| If you're considering treatments for your child's | | | | autistic's life, to understand that the behaviors |
| autism or Autistic Spectrum Disorder, you've | | | | that the child displays are not autism. Instead, |
| probably often dealt with problem behaviors. | | | | they are the child's natural way of reacting to the |
| Some of them might be unsettling to you, and | | | | world. This is altered by the autism. The child can |
| some might be disruptive or interfere with your | | | | be taught a more socially acceptable way of |
| child's emotional and social growth. When most | | | | reacting to the world, to a certain extent, but it is |
| parents consider treatments, they do so with the | | | | important to remember that doing so is influencing |
| aim of eliminating or at least minimizing these | | | | the child to ignore their instincts and react in a |
| behaviors. Some parents would even consider a | | | | way that they've been taught to react. |
| child free of the characteristic behaviors of autism | | | | This is not necessarily a bad thing; we can all |
| to be "cured." While altering a child's behaviors | | | | agree that a person who can control their |
| does not change the underlying disorder, it can | | | | meltdowns is a person with an advantage over |
| bring great relief to those around the child and can | | | | someone who can't. But the autism is unchanged |
| drastically help the child get by in the world to the | | | | and the child who controls their meltdown is still |
| fullest extent possible. | | | | experiencing the same overwhelming flood of |
| It's important for parents, and everyone in an | | | | stimuli and emotion as the child who can not. |