Autism is on the rise. This is an undisputed fact. If 1 in 150 children are currently developing Autism annually, then that is 1 too many. It is, quite frankly, a horrible debilitating condition. Not just for the Autistic child, but devastating for the entire family. It requires adjustment from all members of the family as all aspects of everyone’s lives will undergo a massive upheaval.

The cost of raising a child with Autism is astronomical. ABA treatments average around 100,000 dollars per annum. The major insurance companies baulk at paying to help recover the Autistic child so parents are looking at being out of pocket at about 50,000 dollars. Even in a well paid two income family, this is still high. And notice I said major insurance companies. Some families with Autistic children are having to fight to obtain simple coverage for their impaired child, never mind attempting to get the insurance companies to pay for recognised treatments.

In a lot of families, it is impossible to have two parents working. One may have to give up their position to stay at home and look after the child. Autistic children require a lot of time and attention. Safety is a big issue and their homes may have to be reorganised to accomodate the different Autistic behaviours that the child may exhibit.

If the family chooses to go the Alternative Medicine route, all of this will have to be paid out of pocket as if it is not recognized by the Medical world, then it is not an accepted practice.
Currently, you would be hard pressed to find a physician to acknowledge that there are any treatments for Autism that don’t involve medicating to control Autistic behaviours.

Other siblings may need to adjust to the amount of time required to care for the Autistic child and the fact that sometimes they are unable to do things or go on outings due to the fact that their Autistic brother or sister would not be able to handle it can lead to a bit of resentment.
Also due to some Autistic behaviours, unfortunately despite parents best attempts to prevent it, some articles precious to the unaffected child may get destroyed or ruined.

It leads to little time off for the parent of an Autistic child. Their caregivers need to be specialized and a lot of times very familiar with the child to understand their non verbal cues. Approximately 40-50% of Autistic children will never speak. This leads to a great deal of frustration in a child with Autism. A caregiver or parent who is tuned into the child is able to alleviate this by having more of an idea what it is the child is asking for when they indicate. This means that in a two parent family, the parents often take turns in staying with the child thereby leaving little time for them as a couple.

In a home where there is only one parent it is both exhausting and socially isolating. Sometimes it is next to impossible for the child with Autism to go out. They don’t respond to a change in routine, loud noises or a lot of people can set off an Autistic behaviour such as screaming and/or flapping.
Also, although the public awareness of Autism has been increasing of late, there are still people who will look at you in the store and tell you to “control your child” when they are absolutely having a lay down on the floor, kicking, screaming and flailing meltdown because the lights in the store are too bright. Good luck there.

A lot of changes do have to be made. Some actually for the better. It can make the family unit stronger. It can enable you to raise siblings of Autistic children to be compassionate, kinder, more well-rounded individuals. It can introduce you to the other side of the coin and you can become more patient and tolerant of people and families with disabilities.

It may also make you as a person more vocal to advocate for families with Autistic children so they do recieve some kind of financial aid and the medical world does start to recognize more Alternative forms of healing for the child with Autism thereby making insurance companies responsible, at least in part for payment.

A lot of changes are going to have to be made not just to the family with the Autistic child, but, to the community and the world at large. If the rate of Autism is at 1 in 150 children currently, who knows what it will have risen to next year

Donna Mason has been a Registered Nurse for the past 16 years. She is the mother of 6 children, 3 of whom have varying degrees of Autism. For more information on Autism signs and symptoms, and to learn more about this mother’s battle in the fight against this misunderstood condition, visit us on the web at: http://www.autisticadventures.blogspot.com

Autism is a multifaceted brain disorder that influences a lot of aspects in a child’s progress, which includes his social, motor and communication skills. The good news is, there are many ongoing studies which seek to understand autism. Experts say that early detection and treatment of autism is vital. There is increasing evidence that it’s possible to detect autism in infants because early intervention can make a big difference in minimizing the symptoms and any other negative impact of the disorder, it is imperative for parents to understand autism’s signs and symptoms.

The symptoms of autism are normally noticeable by 18 to 36 months, and other mild symptoms may be apparent earlier than that; even during infancy. Therefore, parents should closely monitor or track their child’s progress. If the symptoms are identified by 12 months of age or earlier, rigorous treatment may reverse the signs.

Symptoms at the onset are easier to overlook primarily because it entails the lack of normal behaviors; and not the existence of abnormal ones. For instance, most babies with autism normally don’t reach out to get toys, or make signals to get your attention. Most parents misinterpret autism symptoms as signs of being a “good baby,” because the baby is withdrawn and is not demanding. True, a baby with those characteristics are easy to take care of, but these signs are some of the warnings that parents should be vigilant of.

What exactly are symptoms that parents should look out for?

Here are some warning signs that you should watch for to ensure that your child is developing at a normal rate:

• One of the first signs of autism is if the baby does not look, make eye contact, or turn after hearing their name.
• If the baby doesn’t smile in response.
• If the baby doesn’t mimic what you’re doing.
• If the baby doesn’t make attempts to talk (gibberish, babbling)
• If the baby is not visually attracted to things.

Here are signs to watch out for toddlers:

• If the child is having difficulty communicating his needs.
• If the child suddenly stops to make attempts to talk.
• If the child has trouble developing his language skills.

It’s normal for a parent to become worried once they see their child manifest these symptoms. If you have observed these signs from your infant or toddler, it’s prudent for you to make an appointment with your health provider. Actually, it’s best if you’ll have your child undergo screening even though he seems to develop normally.

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For a very helpful resource see autism symptoms.

Schedules are an important part of every child’s life. This is especially true when dealing with a child of special needs like Autism. Having a schedule will help the Autistic child feel a sense of structure. Children with Autism often have anxiety issue they are dealing with. Having a schedule helps the levels of anxiety to drop. They know what to expect on a daily basis. They know at a certain time of the day what they will be doing.

If there is no schedule or structure in an Autistic child’s daily life things will be very hectic. They have lots of doctors and therapist appointments. Sometimes there will be more than one appointment a day. Keeping a schedule can help you and your child to make sure they do not miss any appointments.

Some Autistic children have trouble with reading. You can use a visual schedule. Have pictures for all the daily activities. This allows them to see what is coming next. Having a schedule for your child will help avoid some breakdowns. Keep the schedule posted where your child can see it. If you have to change the schedule explain the changes to your child. They like routines, and a change could throw their whole day out of whack.

Schedules can be a help when trying to get the child to do something they do not want to do. Simply show them that after they do this they will get to move onto something else. Tell them they cannot move on until this activity is completed.

There will always be things that come up. Try to stick to the schedule as much as possible. When things come up try to get back on schedule as soon as you can. This includes weekends . If your child is used to getting up at seven in the morning continue to do so. Keep their bedtimes close to the same time each night. Your child will be happier when they have had enough sleep.

Schedules will make life much easier you and your Autistic child. Keep them posted for your child to see, and stick to the schedule the best you can. An example of a schedule you can use if found below.

7 AM Wake up, get dressed and ready for the day

8 AM Breakfast

9 AM Therapy Appointment at home

11 AM Free time/ Play time

12 PM Lunch

1 PM Outdoor Play

2 PM Arts and Crafts

3 PM Free Time

5 PM Dinner

6 PM TV time

7 PM Bath time

8 PM Bed Time

This allows the child to know what is going on during the day. Include doctors, or therapy appointments on the schedule. An older child can still benefit from a schedule. It has to be adjusted for school time, and any extra curricular activities. You can include homework time, and chores into the chart. Once you start using a chart for your Autistic child you will see a improvement in the flow of your day. This also leaves little time for boredom. There is always something planned to do.

By Graham Williams. If you are interested in finding out more about Autistic Children Or Autistic Child Behavior Then click on those links for the LATEST INFORMATION you can get on Autism. While your the don’t forget to visit my home page and claim your 3 FREE HEALTH BOOKS.