(a developmental disorder characterized by difficulty with social skills, communication, and behaviour), you can find information from various resources and professionals. Best advice: consult a specialist.
You know that as a parent, you want the best for your child.
Family doctor or pediatrician. He/She may conduct a developmental screening and may refer you to a specialist for an evaluation.
Write everything down. including questions, concerns, etc. You want to have information, such as. examples of behavior or lack of communication, to support your concern when talking with a professional. Ask lots of questions. there’s a lot of information about Autism and you are not expected to know it all. If a doctor tells you not to worry, ask if and when you should start to worry and why.
Don’t wait until it’s too late to get help. If your child does have Autism, you want to start intervention services as soon as possible. Early intervention services can help and enhance a child’s development.
Remember that every child develops emotional, cognitive (thinking), and physical skills at different rates. However, here are some signs to look for if you think that your child might have Autism:
No or few expressions (i.e., not smiling when smiled at).
No or minimal eye contact.
Insistence on routine; apprehensive to change.
Dislike of being touched.
Abnormal obsession or attachment to a specific object.
Any loss of speech, bubbling, or social skills at any age.
Doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional disorders in children.
Professional who assesses mental health problems and provides psychological care and intervention for children.
Doctor who assesses suspected developmental delays in language, cognitive, and motor areas.
Doctor who diagnoses and treats disorders such as seizures, muscular weakness, head injury, and developmental issues.
Remember to enjoy every day with your child. It’s easy to get caught up in a diagnosis and forget about important things in life. Every child is unique and has special gifts. Most importantly, know you are not alone. Take advantage of resources and seek out professionals who can guide you.
Sensory Integration is the process by which the brain receives information from the five senses (vision, hearing, movement, touch, taste) and interprets it so we can respond in an appropriate, effective, and meaningful way. If this neurological process becomes disrupted, normal development and adaptive responses will not be achieved. As a result, issues may arise.
It can affect an individual in only one sense or multiple senses. A child with Sensory Integration Disorder (SID) might overreact to sensations and find light, sound, contact, or food to be unbearable. It also causes an individual not to react to stimuli (e.g., not reacting to loud sounds).
In children whose sensory processing of messages from the muscles and joints are impaired, posture and motor skills can be affected. Some other children crave for more sensations. Those kids are often misdiagnosed and inappropriately medicated for ADHD.
It is believed that 95% of children on the spectrum have sensory integration difficulties. Children on the spectrum typically have a different way of perceiving the environment. This different sensory perception can interfere with the child’s ability to learn, interact with the environment, handle unpredictable situations, and socialize with peers.
SID can’t be fully cured. However, with Occupational Therapy and other related interventions, the symptoms can be lessened. Occupational Therapy utilizes Sensory Integration therapy to help these children manage and master their environment as best as possible.