Ronsisvalle: Autism isn’t something to fear; it’s a different way of being. With the right support, your child can lead a fulfilling life.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson walked into my office with hope and hesitation, settling on the couch for an initial assessment of their six-year-old son, Timmy. While they were both incredibly kind and gracious, their anxiety was palpable. Mrs. Johnson spoke up.
“Dr. Mike, we’ve seen so many professionals over the past few years, but none have given us a diagnosis that feels accurate. We’re starting to lose faith that we’ll ever find the help Timmy needs.”
As the Johnsons shared their journey to find help for their son, I understood why they were so disheartened. Timmy was a bundle of energy, always curious and finding the most unconventional ways to do things.
But his quirks went beyond playful childhood eccentricities. He struggled to sit still in class, often becoming fixated on topics like dinosaurs or vacuum cleaners, and seemed oblivious to everything else. Social situations made him anxious, often leading to meltdowns that baffled his parents. When asked to do something he didn’t like, he would sometimes explode.
The Johnsons began seeking answers. The first therapist diagnosed him with ADHD and recommended a stimulant medication, which helped a little, but Timmy still struggled. Another therapist diagnosed him with generalized anxiety disorder, but after several sessions in which the therapist taught him various techniques to calm anxieties his quirks only intensified.
Timmy’s teacher said his behavior was potentially keeping him from staying on grade level with his peers in class so they consulted yet another therapist. This one diagnosed Oppositional Defiant Disorder and suggested behavior management techniques, which again only partially addressed his challenges.
Before offering any diagnosis, I recommended a comprehensive psycho-educational testing assessment to fully understand Timmy’s emotional, cognitive, academic, and social functioning.
The results were revealing. While Timmy did exhibit symptoms of anxiety, attention issues, and oppositional behaviors, the most accurate diagnosis was clear: Autism. With this understanding, we were able to craft a treatment plan at LiveWell that addressed Timmy’s specific and unique processing style. Over several months, using the latest evidence-based interventions, Timmy developed the skills he needed to thrive.
How is autism diagnosed?
The Johnsons’ experience is far from unique. Diagnosing autism can be challenging because it often mimics other mental health disorders, leading to misdiagnosis or delays. Autism, officially called Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), affects communication, behavior, and social interaction.
The spectrum nature of autism means that it can and present in many different ways. Some children with autism may struggle significantly with social interactions and communication, while others may be highly verbal and excel academically, yet have difficulty with more subtle social cues. This variability makes autism hard to identify, especially in children who don’t fit the stereotypical image of the disorder.
Given this complexity, it’s not surprising that autism diagnoses have increased sharply over the past few decades, sparking debate and real concern. The CDC reported that in 2023, about 1 in 36 children were diagnosed with autism, compared to 1 in 150 in 2000—an alarmingly dramatic rise.
Why are there more autism diagnoses now?
Factors contributing to this increase include greater awareness, expanded diagnostic criteria and improved screening tools that allow for earlier detection. Early detection and intervention are crucial for improving outcomes, making these advancements significant.
Because ASD is a complex, multifaceted disorder with no one-size-fits-all diagnostic criteria, the diagnostic picture can get ambiguous quickly. Therefore, as our understanding of autism deepens, it’s essential to use the most robust testing available to ensure accurate early diagnosis.
What autism screening tests are effective?
I recommend the same testing battery we used with Timmy at LiveWell as the gold standard for any diagnostic process for ASD. This test battery should include at a minimum a test of cognitive ability, a test of academic achievement, the Autism Diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS), the Autism Diagnostic Interview (ADI), a Social Skills assessment, and emotional and behavioral assessments.
This thorough approach ensures a diagnosis that truly reflects a child’s unique profile and guides effective intervention planning. Be wary of any ASD diagnosis not based on such comprehensive evaluation. A detailed assessment not only provides a clear diagnosis but also offers parents actionable recommendations for therapeutic interventions and educational planning.
What might an autism treatment plan look like?
Using the results of his assessment to develop a multidimensional treatment plan that proved highly effective, here’s a glimpse into Timmy’s journey with our team at LiveWell:
- Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)ABA remains one of the most widely used and well-researched interventions, focusing on teaching new skills and reducing challenging behaviors by breaking down tasks into manageable steps. It can be particularly helpful for parents when the interventions are conducted in the family home or the school environment. This ensures that clinicians have a full picture of how the symptoms of autism are impacting the child in his or her native environment.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)CBT is a highly validated treatment, especially for anxiety, which is common in individuals with ASD. It helps clients recognize and modify negative thoughts driving anxiety and identify the negative self-talk that drives social anxiety in particular.
- Social Skills Training (SST)SST helps children (and adults) with autism develop the necessary skills for social interaction, tailored to each individual’s needs, such as understanding social cues, turn-taking, conversation skills, appropriate boundaries, and social problem-solving. At LiveWell, we combine individual work with group sessions to encourage the application of these skills in real-world settings.
- Parent InterventionsParent-mediated interventions train parents to support their child’s development at home, improving communication, social skills, and behavioral outcomes. It’s essential to involve parents in the therapeutic process when treating ASD because we find that a child’s progress in treatment is directly connected to the parent’s investment and involvement, not only in helping their child get healthy but also in managing their own anxiety and stress. Having a child diagnosed with ASD can be an extremely stressful experience and it is incredibly helpful if parents feel supported and empowered in therapeutic environments.
- Medication ManagementWhile no medication treats autism directly, medications can help manage symptoms like anxiety, depression, or severe behavioral issues. At LiveWell our medication management team emphasizes a personalized medicine approach using genetic testing to find the most effective medication, reducing trial and error. Many parents are hesitant to medicate their children, and I applaud a very intentional decision-making process regarding medication, with children especially. However, sometimes children with autism need medication to give them space to emotionally build the coping skills for the anxiety, depression, and impulsivity that often come with ASD.
- Family Therapy and SupportSupporting the entire family, including siblings and extended family, is key to improving outcomes for the individual with autism. Family therapy encourages a better understanding of autism and helps support the individual’s development.
- Nutritional and Lifestyle InterventionsDiet and lifestyle factors can affect behavior and overall health, and is an important part of treating an individual with ASD. Physical activity programs tailored for those with autism improve both physical and mental well-being.
- Mindfulness and Relaxation TechniquesMindfulness strategies and relaxation techniques help manage stress and regulate emotions. It’s important to be creative when teaching strategies, especially to young children. Techniques like yoga, mindfulness, meditation, and breathing exercises can be adapted to be engaging, fun, and effective for children with autism.
Just today I received a text from a family we’ve worked with saying, “We have trod the path of assessment and ASD diagnosis with each of our four sons, and with each successive diagnosis it did not get easier. We can say with absolute assurance, that the lessons we have learned in how to parent children with ASD have made us better, more patient, and understanding humans. Our boys have taught us to be more compassionate and have opened our eyes to a unique and beautiful way of processing the world around us.”
My encouragement to any parent of a child with autism is to seek a thorough psychoeducational evaluation with a real diagnosis, then follow it with a treatment plan rooted in strategies proven to work. Above all, start the journey with hope, believing that there is a path forward where your child can thrive.
Autism isn’t something to fear; it’s a different way of being, and with the right support, your child can lead a fulfilling life. If you feel that you, your child, or a loved one may be in need of testing or help on the Autism journey, please reach out to us, we’re always here to help.
Dr. Mike Ronsisvalle is a Licensed Psychologist and the President of LiveWell Behavioral Health, a psychological services agency that provides counseling to clients of all ages and addictions treatment to adolescents and adults. You can find him at www.LiveWellbehavioralhealth.com or call 321-259-1662.
This article was originally published by a www.floridatoday.com . Read the Original article here. .