so necessary comprehensive

evaluation of the child's ability or inability to communicate will be done.

From these evaluations and assessment, a specific language and speech

treatment can be designed and slowly administered.

Although there is no single treatment method that can be considered as

standard for improving the communication skills especially the language

and speech problems of an autistic child, experts believe that speech-

language treatment that starts early after the diagnosis can truly be

effective.

Here, specific programs are designed to improve not only the

communication problems of an autistic child but also enhances his or her

pattern of behavior. Experts agree that the treatment must include

periodic and intensive evaluations conducted by a trained individual that

has a specialty in dealing with speech and language disorders in autistic

children in cooperation with occupational and physical therapists.

Many parents resort to use of medication such as vitamin and mineral

supplementation, diets that are specially planned, and psychotherapy but

no documentation can attest to the effectiveness of these approaches. In

fact, the use of medication in treating language and speech problem in

autistic children is discouraged because these can result in more

complicated side effects.

Other alternative treatments for language and speech problems in autistic

people may include detailed behavior modification programs, in-home

therapy, music therapy, and sensory integration therapy.

At Risk for Autism

Unveiling The Risk Factors For Autism

As you now know, one of the most effective means of managing autism in

the family is early intervention through diagnosis. Autism diagnosis may

include two stages: through the initial "well child" check up with a

physician and the through the extensive developmental and behavioral

screening.
In the initial screening, doctors can determine the range, level, and type

of autism in a child. Here, children maybe diagnosed with PDD-NOS if they

show several symptoms of autism but not exactly the symptoms found in

classical autism; they can be diagnosed with Asperger syndrome if the

child exhibits distinct autistic behaviors but has strong language skills;

Childhood Disintegrative disorder if the child grows up normally but

deteriorates when he or she reaches the age of three up to ten years old;

or Rett syndrome evident in girls that withdraw from social interaction,

reverted speech pattern, and severe wringing of her hands.

If the child exhibits grave tendencies related to autism in this initial

examination, physicians would require more thorough assessment and

extensive evaluation such as the Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation

which is the second stage of diagnosis conducted by a multi-disciplinary

team composed of professionals such as a psychologist, a speech

therapist, a neurologist, and a psychiatrist.

In order to diagnose if a child indeed suffers from autism or any other

types of ASDs, this multidisciplinary group must conduct a scrupulous,

painstaking, and conscientious neurological evaluation as well as an

extensive mental and speech assessment.

The autisms risk factors

The term "risk factor" refers to an element/s that may increase the

possibility of having a specific condition or disease. The following are just

some of the risk factors for autism.

1. Pregnancy. Many studies believe that autism can greatly be connected

to the condition and development of the fetus during the mother's

pregnancy because. Some of the risk factors for autism in pregnancy may

involve the baby's breech presentation, the low Apgar score of the baby

after first few minutes of birth, and those babies born 35 weeks or below.

Problems during pregnancy or after delivery such as the presence of a

mild yet highly contagious illness usually caused by a virus called

"rubella," increases not only birth defect but increases the risk of autism.

2. Genetic factors and parental psychiatric histories. The parents' history

of mental conditions or affective disorder such as various forms of

schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, and psychoses contributes to

the possibility of producing a child with autism.

3. Age. Babies aged three and below can suffer from autism if they show
symptoms of the disorder in the earlier years of their life and are not able

to overcome these symptoms.

4. Gender. Studies show that boys are more common to suffer from

autism compared to girls. However, girls who are affected by autism are

prone to more serious cases of autism.

5. Existing medical conditions. Experts say that children who have existing

medical conditions such as rare and uncommon genetic disorders are more

prone to suffer from autism. Diseases that increase the possibility of

autism in children include Tuberous Sclerosis, Cytomegalovirus, Fragile X

Syndrome, Neurofibromatosis, Herpes Encephalitis, Phenylketonuria or

(PKU), and Moebius Syndrome.

6. Conditions such as epilepsy. People who suffer from a disorder that

involves recurring seizures called "epilepsy" have increased possibility of

developing autism. Characterized by lost of consciousness, convulsions or

unusual jolting muscles and abnormalities in emotional state or absence of

sensation, experts say that the aftermath of epilepsy contributes to

autism.

Up until now, there is no known cure for autism. This is the reason why
parents are encouraged to be observant and mindful of their child's

development and behavior especially in the first three years of life.

Pregnant women are also advised to take the necessary and extra effort

before, during, and after the pregnancy to ensure that the fetus develops

well inside the womb before birth. Parents with children that suffer from

various medical conditions especially those with rare diseases should also

prepare themselves for the possibility of autism in their child.

Research and Development

The Continuing Saga In The Possible Causes And Treatments Of Autism

Experts say that among the diseases and disorders people that occur to

people, autism is considered as one of the most poorly understood.

Having read thus far, you can begin to understand why that is. The

reason behind this poor understanding is because the disease itself is

complex and it becomes more complicated when other people who don’t

have enough understanding and knowledge about it have to deal with a

person who is diagnosed with it.

Characterized by a difficulty in communication and the inability to develop

social skills, autism has a wide range of symptoms and severity. Behaviors
that can be associated with autism include impairment in the ability to

have friends with people of the same age or other peers, difficulty in the

initiation or sustenance of conversations, impaired imaginative skills and

social play, stereotyped language use, limited interests, abnormal

intensity, preoccupation, or focus with a specific object, and unyielding

devotion to monotonous routines.

Advancements and developments in autism

In order to treat autism and other ASDs, doctors and scientists continue to

conduct various research and study regarding the development, causes,

and more effective treatments in autism. The following are just some of

the studies, researches, and new developments autism, its causes, and

treatment options and alternatives.

- Studies on the cause/s of autism. Countless studies are being done

simultaneously around the world that trace the possible causes of autism.

Most of these studies are focusing on various factors such as

environmental and genetic areas to determine the possible cause of the

disease.

- Studies on autistic toddlers that are high-functioning. These studies

focus on measuring the capability and development of autistic toddlers by

giving non-verbal tests that involve the use of computers to get

information.

- Research on testing children who have autistic siblings. There are also

researches that focus on children raised alongside autistic children in the

hopes that they can somehow contribute to the betterment of their autistic

sibling.

- Studies on the possible effects of mercury exposure on children with

autism. Ongoing studies focus on the possible effects of mercury exposure

in autism. This is done to know if various environmental factors can cause

autism.

- Studies on the age of children to be diagnosed. Various studies are also

being done to determine which age is the most ideal to undergo an autism

diagnosis. This is done to gather information, which are crucial stages and

phases where a child's character and personality is formed.

The following are just some of the studies that may contribute to the

treatment of autism:
1. The Auditory Preference Research.

In this specific research, auditory preference is said to allow early autism

diagnosis in children. Done at the Yale Developmental Disabilities Clinic,

this research aims to transform the common approach of physicians to

autism through the provision of a research on earlier diagnosis of the

disease. This research offers revolutionized means of thinking and treating

the disorder by giving the patients auditory stimuli. By using these

auditory stimuli, the doctors can determine the sound preference of the

autistic child. It reveals that autistic children prefer structures that have

speech-resembling sound rather than those sounds created by normal

people.

2. Research on the link of Regressive Autism to Autoimmune Enteropathy

This research indicates that the regressive type of autism can be linked to

an autoimmune basis such as autoimmune enteropathy. The research says

that children suffering from regressive autism have good response to

enteric therapy. It also says that various autoimmune mechanisms can be

potential avenues for regressive autism treatment in the future.

3. Study on the effect of Risperidone in treating children suffering from

autism

Here, the drug "risperidone," responsible for treating of schizophrenic

adults, can also be used to children with autism because it can reduce

various extreme behavioral symptoms. The study says that risperidone

evokes positive response in autistic children especially in treating various

behavioral disturbances, delayed speech and language development,

coping with aggression, irritation, and tantrums.

4. Research on Glutamate Neurotransmitter system abnormalities linked

to autism

This study says that post-mortem abnormalities in the brain linked to the

glutamate neurotransmitter system can be responsible for autism. It says

that people who suffer from autism may exhibit particular abnormalities in

their AMPA-type glutamate receptors as well as in the glutamate

transporters that go to the cerebellum. These abnormalities can result to

the possibility of the disorder.

5. Research on the effect and varying plasma fatty acid levels in children

suffering from autism.

This study says that phospholipid fatty acids are important for the

structure of a person's neuronal cell membranes responsible for

modulating fluidity and function of membrane. Through this study, it was

found out that varying changes and levels of fatty acids metabolism can

lead to some psychiatric diseases.

When Your Child Grows Up

When A "Special" Child Grows Up

Some of the symptoms of autism may be undetected or unrecognized in

children that are mildly affected by or with those who are handicapped.

That is why physicians advise parents to be observant of the behaviors

their children exhibit so early intervention can be made after the

diagnosis.

A deeper understanding of autism diagnosis – let’s review

Experts agree that early intervention via diagnosis is one of the most

effective means of handling autism. This diagnosis is usually divided into

two stages that include the "well child" check up and the thorough

developmental and behavioral screening.

In the first stage, various screening instruments are used to get

information regarding the status of the child in terms of socialization and

communication development. Some of these screening instruments

include the " CHAT" or the Checklist of Autism in Toddlers, the "M-CHAT"

or the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, the "STAT" or the

Screening Tool for Autism in Two-Year-Olds, the "SCQ" or the Social

Communication Questionnaire meant for children ages four and older, the

" ASSQ" or the Autism Spectrum Screening Questionnaire, and the "CAST"

or the Childhood Asperger Syndrome Test.

If the child show tendencies of autism after the initial examination, the

physician would recommend an in-depth assessment and extensive work

up called the "Comprehensive Diagnostic Evaluation" where a multi-

disciplinary team composed would conduct several tests.

In order to diagnose if a child indeed suffers from autism or any other

types of ASDs, the group will conduct a conscientious neurological

evaluation as well as an extensive mental and speech assessment. The

comprehensive evaluation usually includes neurological and genetically-

based assessments combined with intensive language and cognitive

examination. Here, diagnostic measures that include "ADI-R" or Autism

Diagnosis Interview-Revised, the "ADOS-G" or Autism Diagnostic

Observation Schedule and the "CARS" of the Childhood Autism Rating

Scale.

Growing up

Experts say that parents that have autistic children should prepare them

for the challenges that will face them as they grow up. For effective and

successful explanation of the things mentioned, parents need to explore

various tools, resources, options, and ideas to make the process of

preparing the child easier. The following would discuss the advantages and

disadvantages of teaching and preparing autistic children for the outside

world.

1. School and schooling. There are cases of autism and ASDs that are

highly functional and enables the person to acquire education, even a

college education for that matter.

PRO: This can help your child to acquire more knowledge and a chance to

live a normal life. School and schooling can also help him or her to pursue

a career after college.

CON: You're child might be teased and bullied by other normal kids. When
this happens, your child's behavior will be greatly affected because the

traumatic experience in school will be on his or her mind. Make sure that

the school environment has a developed curriculum for ASD children.

Otherwise, it is not advisable for him or her to go there.

2. Teach the child the needed social skills.

PRO: This is a very good way of preparing your child to other groups

within the society. Social skills such as greeting, listening, waiting, and

maintaining a conversation can help the child meet and make new friends.

CON: Teaching and enforcing these social skills without assessing his or

her readiness may pressure the child and oppose whatever you're

teaching. Make sure that the child is willing to open up to the social

community before you enforce various social skills.

3. On sex and sexuality.

PRO: It is very important to educate your autistic child about sex and

sexuality to avoid possible sexual abuse. Make them understand what is

the difference between a good and bad touch, the proper behavior inside a

bathroom, and who can ask her or him to undress.

CON: Unless you want to confuse your child, parents should talk straight
when teaching about sex and sexuality, especially in explaining body

parts. Don’t be too vague or complicated in explaining things about it

unless you want your child to explore it on her or his own.

4. Physical changes during puberty.

Explaining the physical changes from childhood to adulthood is a good

thing to avoid fear and confusion to the child.

PRO: By doing this, your autistic child will slowly understand that the

different changes in their body are normal and not something to be afraid

of.

CON: They might explore it on their own especially in public. Proper

guidance should be given at all times.

5. Hygiene.

This is important to keep them clean and away from possible allergies or

diseases.

PRO: Teaching them day-to-day hygiene will make them understand the

importance of being clean and near. You can do this by demonstrating the
basics of hygiene and safety.

CON: They might use various hygiene products the wrong way that could

lead to allergy or accident such as being poisoned.