| It is difficult for autistic children at any age, but | | | | activities, and despite some social difficulties, are |
| the teenage years can be especially challenging. | | | | often difficult to distinguish from other kids their |
| Autism is a disorder that manifests itself with the | | | | age. On the other hand, severely autistic teens |
| individual having trouble communicating and | | | | have a much more difficult time. Many require |
| managing a variety of social situations. Coupled | | | | special schooling and individual care. The vast |
| with this, there are the repetitive behaviors and | | | | majority of severely autistic teens are unable to |
| difficulty with emotional control. The teen years | | | | take care of themselves and rely on others to |
| are perhaps the most social time of our lives. It is | | | | meet their basic needs. |
| a time where teenagers are learning about | | | | Since autism causes a problem in communication, |
| themselves, and are moving rapidly toward | | | | most autistic teens do not learn how to behave |
| adulthood. This is an incredibly social time where | | | | according to sociological norms through |
| what you say and how you act are very | | | | experience. They need to be taught the proper |
| important in the eyes of your peers. This is also | | | | way to behave. The inability to fit into proper |
| precisely the time where autistic teens face some | | | | social situations can be traumatic and lead to a |
| of the most stressful situations of their young | | | | tendency to disengage from a certain situation, |
| lives. | | | | whether it is related to play, school, or work, and |
| Like any teenager, they need help in dealing with | | | | simply leave the situation. This can make it difficult |
| their increasing sexuality. Some people find that as | | | | to raise an autistic teen, especially if they display |
| they reach their teenage years their behaviors | | | | severe symptoms. |
| improve. However, for others their behavior can | | | | There are tons of resources on the web and in |
| worsen as a direct result of the tension and | | | | libraries that can provide you with more |
| confusion associated with this difficult time | | | | information on autism and the teenage years. If |
| It can be at this age that most teenagers | | | | you have an autistic teen living at home, you |
| become aware how different they are from their | | | | know what a challenge it is to deal with the |
| peers. They may notice that they don't have | | | | tremendous problems in communication. |
| many or any friends and that they aren't dating | | | | Oftentimes, it may seem like your own child does |
| or planning for a career. For some, these feeling | | | | not want to be close to you, but you need to |
| of not fitting in can motivate them to learn more | | | | realize that it is the result of their autism rather |
| social skills to better fit in, for others it means | | | | than a reflection on you as a parent. |
| they retreat into themselves even more. | | | | Clearly, having autism as a teenager can be |
| There are different levels of autism. Many people | | | | extremely difficult. If your child is either low or |
| believe that the depiction of an autistic man by | | | | high functioning, there are a variety of resources |
| Dustin Hoffman in the movie "Rain Man" pretty | | | | available through your local school system. Schools |
| much sums up all people with autism. There are | | | | are mandated to provide services for autistic and |
| cases of autism that are along the lines of | | | | other developmentally challenged individuals. It is a |
| Hoffman's character in the film, but there are just | | | | good idea to discuss the routines and procedures |
| as many, if not more, cases of high-functioning | | | | you have in place with officials from school so |
| autistic people. High functioning autistic people can | | | | that the transition between home and school goes |
| be difficult to detect at times. In many cases, | | | | as smoothly as possible to provide your teenage |
| unless you know them personally, you may not | | | | with as much help and support as possible during |
| be able to tell that they have autism. | | | | this time. |
| So what is life like for an autistic teen? This is a | | | | As an essential guide to autism, my ebook |
| difficult question to answer. Again, it depends | | | | provides more details on managing autism and |
| heavily on the severity of autism present in the | | | | many treatment options. To find out more, please |
| teenager. High-functioning autistic teens attend | | | | visit The Essential Guide to Autism. |
| regular and honors classes, are involved in school | | | | |