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Life with an autistic child can be confusing and challenging as well as a joy and pleasure. Autism is short for autistic spectrum disorder, which is a neurological disorder. There are various levels and forms of autism. These levels may vary from a mild case of high functioning autism called Asperger's Disorder, to more severe levels such as Rett Syndrome, which most often affects females on to a rarer form of autism called childhood disintegrative disorder or CDD. Since every individual is different, symptoms of autism will vary from child to child. The most influential factor of being an autistic child is that of communication, both verbally as well as non-verbally, while other core symptoms may include problematic social relationships and interactions, intense focus on a specific object as well as limited interests in activities and play. Although autism is present at birth, diagnoses of most children occur within the first three years of life. Adolescent and teenagers may seem to fall behind in their abilities to understand and relate to others, while they may also develop problems with anxiety, depression, or epilepsy. Autistic adults may or may not be able to live and work on their own, depending upon the severity of their condition. There is an estimation of one out of every 150 children with autism; boys are more likely to have the disability with 1 in 94 boys with autism. With new cases, being diagnosed approximately every twenty minutes or 67 children per day. However, pinpointing a specific cause of autism is still a mystery and there is no known cure. Living with an autistic child can at times be frustrating and challenging, however children with this disorder do function better when keeping with a regular schedule or routine within a safe environment. Sometimes language skills are problematic, at those times it is best to remember that issues such as repeated phrases have meaning for the child and not spoken to agitate the parent. At times, it may seem that there are no strong emotional attachments concerning these children, but at these times keep in mind that autistic children simply have problems with these situations and should be encouraged to join in, while respecting that they become uneasy when large crowds and noise confront them. It is much easier to cope with autism if you remember that these children are different in their personal perception of the world we live in. Coping means trying to remain patient, while communicating with them simply and clearly, and although they may not seem to notice some things, they just might be paying more attention than is perceivable by others and that they have feelings as well as anyone else. There are various means of coping with your own feelings while raising an autistic child. Some things you might like to try are allowing yourself the time to heal; talking about your feelings to someone you trust or even keeping a journal. Maintaining your own schedule is vital as well as joining a support group. There are various types of therapies that are helpful for relieving the stress felt by the child and its family. Every autistic child has some individual level of difficulty relating to interacting with others, communicating or behavioral problems, which influences them in various ways. However, with early intervention and various treatments or programs, some of them are able to function independently while others may always need support in their working and living environments. For more insights and additional information about how to manage your life with an Autistic Child please visit our web site at http://www.autism-explained.com
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autistic child, autism, autistic spectrum disorder, asbergers,
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