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Coping and support
By Mayo Clinic staffRaising a child with autism can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining. These suggestions may help:
- Find a team of trusted professionals. You'll need to make important decisions about your child's education and treatment. A team, coordinated by your doctor, may include social workers, teachers and therapists, who can help look at and explain the resources in your area. Make certain this team includes a case manager or service coordinator, who can help access financial services and government programs.
- Take time for yourself and other family members. Caring for a child with autism can be a round-the-clock job that puts stress on your personal relationships and your whole family. To avoid burnout, take time out to relax, exercise or enjoy your favorite activities. Try to schedule one-on-one time with your other children and plan date nights with your spouse or partner — even if it's just watching a movie together after the children go to bed.
- Seek out other families of children with autism. Other families struggling with the challenges of autism may have useful advice. Many communities have support groups for parents and siblings of children with autism.
- Learn about the disorder. There are many myths and misconceptions about autism. Learning the truth can help you better understand your child and his or her attempts to communicate. With time, you'll likely be rewarded by seeing your child grow and learn and even show affection — in his or her own way.
- Keep organized records of visits and evaluations with service providers. Your child may have visits, evaluations and meetings with many people involved in his or her care. Keep an organized file of these meetings and reports to help you decide about treatment options and monitor progress.
- Stay current on new technologies and therapies. Researchers continue to explore new approaches to help children with autism. See the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website on autism and autism spectrum disorders for helpful materials and links to resources on autism.
References
- Autism overview: What are some of the possible signs of autism? Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development. http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/autism/overview/signsOfAutism.cfm. Accessed Aug. 3, 2012.
- Autism fact sheet. National Autism Association. http://nationalautismassociation.org/resources/autism-fact-sheet/. Accessed Aug. 3, 2012.
- LaBlanc LS, et al. Behavioral interventions for children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2012;59:147.
- Autistic disorder. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Aug. 3, 2012.
- Huffman LC, et al. Management of symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorders: A comprehensive review of pharmacologic and complementary-alternative medicine treatment. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics. 2011;32:56.
- Learn the signs — Act early. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/concerned.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2012.
- James S, et al. Omega-3 fatty acids supplementation for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007992.pub2/abstract. Accessed July 2, 2012.
- A parent's guide to autism spectrum disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/a-parents-guide-to-autism-spectrum-disorder/what-are-the-symptoms-of-asd.shtml. Accessed Aug. 3, 2012.
- Augustyn M. Terminology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorders. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Aug. 3, 2012.
- AskMayoExpert. What advice can a primary care provider give to parents who inquire about autism spectrum disorder (ASD) treatments that have no scientific evidence of efficacy and may be harmful. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2012.
- Cheuk DKL, et al. Acupuncture for autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD007992.pub2/abstract. Accessed July 2, 2012.
- American Academy of Pediatrics policy statement. Sensory integration therapies for children with developmental and behavioral disorders. Pediatrics. 2012;129:1186.
- Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/topics.html. Accessed Aug. 3, 2012.
- Autism fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm. Accessed Aug. 3, 2012.
- Whiteside SP (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 18, 2012.
- Hoecker JL (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 19, 2012.
- Chelation: Therapy or "therapy"? National Capital Poison Center. http://www.poison.org/current/chelation%20therapy.htm. Accessed Sept. 20, 2012.
- Antshel KM, et al. Advances in understanding and treating ADHD. BMC Medicine. 2011;9:72.
- Filipek PA, et al. Reaffirmed 2010. Practice parameter: Screening and diagnosis of autism. Neurology. 2000;55:468.
- Schultz MG (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 21, 2012.
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