| For most parents, one of the most trying times | | | | you can do something about it, and doctors will be |
| in their lives is during their child's teenage years. | | | | able to better treat your child. However, if the |
| When puberty hits, young adults go through | | | | seizures are subconsciously happening, you and |
| serious changes in their bodies and minds, and | | | | your child may not realize it. The result of these |
| parents have little or no control over many | | | | small hidden seizures can be a loss in function, |
| situations. In an autistic child, puberty is no | | | | which can be devastating, especially if you child |
| different. Although your autistic child is not | | | | was improving before puberty. Regular check-ups |
| experiencing puberty in quite the same ways as | | | | during puberty, therefore, are extremely |
| others his or her age, major hormonal changes | | | | important. |
| still occur in the body. This can lead to extreme | | | | The changes might not necessarily be a bad thing. |
| results, and this can be either good or bad | | | | New hormone levels in the body and the other |
| depending on how your child reacts to the new | | | | changes associated with puberty might help your |
| hormone levels. | | | | autistic child grow and succeed in areas in which |
| One of the scariest side effects of changes in an | | | | he or she normally had no skill or interest. Many |
| autistic person's body is the onset of seizures. | | | | parents report that their child's behavior improved, |
| Many autistic individuals experience seizures from | | | | and that learning in social settings was easier. |
| birth to adulthood, but even if your child does not | | | | The important thing about puberty is to learn to |
| suffer from these episodes, he or she may begin | | | | monitor the changes in your child very carefully |
| to experience seizures during puberty and | | | | and to ask your doctor lots of questions. |
| afterwards, due to the new levels of hormones in | | | | Remember that puberty is a difficult experience |
| the body. Strange as it may sound, violent | | | | for any young adult, and so it will be even more |
| shaking seizures are not necessarily a bad thing. | | | | difficult for someone with autism. Try to practice |
| Almost a quarter of autistic children experience | | | | patience and understanding with your teen, and be |
| seizures, but many go undetected because they | | | | careful to regulate his or her autism so that the |
| are not textbook versions of seizures. If you | | | | transition from child to adult will go more |
| recognize that your child is experiencing a seizure, | | | | smoothly. |