A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a child can be an overwhelming experience for parents. One of the first questions many parents have in such situations is how – and when – to tell the child, siblings, friends, family members, and other loved ones about the diagnosis. Parents often fear misunderstandings, awkwardness, and judgment from others upon sharing news of an autism diagnosis. They can also have reservations about the “correct” time and way to discuss an autism diagnosis with their child. Knowing the facts about ASD, and knowing when and how to communicate a diagnosis to others, is key in establishing a supportive base for you and your child.
Learning About ASD in Your Child
Gathering information about autism spectrum disorder is the first step towards telling others. This includes general-purpose information, such as common signs and symptoms of the condition. Crucially, it also involves gathering information on how ASD presents uniquely in your child. ASD is a condition with a wide variety of presentations in different people. Take note of the particular signs and symptoms you have noticed in your child and be ready to communicate them to others. Every individual with ASD has their own experience with the condition, along with their own strengths and challenges. This important information needs to be conveyed to others when sharing a diagnosis or introducing a new person into your child’s life.
When and How to Discuss ASD With Your Child
Parents may wonder about the appropriate timing to discuss a diagnosis with their children, who may be too young or otherwise have difficulty in understanding their condition. The right time to discuss ASD with your child depends on their age, maturity, and capacity for understanding. In “ASD Diagnosis: What Do We Tell the Kids?”, authors Teresa Foden and Connie Anderson, PhD, offer a number of helpful suggestions. First, they note that while many children with ASD are shocked upon learning of their condition, they are often relieved to find an explanation for their difficulties. Furthermore, they note, ASD becomes a part of these children’s identities – not something about which to be ashamed.
Foden and Anderson advise taking into consideration your child’s personal experience with ASD’s symptoms, along with their ability to understand broad concepts, like the idea of a developmental disorder. Tony Attwood, PhD suggests that any explanation should focus on “information that is relevant from the child’s perspective,” such as how autism may affect success in making friends or learning in school.[i]
Foden and Anderson advise giving younger children a simple, broad statement that communicates the important facts about ASD. Parents can communicate that their child thinks or experiences the world differently compared to others. This framing, the authors note, should stress the positive. Parents can emphasize how ASD can play a role in the development of a unique and vibrant personality, along with special interests and talents. At the same time, the authors stress that it is important to communicate that ASD presents challenges that your child may have already noticed. Make it clear that you accept and support your child unconditionally, and that there are many others facing similar challenges in the world. Parents should also communicate that treatment will help their child face less difficulty and frustration in communicating with others and in daily life in general. For more on discussing ASD with your child, including how to approach the discussion with siblings, please see here.[ii]
Explaining ASD to Family and Friends
Family members and friends are vital for supporting both you and your child with ASD. They may be unfamiliar with the details of ASD, or have preconceptions about how people with ASD act or experience the world. If they are unfamiliar with the condition, helping them understand ASD is often necessary. Be willing to explain the basics of autism to them. Mention that it is a genetic, lifelong developmental disorder with varied presentations, often with effects on social skills, repetitive behaviors, and sometimes cognitive and motor development. Parents should also be ready to correct common misunderstandings, such as the mistaken idea that everyone with autism acts the same way.[iii]
It is also important to communicate your child’s unique strengths and struggles with ASD. This involves highlighting areas where your child may need help or may not adhere to traditional social conventions. For instance, it may be helpful to make family and friends aware that eye contact is difficult for your child, or that your child may experience sensory processing issues which require a calm environment. It is also valuable to tell friends and family how to approach communication with your child, noting what styles work and which are best avoided.
The Importance of Asking for Support
Asking for help from family and friends is crucial, and it can take many forms. Help in the form of babysitting or offering an ear to listen in times of stress is always welcome. Your friends and family can also help in the interactions they have with your child. The more that family and friends understand about your child and their experiences with ASD, they more they can be supportive and helpful in your child’s growth. In a helpful guide on explaining ASD to family, the author suggests encouraging questions from family members, as well as giving them strategies to aid communication with your child. Your child may have a unique interest they like to focus on, or a favorite style of learning via a visual aid. Encourage family and friends to make use of these traits in their interactions. The author also advises stressing the strengths that ASD encourages in your child.
Speaking With Other Parents
When discussing your child’s autism with parents of your child’s friends, it is good to keep the same general ideas in mind as when discussing with anyone else. Make them aware of your child’s challenges, as well as any communication or behavioral strategies that work for them. Be sure to include anything that can help them communicate with their own children how to best understand and interact with your child. Connecting with other parents can be a wonderful source of support, especially in the form of online support groups for parents or families of people with autism.
Communicating an autism diagnosis is ultimately about making needs known. These include the needs you have as a parent for support as well as the needs of your child for understanding, acceptance, and accommodation. Addressing misconceptions about autism may be an ongoing process, and family, friends, and loved ones may not know how to act at first relating to ASD or your child. However, patience and a willingness to steer people towards a greater understanding of autism can help spread awareness of the condition and help you feel supported as your child develops and grows.
Spectrum of Hope has over a decade of experience in providing compassionate, research-informed autism treatment services in the greater Houston area. We will help your loved one work past any developmental challenges they are experiencing, and acquire the functional skills they need to succeed in communication, academics, and daily living. For more information, please call us today at (281) 894-1423.
Kuugua ugonjwa wa autism (ASD) kwa mtoto ni jambo linaloweza kuwa na athari kubwa kwa wazazi. Mojawapo ya maswali ya kwanza ambayo wazazi wengi huwa nayo katika hali kama hizo ni jinsi <unk> na wakati <unk> wa kumwambia mtoto, ndugu, marafiki, washiriki wa familia, na wapendwa wengine juu ya utambuzi. Mara nyingi wazazi huogopa kutoelewana, kukosa ustadi, na kuhukumiwa na wengine wanaposhiriki habari za utambuzi wa ugonjwa wa akili. Wanaweza pia kuwa na mashaka kuhusu wakati na njia "sawa" ya kuzungumzia utambuzi wa ugonjwa wa akili na mtoto wao. Kujua ukweli kuhusu ASD na kujua wakati na jinsi ya kuwasiliana na wengine ni muhimu katika kuanzisha msingi wa msaada kwa wewe na mtoto wako. Kujifunza kuhusu ASD katika Mtoto wako Kukusanya habari kuhusu ugonjwa wa autism ni hatua ya kwanza kuelekea kuwaambia wengine. Hii inajumuisha habari ya kusudi la jumla, kama vile ishara na dalili za kawaida za hali hiyo. Kwa kweli, ni muhimu kukusanya habari kuhusu jinsi ASD inavyoonekana kwa mtoto wako. ASD ni hali ya aina mbalimbali ya maonyesho katika watu tofauti. Angalia dalili na dalili za mtoto wako na uwe tayari kuwaambia wengine. Kila mtu mwenye ASD ana uzoefu wake mwenyewe na hali hiyo, pamoja na nguvu zake mwenyewe na changamoto. Habari hii muhimu inahitaji kuelezwa kwa wengine wakati wa kushiriki utambuzi au kuanzisha mtu mpya katika maisha ya mtoto wako. Wakati na Jinsi ya Kuzungumzia ASD na Mtoto Wako Wazazi wanaweza kujiuliza kuhusu wakati unaofaa wa kujadili utambuzi na watoto wao, ambao wanaweza kuwa wadogo sana au kwa njia nyingine kuwa na ugumu wa kuelewa hali yao. Wakati unaofaa wa kuzungumza na mtoto wako kuhusu ugonjwa wa akili unategemea umri wake, ukomavu wake, na uwezo wake wa kuelewa. Katika kitabu cha <unk>ASD Diagnosis: What Do We Tell the Kids?<unk>, waandishi Teresa Foden na Connie Anderson, PhD, hutoa madokezo kadhaa yenye kusaidia. "Kwanza, wanasema kwamba ingawa watoto wengi wenye ASD wanashtuka wanapopata habari kuhusu hali yao, mara nyingi wanahisi kitulizo wanapopata ufafanuzi wa matatizo yao.""" Zaidi ya hayo, wao kumbuka, ASD inakuwa sehemu ya utambulisho wa watoto hawa <unk> si kitu cha aibu. Foden na Anderson wanashauri kuzingatia uzoefu wa kibinafsi wa mtoto wako na dalili za ASD, pamoja na uwezo wao wa kuelewa dhana pana, kama wazo la ugonjwa wa maendeleo. Tony Attwood, PhD, anasema kwamba maelezo yoyote yanapaswa kuzingatia habari inayohusiana na mtazamo wa mtoto, kama vile jinsi autism inaweza kuathiri mafanikio katika kufanya marafiki au kujifunza shuleni. Foden na Anderson wanapendekeza kuwapa watoto wadogo taarifa rahisi, pana ambayo inawasilisha ukweli muhimu kuhusu ASD. Wazazi wanaweza kuwasiliana kwamba mtoto wao anafikiri au uzoefu wa ulimwengu tofauti ikilinganishwa na wengine. Waandishi wanasema kwamba muundo huo unapaswa kukazia mambo mazuri. Wazazi wanaweza kusisitiza jinsi ASD inaweza kucheza jukumu katika maendeleo ya utu wa kipekee na wenye nguvu, pamoja na maslahi maalum na vipaji. Kwa upande mwingine, wataalamu wanasema ni muhimu kuelezea kwamba ASD inaweza kuwa na athari kwa mtoto wako. Mweleze wazi kwamba unamkubali na kumsaidia mtoto wako bila masharti, na kwamba kuna wengine wengi wanaokabili changamoto kama hizo ulimwenguni. Wazazi wanapaswa pia kuwaambia kwamba matibabu yatamsaidia mtoto wao kukabiliana na ugumu na kukatishwa tamaa kidogo katika kuwasiliana na wengine na katika maisha ya kila siku kwa ujumla. Kwa maelezo zaidi juu ya jinsi ya kujadili ASD na mtoto wako, pamoja na jinsi ya kukabiliana na mazungumzo na ndugu, tafadhali angalia hapa. [A] Asylum ya watoto na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD na familia ya ASD. Huenda wasijue mambo mengi kuhusu ugonjwa wa ASD, au wawe na maoni ya awali kuhusu jinsi watu wenye ugonjwa huo wanavyofanya au wanavyoona ulimwengu. Ikiwa hawajui hali hiyo, mara nyingi ni muhimu kuwasaidia kuelewa ASD. Kuwa tayari kuwaeleza mambo ya msingi ya ugonjwa wa akili. Ugonjwa huu ni ugonjwa wa maumbile na wa maisha yote na una maonyesho tofauti, mara nyingi na athari kwa ujuzi wa kijamii, tabia za kurudia, na wakati mwingine maendeleo ya utambuzi na motor. Wazazi wanapaswa pia kuwa tayari kurekebisha misunderstandings ya kawaida, kama vile wazo la makosa kwamba kila mtu na autism vitendo kwa njia ileile. [I] Ni muhimu pia kuwasiliana na nguvu za kipekee za mtoto wako na mapambano na ASD. Hii inahusisha kuangazia maeneo ambapo mtoto wako anaweza kuhitaji msaada au anaweza kutoshikamana na mikataba ya jadi ya kijamii. Kwa mfano, inaweza kuwa na manufaa kuwafanya familia na marafiki kujua kwamba mawasiliano ya macho ni vigumu kwa mtoto wako, au kwamba mtoto wako anaweza uzoefu masuala ya usindikaji hisia ambayo inahitaji mazingira ya utulivu. Pia ni muhimu kuwaambia marafiki na familia jinsi ya kuwasiliana na mtoto wako, ukiona ni mitindo gani inayofanya kazi na ni ipi inayopaswa kuepukwa. Kuomba msaada kutoka kwa familia na marafiki ni muhimu sana, na inaweza kuwa na maumbo mengi. Msaada katika namna ya kutunza watoto au kutoa sikio la kusikiliza katika nyakati za mfadhaiko sikuzote unakaribishwa. Marafiki na familia yako pia wanaweza kusaidia katika mahusiano yao na mtoto wako. Kadiri familia na marafiki wanavyoelewa juu ya mtoto wako na uzoefu wao na ASD, ndivyo wanavyoweza kusaidia na kusaidia katika ukuaji wa mtoto wako. Katika mwongozo muhimu juu ya kuelezea ASD kwa familia, mwandishi anapendekeza maswali ya kutia moyo kutoka kwa wanachama wa familia, na pia kuwapa mikakati ya kusaidia mawasiliano na mtoto wako. Mtoto wako anaweza kuwa na maslahi ya kipekee ambayo anapenda kuzingatia, au mtindo wa kupenda wa kujifunza kupitia msaada wa kuona. Watie moyo watu wa familia na marafiki watumie sifa hizo katika mahusiano yao. "Mwandishi wa kitabu hiki anasema: ""Kujaribu kuimarisha nguvu za mtoto wako kwa sababu ya ASD ni muhimu." Wakati wa kujadili ugonjwa wa akili wa mtoto wako na wazazi wa marafiki wa mtoto wako, ni vizuri kuweka mawazo sawa ya jumla katika akili kama wakati wa kujadili na mtu mwingine yeyote. Weka wazi changamoto za mtoto wako, pamoja na mikakati yoyote ya mawasiliano au tabia inayowasaidia. Hakikisha unajumuisha kila kitu ambacho kinaweza kuwasaidia kuwasiliana na watoto wao jinsi ya kuelewa na kuingiliana na mtoto wako. Kuunganisha na wazazi wengine inaweza kuwa chanzo cha msaada, hasa katika fomu ya vikundi vya msaada mtandaoni kwa wazazi au familia za watu wenye autism. Kueleza ugonjwa wa akili ni kufanya mahitaji ya mtu yatambuliwe. Hizi zinatia ndani mahitaji yako kama mzazi ya msaada na pia mahitaji ya mtoto wako ya uelewa, kukubali, na makazi. Kuondoa maoni yasiyofaa kuhusu ugonjwa wa akili inaweza kuwa mchakato unaoendelea, na familia, marafiki, na wapendwa wanaweza kujua jinsi ya kutenda kwanza kuhusiana na ASD au mtoto wako. Hata hivyo, subira na utayari wa kuongoza watu kuelekea uelewa mkubwa wa ugonjwa wa akili unaweza kusaidia kueneza ufahamu wa hali hiyo na kukusaidia kuhisi kuungwa mkono wakati mtoto wako anaendelea na kukua. Spectrum of Hope ina zaidi ya miaka kumi ya uzoefu katika kutoa huduma za matibabu ya autism ya huruma, ya utafiti katika eneo kubwa la Houston. Msaada wako wa kibinafsi utasaidia mtu wako mpendwa kukabiliana na changamoto zozote za maendeleo anazozipata, na kupata ujuzi wa kazi wanaohitaji ili kufanikiwa katika mawasiliano, masomo, na maisha ya kila siku. Kwa maelezo zaidi, tafadhali piga simu leo kwa namba ya 281-424-423