According to a recent study conducted by the CDC, approximately 1 in 54 children are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the United States.
Better awareness around ASD has led to a better understanding of how it can be recognized and managed, but parents might still find it difficult to cope with their child’s diagnosis without proper support.
While the first step in managing ASD is getting a comprehensive diagnostic report, knowing what to do next can be tough. Here, we’ll outline the 5 most important steps to take if your child receives an autism diagnosis.
What Is Autism?
Autism or ASD is a neurological, developmental condition affecting communication, social interaction, and behavior.
Each diagnosis is unique, but individuals with ASD may experience challenges in learning, problem-solving, social interaction, and emotional expression. As autism is a spectrum, the difficulties that individuals with ASD experience range in severity. This means that some people may need more help than others.
When Should I Take Action?
There are numerous behavioral, emotional, and social indicators to look out for if you think your child may have autism. Some signs of autism may include sensitivity to certain smells, sounds, or materials, repetition of actions, avoiding eye contact, and not wanting to be touched or cuddled.
Children with autism may also find it difficult to relate to other people’s feelings and emotional cues, and have difficulty expressing their own feelings.
These are just a few indicators and the presence of one or more doesn’t necessarily mean that your child is autistic. This is why a professional diagnosis is so important.
How Is Autism Diagnosed?
Autism is a complex neurological disorder and does not affect everyone the same way. ASD diagnoses require specialized assessment and evaluation to determine the best way forward in managing your child’s disorder.
Testing is usually done in person. The assessment would most likely consist of answering questions, drawing, and completing games and puzzles among other activities. This is completed by a specialized clinician who will compile a comprehensive report detailing how your child’s brain works.
COVID-19 precautions mean that testing can no longer safely be conducted in person. However, the process can be just as easily and reliably done online.
Online testing can be completed with toddlers and children between the ages of 18 months and 5 years old.
My Child Has Received an Autism Diagnosis: What Now?
Once you’ve completed your assessment and your clinician has compiled your report, you should have a follow-up consultation discussing your assessment results and outlining recommendations for ongoing support.
You’re going to need to come up with a plan of action. This involves putting the recommendations in your report to good use and developing other coping mechanisms so that you and your child feel supported.
1. Find Support
Parents often feel like they’re in over their heads when it comes to managing an ASD diagnosis. That’s why building a support group and network within your community should be your first step after receiving an autism diagnosis.
Autism Society of Colorado offers some great options. These include support groups specifically for parents of children on the spectrum and ASD-related talks and events. They even offer Autism 101 training, covering topics like bullying prevention and how to create a more inclusive environment for individuals with ASD.
Talking with other parents and experts is a great way to learn coping skills and get advice. It’s also important to have a good support structure to make you feel less isolated.
2. Research, Research, Research
In recent years, greater awareness around ASD has led to the emergence of therapies, tips, training and advice for parents of autistic children. While your diagnostic report should include specific therapeutic recommendations, you shouldn’t stop your research there.
Get clued up on ASD and how it manifests. Do some reading into recommended treatments and activities. Look around your area for safe and socially distanced activities that you think your child might enjoy. Learn as much as possible.
Research into ASD can help to make you feel more capable and empowered don’t over-research your way into an Internet rabbit hole. If you start to feel overwhelmed that’s a good sign that it’s time to step away from your computer.
3. Develop a Plan
You know your child better than anyone else. This is important to remember when developing a treatment plan. Coping with ASD is different for everyone but a good treatment plan will involve structure, routine, and a multidisciplinary treatment strategy.
4. Be Open to Change
There’s a lot of trial and error involved in developing coping mechanisms and routines. After you’ve done your own research and developed a plan, there’s a good chance that it might not work.
This is part of the process. As your child grows their needs might change, and what worked for you once might shift drastically. As difficult as this can be, it’s important to be adaptable.
5. Take Care of Yourself
We learn it in flight safety videos: put on your oxygen mask before you assist others. Although it seems obvious, it’s easy to forget. You simply can’t take care of anyone if you don’t take care of yourself first.
Make sure to exercise and eat well. Relaxation techniques like meditation can also be good for stress management. Set up an emergency contact that you and your child are comfortable with, that you can call when you need help.
Remember: You Can Do This!
Parenting a child with ASD can be a lonely and difficult journey. But getting frustrated, angry and anxious doesn’t mean you love your child any less – you’re only human.
Make sure that you speak to yourself kindly and understand that crying, anger and breakdowns are completely normal. You’re doing the best you can.
At first, an autism diagnosis may be difficult to navigate. But following these 5 steps once you’ve received your assessment results is guaranteed to make the journey smoother.
Visit our website for more information on ASD and other kinds of psychological assessment.
