Autistic Child Research Paper

Olivia Passafiume
Mrs. Rostel
English IV Block C
11 February 2014
Rough Draft
Autism, in short, “is a symptom of atypical development of the immature brain” (Rapin). Symptoms of autism may include frequent violent outbursts, obsessive compulsions, antisocial behavior, and many more challenging impediments that vary with each person. Not only does the condition affect the individual, but it also has a significant impact on the individual’s family. When two parents are given the task to raise an autistic child, the family embarks on a journey filled with a multitude of obstacles that ultimately follows one of two paths: a path of destruction or a path of unification.
Examining the effect of autism on the family dynamic begins with those
The challenges of raising the adolescent can cause unique arguments about what to do with treatment, medication, and childcare. In any marriage, it has been said that the main topic of fights is money. The extra cost of raising an autistic child goes beyond just the dollar sign, however. According to a study by scientist David E. Gray, the relationship between the couple may be strained because one of the two must stay home to care for the child. “The financial implications of having to care for a disabled child are considerable, and, in addition to this, it is often impossible for mothers to go out to work because of the need to look after the child. Financial strains can add greatly to the other burdens on families” (Howlin). Gray found that in most cases the women would either quit their jobs or at the most do very minimal work from the home. This may cause some underlying tension because the individual may feel as though they have sacrificed their own aspirations while the other continues with everyday life. Because the women tend to be the primary caretakers, Gray speculates that there is a “tendency for mothers to accept more responsibility for their child’s” condition (Gray). One of the main arguments that may occur between the parents of an autistic is the process of finding and obtaining the right medication for the
This aspect of the condition can potentially be the most difficult symptom to deal with. “Although problems with language, for example, are a common characteristic of the disorder, more troublesome symptoms such as tantrums, self destructive acts and other forms of inappropriate public behavior are also frequently associated with it” (Gray). Families can better the life of the child as well as their own lives by working together to instill good manners from a young age. Familial interactions are also vital in the hopes to improve the individual’s social skills. In order to make these improvements every member of the family must cooperate which requires a significant amount of perseverance and hard work. Just like other aspects of life, there are rewards to hard work. The potential triumph of achieving verbal communication is extremely rewarding. When everyone has the same goal, success can create a powerful bond within the family. There is also a great chance that the path to success can only lead to a path of