by Axcis
It can be difficult for a child with ASD (otherwise known as Autism Spectrum Disorder) to cope with the stresses and responsibilities of school. Everyday situations which children are expected to deal with easily can turn into stressful attacks with which there may seem like no escape.
People with autism will often find it difficult to properly communicate with others, they may find social skills harder to learn and they are easily distracted and disturbed by a sensory overload in their surroundings.
In a noisy and constantly changing environment such as a school, this can become very stressful for a child with ASD and they will not always know how to handle it. Currently, we do not yet know exactly how we can quell all the worries of parents of children with ASD, but we are taking massive steps to helping children with ASD cope with everyday life.
Tolerance, patience and adaptability is key when attending to a situation, so it is important to make sure your child has the support he or she needs when out and about, particularly in the classroom.
Diagnosing ASD
There are a few main signs given out by children who might have an autism spectrum disorder, which include;
- Carrying out activities in a repetitive way and getting distressed if these activities are not done as such,
- Resistance to change or doing things in a different way
- Inability to use their hands to communicate
- Avoidance of eye contact
- Self-injurious behaviour or behaviour such as biting, pinching or kicking with seemingly no reason.
While not all of these point to autism, they can be an indicator of an autism spectrum disorder, so if you have concerns it may be beneficial to try for an official diagnosis. This will be done in the form of an assessment, looking at the child’s reaction to certain stimuli and assessing their behaviour in various situations.
A diagnosis of ASD may help some parents to gain a better knowledge of their child’s situation, thus allowing themselves better access to materials and support regarding ASD. However other parents prefer not to know, and will attempt to make their own way without ever seeking a formal diagnosis. How you choose to move forward is completely up to you.
Keeping to a Routine
Children with an autism spectrum disorder dislike a change in their routine, or they find it difficult to adapt to such changes. By establishing a realised routine with your child you will be able to help prevent stress for your child. Obviously we cannot control every aspect of our child’s lives so if you have to change something about the routine, try to make it a gradual change so that your child has plenty of time to adjust.
Another possible way to encourage a child with ASD to try something they don’t want to do (that is otherwise unavoidable) is to use an important figure to ‘reinforce the rules’ as it were.
So for example; I don’t want to go to school today. Answer: I know you don’t want to go to school, I don’t want to go to school either but the Queen says everyone must go to school!
It defers the responsibility from you and allows you to ‘unite’ with your child on one front, where they will be more likely to agree to your suggestion if ‘the Queen’ says it must be so. It is a strange technique but it can work.
Consider a Support Animal
Animals often know how to calm people down far easier than humans. Dogs can be trained to prevent children from hurting themselves and will often be able to calm a child down without words. People in general are more cautious about hurting animals and as animals cannot ‘hug’ or otherwise ‘encompass’ children like humans will do to calm them down, this can be extremely helpful in bringing children back from an ‘attack’.
It can be difficult to know what to do when your child is having a panic attack and in many cases, people or being near to people, can make things worse. Children may lash out, scream, or injure themselves and others around them. Animals are adept at reading body language and signs and finding ways of calming children down without being invasive and these can be a godsend for children with an ASD.
Request the Assistance of a Professional
You are never alone. While we may not have everything quite down pat, there are experts who can provide research tools and support groups which can help you to better understand an autism spectrum disorder. It is more common than you think, so make sure to get professional help if you are ever in doubt.
At the end of the day, while it may be difficult and stressful, it is an incredible achievement for any parents to have an active part in helping their child to learn. Children with ASD may have difficulty along the way, but they are often profoundly talented in more creative ways, and will show their own strengths and unique talents in ways you might not expect.
Support groups and experts are constantly working to help improve the lives of young people everywhere, so remember that you are not alone, and to always seek help if you have any worries. Keep going, you’re doing great!
Article provided by Axcis Recruitment – an education specialist based in Kent, aiming to provide top class candidates for supply, short term and permanent roles within the learning and development sector.