Parents Coping With Autistic Children

Autism, a bio-neurological condition that affects a child's ability to interact socially and use language appropriately. After the initial shock of learning that a child has autism, parents must learn to cope with the day-to-day challenges of caring for and raising a child with the disorder.

Education

• In order to cope with a diagnosis of autism, parents need to educate themselves about all aspects of autism, including characteristics of the disorder, parenting strategies and treatment options. Parents can find a wealth of information online, in books and from professionals such as general pediatricians, developmental pediatricians, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, special education teachers and other parents who also have children with autism.

Time Frame

• To cope with an autism diagnosis, seek treatment immediately. Early treatment produces the best results and can make coping much easier, as treatment usually improves behavioral and developmental issues.

Routines

• Routines make coping with autism easier for both the parents and the child. Autistic children crave set routines, and often have tantrums when routines are disrupted. Parents should try to keep routines as consistent as possible and forewarn their autistic child well in advance of any schedule changes.

Considerations

• Parents who ask for help and make time for themselves, their partners and their other children typically find that coping with autism is easier. Those who become totally consumed by the autism diagnosis may do alright for a while, but eventually they will reach a breaking point and find themselves unable to cope. To prevent this, parents should ask for help when feeling overwhelmed and make sure to schedule themselves weekly breaks and frequent activities with other family members.