Parenting Blog

You’ve probably heard of autism, but chances are you don’t actually know what it is. If you are a parent, it’s important that you find out, because early diagnoses and treatment is essential for a child with autism to live a healthy and productive life. After all, it’s estimated that one in every 100 children born will be diagnosed with autism, so it’s important that you educate yourself. Every child develops their social and communication skills at a different rate, but if you are concerned about your child’s development, read on. An autistic child does not necessarily have a below-average IQ. In fact, many autistic children go unrecognized because they have exceptionally high intelligence. The cause is unknown, and the disorder is more prevalent in boys; in fact, some forms of autism appear almost exclusively in boys, and there’s a higher chance your child will develop the disorder if you have a family history of autism.

Autism may be recognized when a child has exceptional difficulties socializing with his peers, forming relationships, developing a wide variety of interests, adjusting to new environments and situations, or communicating with others. These difficulties depart from the norm; all young children will experience challenges in social situations, but a child with autism will refuse to adjust by developing the necessary social skills. This is because children with autism may be particularly sensitive to stimulation such as light and sound, and will therefore avoid bright or noisy environments. Also, children with autism perceive their surroundings and the actions of others in a very different way; they are not able to understand and imitate normal social interaction.

An autistic child may avoid eye contact with others, and may ignore you when you call his name. He might seem oblivious to his surroundings, which is why many autistic children are thought to be deaf. He will probably show little interest in “normal” activities that other children his age enjoy. If your child has difficulty in social situations that persist for a significant amount of time, you should speak with a doctor and get more information on the spectrum of autism disorders. It’s very difficult for a parent to recognize autism, so if you are concerned about your child’s abnormal behavior it is best speak with a professional. Even if you doctor concludes you’re your child’s behavior is normal, it’s always safe to monitor his development over the years to avoid problems that result from an undiagnosed disorder later on. Though there is no cure, children with high-functioning autism can grow up to lead independent lives if they get the help they need when they are young.