Does your child have autism?
Autism is a condition that affects how a person interacts with others. It is something people are born with.
It can be hard to tell if a child has autism. There are different signs you should look for.
Does your child not look at people who are talking to them? This means your child has trouble making eye contact.
Does your child not know when someone is joking? Do they not know how to respond in social situations? This could be a sign that your child has trouble with social cues.
Does your child do the same thing over and over? Do they repeat the same phrases over and over? These could also be signs of autism.
Did you answer yes to some of the above questions?Do you have other reasons to think your child has autism?
It could help if you started by talking to a doctor. The doctor can do tests to see if the child has autism or something else. They may suggest strategies for autism management.
It is better to know if your child has autism earlier rather than later. You can get treatment for your child to help them learn important skills and improve their quality of life.
Therapies for autism
Autism cannot be cured. But there are ways to help your child if they have autism.
You may have heard about some of the different types of therapies for children with autism. These therapies are called complementary, alternative, and integrative therapies.
Your child might have to take medication for their autism. Complementary therapies are treatments health care providers use in addition to traditional medicine. This might be something like doing yoga for relaxation.
You might consider alternative therapies if you don’t want your child to take medication. Some people believe that these therapies can help with autism. However, they have not been proven to work. Alternative treatments include things like acupuncture or homeopathy.
Integrative approaches are a combination of traditional medicine and alternative or complementary therapies. Integrative therapy for autism is like having a team of helpers who work together to improve things. The helpers might include doctors, therapists, and teachers who all work together to help the child learn and grow.
You may find that it is a bit like sending your child to school. However, instead of learning math and reading, your child learns how to communicate better, make friends, and do things on their own. It takes time and hard work, but your child can learn new skills even with autism!
What else can I do if my child has autism?
Dietary interventions
You may have heard that some foods can make your child’s autism symptoms better or worse. You may have read about gluten (a protein found in wheat) and casein (a protein found in milk). Experts believe these foods can make autism symptoms worse.
You could try removing these foods. You will want to wait and watch to see how your child responds. You may notice that they start getting better!
Sensory integration therapy
Does your child have trouble with loud noises? What about bright lights? Sensory integration therapy might help with these things. This therapy helps children use their senses together.
Biomedical interventions
You might have heard that other medical interventions could help your child. For example, you can try giving your child certain mineral supplements or probiotics. You can also consider things like oxygen therapy.
Which therapy is best?
You obviously want to do the right thing for your child. Nowadays, there are many options available for children with autism. This is a good thing, but deciding on the best therapy can be SO confusing!
You may notice that some therapies work better for your child than other therapies. What works for other children does not work for your child.
It would be best to a doctor or therapist before trying any new therapies. Ask them what they think might be best for your child, as well as the benefits and risks.
You can also talk to other parents who have tried the therapy. Ask them how their child reacted to therapy. What improvements did they see? How long did it take to see improvement?
Trust your instincts when you do your research. You will notice when a claim sounds too good to be true. Not all claims will be true and backed by science.
Remember that you are not alone! Your healthcare team wants to help you to find the best therapy! Your team will be with you every step of the way. They will help you to know if your child’s therapy is working. You can work with them to find the best methods for autism management for your child.
How much do alternative autism therapies cost?
You might be thinking that it would be nice to get alternative therapy for your child. But you may also be worried that you cannot afford it. What happens if you start a treatment that works but then you cannot continue to pay for it?
You might have already started looking at the price of different therapies. You may have seen that they can definitely be expensive! The good news is that Action Matters may be able to help you pay for your child’s therapy.
Did you take Tylenol during your pregnancy? If so, you may qualify for compensation that will help you pay for therapy and other expenses involved in raising an autistic child. Contact Action Matters today to schedule a free consultation!