Breaking down barriers: Five ways to help an autistic child

Adarsh Shetty (27) was able to grasp everything around him, but he did not talk until he was about four years old. He would not respond to people or make eye contact. The worried mother, Jyothi Shetty, 55, a senior financial advisor from Bengaluru, speculated that he had a hearing problem. However, when Shetty took him to a doctor, Adarsh was given a different diagnosis: he was an autistic child.

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disorder where children have social and communication difficulties while exhibiting certain repetitive behaviours, says Dr Neelu Desai, pediatric neurologist in P D Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai.

Autistic child: Triggering factors

There are genetic factors and environmental triggers linked to autism but there is no known cause. “Environmental factors like excessive screen time and less social interactions in the first few years of life have been associated with development of autism,” says Dr Desai. 

Issues with communication, social interactions and getting out of their comfort zone are typical signs of autism in a child. 

Childhood signs of autism

According to Dr Gowri Chinthalapalli, a child developmental physician at Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, an autistic child might miss these milestones of development.

• Regression of language 
• No social smile
• Lack of response and eye contact
• Being happy and content with themselves without socialising 
• Showing gestures only when they need something (need based communication)
• Getting annoyed when their routine is changed
• Being sensitive to sensors like noise, touch and taste

Generally, screening for autism is done after 18 months of age through various assessment tools like M-CHAT (a screening questionnaire for toddlers to diagnose autism). “However, if a child displays signs of autism in the first few months of birth, we start monitoring them,” says Dr Chinthalapalli.

Helping them is about making the person functional in life. This involves acknowledging their needs, seeking support from professionals and channelising their strengths, adds Dr Chinthalapalli.

Five ways to help an autistic child

• Bridging the communication gap

Kreeti Mitra Bhatia, from Gurugram, mother of a 13-year-old autistic boy, felt overwhelmed while dealing with her son, motivating her to open an online support group called ‘The Special Mom.’

“Imagine getting through the day with your mouth plastered for 24 hours. That is my son’s everyday battle,” shares Bhatia.

Parental involvement in therapies like occupational therapy, speech therapy and behaviour modification therapies helps them understand their child’s behaviours and connect with them, explains Dr Desai.

Engaging your children in physical activity is recommended. It can help with sensory issues of an autistic kid, advises Dr Chinthalapalli.

• Early intervention helps in autism diagnosis

“Due to the association of autism with screen time, I would really discourage giving any form of screen time to children below two years of age,” advises Dr Desai.

Parents can recognise the signs of autism till almost five years of age and not dismiss their behaviour as hyperactivity, says Dr Chinthalapalli. “Early intervention involves seeking help from professionals and getting the supportive tools to help their children function. Delays in seeing a specialist can lead to developmental problems later,” she adds.

• Acknowledging their needs

“It’s a lifelong battle for us, parents. Acknowledging and adjusting to your child’s needs is about hits and misses; you need to keep on experimenting,” says Bhatia.

The support and understanding of society can make a significant difference in the life of a child with autism. Speaking about how the community can help, Bhatia says, “Just be aware of the condition from your own understanding and empathy level. Get to know about the families of autistic children. Even inviting an autistic child to your kid’s birthday parties makes a significant difference in their lives.”

• Managing their needs

Because of sensitivity to taste, an autistic child can have a specific diet which leads to low immunity. “There are certain therapies such as sensory integration and speech therapy that can help in decreasing the foreign hypersensitivity to taste which should be carried out by treating doctors. Supplements like multivitamins can make up for the lost nutrition,” adds Dr Desai.

Shetty shares that parents can modify children’s behavioural patterns by exhibiting these behaviours in themselves and being role models. She advises parents to introduce a change gradually. “If you want to make changes, use visual cues, as autistic children work well with visuals. For instance, before going on a trip or a new place, show them pictures of the place so that they can adjust to new stimuli.”

“Allow them to feel it, rather than just enforcing things on them,” she adds.

• Identifying their special talents

Schools can recognise the special abilities of autistic children and refine their strengths, says Dr Desai.

In Adarsh’s case, his mother could not find a special school for many years, as his speech had not developed yet. She finally found the right school, Sense Kaleidoscope in Bengaluru, for him when he was 16 years old. It recognised his special artistic abilities. A teacher discovered that he has his own unique style of making a face or a portrait. Since then, he has been on the path of making portraits. 

“Some of his artwork has been displayed in prestigious art exhibitions. Besides artwork, he has self-learnt scripts of different languages of Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada and Tamil without being formally taught. His passion for languages continues to persevere,” says Shetty.

Takeaways

• Autism spectrum disorder involves difficulty in social interactions, communication and sensory issues.
• Parents need to spot the signs of autism within the first few months of birth. Experts say early diagnosis and intervention can help an autistic child navigate their difficult behaviours.
• Managing their needs, spotting their strengths and refining it can help an autistic child have a well-functioning life.