How Can Autism Impact Family Life

ASD, also known as an autism spectrum disorder, is a developmental condition that exists on a spectrum and impacts the affected child’s behavior, language, and interpersonal interactions. It is estimated that one out of at least 50 children has autism.

It has been analyzed that an autistic child can impact the entire family, but the diagnosis can also lead to some positive news.

Before a medical diagnosis, the parents might already know that something isn’t “normal” about their child – but – after the diagnosis, things start to fall in their respective place, and the child and parents can then finally get the much-needed support system to help them make things easier.

Eventually, with the right support system and therapy, the autistic child can learn to navigate through life and essentially flourish and survive. Nonetheless, the challenges for parents are enormous, and if you have just found out that your child is autistic, you might be wondering what to expect and how the diagnosis might impact you as a parent and the entire family unit.

Here is everything you should know!

The Impact of Autism Diagnosis on the Family Unit

Autistic children are unique in the way that they navigate through the world differently. Compared to other children, autistic children can face specific environmental and social challenges, which is why parents of autistic children are required to be exceptionally patient and resilient.

Now the interesting thing about autism is that the social and environmental challenges exist from the very start and do not suddenly appear out of nowhere after the diagnosis of the child.

With that said, if you suspect that your child might be autistic, you will want to learn more about applied behavior analysis and how it can help your autistic child cope with autism and navigate through life.

After your child has been diagnosed, you can make accommodations for your autistic child and arrange them with the support and education strategies that will make life easier for them.

Usually, parents tend to get overly anxious after they learn that their child is autistic – but – they should keep in mind that autistic children are as valuable to society as any other individual who is not autistic.

The only thing is that some autistic people need more support than others and may not succeed at living independently – but – they are valuable human beings nonetheless.

How do Parents and Caregivers Feel After the Diagnosis

It is normal for parents and caregivers of autistic children to feel overwhelmed – and that is even before the child has been officially diagnosed with autism. Of course, relying on their parent’s instincts, parents know that something is not normal regarding their child’s development.

Also, after a child has been diagnosed with autism, the caregiver may struggle at first with providing the child with suitable support due to some reasons, such as financial situation and the unavailability of certain services.

Moreover, caregivers often feel guilty about experiencing some negative emotions about their child’s diagnosis, such as frustration, fear, and anxiety. They might as well not know how to best support their child and whom they could potentially trust with their support.  

Many mothers of autistic children experience way more stress and fatigue than mothers who have children without ASD.

If this aspect sounds relatable, you might want to opt for parent training to help you understand autism and get a better understanding of what triggers your child. Subsequently, you will develop more competency regarding your child’s focused interest and the kind of support they need.

This way, you can diminish the stress and parental strain that the diagnosis of autism has cast upon your family.

How do Siblings Feel the Impact of their Autistic Sibling

Growing up, siblings feel a strong bond with each other, which is why the siblings of an autistic child can feel the impacts of the development of illness.

The thing is that having an autistic child can mean that the parents are overly indulged in supporting the autistic child to the point that the other siblings might feel ignored and left out because they get less attention from their parents.

While some siblings might feel overprotective about their autistic sibling, other siblings might feel frustration and resentment towards their sibling with ASD. As a parent, you will want to balance your time between your autistic child and other children so that everyone gets the due attention.

You might as well opt for family therapy so that the siblings of your autistic child can benefit from the counseling sessions. This way, the siblings of the autistic child can equally benefit from social support.

You might as well want to encourage your children to interact with their autistic siblings to improve their bond. You could encourage them to participate in low-impact physical games that are in accordance with the autistic child’s sensorimotor and environmental needs.

The Impact of Autism Diagnosis on Your Partnership/ Marriage

As life happens, in some cases of an autistic diagnosis, the autistic child can add a strain on a potential partnership or marriage.

And we aren’t only referring to the financial and emotional stress linked with ASD – but – it can be challenging for caregivers of the autistic child to be on the same page regarding making crucial decisions for the child’s support and accommodation.

This aspect might include a difference in decision regarding the type of medical support the caregivers might provide to their child and their schooling, short-term care, long-term care, and other therapies.

According to research, the parents of autistic children have a higher divorce rate than the parents of non-autistic children. With that said the caregivers of autistic children need to ensure that they keep nurturing their marriage or partnership through the challenge of raising an autistic child.

The caregivers can find help by opting for couple therapy and attending regular counseling sessions. Moreover, spending one-to-one time together is also helpful in nurturing their relationship amidst the challenges of raising and caring for an autistic child.

For parents, self-care is essential – it is also the key to a healthy partnership and getting through the challenges of caring for their autistic child.