Managing Autism - A Personal View

One of the challenges that parents might face in the initial stages of having their child diagnosed with autism is finding a doctor who really understands it.  There are a range of degrees of autism (hence the term Autism Spectrum Disorder) and no one case is likely to be the same.  Unless a doctor has had experience with autism, it will be unlikely that they will be able to help effectively diagnose and treat the condition.

Regardless if you, your family doctor, or your child’s pediatrician suspects autism, it is vital that your child be assessed by someone who specializes in diagnosing and treating autism spectrum disorders.  By seeking out specialist care you will ultimately be putting your child in the best position possible for a healthy future.  It also may mean that your child will require care from more than one medical professional who specializes in autism.

Some of the medical professionals making up the multidisciplinary specialist team for a child with autism would be; a psychologist, a speech or language therapist, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, and a social worker.  Of course there are other specialists as well, and this list is often complemented by a range of natural therapists.

To find the right professionals to help with the care of your child it is important to ask for recommendations and do your research.  Make sure you check the experience and approach of the professional - the person needs to be right for you!  There are many resources and reputable organisations online that can assist with your search for specialists, as well as local community health groups, government departments and other health centres that can also point you in the right direction.  If your child is at school or preschool, ask the welfare officer or support team for some guidance - these people are often a wealth of knowledge and information!

Once you find the professionals your child needs, it is important that you work closely with them.  Regardless of the experience the professionals have with autism, you are the most experienced when it comes to the specific information regarding your child’s needs and abilities.

Some pointers to remember when working with your child’s doctors and specialists:

* Educate yourself – find out and learn as much as you can about autism.

* Prepare yourself - go to appointments ready with any questions or concerns you have regarding your child.

* Be open with communication – work in partnership with your doctor, and remember to pass on all relevant information.

* You can always get a second opinion!

Some great websites where you can find advice and support:

* Autism Spectrum Australia (www.aspect.org.au)

* Autism Info Australia (www.autisminfo.org.au)

* Autism Society of America (www.autism-society.org)

* Autism Treatment Services of Canada (www.autisim.ca)

* National Autistic Society (www.nas.org.uk)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 25th, 2007 at 10:41 am and is filed under Resources, Autism Treatment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Child Autism, Asperger Syndrome. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.