Advice to Parents who have an Autistic Child

Since my job as a hospital teacher, I have come across some interesting situations. I have learned about the many types of illnesses. This includes physical diseases as well as mental and other disorders that confront children as well as their parents. You might say that my job at the hospitals has made me a student of medicine as well as a teacher. I'm forever learning new facts about the medical world. Because of my interest in matters pertaining to health, I enjoy reading and looking up information on the internet about this diverse subject.

Last summer, I was working at the UCLA Medical Center's children's division. I was very pleased to know that I was working at one of America's finest hospitals. Recently, I read an article that stated that the UCLA Medical Center ranked number three among America's top five hospitals. Because of this high rating, I value any information I can get when I work there.

At UCLA and elsewhere around the country, researchers are bringing in better understanding of behavioral,
genetic, and neurological development of autism. Because of the new knowledge pertaining to autism, newer treatments have been developed. One clinical psychologist has stated that they have learned more about autism in the past 10 years than they have known in the previous 50 years.

Autism has been puzzling to doctors and parents for many years. At present, however, children with autism is more hopeful than ever. Studies are showing that children are now improving with treatment. Doctors are now saying that early treatment is the key to maximizing the potential of a child with autism. Studies at UCLA have shown that with early, intensive therapy, children with autism can learn important foundational skills like pretend play and communicating with others.. Many autistic children cannot demonstrate emotions. This is something that scientists are continuing to work on.

Although symptoms sometimes can be seen in early infancy, autism may appear after months of normal development. The symptoms of autism include impaired language development and lack of sociability. They have difficulty communicating. Some autistic children have certain behavior patterns such as hand flapping, rocking and unusual responses to sensory stimuli.

Neurogenetists at UCLA are trying to uncover the genetic basis for this disorder. They believe they have found the genes that are causing this disorder.

I have a friend whose grown son is autistic. When he was a small child, the doctors told the parents to put him in a special home. The mother did not want to do this. She decided that she wanted her child to remain home. Because of her decision, he attended a special school. When he was 20 years old, he was able to get a position with Goodwill doing simple jobs. Who knows what he would be doing at the present if the mother hadn’t decided to take care of him. There are so many studies, at present, being done on autism, it is wise for parents, if they are “up to it” to have the child remain at home so that they can help with certain learning skills.