I once read that a mom of an autistic child has stress hormones comparable to soldiers in combat. I live with this high stress every day.
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Ben was born a healthy and happy baby. It wasn't until he was almost 2 years old that he started to show signs of speech delays and atypical behaviors. His mother, Fei Shan, brought him to a local doctor to get evaluated to understand how she could help her child. The evaluation revealed that Ben has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Twice Exceptional
"He's been on numerous interventions and therapies," added Fei. Ben is now eight years old and is considered "twice exceptional." "Twice Exceptional" or "2e" refers to intellectually gifted children with one or more learning disabilities. "Ben has an IQ of 150. He's a member of Mensa, the largest high-IQ society in the world, and is diagnosed with ASD," highlighted Fei. To help Ben in school, he utilizes an individualized education program, behavior intervention plan and follows the general education curriculum..jpg)
"Autism is a developmental disorder caused by neurodiversity in the brain that affects how people think, act, and interact. I view people with autism as angels who broke their wings and can't fix themselves. As parents, educators, and society, we need to help them fix their wings so they can fly high and achieve their potential. I think every child is exceptional, and we must cherish them in every way," stated Fei. Since he is gifted, his family continuously tries to supplement his education. Ben is involved in various activities that include sports, STEM, and therapies. However, he cannot stay organized due to his low executive function. "I have to help him stay on top of his assignments, such as due dates, coach requirements, etc.," noted Fei.
Autism from a Parent's Perspective
When asked what it's like having a child diagnosed with autism, Fei answered, "I once read that a mom of an autistic child has stress hormones comparable to soldiers in combat. I live with this high stress every day. I never know when he will make inappropriate comments in school that require him to be picked up or if he says, "The day was great." Two hours later, I received a school email about a certain incident. I try to stay current with mental health-related research as his autism profile sometimes expresses ADHD or anxiety. Bottom line, having a child with autism, someone like Ben, is like having three kids at the same time!"
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For parents of children with a similar diagnosis, Fei encourages you to stop worrying and act. There are numerous resources out there about autism and interventions. The more parents learn the better advocate they become for their children. "I would also remind parents to care for their mental and physical health. Autism is a lifelong condition, and we, the parents, must take care of ourselves first to better care for our children."
Ben attends Children's Specialized Hospital for neuro-developmental and therapy services. His mom, Fei Shan, works as a Children's Specialized Hospital Family Faculty Member
For more information, visit Children's Specialized Hospital.