Autism Interview

1022 Words5 Pages
I have decided to interview a mother of an autistic child whom I have known for a very long time. Before interviewing her I put together some questions that I thought would be helpful when writing my paper. During the interview I actually recorded on my phone exactly what the mom had said and answered to my following questions. Autism is a disorder of neural development described by impaired social interaction and verbal and non-verbal communication, and by restricted, repetitive or stereotyped behavior. The symptoms of a child with autism usually become apparent before the child is 3 years old. Autism varies when it comes to the severity of the disease. For example, one child adores and obsesses about trains, they can't stand the feel of…show more content…
The children give good eye contact and show many obsessive-compulsive traits. Some may be prone to throwing tantrums and banging their heads against a wall while others will happily wander off from their parents at a grocery store or a mall. Below I have stated my questions and the mother’s answers to our interview. -How did having an autistic child change your life? It changed the direction of our lives. We have much less freedom than other families. Austin’s autism limits our ability to do things as a family unless we have a helper for him. We have had to set up our house in a specific way to keep him safe. For example, instead of having a dining room, we use that space as a time-out room if Austin is exhibiting destructive behavior. -What do you find to be the greatest challenge? A change in a routine can set off a major tantrum with destructive behavior. As Austin gets older and stronger, this becomes more challenging to handle. Austin’s unpredictable behavior also limits our ability to do things in the community. -What have you learned from raising…show more content…
Many emotions were given off during the time of the interview; not only from the mother but also from me. I felt as though she really opened up to me and appreciated my observation. No parent is ever prepared to hear that a child is anything other than happy and healthy, and a diagnosis of autism can be very scary. I’ve learned that there are many things parents can do to help children with autism overcome their challenges. It's so important to make sure you get the support you need. When you're looking after a child with autism, taking care of yourself is not selfishness it's a necessity. Being emotionally strong allows one to be the best parent you can be to your
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