A new study by the University of Washington Autism Center hopes to study 200 babies in the Seattle area who have siblings with autism.  The study’s goal is to determine whether early intervention by mothers has an effect on the siblings’ social development.

Dr. Annette Estes, associate director of the center, states that “With autism, we think there may be some disruptions in the social communication system’’ of children affected.  Dr. Estes believes that “very, very early subtle episodes of social interaction . . . may be necessary for the social brain to develop in a typical way.’’

Therefore, the mothers in the study will be trained to detect these subtle communication cues in their babies.  Mothers will be taught to engage infants in eye contact and to communicate to them in tones that will capture their attention and help make language acquisition easier.  Dr. Estes says the researchers “want parents to really be attuned when a child reaches for a toy and looks at the parent.  We want parents to be really aware when their child is allowing them into their world and to know what to do at that point.’’

Behavioral specialists will monitor the babies and evaluate them at the ages of 6, 12 and 24 months; babies who start to develop symptoms of autism will be assigned a speech and behavioral therapist to determine if symptoms can be eliminated or lessened by early intervention.

The study may provide answers to questions about brain development in all children, not just those at risk for autism.  Dr. Estes notes that the study is especially important for parents who have a younger child whose older sibling has autism.  Currently, there are no options for these parents, who can only wait to see whether the younger child develops autism symptoms.

To read more about the study, visit the University of Washington Autism Center’s research page and this New York Times article.

A diagnosis may affect men and women differently.  Mothers, who are often held more accountable for their child’s behavior than are fathers, may feel their emotional well-being is directly affected by a diagnosis.  Women may be more inclined to share their feelings than fathers.  Fathers may react more to the additional stress on their wives and families. An ASD diagnosis may affect both parents’ careers:  the increased stress and anxiety may negatively affect their job performance, or create an increased stress related to earning potential.

As with any negative news about a child’s health, there is no “correct” reaction, no affect that a diagnosis of ASD is “supposed” to have on families.

There are, however, methods of coping effectively with the effect of autism on a family.  Educating oneself about ASD is a positive step in learning how to manage behaviors and to make life as fulfilling as possible for both the affected child and the family.  Connecting with other parents and support groups and seeking counseling may also be effective in helping parents to cope with a diagnosis.

Becoming active in your child’s treatment is another method of coping; many therapies can be reinforced at home and parental involvement in tracking behavior is essential to successful intervention.

Remembering to take time out for oneself is crucial since having a child with ASD can be emotionally, mentally, and physically draining.  An autism diagnosis can cause a great deal of stress on the marital relationship, so parents need to take time to nurture that relationship in order to better nurture their children.

Siblings may pick up on others’ reactions to a sibling who has ASD.  They may be afraid to ask questions, afraid that they will “catch” autism, and may be jealous of the attention focused on the affected sibling.  Providing age-appropriate information about autism and remembering to spend one-on-one time with the normally developing child or children can be effective strategies for helping siblings to cope.  Older siblings may benefit from attending support groups or becoming active is social organizations devoted to siblings of children with ASD.

It is important for parents to keep in mind that they are not alone and that their family is not the first or only to have been affected by an ASD diagnosis.  Just as symptoms, behaviors, and the efficacy of treatments will vary from child to child, so will the affect of autism on a family.  Figuring out what strategies work to minimize the negative impact on your family will help alleviate some of the stress and anxiety inherent in an ASD diagnosis.

One way to alleviate the anxiety associated with a child’s receiving interventions outside of the home is to become educated about what the child’s interventions entail.  Asking questions, reading the literature and research, and attending therapy sessions, as appropriate, are all ways to stay informed and to play a positive role in a child’s intervention.

There may also be intervention techniques that can and should be part of home care.  Changes in diet, for instance, may be indicated in order to help alleviate some symptoms of ASD.  If part of your child’s intervention is, for instance, a gluten-free diet or the addition of certain vitamins and minerals, then keeping up with that at home is important.

Speech and occupational therapies may require that parents follow up on techniques at home.  Therapists and other medical professionals will be able to instruct parents on which interventions should be used at home.

If pharmacological therapies are indicated, then certainly parents must keep up with a medication schedule and look for any potential side effects related to medications.

Positive behavior support can be used at home.  When reading to a child, ask questions such as “where is the dog?” or “what shape is this” and then reward the child’s response

Since children with ASD often do not adapt well to change and may be hypersensitive to sensory stimulation, parents should strive to make their home routine one that works for their child.  Techniques used in a professional setting to normalize sensory problems may have some carry-over into the home.

Parents know their child better than anyone else so they will be able to tell what interventions seem to be working and which are less successful.  Keeping a careful log of behaviors and reactions to certain intervention strategies can be very useful when deciding what course of treatment to pursue.

Having children is inherently stressful; having a child with ASD even more so.  Parents may feel isolated, so becoming active in groups designed for parents of children with ASD may help them to feel less so.  Such a peer group may also help parents to become educated about the latest intervention strategies and to “compare notes” about their experiences.

Two children diagnosed with ASD may exhibit very different symptoms, and parents should not expect a “one size fits all” intervention strategy.  Remaining educated, following up with therapies at home, and maintaining clear communication with your child’s intervention providers are wonderful strategies for helping your child make the most of his or her treatment.