Autism Spectrum Disorder: How Can I Help My Child?

The number of children diagnosed as having autism increases annually. Autism, also referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD), is a developmental disorder of varying severity that impacts a person's development, particularly in the area of social interactions. While scientists are not certain what causes ASD it appears likely that both environment and genetics play a role.

Volumes of materials are published with statistics citing the alarming increase of diagnosed cases of autism within our society. The fact is that when a family, school, and community is entrusted with the care of a child with autism, the rewards increase exponentially. It is our job as educators, family, and community members to help each child learn the skills required to interact effectively with others. Family members and primary caregivers are often the first to recognize that a child is having difficulty with interpersonal relationships.

Characteristics of ASD and PDD may become apparent during infancy and the pre-school years. A very young child will often demonstrate difficulty with, or total lack of, early language skills. By the age of one, the infant may not have begun to babble or point at objects. By the age of two, the child may not use one to two word phrases. Often the child will have limited social interests and skills. He or she may not smile, may avoid eye contact, may become engaged in repetitive actions, and may have very specific preferences and dislikes.

School aged children often struggle with forming and maintaining friendships. The child often has difficulty initiating and participating in conversations. Other difficulties include the use of imaginative and interactive play. Language patterns may be repetitive and unusual. Often there is a fixation with specific objects. Patterns of behavior and routines may persist that are unusually intense.

Older children and young adults with autism often struggle with peer and adult social interactions because of the inability to learn necessary social skills through the typical developmental stages. Because of the difficulties involved in acquiring social skills as a natural developmental process. Children with autism need help in learning appropriate social skills. Social skills that come naturally to many children are not easily attained by most people with ASD and PDD. Children with autism need support in learning how to be sensitive to other people's emotions and feelings. They need to learn that the needs and feelings of others differ from their own.

Societal expectations also need to be learned and range from one: one interactions, group participation, to learning how to relate within the society at large.