“Our advice to parents is that if you see or sense something is not quite right with your child, seek medical advice early. There is no harm in getting reassurance that the child doesn’t have any major health issues or developmental delays. And should ASD be diagnosed, the earlier we know and understand the issue and get the right intervention the better the outcomes,” said Dr Mohamed Waqar Azeem, chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Sidra and chair of the National Autism Working Group.
“It is also important for parents to learn about the services available not just for the child but for the family as well. They need just as much support and education about the condition to take care of the individual,” Dr Azeem added.
According to the physician, there is an increased level of awareness about ASD in Qatar. “Families are more accepting of the condition and becoming more open about it now. One reason behind this change is that they see the need for intervention and are seeking services rather than shying away and hiding individuals with autism. Our clinics at Sidra have already noted a good number of parents coming in for consultations for children with ASD,” he explained.
The official noted that learning about ASD and educating oneself on the topic could prove to be immensely beneficial to the community. “Teachers and educators could play a very important part in helping raise awareness and providing the right level of support.”
Dr Azeem suggested that teachers who are unfamiliar with teaching or interacting with children with ASD should educate themselves first. A teacher should take the time to read available online resources, speak to the school counsellors and read the child’s report to understand a child with ASD.
He pointed out that teachers must keep the instructions short and simple as many children with autism struggle to understand long and complex verbal instructions.
He advised that writing the instruction down would be very beneficial and teachers must limit the instructions to one at a time and keep them simple.
Dr Azeem also hinted that recognising their efforts and praising little victories for every achieved step in the right direction was crucial for the success of such children. It will keep their interest in the task and make the learning experience more rewarding. “It is important to be positive and creative. Do not get discouraged when the approach you opted for didn’t work. Try to think out of the box and get to know your student better,” added the official.
Sidra clinicians and health promoters during Autism Awareness Day.
Early intervention is the most important step for parents to support a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a physician from Sidra Medical and Research Center (Sidra) has suggested.
