Posts Tagged ‘Autistic Child’
Autistic Children At Home – How To Understand Them Better
An autistic child in the family may news that is met with a variety of actions; some family members may be sympathetic, others distant or disappointed and still others turning up thier noses. However, every parent is bound to feel hurt when their child is regarded less than normally by others and to help such parents of autistic children deal with indifferent or unreceptive relatives and neighbors, we cover some tips here.
At times, a family member may display inappropriate or even unkind behavior towards an autistic child in a certain situation and parents need to be prepared to handle the incident in a mature and informed manner since many a time the person concerned may either be unaware of their reaction or the hurt they are causing or simply need to be educated about the child’s disorder.
Familly members may not quite understand what autism is or what having an autistic child means to the parents; they may even assume wrongly that that the disorder is a kind of mental retardation even though many autistic persons are highly intelligent yet simply unable to communicate this in ways others do. These facts about autism need to be explained to people that do not understand the nature and scope of the disorder in context of the child and parents need to be open to allowing such a relative spend a little time with the child under in their presence to help them see the effects of autism and the methods used to cope with the child.
Familiarity with the condition and information regarding best ways to treat the child coming from the parents are the best ways relatives can learn desirable behavior to be displayed towards an autistic child and help them be supportive towards the situation.
Openly discussing and answering queries friends and relatives may have about an autistic child and how to treat him or her will help bring about a better understanding besides reducing feelings of guilt, fear, lack of knowledge in dealing with spending time with the child or any embarassment over acceptable behavior as perceptions change through mutual regard brought about by parents explaining the disorder and the child’s traits.
Prejudices held by relatives can be overcome only through healthy interaction and an awareness brought about by the parents encouragement of spending time with the autistic child as children are a blessing in any form and autism only a disorder that can be treated through love, patient understanding and support of family members. Parents must not shy away from talking about their personal needs vis a vis thier special child and how a support network can benefit the child’s personality and development, but if acceptance and love is not forthcoming from family members, parents can join support groups outside and continue to shower their child with love regardless of approval from such people.
Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/autistic-children-at-home-how-to-understand-them-better-709425.html
Treatment in Cases of Autism
Treatment for autism cases is quite variable this days. Choosing a specific way of treating someone is done according to some factors : the behavior of the patient, the development stage in witch he is and possible medications that that person can take. In trying to treat children with autism parents and doctors must do the best they can with what is available for them. Each child must have a specific program just for him in order to have a good chance of combating the disease.
Beginning to treat the most early of symptoms is very crucial in all patients; left untreated some behaviors may later on need extreme measures. It is well documented that children with autism may at one point or another start developing aggresive behaviors. The most early of treatments is needed if chances exist in preventing medication usage later on or even institutionalization.
The family must be very strong and organized when dealing with autistic children. The members must try the best they can to make the child change its behavior and not the other way around. If the family becomes behaviorally disrupted chances for the child patient to ever become normal and to be accepted is society drop drastically.
Sometimes family members must be quite harsh or severe in their attempts of changing the behavior of the autistic child. Still they must do their best in changing any particular behavior pattern in the child that is potentially correctable. This days certain treatments exist in facilitating the patients cure. This way they can use treatments that include ABA, either speech therapy or behavioral therapy and of course special education.
The medication use in autistic children must also be researched ahead of time because the reaction to the drugs can be very unexpected and different from other drugs. Each drug has its specific role in combating this awful illness. In the cases of hyperactive children some drugs are available to reduce their physical activities and thus improve the attention span towards education and treatment.
Certain aggressive compulsive behaviors may be treated by administering antidepressants. This kind of medicine greatly increases the levels of serotonin in the brain of the patient. Studies have showed that in comparison to other placebo treatments, the usage of antidepressants has proven very effectiv. They are considered to be the safest medication available now.
Different treatment do exist at this time and they include integration training, vitamin and mineral treatments and some injections that have yet to be revealed. Cases have been known where children suffering from this disease improve spontaneously. Studies must be done in order to see better if the changes where as a result of treatment or just an abnormal reaction of the autistic patient.
For greater resources on Autism or especially about autism symptoms please click this link http://www.autism-info-center.com/autism-symptoms.htm
Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/treatment-in-cases-of-autism-111779.html
How to Detect Autism in your Child
Parents obviously want the best for their children and always want to make sure that they are as happy as possible, as well as being as healthy as possible. One of the things that parents should watch for, however, is signs that their child might be suffering from autism or autistic spectrum disorder. The signs of this disease are not immediately obvious compared to a cut finger or bruised knee.
The signs of autism, if you are watching for them, are best to be discovered before the child reaches 1 year old. When caught early, the chances of minimizing the effects of autism are dramatically reduced. Even at very young ages such as a few weeks to a few months, you may be concerned if the child has little or no responsiveness to external stimuli, perhaps seems oblivious to parents or caretakers in the same room or holding them. As they get a bit older, another sign is a failure to anticipate movement, such as when you walk by or wave your hand in front of them.
As parents wanting the best for their children to be able to grow up and mature in a normal manner, it is important to watch for signs of this disorder, also known as Autistic Spectrum Disorder, as quickly as possible. The effects of this disorder can do serious harm to the child’s social development, social interactions, communication skills with others, and their ability to adapt to new situations, which can even extend to staying with you in a hotel on vacation instead of being in their own bed.
There is also a health risk that is enhanced for children with autism, since studies have shown that the autistic child will develop more slowly than other children of the same age and will also typically be more susceptible to diseases and illnesses such as allergies, some mild digestive disorders, and even respiratory problems.
Some of the signs of possible autism in your child that you should watch for and be aware of would include:
* Responsiveness abnormalities. children with autism do not respond in the same way as children without autism, and frequently do not even respond to hearing their own name. Children with autism are known to virtually ignore certain sounds.
* Attention span. Children with autism are frequently unable to concentrate or focus on objects that are shown to them, and also have problems following movement, such as when a parent walks past them.
* Lack of imitational skills. Autistic children frequently do not imitate their parents with facial expressions or gestures such as waving, smiling, or making faces.
* Poor social skills. People afflicted with this disorder often have difficulty in understanding other people’s feelings, relating to others around them, or even to be able to illustrate compassion for someone else in distress.
* Lack of imagination. Autistic children frequently have problems in playing “pretend games” or using their imagination. Children with autism frequently are unable to see things in a way other than the way things actually are.
It is important to watch for these signs at very early ages during a child’s development, since if autism is successfully diagnosed at an early age, chances are much better that measures can be taken at that very young age to minimize the effects of the disorder.
Jon Arnold
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/how-to-detect-autism-in-your-child-90778.html
Holidaying With Your Autistic Child – 10 Tips That Guarantee A Great Time
Holidays mean a lot of excitement, celebration, festivities and spending time with the family. It might sound very exciting and gala for us, but can be very tedious & overwhelming for an Autistic child. Does that mean that parenting a child suffering with Autism means no holidays at all – Certainly Not!
With a few precautions and tips you can spent a wonderful vacation with your family and the Autistic child. Here are a few points to be remembered:
1. Keep the time span shorter.
Lesser time limit means no over tiring schedules for the child. A lot of emotions & excitement can be a major problem trigger for the Autistic child. Short time span would help him balance himself as it won’t be as overwhelming for the child.
2. Let him pick the activities of his choice.
In case the child is not willing, do not force him to join any activities. For instance, when the whole family is having dinner at the table, your child might not want to join them and rather sit at a calm place to have food. Let him do so, as it would comfort him the most.
3. Stick to your daily schedule as much as possible.
If your child is used to sleeping at 8 in the night, do not keep him awake forcibly for longer hours. In case it is yet unavoidable, try giving him a nap in the healthy nap in the afternoon. Even your family would not like to meet an irritated kid full of laziness. Also, handling a sleepy child would also be a tough job for you as a parent.
4. Distribute the activities over a few days.
It is not necessary to visit all the relatives in a single day. You must tale care that an Autistic child can not handle a lot of new acquaintances together. Give him time and break so that he enjoys the meeting and family atmosphere rather than getting stressed. Even the family would love to meet your child when he is in the right mood and mind frame.
5. Do not drag your child in to long hours of shopping.
Christmas rush in the malls and markets are often pissing off to the adults as well, then how do you imagine your child to tackle it so easily. All the more, a child suffering with Autism would naturally feel uneasy. So, look out for a good qualified care taker and let your child be at home while you are shopping. Else, leave the child with your spouse, or other responsible family member. Even as a parent, it would be tough for you to handle your child in such scenarios.
6. Do not open all the presents at one go.
Kids are naturally attracted to presents and gifts. Their excitement is worth seeing to open the wrapper and unfurl the surprise. These emotions could be too overwhelming for the child and could act as triggers in Autism. Opening a few presents at a time would help your child bare the excitement and enjoy the festivity of Christmas in a better way. Let him relish the few pieces and after a few days open the rest.
7. Do not disturb your child’s diet for the sake of fun.
In case your child is following a special diet plan be firm and re-assure that none of the family members share the restricted food with the child. Some people might be of the opinion that your diet plans are not beneficial or are not worthy enough. You must stick to your decision and follow your beliefs for the benefit of your child.
8. Be with you Autistic child and let him feel the vacations.
Holidays at the core are all about having fun with the family. Do not alienate your child from the group. Include him in the fun and enjoyment along with the rest of the people and let him feel the vacation mood. Be optimistic and thank god for everything in life and make it a point to pass on this optimism to your child.
9. Reward your child for his good behavior during the outings.
Children love to take challenges and win prizes. Reward your child for being good and behaving well while being with the family. This would give him a sense of achievement and drive him to behave better and avoid all sorts of mischievous behavior.
10. Be patient when your child gets stressed out or shows anxiety.
Being a parent, it might cal, for a lot of planning and patience to go out on vacations with your child suffering with Autism. Yet, during holidays, try to forget the problems of daily schedules and have a wonderful time with your kid. Your stress and agitation would surely add to his anxiety and stress. Count on all the good things in life and relax your mind & heart.
Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/holidaying-with-your-autistic-child-10-tips-that-guarantee-a-great-time-709421.html
Holidaying With Your Autistic Child – 10 Tips That Guarantee A Great Time
Holidays mean a lot of excitement, celebration, festivities and spending time with the family. It might sound very exciting and gala for us, but can be very tedious & overwhelming for an Autistic child. Does that mean that parenting a child suffering with Autism means no holidays at all – Certainly Not!
With a few precautions and tips you can spent a wonderful vacation with your family and the Autistic child. Here are a few points to be remembered:
1. Keep the time span shorter.
Lesser time limit means no over tiring schedules for the child. A lot of emotions & excitement can be a major problem trigger for the Autistic child. Short time span would help him balance himself as it won’t be as overwhelming for the child.
2. Let him pick the activities of his choice.
In case the child is not willing, do not force him to join any activities. For instance, when the whole family is having dinner at the table, your child might not want to join them and rather sit at a calm place to have food. Let him do so, as it would comfort him the most.
3. Stick to your daily schedule as much as possible.
If your child is used to sleeping at 8 in the night, do not keep him awake forcibly for longer hours. In case it is yet unavoidable, try giving him a nap in the healthy nap in the afternoon. Even your family would not like to meet an irritated kid full of laziness. Also, handling a sleepy child would also be a tough job for you as a parent.
4. Distribute the activities over a few days.
It is not necessary to visit all the relatives in a single day. You must tale care that an Autistic child can not handle a lot of new acquaintances together. Give him time and break so that he enjoys the meeting and family atmosphere rather than getting stressed. Even the family would love to meet your child when he is in the right mood and mind frame.
5. Do not drag your child in to long hours of shopping.
Christmas rush in the malls and markets are often pissing off to the adults as well, then how do you imagine your child to tackle it so easily. All the more, a child suffering with Autism would naturally feel uneasy. So, look out for a good qualified care taker and let your child be at home while you are shopping. Else, leave the child with your spouse, or other responsible family member. Even as a parent, it would be tough for you to handle your child in such scenarios.
6. Do not open all the presents at one go.
Kids are naturally attracted to presents and gifts. Their excitement is worth seeing to open the wrapper and unfurl the surprise. These emotions could be too overwhelming for the child and could act as triggers in Autism. Opening a few presents at a time would help your child bare the excitement and enjoy the festivity of Christmas in a better way. Let him relish the few pieces and after a few days open the rest.
7. Do not disturb your child’s diet for the sake of fun.
In case your child is following a special diet plan be firm and re-assure that none of the family members share the restricted food with the child. Some people might be of the opinion that your diet plans are not beneficial or are not worthy enough. You must stick to your decision and follow your beliefs for the benefit of your child.
8. Be with you Autistic child and let him feel the vacations.
Holidays at the core are all about having fun with the family. Do not alienate your child from the group. Include him in the fun and enjoyment along with the rest of the people and let him feel the vacation mood. Be optimistic and thank god for everything in life and make it a point to pass on this optimism to your child.
9. Reward your child for his good behavior during the outings.
Children love to take challenges and win prizes. Reward your child for being good and behaving well while being with the family. This would give him a sense of achievement and drive him to behave better and avoid all sorts of mischievous behavior.
10. Be patient when your child gets stressed out or shows anxiety.
Being a parent, it might cal, for a lot of planning and patience to go out on vacations with your child suffering with Autism. Yet, during holidays, try to forget the problems of daily schedules and have a wonderful time with your kid. Your stress and agitation would surely add to his anxiety and stress. Count on all the good things in life and relax your mind & heart.
Abhishek Agarwal
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/holidaying-with-your-autistic-child-10-tips-that-guarantee-a-great-time-709421.html

