Characteristics of Autistic children and how to deal with them

Some people may be anxious or impatient when they think their child may have autism. However, knowing the characteristics of autism, the support it receives, and its association with intellectual disability may help you to deal with autism more calmly. I want to support my child as a parent so that he / she does not feel anxiety or stress. First, let's deepen our understanding of autism one by one.What is Autism (Autism Spectrum Disorder)?Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by poor communication, strong interest and behavior, and impaired mutual interpersonal relationships. It is said that one of the characteristics will appear by the age of 1 to 3 years. It is more common in boys than in girls. This disorder is said to be caused by some sort of innate brain function defect, not by parental discipline or parenting.The symptoms of autism cannot be said to disappear in the future. However, early care tends to help you find the right way to raise and treat your child. Therefore, those who are concerned about whether their child has autism should be diagnosed with autism early in early childhood.Characteristics of autismThere are many different types of children with autism. The three characteristics I'm going to talk about also look quite different depending on the child's age, stage of development, and severity of disability. For example, it is often said that children with autism "do not make eye contact", but not all children. Also, most children will come to see each other as they grow up. Not all features apply, but let's figure out what the typical symptoms are.Hurdle in interpersonal relationshipsAt an early stage of development, behaviors such as disagreement, unresponsiveness when called, and lack of interest in people are often noticed. And even if I get lost, I often have a calm face. In the case of a child who can have a certain degree of interpersonal relationship, a child who is not shy and talks to anyone in a familiar manner, a child who has a one-sided relationship with the surroundings and is at his own pace, a child who is restless at his own pace and cannot perform group actions, and the feelings of others There are difficulties in mutual interaction, such as children who are not good at recognizing.Communication hurdlesMany children notice a delay in memorizing words, but some of them may stop using the words they used at some point. It is said that about one-third of children with autism have this. Delays in non-verbal communication are also common. The act of pulling her mother's hand and using her hand like a tool to pick up something when she doesn't point or has something she wants (called a crane phenomenon), facing her in the opposite direction. You can see things like bye-bye. Since she started to speak words, she has a characteristic that she has a lot of echolalia, soliloquy, and unsuitable utterances, which makes it difficult for her to talk.Strong commitmentAutism tends to be interested in only one thing and is characterized by a strong commitment. Although you're crazy about one thing, it's unlikely that you'll repeat the same actions and your interests will grow. Some children have a clear taste for food, while others dislike certain sounds. In addition, it is easy to stick to what you are using and how you are doing now, so it can be said that autism is characterized by dislike new things and new methods. Sudden changes in schedule or new things in your life can lead to panic. Other common features of autistic children include restlessness, sound sensitivity, short sleep, and self-harm. If you have some of these characteristics, I think you should think about the possibility of autism.How to deal with autistic childrenSo what should you be aware of when you find out that your child has autism?Below, we will introduce various patterns in bullet points.

• When speaking, be specific and easy to understand, and try to use as few abstract words as possible.
• Speak calmly, slowly and clearly using visual information such as gestures.
• In a group, it can be okay to violate manners.
• If you do something wrong, please tell me what to do in such a case.
• When you talk to me, please listen carefully first.
• If you don't react at this time, you will become more and more unwilling to talk.
• Please be careful not to change the story you once told a person with autism. If you can't help it, please explain why it happened so that you can understand the situation even if it is troublesome.
• One of the characteristics of autism is that it is very particular about what I thought. Even if it is difficult for people around you to understand, please understand that it is such a thing.
• Behaviors such as hitting one's head or biting one's nails are also common. If you have frequent self-harm, consult a developmental disability specialist.

By knowing these things in advance, you will be able to relax when dealing with children with developmental disabilities such as autism.Parents and schools work together to provide supportCoordination with the school is essential to support children with autism. Communicate frequently with the school and tell them about your child's development and development at home. Sharing information about your child with the school is essential. Supporting children with autism is important to match their characteristics and developmental level. Also, let's provide the best support according to your life stage. What kind of support is good depends on the life stage. In consultation with the school, decide which support should be given the highest priority at that time.Let's keep in mind the support that suits each childIt is important to take autism positively as a personality, rather than lamenting the inability to compare development with other children of the same age. Symptoms of autism vary from child to child. Work with your school to provide support that suits your child's personality and symptoms.