Dealing with autism can be difficult on your part, especially if you are not familiar with the proper ways on how to do it. You will experience a lot of challenges and demands when it comes to making your child understand certain things and allowing him to function in society. This is the reason why you need to get some help and assistance from medical professionals. You cannot just rely on your knowledge and skills about autism spectrum disorder. It is also necessary to find a psychiatrist who could look into your kids’ mental condition.
“Sometimes a child with ADD may be incorrectly diagnosed with a behavioral problem or a developmental disorder. It is vital that in the first step of treatment, your child or teen receives a reliable diagnosis from a child mental health specialist, such as a child psychologist or child psychiatrist.” –John M. Grohol, Psy.D
The next inquiry to ask is when is the right time to bring your kid to a psychiatrist is? Is there a specific set of events that must occur first before seeking professional help? Should you wait for a certain number of years before visiting the office of a health practitioner? Below are some of the red flags that indicate the need to get with a psychiatrist as soon as possible:
- Constant Loss Of Control. Once you notice that your child with autism starts to have increased episodes wherein he loses control, the right thing to do is to set an appointment with a doctor. This is ideal so that the doctor could look into the factors causing the episodes and how to treat them.
- Development Of Aggression Against Others. “People with ASD can have problems controlling their aggression and says it is not uncommon for these clients, sometimes including adults, to pull her hair or scratch her arms.” Stephanie Smigiel, LPC said. Do not wait for your child to hurt his friends or family members. If you notice that your kid has turned aggressive, be sure to call a psychiatrist right away. The longer you prolong the meeting with the doctor, the more dangerous it is on the part of your kid.
- Verbal Escalation. When your child has begun to act strangely by making uncontrollable screams, the next step to do is to seek help from a medical professional. Always remember that being verbally abusive and inappropriate is not healthy for the child. With the help of a psychiatrist, you can teach the child how to decrease his screams.
- Influx Of Concerns From Teachers. Sending your child to school is good for his condition. Make sure that you are in constant communication with the teacher to monitor your child’s performance or behavior at school. If the teachers have raised concerns and problems with your kids at home, do not hesitate to contact a psychiatrist. Keep in mind that further help may be required to handle the situation.
- Increased Fears. “Fear makes us feel alive and know we are stepping outside our comfort zones, which is exciting,” says Steve Orma, PsyD, a clinical psychologist. But if your beloved child starts to act weird because of his fears for things or people, find a way to address it immediately. Do not wait for the situation to get worse. Contact a psychiatrist in the local community so that you can discuss the condition of your child. The earlier you do this, the better it is for your child’s mental health.
Whether you like it or not, the help and assistance of a medical doctor or psychiatrist are essential for the well being of your child. Learn how to find the right health practitioner who will handle the case of your kid. As much as possible, avoid switching doctors to prevent a mix-up of records and errors in treatment plans.