Is
There Reason for Hope?
When
parents learn that their child
is autistic, most wish they could
magically make the problem go away.
They looked forward to having a baby
and watching their child learn and
grow. Instead, they must face the
fact that they have a child who may
not live up to their dreams and will
daily challenge their patience. Some
families deny the problem or fantasize
about an instant cure. They may take
the child from one specialist to another,
hoping for a different diagnosis.
It is important for the family to
eventually overcome their pain and
deal with the problem, while still
cherishing hopes for their child's
future. Most families realize that
their lives
can move on.
Today,
more than ever before, people with
autism
can be helped. A combination of early
intervention, special education, family
support, and in some cases, medication,
is helping increasing numbers of children
with autism to live more normal lives.
Special
interventions and education programs
can expand their capacity to learn,
communicate, and relate to others,
while reducing the severity and frequency
of disruptive behaviors. Medications
can be used to help alleviate certain
symptoms. Older children and adults
like Paul may also benefit from the
treatments that are available today.
So, while no cure is in sight, it
is possible to greatly improve the
day-to-day life of children and adults
with autism.
Today,
a child who receives effective therapy
and education has every hope of using
his or her unique capacity to learn.
Even some who are seriously mentally
retarded can often master many self-help
skills like cooking, dressing,
doing laundry, and handling money.
For such children, greater
independence and self-care may
be the primary training goals. Other
youngsters may go on to learn basic
academic skills, like reading, writing,
and simple math. Many complete high
school. Some, like Temple
Grandin, may even earn college
degrees. Like anyone else, their personal
interests provide strong incentives
to learn. Clearly, an important factor
in developing a child's long-term
potential for independence and success
is early intervention. The sooner
a child begins to receive help, the
more opportunity for learning. Furthermore,
because a young child's brain
is still forming, scientists believe
that early intervention gives children
the best chance of developing their
full potential. Even so, no matter
when the child
is diagnosed, it's never too late
to begin treatment.
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