It’s a parent’s worst nightmare to hear that something is “wrong” with her child. Any diagnosis is difficult, no matter the severity. However, when your child is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, many parents don’t know how to begin helping their child. This period of sadness and helplessness is normal and it is important not to overwhelm yourself with all of the different theories on what caused this. It is key to move forward and get the help that your child needs as quickly as possible.
1 Talk to your pediatrician about her experience in working with children with autism. If this is new to her, consider switching to a pediatrician who has taken care of children with autism and is up-to-date on the many treatments and theories that exist.
2 Visit autismspeaks.org or autism-society.org to search for local resources, learn about the variety of treatment plans available, and find out what you can do at home to help your child.
3 Research and choose specialists including a pediatric neurologist, speech and language pathologist, occupational therapist, and physical therapist to get started on treating your child. There are many people available to help your child succeed and finding the right one for you and your family is important.
4 Check with your insurance to see what treatments will or won’t be covered. You may need to find alternate ways to pay or resort to paying out of pocket, as many treatments are limited to a certain number of sessions by health insurance. You can check to see if your state health department or children with special health needs program offers any additional coverage.
5 Join either a local or online support group and talk to other families who have been down this road. Their insight will help you to find hope, learn how to care for your child, and help you become a better advocate for your child now and in the future.