There are many conflicting views and misconceptions about the nature of autism. This makes the job of parents and carers of autistic children very difficult. In the discussions below you will find definitions of autism and practical approaches to help autistic children that have been proven to be effective.

What is autism?

Autism is a developmental disorder affecting a person’s ability for social interaction and social communication. It is not a mental illness nor is it due to poor parenting skills. Autistic people cannot process information and sensations properly. Hence most of them cannot communicate their wants, thoughts or feelings effectively. They find it difficult to interact; even when they do, it appears awkward or inappropriate to others.

See Dr Temple Grandin’s discussion about sensory issues in autism.

Alongside difficulties in communication and interaction autistic individuals are prone to varying degrees of sensory problems. Certain sensations such as hearing , touch , smell or light may be difficult to tolerate if the autistic child is hypersensitive. At the other extreme, hyposensitivity will lead the child to crave certain sensations. Simple activities such as feeding, dressing or going to the toilet are difficult because of sensory problems and take a long time to master. The child may display any or all of the following behaviours: hyperactivity, poor eye contact, and short attention span, jumping continuously, climbing furniture or window grills, flapping their hand , rocking or spinning around , appearing clumsy and bumping into people , walking on tiptoes , smearing and playing with their faeces , making loud unintelligible sounds, difficulty with brushing teeth, having hair combed or cut, difficulty in feeding and dressing themselves ,and poor toilet skills. Repetitive behaviours such as lining up toys or objects, tearing paper and twirling objects are commonly seen , as is resistance to change. Occasionally a keen interest in a specific topic or activity may develop.

How can we help the autistic child ?

The treatment and management of the autistic child must have a multidirectional approach. Due to the wide range of problems a number of specialists will need to pool their expertise and both parents and teachers need to implement their advice. They must work very closely and in a consistent manner to encourage communication whether the child is verbal or nonverbal. A qualified speech therapist may be approached for advice regarding improving communication skills.

It is imperative that sensory problems are addressed and assessed by a sensory therapist (also known as occupational therapist ) so that sensory integration therapy can be commenced as soon as possible. Sensory therapy is essential for the brain to organize itself. The earlier the intervention takes place the better because new neuronal pathways can form in the young child’s brain. Established behaviours are harder to get rid of in the older child. Drugs should not be used as a first line of treatment to calm the child, but reserved for those with extreme challenging behaviours.

Learn about using social stories at Carol Gray’s website

Certain general approaches are invaluable for the child’s development. The majority of autistic children are visual learners so we can convey information to them using visual prompts such as symbols, flashcards, photographs or the written word. If the child can learn to read then life is made much easier by the fact one can use “social stories” for the child to prepare him for certain situations eg. riding on a bus, going to a shop etc. Providing a routine at home and school diminishes the anxiety many children face when they are not sure about what is going to happen. Using simple language when preparing or explaining instructions to the child and breaking complex commands into a sequence of simple steps are approaches that should be followed at home as well as school. Using small rewards to encourage him as he overcomes each step in the sequence and above all using the child’s interests to teach new concepts make learning fun and motivating.

Parents should also be aware of specific diets such as sugar free and/or gluten(wheat) and casein(milk) free diets that benefit some (but not all) autistic children.
When dealing with children with challenging behaviour ie. those that resort to aggression towards others or themselves, one must try to understand what lies at the root of the behaviour. Ask yourself : is the child in pain or is unwell or hungry. Also consider has there been a change in the routine, is the task at hand too difficult or too simple ,is there too much unstructured time ,is the environment too noisy or crowded. Maybe the child is throwing a tantrum as a way of getting attention. Once the underlying cause is identified then appropriate measures can be taken to help the child. Different types of behaviour need to be dealt with in different ways. Of paramount importance is for parents , caregivers and teachers to remain calm and nonreactive no matter how stressful the situation.
The autistic child needs our unconditional love and acceptance and just as important, our understanding-only then can they make true progress.