Autistic children

Do you have a child with autism?

Do you know how to deal with an autistic child?

Do you have problems dealing with the child?

Autistic children and how to deal with them.

Autism

Defines autism spectrum disorders, or autistic spectrum, or autism for short, or also called autism as a disorder associated with the process of the development of the brain's neurodevelopment, which 

affects the way the affected person communicates with others and his ability to perceive nature, which can lead to several problems In the process of social interaction and inclusion, and the emergence of a set of different symptoms and behavioral problems, symptoms of autism often begin during the first year of the child's life and symptoms develop more clearly when they reach the age of 18-24 months, and the child with autism may suffer from social problems either at school or later At work, it is difficult to integrate with the surrounding community, which negatively affects its daily performance, but it is worth noting that symptoms vary greatly among autistic people. Some children and adults with it are able to perform daily tasks and activities easily, and in return, others need great support to perform basic daily tasks. Several studies have indicated that autism can affect both males and females, but it has been found that the rates of the likelihood of infection in males are higher than in females.

Although the exact causes behind autism are still unknown, there is a lot of research that indicated the role of genes that work with some environmental factors and lead in some way to infection, in addition to some risk factors that increase the chances of developing autism, such as the presence of An infected brother, or some genetic conditions, or low birth weight. It is worth noting that until now, no final and effective treatment has been reached for autism cases, but it is possible to follow a treatment plan that helps the affected child to challenge and overcome symptoms and reach possibilities and capabilities Complete, and must be noted The importance of following appropriate treatment plans, as each case has a different treatment plan, depending on several factors, the most important of which are the child's age, diagnosis, individual factors, medical problems, and health conditions.

Advice for parents of the affected child

Having a child with autism in the family is a challenge for all of its members, and to reduce fears and increase the ability to exceed difficult periods, it is advised to follow some advice, and some of them are listed below.

Cognitive education:

Parents with a child with autism must read a lot about autism and ways to deal with it, from reliable scientific sources, in addition to visiting governmental or non-profit centers and organizations that are concerned with autism to gain more information from specialists, and since there are many misconceptions And myths about autism spectrum disorder, a continuous and permanent study of the latest scientific research needs to be undertaken. Knowing the truth and the various details surrounding autism help to deal with the condition and better understand the affected child.

Join support groups:

Parents' sharing with others who have similar conditions may have a significant psychological and cognitive impact, so it is advised to search for groups and families with children with autism to exchange experiences and relieve psychological stress when sharing feelings and experiences with similar situations, and to search for a team of trusted experts from therapists, social workers, doctors, and knowledge The most important help centers located near the housing area, and the most important programs of support provided by the government for people suffering from such cases of unrest.

Keep records of visits:

With service providers visiting some of the assessments and reports that are recommended to be kept in a file to monitor the development and progress in the case, these are helped to keep things under control and regulation.

Tips for communicating and interacting with the child

There are no specific and strict rules that determine how to communicate with a child with autism, but there are some tips that will help to achieve the best possible communication, including:

be patient:

It takes a longer time to process information for an autistic child than others, and that requires speaking with him at a slow pace, and be patient when discussing or giving him something.

Flexibility:

Children with autism have problems expressing their feelings, so they may result in some reactions that they must face with persistence and flexibility and not be taken to personal tolerance.

 Positive:

 The autistic child responds better often when reinforced positively, by rewarding the good behaviors that result from it.

Interacting with physical activities:

Some physical activities can be used as a way to communicate with an autistic child, such as playing outside or running and sharing some times that help him feel happy and relaxed.

To show love and affection:

A child with autism needs hugging and love like the rest of the other children, so if the child cannot express his feelings, he still needs care, love, and attention, but it is worth noting that some of them do not like to be touched by anyone, then their desires and personal spaces must be respected by not imposing emotion Physical hugs like them.

Tips on a child's diet

The autistic person has many symptoms such as delayed speech, poor eye contact, an unwillingness to embrace, and a lack of interest in sharing activities with others, and these symptoms may reflect negatively on the eating habits of the autistic person, and for this will be mentioned some of the most important advice on the diet of the child :

Food allergy overrun:

A child with autism may have a certain sensitivity to the color, smell, taste or texture of some types of foods, and this may make his favorite menu limited, and fruits and vegetables are often not his favorite foods, and to bypass this problem it is advised to share with a child with autism Visiting the grocery store to choose the foods he wants, discussing how to prepare them, and avoiding the use of pressure in the event that he does not want to eat a dish, the positivity in these situations helps the child to become more flexible later.

Routine diet:

 It is advised to make meals as routine as possible and to provide main and light meals at the same time every day, and that would reduce stress, in addition to making the surrounding environment suitable for the child. For example, it should reduce lighting as much as possible and adhere to calm, and allow the child to eat Alone or sitting in his own seat if he so desires.

 Avoid constipation:

 Constipation is a common problem for people with autism and this is due to the limited food options for the affected child.

Reducing side effects and drug interactions:

Certain medications that are used to reduce the symptoms of autism cause a decrease in appetite and this leads to a decrease in the amount of daily food that a child consumes, which negatively affects his development. In contrast, there are some drug treatments that may increase the appetite of the child, and others may affect the absorption of vitamins and minerals into The body, therefore, should be asked by the attending physician about the possibility of such side effects and the best advice and ways to reduce them.

Tips for improving a child's sleep

More than half of children with autism face chronic sleep problems, and these problems lead to increased behavioral challenges that the child is going through. Some methods and tips that help improve sleep and some of them follow:

Create a suitable sleeping environment:

Since children with autism have sensory problems especially the direction of the noise, so it is advisable to equip a sleeping room that is quiet, away from sounds and noise, and appropriately dark and cold.

Do a bedtime routine:

 It is advised to adopt an easy and relatively short routine before going to sleep that does not exceed 20 to 30 minutes, such as practicing a certain activity such as listening to music or reading and should be kept as far as possible from electronic devices such as television and others.

 Refrain from caffeine:

Where caffeine is present in tea, soft drinks and chocolate in addition to coffee, therefore, you should stay away from eating these nutrients, especially hours before going to sleep, because caffeine makes the child alert and makes it difficult for him to sleep.

 Sleep and wake up at a specific time:

Sleep and wake-up times should be scheduled at specific times, and sleep schedules should not be severely disrupted between weekdays and holidays.

 Exercise and effort:

Exercise and exertion during the day can help facilitate the sleep process for children, so it is advised to practice some kind of sports during the day and it is worth noting that it is necessary to not exercise near the time specified for sleeping, as this would make it difficult for the child to sleep.

Home Exit Tips

To reduce the stress that may occur when going out with a child with autism, it is advised to follow some instructions that may help parents to leave the house and return quietly, and here are some of them:
Pre-positioning and preparing a special bag for the child contains some of the tools he prefers. Use some pictures and explanations to show the child what he can expect outside the home. Create a schedule for activities the child enjoys outside the home. Maintain calm and set reactions in the event of an unexpected occurrence.

Tips for securing a child-friendly environment

A suitable home environment for an autistic child must be provided. To achieve this, the following tips can be followed:

Create a private space in the house:

 Where the child can relax and feel safe, and be prepared in a safe way for the child, especially if he suffers from tantrums or practices some dangerous and harmful behaviors, and this space can be determined by placing markers with colored tape indicating its safe area.

Adjust feedback:

 The way to interact with the behavior of a child with autism is very important, and you must learn how to persist and deal in a correct manner with the difficult behaviors that he practices, and for this, it is advised to know what specialized therapists do and follow these methods at home.

 Promote good behavior:

 Positive reinforcement can have a tremendous impact on children with autism, so it is always advised to praise them when they behave well or when they learn a new skill.