Introduction
Autism Spectrum Disorders is a complex disorder that affects an individual’s ability to interact socially with others. It also causes problems associated with normal communication abilities. It always starts at a tender age of three and persists until adulthood. A person suffering from this disorder is not able to coordinate several body organs properly (Hollander, 2003). Their speeches are blurred and lack coherence.
Their general behavior is also abnormal. When they start developing, they find it difficult to associate with their age mates because they differ in terms of social behavior. They find themselves isolated from the other group of children because they are not able to respond to the general stimuli. This isolation makes their development even more difficult. They do not get a chance of undergoing normal stages expected of a child.
Impact to the Family
To any married couple, the most anticipated news is the birth of a child. A child brings joy to the family. It is a sign of completeness to the couple and is always received with joy. However, realization that one of the children is suffering from this disease can be the most disheartening news to any parent. It is a sign that the child will not be in a position to develop into a normal person.
One of the greatest fears of a parent with such a child is the fact that such a child would be taken care of until the advanced stages of their lives. It is not only a burden to such parents but also a discouragement. They have no hope of bringing up such a child for they know that such a child will forever need their attention. Most parents expect that their children will be of help to them at their advanced stage of life. (Chantal, 2004).
Another problem that always comes with this disorder is the loss of self-esteem in the entire family. The realization that a child is suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorders spells a melancholic mood that would last as long as the child is still alive.
The feeling that part of the family is abnormal becomes so strong that it may not be ignored. In some instances, parents have considered dumping such children. Those who are considerate enough take them to homes or any other places where they can be adopted.
The Way Forward
The parents who decide to stay with such children are always with strong character. Such a family needs to be offered proper counseling in order to manage stress that comes with the knowledge that one of their children is suffering from this syndrome. They need to be encouraged to know that their family condition is just as normal as any other family. This would make them normalize their feelings towards such children.
It is very important to understand the main fear of such a family as a counselor. Some families fear public ridicule, while others fear the burden they would face in caring for such a child until late in their old age. Others fear that their children will never be normal people in society.
Whether the fear is associated with burden, public ridicule, or fear for the child himself or herself, a counselor should be in a position to address the issues in a way that would bring comfort to the family. Both parents and other siblings should be informed about the condition of the child at an early stage. The family should also be informed of the possible avenues through which such a child can get treatment.
When the child is still at an early stage, the other children need to be informed that the condition of their brother or sister is not that bad. They should be encouraged to play with such a child in order to make him or her feel normal and part of the entire family. This would help this child exhibit some signs of normalcy in his or her development. To parents, the counselor should inform them that this condition could be contained.
They should know that the disorder is normal and can affect anyone in any family, irrespective of the social status the family. The counselor should find mechanisms of addressing all fears raised by parents in a way that would make them convinced that a solution lies somewhere.
As the child grows, the family should learn to appreciate the fact that he or she will experience normal feeling of an adult, especially the desire for sex (Simpson, 2007). All the needs of an adult should be provided, if this is possible.
The main objective of this process should be to ensure that by the time the counselor is done with his or her counseling, all family members would appreciate the child the way he or she is and learn to live with him or her under all circumstances. The family should be more enthusiastic about the child and help him, or her develop under a normal condition.
The best approach would be to ensure that the counselor understands the family’s attitude towards their current situation. The main resources in this process would be time. If the attitude were negative, success would be determined by a changed attitude. If the attitude were positive, success would be determined when they become more enthusiastic about their current situation.
References
Chantal, S. (2004). Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Complete Guide to Understanding Autism, Asperser’s Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Other ASDs. New York: Penguin.
Hollander, E. (2003). Autism Spectrum Disorders. New York: Marcel Dekker.
Simpson, R. (2007). Autism Spectrum Disorders: Interventions and Treatment for Children and Youth. New York: Cengage.