Child Autism

A child with autism will have impairment that displays as behavioral difficulties by the time he or she is three years old. Some of the symptoms a parent can watch out for include: uncontrollable tantrums, insistence on always doing something the exact same way, or doing the same thing over and over again. At times, the child may not seem to be aware of where he is, won't play with other children, or won't respond to adults.

A more severely impaired child will also have language delay. She or he may not communicate at all, or may have trouble understanding simple instructions. If a parent thinks something is wrong, it is best to get a professional opinion as early as possible. Early diagnosis for any disability gives the opportunity for a better prognosis for the future.

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has a list of developmental guidelines that parents can check to see if their child needs to be evaluated for autism. For example, a normally developing baby will coo or babble, and point or wave before the age of 12 months. If a toddler hasn't spoken a single word by 16 months or a two-word phrase by 24 months, this is cause for concern.

Help for Parents

For parents, a diagnosis of autism for their child can be a terrible shock to absorb. Every imaginable fear races around in their own minds, not the least of which is, "How are we going to handle this financially?" They also know that the stress affect the family, especially if there are other children who need their fair share of love and attention.

Fortunately, there are a great many resources available to families, ranging from government-mandated free educational opportunities to support groups, that are a much-welcomed source of information. Financial help can be a little more frustrating to obtain, depending on the family's income level, the resident state, employer-provided health insurance, and so forth. Medicaid will assist many families, although parents tend to live in fear of budget cuts. In truth, only those who have an autistic child can really comprehend what other such parents are going through.