Children with autism and how to deal with them

 Methods for dealing with children with autism.

Autism spectrum disorders, or autism spectrum, or autism for short, or as it is also called autism, is defined as a disorder associated with the neurodevelopmental process of the brain, which affects the way the affected person communicates with others.   others and their ability to communicate. with others. perceive normally. In the context of the conversation, it should be noted that the responsibility for caring for a child with autism does not lie with the parents alone, but must be distributed among all family members, in order to reduce the psychological pressure that will arise on the children. kid.   The parents, although the greatest and most important responsibility will continue to fall on them. People with autism may face various problems in physical communication and verbal expression, so it is necessary for parents and those around them to guess what their affected child wants in order to know their needs and desires, and this can sometimes forced to abandon a normal social life. .   The parents because of the difficulty that others understand the autistic child or the non-acceptance of it among them, and the social difficulty that the parents face is accompanied by feelings of helplessness and sadness for the future of their affected child.   You should try to find ways to de-stress and maintain a happy family, and this can be achieved when parents have private time from time to time. Another is to take a break from the duties of caring for your injured child, supporting other family members, and caring for the child for several hours. This will help recharge parents' energy and increase their ability to once again care for their child and maintain strong family relationships.

     Advice for parents of an affected child

Having an autistic child in the family is a challenge for all its members, and to reduce fears and increase the ability to overcome difficult periods, it is recommended to follow some tips, including the following:

       Cognitive education: Parents who have an autistic child should read a lot about autism and coping from credible scientific sources, as well as visit autism centers and non-profit or government organizations to learn more about autism.   specialists, as there are a lot of misconceptions and myths about autism spectrum disorder, there needs to be continuous and permanent research on the latest scientific research that is being done.   Knowing the truth and various details surrounding autism helps to deal with the condition and better understand the affected child.

     Join support groups: The participation of parents with other people who have similar cases can have a significant psychological and cognitive impact, so it is recommended to look for groups and families with autistic children to exchange experiences and reduce the psychological pressure of sharing feelings.   and experiences with similar people. . Cases, look for a team of trusted experts among therapists, social workers and doctors and learn about the most important help centers located near the area of residence, and the most important support programs offered by the government for people who suffer from this type of cases of disorders

  Keeping records of visits: Through visits to service providers, certain evaluations and reports are identified that are recommended to be kept on file to monitor the development and progress of the condition, as this helps to keep things under control and organized.  

     Tips for communicating and interacting with the child

child, but there are some tips that will help achieve the best possible communication, including:

      Be patient: Processing information about an autistic child takes longer than others, and this requires speaking to them at a slow pace, and being patient when arguing or giving them something.  

Resilience: Children with autism have problems showing their feelings, so they can produce some reactions that must be faced with stability and flexibility and not taken personally.  

Positivity: A child with autism responds best to positive reinforcement, often rewarding the resulting good behaviors.

     Interact with physical activities: Some physical activities can be used as a means of communication with an autistic child, such as playing outside or running and engaging in some moments that help them feel happy and relaxed.  

     Showing love and tenderness: A child with autism needs hugs and love like other children, so if a child cannot express their feelings, they still need care, love and attention, but it should be noted that some of them do not like that touch them.   Any then your wishes and space

Diet tips for children.

     A person with autism shows many symptoms such as delayed speech, lack of eye contact, unwillingness to hug, and lack of interest in sharing activities with others, and these symptoms can negatively affect the person's eating habits, and therefore reason some of the most important tips on feeding the child will be  :

Overcoming food sensitivities: A child with autism may have some sensitivity to the color, smell, taste, or texture of some types of food, and this can make their list of favorite foods narrow, with fruits and vegetables often missing.  are among their favorite foods. . To overcome this problem, the autistic child is advised to participate in the visit to the grocery store to choose the foods she wants, and discuss with her how to prepare it, and avoid putting pressure on her if she expresses her unwillingness to eat a dish.  Positivity in these situations helps the child to be more resilient later on.

Follow a routine diet: It is recommended to make meals as routine as possible, and provide main meals and snacks at the same time every day, as this would reduce stress, as well as make the surrounding environment suitable for the child, so if the child is sensitive to light, for example, you should dim the lighting as much as possible, be quiet, and allow the child to eat alone or sit in his or her seat if desired. 

Avoid constipation: Constipation is a common problem for people with autism, due to limited food options for the affected child. Therefore, it is recommended to follow a diet rich in fiber, encourage physical activity and drink plenty of fluids and water.

     Reduction of side effects and drug interactions: Some medications that are used to reduce the symptoms of autism cause a decrease in appetite, and this leads to a decrease in the daily amount of food that the child eats, which negatively affects the growth of her  On the other hand, there are some pharmacological treatments that can increase the child's appetite, and some of them can affect the process of absorption of vitamins and minerals in the body, so the treating physician should inquire about the possibility of such side effects and which are. its side  The best tips and ways to reduce them.

Tips to improve baby's sleep

     More than half of children with autism suffer from chronic sleep problems, and these problems lead to an increase in behavioral challenges that the child experiences. exacerbate some negative behaviors such as hyperactivity, lack of concentration and attention, and increased aggressiveness.  Some methods and tips that help improve sleep, and some of them come:

     Finding a suitable sleeping environment: Since children with autism suffer from sensory problems, especially in the direction of noise, it is recommended to create a quiet sleeping room, away from sounds and noise, and suitably dark and cool. 

Doing a bedtime routine: Adopting a relatively easy and short bedtime routine that does not exceed 20 to 30 minutes, such as doing a specific activity like listening to music or reading, is recommended and should be kept away from it as much as possible.  possible from electronic devices such as television and others.

Refrain from consuming caffeine: Caffeine is found in tea, soft drinks and chocolate as well as coffee, so these foods should be avoided, especially hours before bedtime, as caffeine makes the child alert and make it hard for you to sleep. . 

     Go to bed and wake up at a set time: Go to bed and wake up at a specific time, and sleep schedules should not alter significantly between weekdays and holidays.

Exercise and exertion: Exercising and exercising during the day can help make it easier for children to fall asleep, so some form of exercise during the day is recommended. 

     Tips for leaving home

To reduce the stress that can occur when going out with an autistic child, it is advisable to follow some guidelines that can help parents leave home and return calmly, some of which are the following:

•       Prepare in advance and prepare a special bag for the child that contains some of the tools that she prefers.

•      Use some pictures and explanations to show the child what she can expect outside the home.

• Create a schedule of activities that the child enjoys outside the home.

•      Stay calm and adjust reactions in case of an unexpected event.

Tips for securing a child-friendly environment

A suitable home environment must be provided for the child with autism, and to achieve this the following advice can be followed:

     Prepare a special place in the house: where the child can relax and feel safe, and it should be safely arranged for the child, especially if he/she throws tantrums or practices some dangerous and harmful behavior, and this space can be identified by marking with a tape color indicating its safe zone. 

     Control of reactions: The way you interact with the behavior of an autistic child is very important, and you must learn to be consistent and correctly deal with the difficult behaviors that he practices. 

     Reinforce good behavior: Positive reinforcement can have a tremendous impact on children with autism, so it is recommended to constantly praise them when they behave well or when they learn a new skill. 

     Advice for a babysitter or teacher for a child at school.

     There are five basic tips that can be given to a babysitter or teacher of an autistic child to help him learn in the classroom, and they are:

     Communication with the mother: where the mother can be used to help in how to deal with the child, help him and know her interests.

     Discover the child's strengths: Each child has strengths that distinguish him or her from others, and the intelligent teacher tries to identify and benefit from them in her education by observing the child and paying attention to him. 

Discover the best way for a child to learn: Some children understand more with visual or tactile teaching aids.

Ask another teacher for help: The teacher can ask another teacher to help her manage the class and the other students, while she can spend some private time with the autistic child to teach and communicate with him a better way. way. 

     Make sure the child feels safe: Manage the classroom to ensure a calm atmosphere in it, and you can assign a small place where you can sit if chaos and agitation prevail in the classroom. 

autism summary

     Autism is defined as a disorder related to the neurodevelopmental process of the brain, which affects the way the affected person communicates with others and their ability to perceive normally, leading to various problems in the interaction process and social integration.  The onset of a group of different symptoms and behavioral problems, autism symptoms often begin during the first year of a child's life, with symptoms developing most clearly by the time they reach the age of 18 to 24 months.  A child with autism may suffer social problems, either at school or later at work, due to the difficulty of integrating with the surrounding society, which has a negative impact on their daily performance.  However, it should be noted that symptoms vary greatly among people with autism. Some children and adults with autism can perform daily tasks and activities with ease, while others require significant support to perform basic daily tasks. 

Many studies indicated that autism can affect both men and women, but the risk rates for men were found to be higher than for women. Although the exact causes of autism are still unknown, there is plenty of research indicating the role of genes working with and leading to some environmental factors in some way, as well as some risk factors that increase the chances of developing autism, such as having a affected sibling, or some genetic conditions, or low birth weight, and it should be noted that up to now no definitive and effective treatment for autism has been reached, but it is possible to follow a treatment plan that helps those who suffer from  For the child to challenge the symptoms and overcome them and reach the abilities and capabilities, and it is worth noting the importance of following the appropriate treatment plans, since each case has a treatment plan that differs from the others, depending on various factors, the most important of which is the child.  Age, diagnosis, individual factors, medical problems and health conditions.