Focus on the Family® Middle East - What Parents Need to Know About Autism

What Parents Need to Know About Autism

By Dr. Meg Meeker

Over the past few decades, the number of children diagnosed with autism has increased significantly. This may be due to better diagnosis or to the expansion of the definition of autism. Dr. Meg Meeker discusses what parents can do if their child is diagnosed with autism.

ASD, or autism spectrum disorder, has gained a lot of attention over the past decade. Whether you are a parent of a child with autism or have a friend or family member who is, it is important to know some key facts about ASD.

What is ASD?

Autism is a neurological and developmental disorder that manifests itself on a spectrum according to the severity of symptoms. What we previously only called autism we now refer to as autism spectrum disorder because of the wide range of symptoms. Typical behaviors in children with ASD include:

Problems communicating and interacting with others
Limited interest or activities
Lack of or delay in language development
Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms, such as hand flapping and twirling objects
Little or no eye contact
Lack of interest in peer relationships
Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
Persistent fixation on parts of objects

The list above is not comprehensive, and I encourage you to visit some of the websites listed at the end of this article for a more complete picture of ASD.

Autism differs from one child to the next. Severe symptoms include developmental delay, difficulty performing simple tasks or inability to talk. Less severe symptoms include social awkwardness, difficulty showing affection, flat affect or discomfort when making eye contact with others. All children with ASD may exhibit repetitive behaviors, appear aloof or have difficulty with affection.

What is the difference between Autism and Asperger’s?

Asperger’s syndrome is technically no longer a separate diagnosis but is now classified as part of the autism spectrum. The symptoms of Asperger’s are similar to those of more severe autism, but they are milder (you may hear it referred to as high functioning autism.) In fact, this can make Asperger’s harder to diagnose.

Symptoms can include:

Poor eye contact
Social awkwardness
Missing social cues
Showing few emotions
Speaking in a monotone voice
Difficulty with change
Repetitive behaviors
Fixations on certain things (food, clothes, games)
Focus on rules

Children with Asperger’s may not be diagnosed until they are older because many people have very mild symptoms. Some people aren’t even diagnosed with it until adulthood.

Is the prevalence rising?

In the United States, ASD affects 1 in 59 children. It is four times more common in boys than in girls. The prevalence of autism in the U.S has risen. We don’t know if this is due to better diagnosis or expansion of the diagnosis to include girls and boys with severe autism all the way to the Asperger’s syndrome. Nonetheless, in 2000, 1 in 150 children were diagnosed with autism – almost three times fewer than the CDC reports today.

What should you do if you suspect your child is on the ASD spectrum?

First, write down a list of behaviors that concern you. Then make an appointment with your pediatrician to vocalize your concerns. Ask for a longer appointment than usual so your doctor can do a careful exam and take a thorough developmental history of your child. If your doctor isn’t sure if your child has ASD, ask to return to the office in two months for reevaluation or ask for a referral to a physician who is well versed in diagnosing ASD. The earlier you can get a diagnosis, the better. Then you can start early intervention.

During the early years of your child’s life, particularly the first two years, visit your pediatrician regularly. Part of each exam is for checking your child’s development and picking up any subtle delays.

Often, an outside observer can pick up subtle issues that a parent can’t see simply because they are with the child all the time. The opposite can also be true. Parents may pick up signs very early. I have had parents tell me that at 4 months of age, they knew something about their child was different.

How do you get a proper diagnosis?

First, as discussed above, go to your pediatrician for an evaluation. Usually, a seasoned pediatrician can make the diagnosis and recommend professionals in the area to help your child.

You will probably also need to see a pediatric neurologist to have your child’s nervous system evaluated. In addition, you should have a child psychiatrist evaluate your child.

If your child is very young, discuss the timing of these visits with your pediatrician. You may need an occupational therapist to help your child with sensory issues or other special needs. Finally, you may need to consult a nutritionist or dietician. Many children with autism are picky eaters and can have difficulty taking in enough calories. Certain medications used for attention or hyperactivity issues may diminish your child’s appetite.

If you have a local ASD support group or association, join it. Parents who have dealt with ASD and professionals who have invested their careers in treating it will be valuable. They can give you guidance on all the best resources in your area.

How is ASD treated?

While we don’t know what causes autism, it is best to diagnose it early so children can receive help. Treatment of autism varies according to available services in your community, but it revolves around psychosocial intervention, specifically Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy. Many physicians add medications to the treatment, but psychiatrists or developmental-behavioral physicians should be the ones to prescribe the medications.

Some parents and professionals advocate changing a child’s diet. Some avoid dairy while others remove gluten, vegetables or certain proteins. I’ve heard stories of children with ASD being unable to tolerate certain foods. Many parents manipulate their child’s diet to see if anything helps. I have had parents tell me that eliminating corn, dairy, gluten or adding natural supplements has improved their child’s symptoms.

These stories may be true. The problem is, we don’t have solid scientific research to back any of these claims. If you read that a specific dietary change or supplement helped someone’s child, remember that the story is anecdotal. The change that helped them may do nothing for your child. A parent may adamantly insist that something caused or helped their child’s autism, but usually the change coincided with the diagnosis of autism or new autistic behaviors.

My reason for discussing these isn’t to discourage or malign parents who do these things, but to explain that while a change helped one child, it may not help other children. When parents try every technique others offer, they can end up running down dozens of bunny trails to no avail. Parents may come to believe that they have control over their child’s disease and blame themselves for failing to find the specific antidote. This only leads to frustration and guilt.

You should get support for yourself and your family so you can share resources and concerns and discuss frustrations. Some parents prefer to lean on friends and family for support, and this is great. But many parents find it helpful to join autism support groups. It is critical for all parents of children with ASD to create a strong support system.

Raising autistic children, regardless of the disorder’s severity, presents tough challenges for parents. One of the worst things you can do is isolate yourself and your child and refuse good support, so reach out to your local autism network and visit some good national organization sites to find answers to your questions.