April is Autism Awareness Month. Fortunately, in this day and age, most people know what autism is. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) 1 in 68 children in the United States have a diagnosis of autism (http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html), so there is a very high probability that there is a child with autism in your life.
Receiving a diagnosis of autism for your child can be very scary, overwhelming and alienating. Parents start to wonder if their child will ever talk, if their child will ever get married, if their child will be able to find success in school, or if their child will be able to make friends. Heading to the internet will give a wide range of information, ranging from special diets to voodoo magic to different treatment options. Although many people have become well-trained in knowing the early signs and red flags of autism, not many people know what to do after receiving the diagnosis. Awareness is your friend, and offers hope.
Forming a Team
After receiving a diagnosis of autism, it is important to find supportive professionals who can help to guide you in these early stages. A well-formed team consists of:
- a speech language pathologist,
- a special educator with experience working with children on the spectrum
- an occupational therapist, and
- most importantly parents and siblings
Additionally, some parents find it helpful to consult with a neuropsychologist or developmental pediatrician in the early stages of planning their child’s program. This team works together to determine your child’s learning style and decide which type of treatment is best suited to your family’s daily life. It is important to ask questions so that you can best understand how to support your child. Although having a team of professionals is important, you are the one who will be with your child the majority of the time.
Treatment Options
If you have spent any time on the internet, you know that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of treatment options that pop up when you type “autism” into a search bar. The goal of treatment can be to decrease certain behaviors (i.e. hitting, flapping) or increase behaviors (i.e. verbalizing, eye contact). I do not specifically endorse one treatment option over another—the decision to use a specific type of treatment depends on the needs of your child and the results of his educational evaluations. A comparison of different evidence-based interventions can be found here (http://www.autism-society.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ebp-comparison-chart-o.pdf).
Currently, evidence-based treatments include:
Different treatments work well for different children and it may be a process to find the program that works best for your child. Sometimes, a combination of strategies will be the best treatment option for your family.
Similarly, there are a variety of options when it comes to selecting an appropriate setting for your school-aged child with autism. It is important to consider your child’s strengths and weaknesses when visiting these programs and choosing the right learning environment. Parents should go to these visits with questions about class size, support services that are available in the school, and the specific educational approaches being used. Classes come in many sizes, ranging from a class size of 6 students with two adults, to a class with 12 students and 2 adults, and even a general education classroom with 25-30 students and one adult. Some children on the spectrum are able to thrive in a community school, where they are exposed to neurotypical peers throughout the school day and have an opportunity to practice their language and social skills. Other children may find a community school too overwhelming, and a smaller setting would best address their needs. The process of looking for the best setting for your child can be daunting, so it is important that you attend these school visits with a close friend or therapist, and that you are aware of all your options.
Socialization
An important part of any child’s life and in a parent’s experience within awareness is socialization. This is one of the most difficult skills for someone on the spectrum to develop. It is recommended that children with a diagnosis of autism receive many different opportunities to socialize and play with other children. To clarify, this does not mean sending your child to run amongst the neighborhood children in the park. A child on the spectrum needs explicit teaching on how to interact with others and develop their social communication and play skills. The first step in addressing this concern can be a small (2-3 children) social skills group, where a therapist leads the group through different games and activities to increase eye contact, joint attention, and awareness of the surroundings. The therapist will then help the group to “carryover” these skills to more realistic environments, such as the park or the zoo. Children also should have opportunities for play dates with kids with a similar diagnosis, as well as with neurotypical children.
Finding Support
Because the initial diagnosis of autism can be so scary, I always try to help parents find a support group. It can be helpful to hear from others who have gone through a similar situation, and it is also a great way to get additional information on treatment strategies that have worked or social skills groups that are available in your neighborhood. There are a variety of groups out there, including Facebook groups, in-person groups, and Spanish language groups. There are even groups designed specifically for siblings of a child with autism.
Loving Your Child
Even though your child has a diagnosis now, he is still the same person that you have loved from Day 1. You may now be seeing some of your child’s idiosyncrasies for the first time. Sit with your child and play with him in one of his favorite activities, even if you are not receiving any eye contact or verbal responses. As you continue working with your child, you will find the “key” to enter into his world.
Jocelyn M. Wood is a bilingual speech language pathologist in Brooklyn. She has experience working with children from birth-18 who have speech, language and learning difficulties, and strongly believes in family-centered treatment approaches. Jocelyn runs a variety of social skills groups for children and also offers workshops for parents to better understand their child’s diagnosis and treatment options. For more information, go to www.jocelynmwood.com or email jocelyn.m.wood@gmail.com.