| Questions About Autism | | | | Obviously, if you are going to tell someone close |
| When your child has autism it can be a very | | | | to you that you believe their child is autistic, it |
| difficult situation to deal with. Oftentimes, parents | | | | pays to be sensitive. If you are straightforward |
| may suspect there is something developmentally | | | | and discuss the matter in a calm, sensitive way, |
| wrong with their child, but consciously coming to | | | | you can avert any possible hostility in return. Many |
| grips with the situation can be extremely hard to | | | | parents may react angrily and deny the |
| accept. There are many cases where an autistic | | | | suggestion their child is autistic, so it is probably a |
| child is treated as if he or she is a completely | | | | good idea to have some literature with you to |
| normal child, out of a sort of blind, but wishful | | | | back up why you feel their child may be autistic. |
| thinking, and these situations can be particularly | | | | It is also important to explain the different levels |
| troubling, for parents and child. | | | | of autism and their effects. |
| If you know someone close to you and you | | | | If you are prepared to provide some meaningful |
| believe their child has autism, it is best that you | | | | information on autism you should first learn as |
| voice your concerns even if you risk upsetting | | | | much about the disorder as you can. If you are |
| the parents. The reason being is the quicker a | | | | going to approach parents and suggest a diagnosis |
| diagnoses is confirmed, the faster interventions | | | | of autism, you should know what you're talking |
| and treatment can be started. Simply ignoring the | | | | about. Furthermore, it is a good idea to be |
| problem will never make it go away. In fact, | | | | supportive and honest when you tell someone |
| pretending that a child does not have autism can | | | | you believe their child is autistic. |
| actually exacerbate symptoms and problematic | | | | Remember many people do not fully understand |
| behaviors instead of redefining and helping to | | | | what autism really is, so it will be up to you to be |
| structure them. Raising an autistic child, depending | | | | able to explain the disorder and answer any of |
| on the severity of the disorder, can be an | | | | their initial questions. |
| extraordinarily difficult task that can take both an | | | | In addition, autistic children, like other children with |
| emotional and physical toll on parents and family | | | | developmental disabilities, have special needs. If |
| members. However, there are forms of | | | | you really want to help, you should be ready to |
| treatment and interventions that can truly help, so | | | | provide information on how to access services |
| the sooner a child is diagnosed the easier it can | | | | that address the special needs of the child in |
| be. Questions About Autism | | | | question. When a parent faces the fact that her |
| Basic psychology suggests that when you | | | | child may be autistic, it can be an overwhelming |
| approach someone about a potentially troubling | | | | sensation due to the fact that the resulting |
| situation it is better for all concerned if the | | | | changes will be life-altering for the people directly |
| situation is handled in a gentle manner. | | | | involved. |