Loneliness and Autism: The Importance of Understanding their Situation

Loneliness is much more serious and much deeper than a simple victim attitude or a continuous complaint.

Having autism can condemn you to loneliness. Today we try to explain a feeling born of a lived reality: loneliness or “ghosting,” which many people who have ASD suffer daily. The word “ghost” is used to express a situation in which you feel that you are treated like a ghost, as they don’t see you.

In this article, you’ll know the great importance of being included in society for children and people with ASD.

Loneliness and Autism

The fact that there are people with ASD who suffer from ghosting or loneliness is something much more serious and much deeper than a simple victim attitude or a continuous complaint. This can begin in childhood and come to last throughout their lives.

Many times parents leave the family to avoid having to bear a child “who doesn’t meet expectations” and leave the other one alone. This could be considered ghosting, which can happen in many cases, but when it happens in a family with a member with autism, is the beginning or continuity of a social attitude. Loneliness can become a very influential factor in the person.

The most common is that in a group of friends the person with ASD is not accepted and ends up being excluded from any activity they do. Why? Are they bad people for them not wanting to include them? Do they have to be banned for life? What did they do wrong?

These exclusions can cause a lot of damage to your child:

• Lack of self-esteem.
• Insecurity.
• Withdrawn attitude.
• Further refusal at future interactions.

These situations can lead to depression, general malaise, hatred towards the world, and other concomitant pathologies that can’t be helped with medication or psychotherapy. Even the person can consider taking his own life because he is doomed to loneliness and has no hope.

Telling a child not to go with his classmates, telling teachers to put him in an ASD room, separating children just for fear of having autism is a bad idea. We would be taking away the opportunity to relate with your classmates and your classmates to find out what autism really is.

Education must be strengthened in the values ​​of respect for everyone. If we keep excluding children with autism by the system, we’ll get adults who are excluded from the system, who lack basic tools to relate and who end up alone without knowing how to face the day to day there outside.

If we don’t stop the exclusion, we’ll have an increasingly larger group more separated from society.

Autism Soccer offers you an inclusion program for your child, where they can share and develop with other kids, creating stable friendships through sports. Having a good time!

Loneliness is discrimination based on the invisibility that covers the lives of people with autism and their families.

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Early ASD Diagnosis: The Faster, the Better!

Early diagnosis of ASD is essential and beneficial for children.

Identifying a child with ASD at an early age is important for good care and treatment on time. Not all children are the same or acquire the same skills at the same time. If we see anomalies in behavior, interaction with others, or how they pay attention, they could be warning signs. A delay in speech doesn’t directly mean that the child is autistic, but in combination with other characteristics may indicate that the child should be observed carefully.

In this article, we will show you some warning signs of ASD risk that children from 12 to 24 months can present. It’s important to remember that only a professional is able to correctly diagnose whether a child has ASD and that all children can present some of these characteristics.

Children from 12 to 24 months at risk of having ASD may have:

-Babbling and speaking in a strange voice.

-Holding an object for a long time.

-Constant and strange movements with hands or body.

-Little assets when participating in any activity.

Children from 12 to 24 months at risk of having ASD may NOT have:

-Good eye contact.

-Interest to relate with other children.

-Variety of facial expressions.

-Common stories and clear body language.

If the child has autism, the earlier the treatment starts, the better the results will be. If you notice any of the above signs of autism in your child or if there is something that worries you about your development, talk to your doctor.

Knowing when to worry about seeing a delay in the development of our child is fundamental.

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Girls with Autism: They Do Exist

Autism is often associated with the male of the species, but it's not always the case.

Currently, autism prevails in males, and official figures indicate that for every four children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, three are boys and only one is a girl. That is why society maintains a myth that autism only occurs in boys.

In this article, we will show you that this may not be true. Keep on reading!

Girls with autism do exist!

Recent studies have found that many of the symptoms that influence girls with autism are in many cases ignored by families and specialists, since they are similar to the behaviors expected of girls because they are so.

Female stereotypes seem to go against the diagnosis of autism. Sometimes symptoms such as extreme shyness, certain obsessions, and fears, extreme sensitivity are traits that although socially strange in a man, are considered appropriate in women and therefore aren’t interpreted as warning signals.

Simon Baron-Cohen, an autism specialist at the University of Cambridge, said:

“We know that people with high functioning autism have two basic problems: communication and socialization. However, we have discovered that in girls studied within this same spectrum, the symptoms are different, women tend to have an obsessive interest that is centered around people and relationships, but since these behaviors are expected of a girl, many times they are overlooked.”

Nowadays, in the scientific community is considered a mistake to have thought that the disorder of autism is the same in boys than in girls. And this has opened an exciting debate that is putting autism on girls in the spotlight.

It seems that girls may have more skills to camouflage their difficulties, and therefore their difficulties may be more unnoticed than those of boys. They learn to observe others and imitate their social behaviors, even if they don’t understand them and seem not to be spontaneous, they want to achieve social acceptance of the group. Girls with autism usually have a more significant interest in interacting with other children, especially younger ones, something that doesn’t typically occur in boys with ASD so frequently.

All this has led the scientific community to think that there may be more girls with ASD than those who are diagnosed, or that girls are diagnosed later than boys.

Diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder with or without associated hyperactivity is also being produced in girls and teens, who actually have features of ASD, but who haven’t been adequately detected and diagnosed.

We join the campaign and ask for more research on autism in girls.

Girls often live their lives not knowing they are within the spectrum, the reason of this lies on their behavior.

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Reasons Why an Autism Diagnosis Can Also Be Good News for Your Child

An autism diagnosis doesn't mean the end of the world, but it doesn't mean your child will be an autistic "savant" either.

Could an autism diagnosis be good news for your child? Under the right circumstances, YES.

Finding out that your child is diagnosed with autism might not be the best news, but it can also bring positive things. Here are the reasons why an autism diagnosis can also be good news for your child:

• It’s a diagnosis that comes with a healthy helping of hope

Since autism has no “cure,” several treatments can help autistic people improve in tremendous positive and significant ways. In other words, specific actions can be taken into consideration to help autistic people improve their lives, and develop skills and healthy relationships but to achieve this; the diagnosis is needed.

• It offers a clear path forward

Sometimes it’s hard for families because, before getting to the right diagnose they go through a considerable amount of imprecise diagnoses until they finally learn that all those symptoms describe only one category: autism spectrum disorder. After realizing the right diagnosis, families could direct their attention towards finding the proper treatment and support to help their child achieve success.

• It comes along with funding and services

Insurance companies, State and Federal agencies, and also school districts usually provide support opportunities, and funding services for autistic people and their families. To obtain these benefits, a diagnosis is needed.

• It makes it easier to explain your child’s behavior without making it look as a tantrum or being spoiled

Instead of feeling uncomfortable with the diagnosis, parents can finally obtain the right information about their child’s behavior which can lead to having help and support from other family members.

• It helps parents create a better life plan for their children

Knowing your child has autism will help you and your family members understand their behavior and needs so much better. You and your family will finally realize that their usual behavior is neither naughty nor intentional. You can adjust to their needs and come with a successful plan to help them develop positively.

A diagnosis like this one can make it easier for families to understand and respond to the child's behavior. 

• It can provide a sense of identity

For an autistic teen or adult, being diagnosed with this condition might be freeing to discover that there's nothing wrong with you, but you’re unique and belong to a group of people who have created significant communities, written books, and even developed the means to represent yourself without anyone’s help. The diagnosis is the key to be part of it.

• It offers access to specialized support groups, programs, events, and many opportunities

There is a vast amount of groups, programs, and events that give the opportunity to autistic people to develop and relate to others that have similar characteristics. There are many support groups, camps and schools with activities designed for kids and teens on the spectrum.

The key to live a confident and successful life on the spectrum is knowing how to ask for help and be surrounded by people who will support and help to achieve better development and success.

Autism Soccer wants to help and support children to develop their skills and social relationships through soccer. For more information, do not hesitate to contact us through our social networks or website.

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Here Are Some Tips on What to Do After an Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis is Given to Your Child

The most important thing to have in mind when such diagnose occur is that love and support are the keys to face this challenge.

Sometimes parents worry excessively about their kids, whether they’re paying too much attention to small details or paying no attention at all, that can lead to help or interfere with their child's development. Other times, this “excessive” focus helps with early diagnosis, early treatments and, positive outcomes.

Even though autism can be diagnosed in late childhood or even in adulthood, with proper treatment and support, significant and positive outcomes can occur.

Support your child

Remember that your child is the same person as always. Been diagnosed doesn’t make your child better or worst. Now that you know he has autism, you can start helping him the right way. You can inform yourself (and others) to help your child develop comfortably. You can now understand his needs and give him proper support.

At school

You can speak to the school principal and teachers so they can also be aware of the situation and find ways on how your child might be able to get that extra help hi may need. There are also some therapies that can be practiced at school with the help of teachers.

At home

As a parent, you’ll need to learn to understand his behavior, what can cause meltdowns in your child and how to stop sensory overloads. There are a lot of therapies that can be practiced at home with a specialist or with the parents, as they can learn the basics. You can also find guidance on autism websites.

It's important to support and care for your autistic child, but you should also give support to his siblings and anyone who could be affected.

Support for siblings

Siblings might feel that parents deliver all of their time and attention to the autistic child. We recommend, when possible:

• Help siblings be aware of the situation and understand better their brother or sister and his/her needs.
• Listen to them. Take some time to listen to their worries and concerns in any important aspect of their life.
• Make time for siblings by doing some activities separately.
• Allow siblings have time for themselves. For example, staying at a friend’s home or going to the movies.
• Allow siblings to bring friends home sometimes and enjoy themselves.
• Listen to their suggestions. Older children sometimes have good ideas on how to manage certain situations, especially if they have a good relationship with the autistic child. 

As a parent

Remaining positive is important. It might take a while to learn how to help your child the best way possible. You should deal with it productively with the rest of your family as well. Remember to rely on family members and friends.

Feeling angry or frustrated is normal, but remember to take some time to yourself to relax and think of ways of enduring such challenge with the best disposition. Things like walking the dog or grocery shopping might be useful ways of unwinding from the daily rhythm.

Remember to do a lot of research and look for the treatment that can be the best for your child.

Here are some links that can help:

• Occupational Therapy
• Effective Autism Treatments
• Popular therapies recommended by parents

Stay tuned to Autism Soccer’s blog to know more about treatments and topics in general about autism.

Ask us anything; we are here to help!

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What’s Autism Speaks Last Scientific Research Agenda?

What does the future of autism look like?

One of the most renowned organizations on autism research and advocacy, Autism Speaks, published on December its new scientific research agenda for 2018-2022.

The latest report’s aimed to define their funding efforts and goals to support and improve the lives of autistic individuals and develop a more personalized approach to therapies and treatments for people living on the autism spectrum. Just like they announced a year before, they dropped the goal to find a “cure” for the disorder and are instead concentrating their research to “enhance lives today and accelerate a spectrum of solutions for tomorrow.”

The three-year strategic plan is looking to deepen its research on unraveling the biology of autism, including its subtypes and dimensions, and translating their findings into practical solutions. To do this, they’ve developed seven objectives to follow on a two-pronged approach. The first one is dedicated to the need of accessing to effective behavioral therapy and adult services for autistic individuals and families, with the purpose of improving healthcare.

The second one includes the efforts of delivering “personalized, life-enhancing solutions for each person on the autism spectrum.” They’re building an open-access database (called MSSNG) with more than 7,200 fully sequenced genomes for people with autism and their families. Its goal is to help therapists and caretakers understand the many causes and types of autism behind every individual’s condition.

Based on these two goals, the seven objectives established by the new agenda go as follows:

1. Support research that uncovers the biology of autism to advance the delivery of personalized therapies and supports.
2. Support research that translates fundamental discoveries into potential personalized treatments ready for clinical testing.

3. Facilitate the clinical testing of promising life-enhancing interventions, including scalable and sustainable community programs.
   
4. Improve the measurement of autism and its associated features to enhance screening, diagnosis, subgroup identification and the tracking of change during clinical trials and across the lifespan.
   
5. Promote consensus building in research and the widespread use of life-enhancing research findings by facilitating engagement among leaders in research, clinical practice and the autism community.
   
6. Continually review research areas, and Autism Speaks science activities, to identify those ripe for culmination or transition to other funding sources in order to ensure that new funding areas complement rather than duplicate those supported by other funders.
   
7. Broadly and effectively communicate the strategic science plan and ongoing progress against its goals, with emphasis on engagement with the autism community.

If you want to know more about Autism Speaks’ research, take a look at the plan itself to find the strategies with which these objectives are set to be accomplished. To create this new agenda, the organization asked for input to more than 6,000 people related to autism in one way or another (families, researchers, among others). At Autism Soccer, we support every effort from scientists to improve the lives of those we love, especially children!

Which areas do you believe need more research?

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