| Autism appears to be the leading mentally | | | | gently turn the child on his side and loosen the |
| challenged disorder presently. But, exactly what is | | | | clothing around his neck. |
| autism? | | | | If a holiday celebration is coming up, plan it wisely. |
| Autism, usually rearing its head in children, is | | | | Gifts and toys do not make a difference to a |
| described as a developmental disorder that bears | | | | child with autism. Mrs Webber remembers her |
| impaired communication, emotional detachment | | | | daughter, Christina now 16, back in the old days |
| and excessive rigidity. There are two types of | | | | when everyone would be busily tearing open their |
| autism - regressive and non-regressive. Autism, | | | | presents on Christmas morning. Christina, then 5, |
| developing in children from about | | | | would sit and stare, focused on an ornament |
| 18-months-of-age, is known as autism when | | | | hanging from the tree. "She never touched a |
| children begin losing language and other | | | | present and even when we unwrapped her gifts |
| developments. Non-regressive autism occurs from | | | | for her, she would merely ignore us, the gifts and |
| birth. | | | | just about everything else in the room," |
| How do I know my child autistic? | | | | remembers Mrs Webber with a tear. Rather than |
| When children are born with Down's syndrome, it | | | | toys, shower the child with love and attention, |
| is harder to trace autism in them then it is to | | | | which according to most therapists are what |
| trace in a non-Down's syndrome child. Social and | | | | many autistic children are lacking in today. |
| emotional developments are delayed in an autistic | | | | What happens if autism is left untreated? |
| child. If tracing autism in a Down syndrome child is | | | | If left untreated, autistic children's social skills and |
| close to impossible for you, look out for the | | | | speech skills will not develop effectively. The |
| following. | | | | number of children who recover from autism |
| Autistic loneliness - Generally, children with Down's | | | | without any help is extremely low. |
| syndrome are loveable and enjoy being hugged or | | | | What treatments are there available for autistic |
| love to hug. However a child with autism usually | | | | children? |
| prefers to be by himself. Autistic children consider | | | | There is no cure for autism but there are many |
| people as objects rather than people. | | | | treatments available for autism. However the |
| Changeless routines - Even a slight change can | | | | treatment that suits the child may vary from |
| cause a child with autism to go berserk. | | | | individual to the next. Listed below are those that |
| Sameness breeds familiarity for them. | | | | are not only popular but have seen good effects |
| Lack of eye contact - Autistic children do not | | | | as well. |
| make eye contact, but instead they often look | | | | Behaviour Modification - Highly structured and |
| 'right through' people. | | | | skill-oriented activities that are based on the |
| Repetitive movement - It has been observed | | | | patient's needs and interests are carried out with |
| that autistic children can sit for long hours while | | | | a therapist and extensive caregiver. |
| waving an object and staring at it. | | | | Communication Therapy - Autistic patients who |
| How do I, as a parent, handle a child with autism | | | | are unable to communicate verbally , |
| Autistic children usually display intense emotions. | | | | communication therapy is used to initiate language |
| Mrs Pillay is a mother whose 5-year-old son, | | | | development. |
| Somesh, has been diagnosed with mild autism. | | | | Dietary Modifications - At times, altering the diet, |
| "Even though it's just mild autism, he is extremely | | | | digestion may be improved and food tolerances |
| sensitive and cries over nothing at times. He is in | | | | or allergies may be eliminated and therefore |
| normal day care but when these episodes take | | | | behavioural problems (caused by these tolerances |
| place, he has to be separated until he calms down. | | | | or allergies) may reduce. |
| Sometimes he stares into oblivion for hours," | | | | An autistic child can be as different or similar as a |
| explains Mrs Pillay about Somesh. | | | | normal child, depending on how you look at him |
| Somesh's condition for mild autism is nothing out | | | | and treat him. At the end of the day, he is your |
| of the usual. Working with an occupational | | | | child and will always be. No amount of denial or |
| therapist is probably the best for both Mrs Pillay | | | | leaving him for long hours in special needs schools |
| and her son. Autistic children suffer from seizures, | | | | will change that. It's time for every parent to |
| ranging from mild to severe, at times. When a | | | | make a difference and embrace the child for who |
| child is seizing, never move him unless he is | | | | he is rather than for what he is. |
| danger of falling down the stairs, etc. Try to | | | | |