A First-Hand Account of Raising a Child with ASD

Background: Parents raising children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face unique stressors and challenges. Among these is a sense of crisis and trauma after receiving an ASD diagnosis, as parents grieve the loss of their “typically developing” child. Despite being at increased risk to experience depressive and anxiety symptoms, especially at times when they contrast their child’s development with those of a typically developing child, there are few interventions aimed at supporting parents of children with ASD. Given the complexity and parental frustration with the ASD diagnostic process, the myriad available clinical interventions, and the amount of ongoing research, parents of children with ASD can feel powerless, overwhelmed, and confused at the very time when they are left in charge of a complicated network of professional providers. This has led to a demand for information about how to best support parents of children with ASD.

Objectives: Attendees will learn how to:

1. Recognize the importance of providing support and education to parents of children with ASD immediately after diagnosis.
2. Help parents make treatment decisions that optimize the child’s independent functioning and improve learning and skills acquisition.
3. Identify unique stressors for the parents/caregivers that occur in each stage of development for the child that may require special intervention.
4. Assist parents in developing a treatment plan for their child with ASD that integrates pharmacological, behavioral and educational interventions.

Methods: Drawing from both personal experience as the parent of a child with ASD and professional experience as a physician, the presenter will discuss the unique challenges facing parents of children with ASD. The discussion will include empirical evidence on caregiver stress for families raising a child with ASD, along with potential barriers for provision of optimal treatment created by denial, lack of resources, or inadequate information. The presentation will also include key points on how to support parents during the diagnostic process, identify parental obstacles to obtaining treatment for ASD, and emphasize the need for early interventions for the parents of children with ASD.

Results: Participants will be able to recognize the emotional and practical obstacles that parents face in accessing appropriate care for their child with ASD. Clinicians will be able to work collaboratively with families to develop a comprehensive multi-modal treatment plan encompassing emotional and educational support for the parents, psychopharmacology interventions for problematic behaviors, and individualized educational/behavioral interventions. In addition, audience members will become more knowledgeable about the nature and magnitude of the task of parenting a child with ASD.

Conclusions: This presentation will address ways that families can best manage challenges experienced during the life of their child with ASD by reviewing evidence-based educational interventions focused on predictable phases that families transition through as they cope with an unanticipated traumatic life change. If prepared to provide support and educational interventions, clinicians can help families accept and adapt to the chronic nature of living with ASD, and develop successful coping strategies throughout the child/family's lifespan.