Autism Early Detection
Autism can significantly impact a child’s life, but there are ways to make sure that they are getting the right care to unlock their true potential.
Getting an early assessment will optimise outcomes for children with autism.
The first step to helping your child thrive is getting a professional autism evaluation.
For more information about autism evaluation and how to prepare for it, read our blog ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/autism-assessment-for-children-what-to-expect/
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10 Ways to Help Your Child With Autism Thrive
As a parent, it’s normal to worry about your child’s future, especially if they have a challenging condition such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Being told that autism is incurable can leave you feeling concerned and unsure about how you can care for them.
Nonetheless, you can do many things to support your child and help them thrive. Studies show that therapy and your support will go a long way in managing your child’s symptoms, allowing them to live a full life.
Through it all, we’d like you to know that you’re not alone in this. So in this blog, we’ve provided autism spectrum disorder help for parents, including steps to be taken for their kids to unlock their true potential.
1. Learn about your child’s condition
When raising a child on the spectrum, it is important to thoroughly understand their condition. Autism presents itself distinctively from one child to another, so knowing exactly how it impacts your child will help you recognise why they react to certain circumstances.
The more you learn about autism, the more you can identify your child’s behavioural patterns and needs. In autism treatment, knowledge from both research and your consultation with a health professional will guide you in making the right decisions for your child’s health.
For starters, do research on the internet, which has a multitude of information about autism in children. Apart from this, you can also speak to your child’s doctor. A health professional is in the best position to help you understand the condition better. Plus, your child’s doctor can refer you for an autism assessment from a specialist psychiatrist or psychologist.
2. Accept your child’s unique self
The first thing you need to do is accept your child exactly as they are even if things get tough at times. When you embrace their uniqueness and believe in them unconditionally, it empowers your child to believe in their potential.
Rather than focusing on how your child is different from other kids, or what they are missing, be open to their quirks, stop comparing your child to others, and celebrate small successes.
3. Create a safe home space
Your home should be a safe environment for your child. You can also designate a space for your child to calm down, reinforcing the idea of feeling secure.
In this space, you can put familiar objects that your child finds comforting, like their favourite blanket or plush toy. They can use the space whenever they feel anxious or upset.
4. Be consistent
Children in the spectrum may struggle with spontaneity. Often, they are rigid in their behaviours and may find it hard to adjust to changes. Your responsibility is to make sure you have a routine and schedule since these are comforting for your child. Remember, sudden changes can trigger their anxiety.
Draw out a schedule for your child with well-defined starts and ends. Steer away from distractions and make sure you do things in ways that your child is comfortable with.
While changes may make your child upset, prepare for these by communicating with your child. If you have planned changes or a sudden shift from your schedule, make sure they understand. Remind them of upcoming events or unplanned change so they will not be kept off guard.
5. Make communication easier
One way to make communication easier is by learning to connect with your child in nonverbal ways.
Children with autism have varied abilities when it comes to verbal and non-verbal communication. Many times, even those with verbal skills may prefer to communicate non-verbally.
Communication goes beyond simply talking, as it includes other methods — voice tone, nonverbal cues, body language, and how you look at your child. Try to learn your child’s movement patterns to determine what they need and want.
Furthermore, when communicating with your child, use short and clear sentences, give simple instructions, talk about what they like, and choose the right time to talk to them, before you move on to using longer sentences. All these will help you understand your child better and, in turn, they will also learn to communicate better.
6. Use positive reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is an effective management method in dealing with challenging behaviours of children with autism. It can also help them learn new skills and actions. You can use this concept to help your child thrive in day-to-day circumstances.
It goes beyond giving rewards after your child does something you want them to do. It is the concept of how a person will show a particular behaviour more often as time goes by.
Applied behavioural analysis (ABA) therapy is an approach that focuses on using positive reinforcement. The goal of treatment is to improve social, behavioural, communication, and learning skills.
There are various types of ABA therapy, but all are based on the idea that reinforcing certain behaviours will lead the kids to repeat them.
7. Observe your child’s sensory sensitivities
Many children with autism experience sensitivity to sound, light, touch, taste, and smell. This means they can be oversensitive to these triggers, making them anxious. In some cases, a sensory overload could lead to a meltdown.
Figure out what sensory sensitivity your child has to prevent an overload. You can provide sensory tools to reduce stress and make them feel at ease.
8. Make time for fun
A child with ASD is still a child. They also need time for fun and enjoyment, especially with their parents. Set aside time for fun and games together as this can also help your child smile, laugh, and even communicate with you. After all, play is an essential part of learning for all children.
9. Don’t give up
When things get tough, just soldier on. Although you may feel frustrated and helpless sometimes, stay positive. Believe in yourself and your child, and teach them to have faith in their potential. You can also empower yourself by tackling one thing at a time. One day, when they grow up living full lives, you’ll look back with a sense of accomplishment. Celebrating small wins will help you get through a stressful day at home.
10. Find help
While you might feel overwhelmed at times, there’s always help. You can get support from your family, friends, support groups, and health professionals. Having the right support can make a big difference to you and your child’s life.
Look for licensed therapists to assist in the treatment of your child. They can make a tailored treatment plan that can help your child cope with stress, and learn new skills.
At AutismSTEP, we know the challenges you may be experiencing in raising your child with autism. We use the beneficial effects of ABA therapy to help them progressively improve — learning to thrive in their day-to-day life.
We believe in the constructive effects of this treatment and we have certified therapists on board to help your child through the process using a customised approach.
AutismSTEP is a team of certified and experienced BCBAs and RBTs. To ensure that your kids are in good hands during the therapy sessions, all our therapists are required to be RBT-certified.
To help you make an informed decision on the type of therapy your child needs, please schedule a consultation with us today, or call +65 6456 9950.
What is Priming?
Priming is a crucial intervention that allows the child to know what’s going to happen next. When they are offered suggestions on what they can do or say, they are less likely to experience tantrums.
Priming is most effective when it is built into the child’s routine. For more helpful insights on managing your child’s tantrums, read our blog ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/9-aba-therapy-techniques/
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Prepare Your Child For Mainstream Education With ABA Therapy
Are you looking for interventions to prepare your child for mainstream education? With ABA Therapy, a child can be equipped with a range of skills to help them experience a smooth and effective transition in school.
Through the use of positive reinforcement, our licensed therapists aim to bring about improvements in language and social skills that are crucial to their verbal and behavioural development.
To learn more about our home-based ABA Therapy, visit our page ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/social-and-school-readiness-class/
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Personalised ABA Therapy Sessions
Each child is different, so why should their methods of learning be the same? At AutismSTEP, every programme is tailored to your child’s unique needs through a personalised consultation session.
With ABA Therapy, our licensed therapists work individually with your child to address behavioural concerns, teach them everyday skills, and unlock their true potential.
Learn more about our home-based ABA Therapy sessions today https://www.autismstep.com/
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Diagnosing ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder
Diagnosing ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder is not dependent on a single test, rather a battery of observations and assessments. That’s why it is important to start the assessment as soon as it is ordered by your child’s paediatrician or clinical psychologist.
A team of licensed assessors will guide you and your family every step of the way. A case coordinator will also be collecting information such as family history, developmental milestones, and a report from the school about the child’s behaviour and performance.
To learn more about what to expect before, during, and after the assessment, read our blog here: Autism Assessment for Children
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How Can ABA Therapy Teach Your Child New Skills?
How can ABA therapy teach your child new skills? It uses the principles of behaviour such that each skill is broken down into component parts and taught through prompting and reinforcement.
What sets it apart is that it is systematic, time-bound, and the skills are arranged in a way that the successful completion of one will lay the foundation for the next skill.
To learn more about ABA therapy, read some of the most frequently asked questions in our blog ➡️ ASD & ABA Therapy FAQ
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What Are The Different Causes of Autism?
When your child or a loved one is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it’s natural to ask why — how did they develop autism and what caused them to have autism?
Even experts don’t fully understand the causes of autism as there might be several factors, including genetic and developmental factors.
Knowing these possible factors, however, can help parents decide to have their children evaluated by health professionals. In this blog, we’ll shed light on the most common risk factors and possible causes of ASD, to help you make informed decisions in taking the next steps toward your child’s wellbeing.
Autism by the numbers
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that alters the ability to interact and communicate. Autism is tagged as a spectrum disorder because children who are diagnosed differ in severity.
Some children may show symptoms at a very early age, while others may manifest the symptoms at a later age, even during childhood and adulthood.
Autism is one of the fastest-growing disabilities. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the current prevalence in the United States is 1 in 44 children in 2018. It is more common in boys than in girls.
Meanwhile, in Singapore, about 1 in 150 children are on the spectrum, a slightly higher rate than the global incidence of 1 in 160 children, as estimated by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Health experts claim, however, that the rising number of autism cases may also be due to increased and early testing of children. With the rise of awareness about the condition and its symptoms, more parents are opting to get autism evaluations for their kids.
Since the number of children affected with autism increases over time, it is crucial to understand the risk factors involved and potential causes.
What are the causes of autism?
Autism has no definite cause, but scientists claim that a multitude of factors may influence a child’s development. Studies have shown that genetics plays an imperative role in the development of autism in children. Until recently, groundbreaking new studies indicate that environmental factors may also be important in autism.
Let’s tackle each set of potential causes to shed light on how these can affect the development of autism in children.
Genetic basis for autism
Autism was once believed to be caused by improper parenting, but researchers believe that genes, not psychological factors, are to blame.
In a study published in JAMA Psychiatry, researchers reported that about 80 percent of autism risk stems from inherited genes. The study covered more than 2 million children in Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Israel, and Western Australia.
Further, it has also been shown that if one child has autism, their siblings have a 5 to 10 percent chance of developing some sort of autistic disorder. In identical twins, however, there is about a 60 percent chance of developing the condition.
Evidence suggests a genetic basis for autism, but it’s unclear if there’s a single gene responsible for it, or a combination of various genes that act together. Various genes appear to be involved in autism. Some autism cases are tied to genetic disorders like the fragile X syndrome and Rett syndrome.
Environmental factors
In the past, twin studies showed that around 80 to 90 percent of ASD cases are caused by hereditary factors, with little contribution from the environment. Recently, studies have suggested that 40 to 50 percent of the variance is found by environmental factors.
It is important to note that these factors were found to play a marginal role in the risk of autism development, but they are still present.
• Parents’ Age
Advanced paternal and maternal age at the time of conception has been associated with an increased risk of developing autism.
• Pregnant mothers are exposed to certain chemicals, infections, and medicines
Studies have shown that maternal exposure to some pathogens, chemicals, and drugs is tied to an increased risk of giving birth to a child with autism. Pregnant women who have been exposed to some chemicals, drugs, alcohol, cigarette smoke, and anti-seizure drugs, are more likely to give birth to a child with autism.
• Maternal diabetes, obesity, or immune system disorders
autism. Pregnant women who have diabetes and obesity are more likely to give birth to an autistic child. In other cases, exposure to the rubella virus, the virus that causes German measles, and phenylketonuria, a condition linked to the absence of an enzyme, may increase the risk of developing ASD.
• Low birth weight or extreme prematurity
Babies who are born prematurely or have low birth weight are more likely to develop autism. Also, babies who had oxygen deprivation during the delivery may develop autism.
These environmental factors alone are unlikely to cause autism. However, they may increase the risk of autism, when present alongside genetic factors.
What doesn’t cause autism?
Several factors were popularly tied to the development of autism. For instance, in the past, they tied autism to bad parenting.
In the 1950s and 1970s, people once believed that autism is a psychological disorder blamed on uncaring parents, particularly mothers. The good thing is, science and research have shown that this theory is false. Nothing said or done caused autism.
Vaccines have also been linked to autism development. But studies have shown no link between vaccines and ASD.
How can ABA therapy help with autism?
Now that we’ve tackled what are the causes of autism, it’s also important to note that early treatment can help children live with an improved quality of life.
Dubbed as the gold standard in autism treatment today, Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) by licensed behavioural consultants is the key to treating autism. The one-on-one therapy will help address some issues including rigidity, obsession, negative behaviours, lack of eye contact, inconsistency with name and instruction response.
Takeaway
There’s no cure for autism, but supportive therapy and treatment can help the child live a normal life. Though the exact causes of autism aren’t clear, there are risk factors that may influence the development of the condition. These may also help the parents decide if their child needs an autism assessment.
AutismSTEP is a team of certified and experienced BCBAs and RBTs. To ensure that your kids are in good hands during the therapy sessions, all our therapists are required to be RBT-certified. AutismSTEP conducts autism assessments using standardised tools like VB-MAPP, too. Tap here to know more about The Role of An Autism Specialist in Singapore.
To help you make an informed decision on the type of therapy your child needs, please schedule a consultation with us today, or call +65 6456 9950.
Why is Having a Schedule Important for a Child with Autism?
Schedules establish a predictable environment where the child can feel safe.
And because the child can understand expectations, you can use schedules to tell them what they can get if they do something they normally would not want to do. They know that play time, for example, comes after bath time.
Schedules come in many forms depending on your child’s abilities. To learn more about techniques in ABA therapy, contact us here ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/contact/
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Why is Early Assessment Important in Autism?
Getting an early autism assessment is crucial because it will pave the way for the proper interventions to take place. Early intervention can result in improved intellectual capabilities and better speech control, for instance.
Autism can significantly impact a child’s life, but there are ways to ensure that they are getting the right care to unlock their true potential.
To learn more about how ABA Therapy can help, send us a message here ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/contact/
#AutismStep #autism #ASD #autismSG #autismsingapore #socialstories #ABA #therapy #autismawareness #autismsg #childwithautismsg #childrenwithautismsg #kidswithautismsg #autismtherapysg
