Our reader wanted to know how we can improve parents’ acceptance of a diagnosis of autism, and the most important part of the answer lies with this concept: the sooner the problem is identified, the better the result. Nobody would question such a statement about pneumonia, heart disease, or cancer. But when it comes to problems that involve how the brain functions, people seem to take the diagnosis personally. Diagnosing someone with anxiety or depression is not making a criticism of their character. Similarly, identifying a child as autistic is not a criticism of the child or the parents. It’s a first step to understanding the child’s problem and helping that child integrate into society.

We have already learned that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that affects how people learn, communicate, interact, and behave. And we have learned that this spectrum comprises a number of different groups. The spectrum reflects the differing abilities of people who we sometimes call neuro divergent. Some common symptoms of ASD include:

• Difficulty with social communication and interaction 
• Restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests 
• Different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention 
• Difficulty transitioning from one activity to another 
• A focus on details 
• Unusual reactions to sensations 

When the behavior is primarily focused on attention, we may diagnose ADHD. When the behavior primarily focuses on how the world is interpreted, we may not identify autism for years or decades. But when we see that a child has difficulty with speech and communication or socialization, we have a duty to act right away and find an expert who can help to break through the barrier that isolates this child.

In the days before appropriate medical treatment was available – going back to Biblical times – people have been ostracized for diseases like skin conditions. Even in the twentieth century, people somehow felt ashamed of being diagnosed with cancer. Now think about your immediate reaction to the following diseases: leprosy, tuberculosis, AIDS. Are you afraid? Upset? Disgusted? Leprosy is now called Hansen’s Disease. It is caused by bacteria related to those that cause tuberculosis. Both tuberculosis and Hansen’s Disease are difficult to catch, treatable, and require persistent close contact for transmission. For years, the medical and government establishment ignored people with AIDS, and some people considered it a punishment for behavior they considered immoral. We are aware now that AIDS is caused by a virus that is presently incurable but treatable and is not transmissible through casual contact. Similarly, our attitude towards mental illness and substance abuse has improved as we learn more about the causes and cures. Over the past 3 or 4 thousand years, we have slowly developed a more mature and educated attitude.

We cannot afford to waste time being afraid or critical of a problem when we can be responsible for helping someone get treatment. When we see a child, whose speech is delayed, who won’t make eye contact or interact with people, who continues with solitary play long after others his age are learning to interact, or who self-stimulates by flapping his arms to deal with anxiety, we cannot expect that the child will grow out of it. Identifying a problem is the first step to correcting a problem. But identifying a problem requires accepting the possibility that there is a problem.  Today, most pediatricians do routine screenings for developmental delays. Parents should ask for more clarity when they have concerns about their children. And they should be ready to accept their responsibility to advocate for their children if a problem is identified.

Robert B. Golenbock, MD, is currently retired. He has cared for children in the Danbury area for 43 years, including at the Center for Pediatric Medicine. The CPM is located at 107 Newtown Rd, #1D, Danbury, CT, 06810. For more information, please call (203) 790-0822 or visit https://centerforpediatricmedct.com.