My baby niece has been diagnosed as autistic?

Question

Is there anyone who can offer some advice? She's just over 2yrs old now.

Answer 1

I remember walking that road many years ago (my autie is nine now!)
My first suggestion would be to help her parents find a support system, the local ASA group (find at ASA-society.org), any other non profit organizations, and start networking with the state agencies. Find out what kind of parent trainings are going on, get involved with them. Often they are free, or if not, there is state funding to be reimbursed through parent waivers.

She also qualifies for free in home therapy from federal tax dollars, through the local health department. Call and find more information about early intervention. That group will also help her transfer easily into the public school arena, which she'll qualify for as she turns three. It makes a huge difference to start now.

Studies have shown that the earlier and more intense intervention is, the better equipped the child is to deal with the real world. So figure out what your neice's needs are, and get her therapy going! Speech, physical, occupational therapy are all helpful, and also behavioral therapy, such as ABA, RDI, floortime, there are dozens of types, and now's the time to start going through them and seeing what fits best with her family.

The best thing you can do for your niece is to help her guardians get the relief and break that they need. Caring for an autistic child is very demanding, and it wears on a person's soul. Be supportive, and don't nitpick at how they handle situations or behaviors. Offer help around the house, offer to babysit, get trained/educated so that they feel comfortable having you help, and so you aren't so worried about being with her.
My family is still 'scared' of my daughters behaviors and quirks, and she's really not so bad, they just don't know her and never bothered to learn more about autism. Now it seems too late, as she's so much older. HTH

Answer 2

There are various forms of autism. There are also various degrees within each form of autism. Find out what form she has been diagnosed with. Then read, read, read on it.
There have been documented cases of autism (mild) that working with the child consistently and using behavior modification has had significant impact.
I have taught special ed for years and worked with many austics--all forms and degrees. The most interesting form is Asberger's and quite a few geniuses in history have had it. Autism does not equal mental retardation.

Answer 3

There are various forms of autism. There are also various degrees within each form of autism. Find out what form she has been diagnosed with. Then read, read, read on it.
There have been documented cases of autism (mild) that working with the child consistently and using behavior modification has had significant impact.
I have taught special ed for years and worked with many austics--all forms and degrees. The most interesting form is Asberger's and quite a few geniuses in history have had it. Autism does not equal mental retardation.

Answer 4

The best advice is to get a team behind her, she will be seeing many theropists for speach, development & motor skills. Aside from the ones her insurance pays for there are many that are free through special needs public schools for infants up. Get as many theropists working w/ her as possible she may have 3 appts in a day (which is caotic) but she will reep the rewards

Answer 5

Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in delays of "social interaction, language as used in social communication, or symbolic or imaginative play," with "onset prior to age 3 years," according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The ICD-10 also requires symptoms to be "manifest before the age of three years." Autism is often not physiologically obvious, in that outward appearance may not indicate a disorder, and diagnosis typically comes from a complete physical and neurological evaluation. Some now speculate that autism is not a single condition but a group of several distinct conditions that manifest in similar ways.[citation needed]

There have been large increases in the reported incidence of autism, for reasons that are heavily debated by researchers in psychology and related fields within the scientific community. The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimate the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders to be between 2 and 6 per 1000 births (i.e., between 1 in 500 and 1 in 166 births).[1] The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) states the "best conservative estimate" as 1 in 1000.[2]

Although the specific causes of autism are unknown, many researchers suspect that autism results from genetically mediated vulnerabilities to environmental triggers. While there is disagreement about the magnitude, nature, and mechanisms for such environmental factors, researchers have found a genetic component related to autism.[3] Further, observations such as autistic children having generally larger head circumferences [4] are intriguing, but their roles in the disorder are unclear. Research continues, however; researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, for example, claim to have found a link between autism, abnormal blood vessel function, and oxidative stress (the result of higher levels of free radicals). This suggests that doors may be opened to new medical therapies if researchers can find more evidence linking decreased blood flow to the brain and oxidative stress with the pathology of autism. [5]

With early interventions of intense therapy (most notably Applied Behavioral Analysis), practice, and schooling, some children diagnosed with autism may improve on their skills to the point of neurotypical children. Some autistic children and adults are opposed to attempts to "cure" autism, because they (and/or their guardians) see autism as part of who they are.
There is a broad array of autism therapies, but the efficacy of each varies dramatically from person to person. Progress toward development of medical and behavior modification remedies, for the more debilitating affects of autism, has been hindered significantly by widespread disagreements over such things as the nature and causes of autistic spectrum disorders, and by a relative paucity of efficacious therapies thus far recognized by medical authorities.

Answer 6

Besides listening to all the good advice from those who posted before me, go to the National Institutes of Health website. (You should be able to just type in NIH in the address bar and get there.) There's a lot of good info and tons of links. Good Luck.

Answer 7

the only thank you to comprehend for specific is to get her examined. only convey your concerns and characteristic her mom and dad take her to a attempting out midsection on the college or on the well being care expert's. they might have the potential to verify and actual diagnose in spite of that's she would have. stable success! :)

Answer 8

at this point there really isn't much advice to give. she will have to get older to see how severe the autism is and what her individual symptoms are.

Answer 9

They are the cutest babys in the entire world.