There are many milestones that a parent looks forward to when their children are babies. Since every child is on their own developmental path, some milestones don’t happen when a parent expects them to. Usually, this is nothing to worry about since the child will end up catching up at some point.
There is a time when these milestones that don’t happen can become worrisome. It’s at this point that there are usually some signs that a child could be autistic. Sometimes it turns out that they aren’t. Yet, it is important to find out for sure. In this article, we will go over what to do if you see signs of autism.
1 – Don’t wait long
A milestone or two unmet is not a cause for alarm and other parents will tell you to just wait it out. When there are multiple signs of something not being quite right then it is important to take action quickly. Although it is not generally a diagnosis that can be done when children are under three years old, it is important to understand the risk as early as possible.
You should take an online test such as the Action Behaviors 16 to 30 month old autism test to understand if your child is at risk of having autism. These tests are not a diagnosis but they will indicate if your child is at no risk, at risk, or at high risk of being diagnosed with it later on at some point.
Knowing this when they are small will help you start the treatment process when it is going to make a difference. In some cases, long-term care will need to be planned depending on where they fall on that chart.
If you wait too long, your treatment options become more difficult and it could impact how your child does in life for years to come.
2 – Find the right treatment
If your child is under three and is at risk or even has a high risk of being autistic, that doesn’t mean that it is guaranteed. However, you should start looking into some form of therapy. Even if it turns out that they are not autistic, they will benefit from treatment designed to help them overcome some of the obstacles that are affecting their development.
For instance, if they are delayed in speech, then going to a paediatric speech therapist early on will help them be better at speech and even comprehension with an autism diagnosis. Occupational therapy will help them if they have any physical limitations which will help them get on track with their development.
3 – Find a support group
When you suspect your child is autistic or there has been a diagnosis then it is important to surround yourself with people who have also gone through everything you are experiencing. Having a support group will help you get through the tough times that you will face.
They can give you practical advice since they have been there before.
