Early intervention is proven to help those on the autism spectrum.
I'm stepping off the writing/creative soapbox today to talk about something dear to my heart -- autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
We've come a long way since the Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler coined the term in the early 20th century. From the Greek word autos -- which means life, since cars weren't invented by the ancient Greeks (as far as I know) -- it means self.
In Bleuer's time, autism was linked with schizophrenia. It took four decades for the Austrian-born American psychiatrist Leo Kanner to disassociate the term from the chronic mental issue. What we know about autism today goes further than what either psychiatrist knew.
The Numbers
According to the organization Autism Speaks, one in 36 U.S. children has been diagnosed with autism. Out of those, four of every 100 are boys. In total, 75 million people in the U.S. describe themselves as having ASD.
Autism comes in many flavors. For example, those with Asperger's Syndrome could have a small range of interests and the inability to relate to others in social situations. Others have sensory issues preventing them from dealing with everyday activities without the proper tools. Then there are those with ASD who have a mix of conditions.
No matter the level, those with the disorder are no longer shipped to "special" centers, ignored because they aren’t the same as the rest of us. In fact, many of the afflicted go to school, work, and engage in relationships.
The key to placing those with ASD on the path to success is early intervention.
Establishing the Tools
Not everyone knows they have ASD while young. For example, a friend who turned sixty not long ago mentioned on social media that he was diagnosed with the condition. Actor Anthony Hopkins wasn't diagnosed with Asperger's until his late 70s. Although I wasn’t tested, I'm pretty sure I have ASD due to the actions I've taken in my life.
Those diagnosed later in life could already have powerful tools to help them. This isn't the case for young children. That’s why early intervention is critical. It gives them and their caregivers the instruments to move forward no matter the situation.
Take my son as an example. His first year on this plane seemed okay. His height and weight were on the mark. He even said his first words earlier than his twin sister.
Uncertainties grew at his one-year mark. His progress to crawl and walk was slower than his sibling's. He didn't talk much. Additionally, it took great effort to establish eye contact with him.
My then-wife, whose motherly intuition is beyond reproach, knew something was wrong. I, the disbelieving father, initially thought my son’s development schedule was slightly slower for another reason.
After several visits to the pediatrician about his condition, plus a period of observation at an early-age preschool, therapists recommended testing for ASD. Living in Delaware at the time, we were sent to the Brennan School, a public education institution for those with ASD.
Unfortunately, he hit enough of the criteria detailed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) to be categorized with ASD. Fortunately, on his second birthday, he was enrolled in the Brennan School to begin the early intervention process. We watched him with tears in our eyes as the school bus picked him up at our house each day to take him to his class.
The Power of Early Intervention
Research reveals early intervention works best when children are two or three years old. The reason is their brains are more malleable than in their tweens or teens. As a result, treatments have a better chance of working.
Boy, did they work for my son. Within a few weeks, he began to speak in full sentences. His mother and I joke he hasn’t stopped since then.
He was enrolled in occupational and physical therapy to strengthen his balance and walking. These weren't connected to his ASD per se. From what the doctors said at the children's hospital, my son may have had a stroke in utero. Plus, his twin sister kept kicking him in the womb. No luck for this kid, I tell ya.
As he grew, he spent half his time in a regular preschool environment. We knew our son was improving in leaps and bounds when he cried each time he went back to his autism-based classroom. He wanted to be part of the crowd.
Each year we saw him take three steps forward for every one back. When we moved to Colorado he was completely integrated into elementary school classes. His charm wooed teachers and students alike. An Individual Education Plan (IEP) helped everyone see his progress and make plans for the future.
He certainly had moments when ASD was on display. For many years he’d stem to calm himself down, which came out as repetitive movements or noises. While new kids wondered what was happening, his friends took it in stride.
Plenty of times, his frustrations boiled over into screaming tantrums. In these situations, all we and his teachers could do was establish eye contact, calm him, and give him some ideas to cope with stressful environments.
The Blooming
Something wonderful happened when he reached seventh grade. My son bloomed. His stemming stopped for the most part, as did his tantrums. He established solid friendships with teachers and peers. Frankly, I'm impressed at how many people know him and regularly say hi.
In high school, he joined numerous clubs and became a statistician and equipment manager for the baseball and football teams. Though he lost his middle school acquaintances, he connected with several lovely people.
He also got a job as a busboy. It has been two years since he started. He is nothing but diligent in his responsibilities, putting 100% into everything he does.
Today
My son graduated at the end of may. His GPA was somewhere around 3.8. He received braids for the National Honor Society, Business Honor Society, and Tech Honor Society. During the convocation ceremony ahead of graduation, he won awards for physical education and social studies. He was adorned with so much swag I was surprised he wasn't stooped when he walked down the aisle to get his diploma.
Presently, he’s preparing to attend an East Coast college in the Washington D.C. area. As we did when he was little, his mother and I are working with him to minimize the impact the stress of college can cause.
I'm extremely proud of him, as I am of his twin sister and the rest of my children. I know he will excel in whatever he does.
What Did We Learn Today, Rich?
Early intervention is key to helping children with ASD flourish. Don't chalk it up to slow development or something you imagine is wrong. Don't be so ignorant as to discount your child has ASD. Get an evaluation done as soon as possible.
All the best.
Rich Scott Keller
Email: wpantscreations@gmail.com
ClearVoice Portfolio: https://clearvoice.com/cv/RichardKeller
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rskellerwpp/
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