Autism In Children

There are numerous books on the shelf of the local bookstore so are survival guides for parents of teens. And for good reason! For both parents and children, the teen years are the a good amount of trying. We've been there so we remember what it is like (though sometimes it looks as if it's as if we have forgotten). The fluctuations we tend to focus most of our attention on are the outward ones but it is the inner unrest the current we all go within so can cause the most distress, regardless of the grade of ability or disability.

For parents, one of the hardest things to have to sort out is the lack of control within the duration of the situation. This is heightened for parents of teens with autism as many of these kids mature physically on schedule but of course properties are not emotionally equipped to situation with all that right now can bring. This can indeed foster extreme reactions and parents desire to be prepared. This is a little known fact, but approximately one third of teens on the autism spectrum will experience the onset of seizures. Even if the teen has never had any kind of a seizure in his or her life, they can begin at this time of life.

Thankfully, these usually end when puberty is over but is can be extremely scary during these years. Obviously, if you notice your child having even tremors you should consult a doctor to see if this might be seizure activity. If it is, there are drugs available to treat it and it should be treated as one result of seizures can be a loss in functioning. and, as we parents of autistic children know, it is devastating to go "backwards" when we have worked so hard to keep our child moving forward as much as possible. Autism In Children

One possible positive affect of these extra teenage hormones is that your autistic child might actually have a growth and development spurt. Again, don't focus just on the outward changes of your child but keep track of how he or she is doing developmentally. You may even notice a new skill or interest appears when there had previously been nothing!

Great - take advantage of it and give your child the opportunity to continue to grow and develop. Monitor any changes in your child and keep in close contact with the professionals in your child's life so that you can ask questions and pass on information as needed. If your child is not part of a social skills group before puberty, then this is definitely the time to get him or her involved. Here in San Diego CA we have a number of community resources for people with disabilities. Look around your community and you might be surprised at what you find! Remember to find that delicate balance between what is age appropriate and what your child can handle given their developmental level and experience.

Getting suggestions from fellow parents of children with special needs, perhaps through support groups, is the best way to quickly find these opportunities and get involved. Puberty and the teen years are difficult for anyone. When you have a disability it is even more so. Take advantage of people and resources in your community - reach out and give your child the benefit of what is in his or her own backyard. Focus on transitioning from child to young adult and consider what your child needs to learn to be safe. Be patient - this too will pass! Don't let your child suffer anymore! Lead your child out of his world through Autism In Children program now!