Autism Facts You Probably Didn't Know

-- By Nikki Sasso Mitchell, EDID Coordinator

My son Aiden is eight years old. He loves watching and playing video games. He loves exploring the trails near our house and riding his bike around the neighbourhood. His favourite foods are spaghetti, pizza, and macaroni and cheese. He's silly and loves to play tag and hide and seek. Aiden also has autism. 

What is Autism?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects the development of the brain and the conditions can vary. A person who is autistic may not be able to function well in noisy areas, can have trouble with socialization, have trouble transitioning from one activity to the other, and may engage in repetitive or obsessive behaviour. People with autism are not all the same, and it's impossible to label them the same. Some people might be able to live independently, while others may require long-term support. 

Assessment

Autism is often diagnosed in childhood and is determined by a child's behaviour. For example, children may be displaying delays in their speech. My son didn't speak in full sentences until he was five. He often tells me about how hard it was for him to communicate with us. I often think back to those days when he would get so upset because he just couldn't tell us what was wrong, or that all he wanted was a snack. Currently, the consensus is that autism is passed down by the genes of the parents. It is not caused by vaccines or by lack of proper parenting as it was once thought. More than often, autism is diagnosed in adulthood. 

Care

It is hard to say which "treatment" will help. Early detection does help, and interventions can help increase the quality of life for people living with autism. Services such as speech pathology, behavioural therapy, and occupational therapy can help. Aiden has had speech pathology and it has helped his communication skills immensely. He now raises his hand in class to answer questions, and he can now tell me when he's hungry for a snack. We are now shifting to behavioural therapy so we can help Aiden with his social skills. 

What can you do?

Parents of children with autism all want to same thing. They want their children to be happy, to be loved, and to be a bit more understood. It's easy to make a quick judgement about a child with autism, but a little of your own research can go a long way. Don't be afraid to speak directly to a child with autism. They just want to be acknowledged like any other child. You can also ask the parents first, and see what their child prefers. Aiden is always listening. Especially when we are talking about him. I always tell people that Aiden understands, so don't talk about him like he's not in the room. Aiden's an eight-year-old boy. And he has autism. It's a part of him, but it doesn't define him.