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Getting the word
from a doctor, health professional, or educator that your child may
have the autism spectrum disorder or autism can be devastating. This
of course would be the case for any challenging health condition. My
wife and I went through a short period of disbelief and even denial.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Coping with Denial and Devastation
However what couldn't
be denied was my daughter was turning 3 years old and had great difficulty
even saying - "Mommy". She seemed antisocial choosing to go
off into a corner and ignore other children even at birthday parties.
We got the opinion
from a speech pathologist that my daughter exhibited signs of having
autistic behaviors and were first angry at this assumption. We then
went to a neurological specialist who after an examination felt the
same way. It was at that point we decided to find out more about autism.
My wife was more
knowledgeable about autism than I was. At first the more she read about
the symptoms of autism, the more she would cry. This was because my
daughter was exhibiting many of the signs of ASD.
Beyond
Rainman
All I knew about
autism was what I saw in the movie "Rainman". Autism seemed
pretty debilitating to say the least, and I thought my daughter would
need a life time of care and care taking. In short -- I was in a panic!
In order to insure
I could provide the best care for my daughter I surfed all over the
Internet and read articles in magazines and newspapers. I wanted to
try to understand and respond to autism the best I could. Luckily my
wife and I live in an area with very good special ed resources. We enrolled
her in pre-K at 3 years of age and the situation slowly began to improve.
Making
Tremendous Strides
Today my daughter
is 7 years of age, quite talkative, and even made the chorus at her
school. She was even chosen to represent her school in a town concert.
She was able to perform before thousands on stage in front of cameras
and bright lights. This is a miraculous turn around that we thank God
for continuously.
We also work faithfully
with her teachers 2 to 3.5 hours a day on home work and other educational
endeavors to keep her on grade level in her studies. She shows great
potential in spelling and computers. Her lowest test this year in spelling
was 100 with bonus questions she usually scores 110 to 120. However
we have to help her quite a bit with with math. But all this of course
is an amazing accomplishment for a child who couldn't say Mommy at 3
years old.
A
Great Primer on Autism
I mention all this
in the review of this book not to brag, but to show you there is life
and hope after an autism diagnosis. However, I wish this ebook was available
when my daughter was first diagnosed with autism. This is because before
this eBook it was difficult to get a synopsis on what you need to know
about autism that is easily downloadable from the Internet.
If you quickly
want to get a handle on the basic concepts and issues surrounding autism
the "Essential Guide to Autism" by Rachel Evans is a must
read ebook on the topic. It will give you a comprehensive understanding
of the basics of what you need to know about autism and is quickly available.
The Essential Guide
To Autism (or TEGTA) is a quickly downloadable ebook that is
a good primer in this regard. Plus you get updates from the publisher
on important issues related to autism which can also be useful. It starts
out with a both a history and description of the autism spectrum disorder
and common myths about ASD.
Describing
Different Forms of Autism
Then it defines
the autism spectrum disorder. TEGTA also explores different forms of
autism like Asperger Syndrome, Kanner's Syndrome, and Rhett's Syndrome
Furthermore, The Essential Guide to Autism also explores the causes
of ASD, Signs pointing to ASD, and Diagnosing ASD.
The eBook also goes
into different traditional and alternative treatments for autistic children
like applied behaviors and contrasting methodologies like changes in
diet or floor time. I found these distinctions especially helpful in
trying to help my daughter. TEGTA also covers occupational therapy,
sensory integration therapy, and speech therapy. These treatments were
very helpful for my daughter and may help your child as well.
Facing
Autism As Your Child or
Loved One Grows
Remember always
make sure you talk to your health professional before using these or
any therapy for your loved ones. The eBook also covers challenges your
family will face caring for an autistic child. It also covers autism
and issues with siblings, grandparents, home safety and educational
needs. I found having educational support is key to helping your child
cope with autism.
The Essential Guide
To Autism ends by focusing on important issues like helping your child
deal with autism in their teenage years, as they become sexually aware,
helping them as they make career choices, and planning for their adult
years. It also addressed their self esteem and nurturing their hobbies.
This eBook even touches upon financial and insurance issues for your
child or loved on dealing with the challenges of autism.
I found this eBook
to be one of the most helpful reads I have ordered on the autism spectrum
disorder. If you are looking for a good quick read on the challenges
of autism I suggest investing in and downloading The
Essential Guide To Autism here.
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