After your child has been diagnosed with autism, you may feel as if things will never be the same.
While autism affects the ways in which your child processes day-to-day life, it doesn’t mean they can’t accomplish great things. Learning how to manage autism in your child requires you to understand how the developmental disorder specifically affects your child. There are countless resources and programs that can provide treatment for your child that allows them to eventually achieve not only personal independence, but also a happy life. Whether your child is a newborn or an adult, it’s vital that you view their autism as a difference, not a drawback, and care for them as best as you can.
Therapeutic Treatment
What kind of treatment you provide for your child all depends on their specific needs. Autism is a spectrum disorder, and where your child falls on the spectrum will determine the kind of care they require. Each state has dedicated early intervention programs that are committed to treating autism in individuals. Whether it’s through behavioral treatment, medication, or both, capable specialists are able to gain a clear understanding of how to best treat your child. There are also alternative therapies for autistic children that can be tested by you, the parent. While not all alternative therapies have been fully researched, many parents have had success with them. As a parent, your main goal is to ensure your little one is able to live their absolute best life. Exploring the effectiveness of alternative therapies could make all the difference for your child.
- A gluten and dairy-free diet is a popular alternative approach to reducing negative behaviors associated with autism. Eliminating wheat and dairy products that can significantly affect your child’s behavior could diminish the effect of the disorder to a lesser extent.
- If your child has difficulty sleeping, the natural supplement melatonin has been known to help with persistent sleeping problems.
- Pranic healing is another technique that is utilized by some parents. Pranic healing is a “no-touch” therapy that targets the body and relies on one’s own life force energy to inherently heal itself. Parents have found success with all of these approaches, so it’s possible that you could too. It simply requires you to do the research and provide for your child as best you can!
Again, the effects of alternative therapies will vary from child to child, as no two autism disorders are the same. Check with your local doctor to learn what type of therapeutic treatment your child could benefit from.
Daily Living Activities
The act of performing common day-to-day activities can teach your child the importance of personal independence. While it may be hard to comprehend, simple tasks such as dressing yourself and brushing your teeth are not as intuitive to a person on the autism spectrum. Sensory and behavioral issues can inhibit your child from developing regular patterns easily. Luckily, these issues aren’t permanent and can be corrected with your loving help.
Some other common daily living activities that a person with autism might struggle with are:
- Eating
- Bathing
- Toileting
- Moving around
- Bladder control
Learning to make these daily activities part of your child’s routine is essential to teaching them the values of responsibility and self-care.
As your child begins to grasp the importance of accomplishing these tasks on their own, they will start to understand how to look after themselves and achieve a life full of promise.
It all starts with providing them with all the support, love, and care they need.
Notable Autistic Individuals
Some believe that individuals diagnosed with autism aren’t able to achieve as much as neurotypical people. However, there are many figures throughout time who have proved that autism doesn’t negate one’s ability to accomplish something incredible. Your child possesses a unique set of skills and traits just like everyone else, so of course they’re able to succeed! Here are a few notable figures who’ve been able to not only succeed, but thrive.
- Temple Grandin is a professor of animal science at Colorado State University and is an activist who advocates for the humane treatment of cattle and other livestock. Temple wasn’t diagnosed with autism until her 40s, but she didn’t let that stop her from continuing to make important contributions to the bovine industry.
- Daryl Hannah, a popular actress who has appeared in Splash, Kill Bill, and Blade Runner, was diagnosed with autism when she was a child. Though she received poor treatment during her childhood, Daryl learned to overcome many of the obstacles that she faced and has had a successful acting career in return.
- Most notably known for his visually captivating films and unique style, Tim Burton has also learned to manage his autism and establish himself as one of the most influential directors of our time.
Managing autism is something that diagnosed individuals learn to deal with in different ways. As a parent, the most good you can do is create an environment for your child that celebrates, not diminishes, their disorder. By providing your child with proper treatment that centralizes on correcting their specific issues, they are more likely to achieve personal independence and take pride in what they set out to accomplish.