VeteranCaregiver receives inquiries every month about information
and support for military and veteran caregivers also caring for a child with
Autism. There is a great deal of
crossover in caregiving with the lack of time, overwhelm, fatigue, concern, and
lack of adequate self-care.
We’d like to raise awareness about early diagnosis and early
interventions. Timing can be critical in
life, and just as with TBI and PTSD, the sooner effective treatment begins, the
more beneficial the outcomes. Earlier
genetic testing can provide earlier interventions, critically important for
future capabilities and quality of life.
Please seek the advice of your care team with questions about your
personal situation.
Autism is the leading developmental disability today, with nearly
3% of the population falling on the spectrum.
While leading experts have yet to find a definite cause or cure, there
is help and support available. We recently interviewed Scott Fowler on our radio program. He is a retired special
education administrator, an Autism Subject Matter Expert -- and a parent caregiver of a child on the spectrum. A common saying is that if you know one
autistic person, you know one autistic person, since each are
unique. The radio program is titled More
Alike Than Different and is available on Military Network Radio.com (http://bit.ly/AutismEarlyDx).
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| Coming soon: Autism Outreach Network |
Autism is diagnosed through often lengthy behavioral observation,
with most diagnoses coming between the ages of four and five. This is the ‘diagnostic odyssey’, referring
to the time-span from initial concerns to an actual diagnosis. New technologies
now make diagnosis possible through specialist referral to genetic testing from
birth forward, which can lead to available interventions at an earlier age,
which is an advantage to your child and the family.
Occupational Therapy and Speech & Language Therapy are the two
most commonly used early interventions.
Occupational Therapy addresses the child’s relationship to the
environment around them and Speech Therapy helps with the range of speaking
issues that promote communication. The sooner these services are started, the
better the overall life outcomes for your child.
Parents have highly attuned intuition about their children, and if
you have doubts or concerns about the timely development of your child, don’t
wait, but talk with your care provider immediately. Ask directly about diagnostic genetic testing
and for prescriptions for both occupational therapy and speech/language therapy
evaluations and have them completed. You
are building your child’s care team, and the sooner you act, the sooner your
child can realize their fullest potential.
Linda Kreter & the
VeteranCaregiver Team
