What to Do If You Believe Your Child Is Autistic
August 7, 2009
It can be hard to come to terms with accepting that you or someone close to you has a child that is autistic. It is better, however, to start getting them the help and care they need and to start learning more about the condition sooner rather than later. Here are some of the first steps and a little advice you can take if you believe that your child may be exhibiting some of the first and most recognizable symptoms of autism.
Don’t let others persuade you away from seeking out advice. No one knows your child better than you and you know if something is out of the ordinary with how he or she is acting. Don’t let others dismiss your worries as nonsense or avoid getting help because you’re afraid of finding out the truth. You’re going to have to deal with it eventually, so it’s better to know more rather than less.
Research the condition. The best thing you can do for your child, whether you are sure of the diagnosis or not is to research all you can about autism and become an amateur expert on the subject. Go through the M-CHAT questionnaire and see if and where your child may fall within the spectrum of autism. It may not give you definitive answers but it will educate and inform you and give you things to watch out for as your child grows.
Talk to your pediatrician. The first and most important step to helping your child is taking him or her into the doctor to get a professional assessment. Only a professional truly diagnosis your child, and if you feel that your doctor isn’t being supportive of your concerns and offering you the advice and guidance you need then perhaps it’s time to find another doctor.
Get early intervention. If it turns out that your doctor believes that your child may have autism don’t wait to get help. There are numerous organizations out there that can put you in touch with people who can offer your child the best resources to help them develop and learn—things that are better done sooner rather than later.
Don’t forget to nurture your child. Throughout the whole process of diagnosis and analysis of your child, don’t forget that at heart he or she is still just a child and needs your love and support no matter what the outcome. It’s very easy to get caught up in the treatments and forget about the little person in there so spend time connecting and enjoying their company.
This post was contributed by Jill Gordon, who writes about the online nursing schools. She welcomes your feedback at Jill.Gordon25@ yahoo.com
Comments
Got something to say?