You may be wondering what your next steps should be now that your child has been diagnosed with autism, which would be entirely reasonable. Although the level of awareness surrounding autism has significantly increased over recent years, very few people are fully prepared when they receive an ASD diagnosis for their child.
However, there is no need to fear as we’ve set out a few steps that might help you understand what happens after a diagnosis of autism:
1. Learn More About Autism.
In general, being a parent comes with a lot of learning opportunities. Being a parent to a child with autism, even more so. You may feel like there are mountains of information and that it may be challenging to know where to start.
Some commonly used terms that you may look into include:
- Terms such as “sensory overload”, “stimming”, “stereotypy”, “scripting/echolalia,” “baseline,” “sensory input,” “prosody”, “compulsions”, etc.
- Labels such as “high functioning,” “low functioning,” “person with autism,” “person on the autism spectrum,” and so much more. These labels are essential as different individuals may prefer a particular label over others. Ensure you know the difference between high and low-functioning autism and remain sensitive to how they are used.
- The types of therapies andiInterventions and their abbreviations. This includes applied behaviour analysis (ABA), individualized education plan (IEP), early intervention plan (EIP), occupational therapist (OC), picture exchange communication system (PECS), sensory integration (SI), functional play, speech-language pathologist, etc.
- Other related terms include the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV-TR), Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD), Rett Syndrome, Asperger’s Syndrome, etc.
2. Prepare For Early Intervention.
There are critical stages in the development of children (especially between the ages of 0-3), and you must start looking into different therapies for your child as soon as you have gotten a new autism diagnosis, especially after diagnosing autism in toddlers.
Remember that early intervention is recommended but that it’s never too late to see if your child can start therapy. It will be beneficial for your child to seek help, no matter what stage of their life they are in.
3. Listen To Your Child and Try To Understand Their Experiences.
As parents or caregivers, we tend to want verbal responses from our children, but as children diagnosed with autism may suffer from developmental delays, it might be more important to focus on their non-verbal cues.
This may help you understand how your child communicates and interacts with others. Giving your child a way to express themselves and be understood can be especially helpful as you prepare your child for speech therapy.
4. Create a Structured Environment.
Autistic children often seek structure and do best when they can adhere to an established routine. It is crucial that you can maintain a sense of structure while also avoiding the encouragement of obsessions and rituals. Obsessions and rituals may include wearing the same clothes continuously, touching certain objects before going to bed, engaging in repetitive movements and obsessions with characters, toys and things.
Having a schedule can help your child throughout the day, but you should leave room for new activities and make small changes as you go. Add extra time to assist in the schedule for unforeseen circumstances and needs of a child with autism.
5. Get Professional Help.
Having the support of professionals can be vital for both parents and children. Because early intervention is an essential part of your child’s social development, it is also crucial that you start treatment as soon as possible after finding out your child has autism.
This may not be everything you need to know about autism, but it certainly is an excellent place to start. Contact the Autism Centre for Kids for more information and resources on what to do if your child has autism. We’d be happy to help!
