My ASD Child

 "We suspect our 4 year old (Ryan) may have a form of autism, but my husband is reluctant to get a diagnosis for him for fear that it will cause more problems than it solves. What say you? I'm torn on this issue! I want to do what's best." Because the symptoms of High-Functioning Autism (HFA) can be subtle, moms and dads may not recognize any differences in their youngster until he is age three or older. Pursuing a formal diagnosis is a family's individual decision to make. There is no “correct” time to form this decision, although many parents agree that they wish to know their youngster's diagnosis definitively and as early in their youngster's development as possible.   ==> How to Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder If you are discovering that the criteria for HFA might have application for your youngster, then you are faced with a decision about seeking a diagnosis. You may NOT wish to pursue a formal

When parents first discover that their child has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), they may experience an emotional struggle that looks something like this: Denial: "Surely the doctors have misdiagnosed my child. He may be a little odd, but I have a hard time believing he has some kind of disorder." Anger: "Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this." Bargaining: "Maybe there's a cure!" Depression/Guilt: "I must have done something to make this happen." Anxiety: "I don't even know where to start in dealing with this." Acceptance: "This could be much worse than it is. I think I'll be able to handle it." It's natural for moms and dads to get angry with themselves, each other, teachers, doctors, and even the child himself. Parents are trying to make sense of what has happened. Moms and dads need to allow themselves to experience whatever emotions they are having. It's all par