In: Psychology
As a teacher of a toddler-age group, you notice a child displaying possible symptoms of autism. How do you approach the family with your concerns? How do you prepare for the meeting? To who do you make a referral?
Autism is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioural challenges. It is referred to as Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The term “spectrum” associated with it means that there is a wide range of symptoms and levels of impairment affecting people with ASD. People with ASD have some common symptoms like they face difficulty in interacting socially but differences are seen with the onset and severity of symptoms. The symptoms and their severity are also likely to change over time. The signs of ASD begin in early childhood with minor symptoms usually in the first 2 years of life.
As a teacher of a special needs kid I would reach out to the parents and work on developing trust. I would try to learn from the parents about the child's development as they know the child better than me. I would maintain regular contact with them. I would also guide them where medical evaluation and management can take place.I would also encourage them to go for parent counselling and training and join a support group. By joining a support group they will not feel isolated and are able to meet other families dealing with the same challenges, share information and can benefit from each other's experiences. In this way, they can provide each other the much needed emotional support.
I would refer them to a paediatrician. The doctor treating a child with ASD will refer the child to a speech-language pathologist. The speech-language pathologist will perform a thorough evaluation of the child’s ability to communicate and will design a treatment program accordingly. In addition, the child may be sent for a hearing test as well just to ensure that the child’s hearing is normal.
The treatment that is commonly advised for autistic kids includes behaviour therapy, speech-language therapy, play-based therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nutritional therapy. The critical part is to be consistent with the program and the routine.