To Parents of Newly Diagnosed Autistic Children,

If your child was recently diagnosed, this is for you

I work with families with autistic children and usually, they are beyond 6 years when they contact us. Today I want to speak to those parents who have recently had a diagnosis of autism for their child. (Usually around 3-4 years) There are many therapies and innumerable content on the internet which you are going to read and multiple visits to multiple places you are going to go. However, I want you to do one small favor to yourself. Trust yourself and your instincts. No one knows your child better than you do. The only thing you do not know is how to guide an autistic mind which is wired differently from other brains.

There was once a child, ‘D’ who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. He was a very happy child but just didn't speak. He regularly went for therapies and came out crying as it kept him away from people he loved being with. He did learn to sit longer through conditioning which came out in the form of anger afterward.

One day his brain became a screen we could see through! There were happy moments in there like playing at a park and hard-wired trauma of bad therapies. It showed him recollecting bad incidents repeatedly, it showed him cry within on seeing people who bothered him. It also showed him happy with his mom, it showed him happy, eating, and playing freely. Whenever D wanted to think more about the happy times with his mom, the bad memories came and spoilt it for him. This happened so often that D forgot the happy times with mom and became more and more anxious with bad memories coming to him in circles. He now looked for ways to protect himself as every moment was fearful. He now started hurting people when they came nearer. This is what the ASD mind goes through! Isn't it wise to build more good memories and save this child? Good memories are built from good relationships. Good memories keep it interesting and engaging. Please look for relationship-building models to autism remedy. Ask yourself, is my child truly learning happily like all other children? If you do not know how to engage your child, please reach out.