Autism in the Childhood Years
Guest Author: Alyssa Habschmidt, M.A.
Autism in the Childhood Years
Children with autism socialize and behave in unique ways. How they interact and move through the world around them is shaped by the way their brains work. They have a wide range of personality traits, strengths, and challenges. There is no one-size-fits-all experience, nor is there a single approach to understanding a child’s unique needs and preferences.
Language Matters
When discussing autism, it’s important to acknowledge the gravity of words. In the autism community, many self-advocates prefer the terminology “Autistic person” because autism is understood as an inherent part of an individual’s identity. On the other hand, there is also a preference for “person with autism” terminology because this puts the “person” before an identifier, emphasizing humanity. For this article, I will use “child with autism” to reflect person-first language.
Ways Autism is Misunderstood
Misinformation can spread like wildfire, and knowing fact from fiction is imperative for supporting children with autism and their families. Listed are four common misconceptions:
1. “Autism is a disease”
Autism isn’t a disease; it’s simply the way the brain works. It’s a neurodevelopmental disorder, which means something about brain development and function is different from that of a neurotypical child. Different doesn’t mean wrong, and children with autism aren’t all different in the same way.
2. “Autism is a mental illness”
Autism is not a mental health condition. While many mental illnesses generally develop later in life, autism is a condition a child is born with. Moreover, mental illnesses have clear medical treatments available. There’s no medicine that treats autism.
3. “Only boys can be autistic”
Autism isn’t a sex-specific condition. Boys, however, are more likely to be diagnosed with autism partly due to a diagnostic bias, with girls presenting subtler symptoms, leading to later or missed diagnoses. An important fact is that anyone, regardless of sex or gender, can be born with autism.
4. “Autism can be cured”
Autism is a lifelong disorder, not a disease, and cannot be cured. While there’s no cure, a variety of treatments focus on helping children make independent developmental progress and live rich, rewarding lives.
What is Autism Exactly?
Autism characteristics fall into two main groups:
●Difficulties with social communication and interaction that affect how a child socializes.
●Restricted and repetitive behaviors, interests, or activities that affect how a child acts.
Formerly referred to as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), autism is a neurological, developmental condition defined as a difference in brain functioning that affects how a child communicates and interacts with others. The brain difference affects various aspects of behavior, interests, and activities. This may look like a child using eye contact or body language differently than someone who is neurotypical. It may also appear as repetitive movements or sounds used to regulate emotions.
Three Key Areas of a Child’s Life
1. Social Interactions
For a child with autism, social interactions may take on unique features:
●Doesn’t respond to their name
●Appears uninterested in taking-turn games
●Prefers to play by themselves
●Talks about a narrow range of topics
●Has difficulty using and interpreting body language
●Speaks in a monotone or sing-song voice
●Doesn’t seek out a parent/caregiver to share something they’ve discovered
●Looks away rather than making eye contact
Many children with autism may need support learning how to act in different social situations. They often want to interact with others, but do not know how to engage friends, or they find new experiences overwhelming. They often have to guess what the social “map” should look like.
Here are some ways to support social skills development:
●Offer direct, explicit instructions for in-the-moment situations. For example, telling a child how to approach another child they want to play with at the park can become a valuable teachable moment.
●Encourage the child to use language. This will look different for each child depending on whether they speak or use a device to communicate.
●Notice their sensitivity to stimuli and make appropriate adjustments. For example, some children wear headphones in loud, overstimulating environments.
●Role-play social situations with toys, modeling ideas of how the child can engage in play with friends.
●Be patient and consistent. Keep social interactions simple, allowing time for the child to learn and grow at their own pace.
2. Family Relationships
Understanding the impact of autism on family dynamics is crucial in creating a supportive, nurturing environment. Parents often spend lots of time and energy ensuring their child’s well-being and taking care of their daily needs. Feelings of stress and exhaustion are common among parents when navigating the complexities of healthcare systems, educational institutions, and social services. Parents may feel guilty about neglecting other family members, particularly Siblings.
Siblings can experience a mix of helpful and challenging experiences. They often help care for their siblings with autism, which can foster strengths like empathy, compassion, and maturity. On the other hand, they may also experience worry, frustration, and isolation. Creating a support network can provide siblings with a safe space to express feelings and concerns and help them understand that they are not alone.
3. Emotional Development
By twelve months of age, a neurotypical developing baby can read facial cues and begin to determine basic emotions – happiness, sadness, anger, fear, or disgust. Children with autism find it difficult to understand and display emotion. A parent may notice their child struggling with challenges, including:
●Recognizing facial expressions
●Interpreting the emotions of others
●Using emotional expressions
●Controlling their emotional responses
●Difficulty self-soothing
This can bring up feelings for parents, such as concern or worry, and that is okay. Here are some gentle tips on assisting a child with autism in strengthening their emotional development:
●Strengthen communication by labeling emotions in natural settings. For example, point out the emotions of characters in a storybook, talk about their facial expressions, the situations that led to the emotions, and how the characters respond to various situations.
●Respond to the child’s emotions, both positive and negative, letting the child know you see and understand what they’re feeling. This validation helps the child identify emotions and understand their internal world.
●Encourage eye contact.
●Help the child learn to scan faces and identify emotional cues.
Developing Strong Connections is Everything
Connection is paramount. However, it’s understandable that connecting with a child with autism can feel challenging, especially if the child is nonverbal or shows little interest in interacting with others. Children with autism may sometimes seem standoffish or unwilling to form an emotional connection. Remember, though, that appearances are not always facts. The first step in opening a relationship is learning about the child and, above all, embracing who they are.
Understand what bothers the child. Things to ponder: Is the child hypersensitive to touch, sounds, light, tastes, smells, or colors? Any one of these sensory experiences can cause a child to turn away from someone attempting to form a close bond. To have a meaningful connection, you will need to create a safe space for the child to express themselves. This means enjoying time with the child in an environment that doesn’t overstimulate or cause them to shut down.
Communicate clearly and simply. Children with autism often have difficulty with nuance, as they usually don’t relate to flowery language, overuse of adjectives, and metaphors. Adjust how you communicate your feelings of love if the child doesn’t respond to words of affirmation. Sharing affection through other means, such as photos or videos, may be a better way to communicate how special the child is.
Watch, listen, and learn what the child feels comfortable with and respect their boundaries. Physically connect on the child’s terms. Find out what kind of sensory experiences they like. Some children love a tight squeeze or gentle touch, while others prefer their personal space. Showing a child you are listening and understanding them is imperative in developing trust and a strong connection.
Final Thoughts
At PBA, we support children, parents, and families navigating the multifaceted experiences of autism. If autism is part of your story or identity, reach out here. We are here to support you.