What has happened to make these numbers climb so high? Although, there has been a change in the diagnostic criteria used in evaluating autism and doctors are referring toddlers at a much younger age, many argue that there may be other reasons why those numbers are climbing. The reality is, however, that we won’t truly have answers anytime soon, which doesn’t exactly help the families that are struggling right now.
One expert, Dr. Mary Barbera, a board-certified behavior analyst, bestselling author and the mother of a son with autism, believes she is empowering children (and their worried parents!) by providing practical options that can be used immediately to help turn things around.
Know the Signs of Autism
We are all individuals with our own strengths and weaknesses, which is true from birth all the way through the lifespan. Parents will know that all children develop at different rates and that, in most cases, it all works out in the end. Some kids are late walkers or late talkers, and with preemies surviving after being born earlier than ever, it’s common to see some kids needing a little extra time to catch up to their peers.
Eventually, though, a parent might find themselves wondering if their child’s delay might be something more. With this in mind, Dr. Barbera recommends that all parents get familiar with the expected developmental milestones for their child’s age.
Some of the signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) include, but are not limited to:
- Losing skills they once had (stopped talking, waving or pointing)
- Not responding to their name
- Avoiding eye contact and/or wanting to be alone
- Not pointing at objects to show interest
- Not wanting to be held or cuddled
- Speech delay
- Repeat or echo words/phrases in place of normal language
- Inability to follow directions
- Not engaging in pretend play (not “feeding” a doll, etc...)
- Repeating the same actions over and over again
- Food aversions/picky eating
- Struggling to adapt to changes in routine
Again, this is not an exhaustive list. In fact, the reason it’s called Autism Spectrum Disorder is because children can be at any place along the “spectrum” in terms of how their lives are impacted.
This is why it’s so important for parents to be on the lookout for any potential areas where their child could benefit from additional support. They know their child better than anyone and can help be an advocate on their behalf. Voicing concerns to a pediatrician sooner rather than later is crucial to improving outcomes.
Denial
No one wants to see their child struggling, which is probably one of the reasons why many parents fall into denial when they start to see signs of autism. A sense of helplessness can also contribute to not wanting to acknowledge that a child may need additional support. Either way, it doesn’t help anyone to bury our heads in the sand and ignore the issue.
Dr. Barbera believes that the best thing we can do to help parents overcome their feelings of denial is to offer them hope. Whether a child receives a diagnosis of ASD or not, it is best to explore the reasons behind any developmental delays. When a parent understands that being proactive is beneficial, regardless of the outcome, it can help improve their outlook and perspective.
The Waiting Game
With the number of children diagnosed with ASD rising, the demand for services such as Speech Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy has skyrocketed. As a result, families are facing lengthy waits — 14 months at hospital-based specialty centers, on average — for just an evaluation and/or diagnosis. That’s a long time for a child to be struggling without much guidance or support.
This can be an especially frustrating time for parents too, of course. Many who have been in this situation will describe sleepless nights spent scouring the internet for any resources and information to calm their mind. It’s the helplessness that can leave people feeling so discouraged and defeated.
Should You Try ABA Therapy?
Having lived through this experience first-hand after her son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism as a toddler, Dr. Barbera can relate to the panic, denial and desperation parents might be feeling. As a result, she has made it a personal and professional goal to give families tools that they can use in their everyday lives to help children
While early forms of ABA therapy focused heavily on teaching children to maintain eye contact and reduce stimming behaviors (something which has been criticized by advocates of the neurodiversity movement), Dr. Barbera uses a verbal approach.
In fact, she discourages parents from trying to force their children to make eye contact or learn strict social skills. She also makes it clear that punishment should never be used to change a child's behavior. Instead, her aim is to help children with autism gain valuable communication skills to better enable them to interact with the world around them.
Dr. Barbera offers free online workshops for both parents and professionals including the Stop Waiting and Worrying About Autism, which is designed specifically for parents under 4 who are waiting for a diagnosis or more intensive treatment.
Of course, there is no magic bullet and parents should do their own research before choosing a therapeutic approach for their child, but Dr. Barbera’s hope is that, by giving families the ability to take action sooner, rather than later, it will lead to better outcomes for children.
Can You Turn Things Around?
There is no shortage of controversy when it comes to autism. Whether it’s the debate surrounding the underlying causes, diagnostic criteria or treatment options, everyone has an opinion.
While Dr. Barbera explains that
no one can predict how a two-year-old with autism will do later in life, she believes that early... [+]
Clearly, this discussion will be ongoing in our society for years to come and, in the end, we may never find all of the answers. In the meantime, while some may not agree with ABA therapy, Dr. Barbera is trying to offer parents a beacon of hope, education and a convenient, affordable option. For those on long waiting lists, her work could be a welcome reprieve from the worry.
Dr. Barbera has a brand new podcast called Turn Autism Around. This weekly show is for both parents and autism professionals who want to start turning things around for their children or clients with autism (or just signs). To listen to the first few episodes, go to marybarbera.com/podcast!
*NOTE - Jeanne Croteau is not promoting or endorsing one method of supporting children with autism over any other. This article is meant to provide an overview of one expert's options for parents who are struggling for ways to help their family.
