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Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition related to brain development that impacts how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing problems in social interaction and communication. The term "spectrum" refers to the wide range of symptoms, skills, and levels of impairment, or disability, that children with ASD can have. ASD is diagnosed according to guidelines listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) vary from one child to the next, but these children typically have difficulties in three areas: social impairments (e.g., lack of interest in peer relationships, impaired non-verbal behavior), communication difficulties (e.g., delayed speech, repetitive language), and stereotyped behaviors or restricted interest (e.g., hand flapping, preoccupied interest). The NIMH provides a guide for parents on understanding autism that is helpful for understanding the disorder and its treatment. 

Tips on Seeking a Diagnosis
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The following "red flags" may indicate your child is at risk for an autism spectrum disorder. If your child exhibits any of the following, please don’t delay asking your pediatrician or family doctor for an evaluation or referral for a psychological evaluation:

• No big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions by six months or thereafter
• No back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles or other facial expressions by nine months
• No babbling by 12 months
• No back-and-forth gestures such as pointing, showing, reaching or waving by 12 months
• No words by 16 months
• No meaningful, two-word phrases (not including imitating or repeating) by 24 months
• Any loss of speech, babbling or social skills at any age
  
  

Treating Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder
While there's no proven cure yet for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), treating ASD early, can greatly reduce symptoms and increase your child's ability to grow and learn new skills. According to the NIMH, research has shown that intensive behavioral therapy during the toddler or preschool years can significantly improve cognitive and language skills in young children with ASD. There is no single best treatment for all children with ASD, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recently noted common features of effective early intervention programs.

These may include:
• Starting as soon as a child has been diagnosed with ASD
• Having small classes to allow each child to have one-on-one time with the therapist or teacher and small group learning activities
• Encouraging activities that include typically developing children, as long as such activities help meet a specific learning goal
• Providing a high degree of structure, routine, and visual cues, such as posted activity schedules and clearly defined boundaries, to reduce distractions
• Guiding the child in adapting learned skills to new situations and settings and maintaining learned skills
• Social skills, such as joint attention (looking at other people to draw attention to something interesting and share in experiencing it)
• Self-help and daily living skills, such as dressing and grooming
• Cognitive skills, such as pretend play or seeing someone else's point of view


A version of this post was authored by Erlanger A. Turner, Ph.D. for Psychology Today. 

​​Since the pandemic last year, stress levels across America have continued to increase. Many families may be experiencing increased stress due to working from home, serving as their kids’ teacher, employment loss, or stress due to significant life changes as a result of COVID-19. High levels of stress for an extended period of time can lead to psychological burnout.

Tips for Reducing Parental Burnout
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We all experience stress in our lives at some point. However, for some, engaging in healthy coping strategies can help to reduce burnout. Below are five evidence-based self-care suggestions:

1. Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is a mental state in which an individual focuses on being present in the moment while calmly accepting their thoughts, feelings, and sensations. Psychological studies have demonstrated how mindfulness can help reduce the risk of burnout and mental health difficulties. Considering finding books on mindfulness or using apps that provide tools on engaging in mindfulness.
2. Avoid rigid thinking patterns. As psychologists, we are aware of the connections between our thinking, mood, and behavior. Research shows that positive thinking can help to reduce burnout. Consider how you approach your day — especially if you are working from home or have kids homeschooling. Given the stress of the pandemic, be mindful of your resources that can help prevent burnout. Determine ways to incorporate breaks in your day and avoid rigid expectations that don’t allow you to give yourself grace. It’s okay if everything doesn’t get done on a particular day.
3. Maintain physical activity. Engaging in physical activity and exercise can play an important role in stress reduction. Try to include some movement in your day to help prevent burnout. Go for a walk, exercise at home, or incorporate stretch breaks in your day while working from home. Studies have shown that using exercise can play a significant role in reducing symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress.
4. Seek social support. Identify your support system to help prevent burnout. For example, it may be helpful to talk with a friend about your favorite tv show, podcast, or a recent movie that you watched. Social support is very important given the limitations with COVID-19 and safely practicing physical distancing. If you feel that you are unable to confide in a close friend or family member, it may also be helpful to consider locating a licensed mental health therapist or psychologist that can help you with identifying strategies to cope with stress.
5. Take a break and unplug. Given our current society, it can be difficult to step away from technology or the constant news cycle. For some people, it can be a challenge to switch off work after hours — which could increase the risk of burnout. Monitor your intake of news and how much time you spend on technology such as Facebook or Instagram. Although technology can serve as a stress reducer, research also shows that too much use of social media can have negative impacts on mental health. 

A version of this post was co-authored by Jasmin S. Searcy-Pate, Ph.D. and Erlanger A. Turner, Ph.D. for Psychology Today.