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Learning about autism to help my son
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this post was submitted on 23 May 2025
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Autism
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Considering it's a big spectrum with all kinds of intelligence and ability levels and other personal things, can you tell a bit more?
Some common things: In my experience (and those of others I've met) autism often comes with other neurodevelopmental/personality disorders (ADHD spectrum seems to be common). Often one or several senses are oversensitive (hearing, touch, smell, etc.), so if he or you know what it is you could help to "mute" those sensory stimulations (for example: headphones with music (at a reasonable volume!) to dampen other sounds in the case of sound sensitivity, sunglasses in case of light sensitivity, etc.) If he's capable of social interactions, try to help him in that. What's acceptable and what isn't, and why.
Explaining why was really important to me. I struggled to follow rules I didn't understand, but had no issues if I knew why the rule existed.
I think a lot of parents underestimate Autistic children. I don't have concrete evidence to support this but I think Autistic brains develop faster than neurotypical brains. I've seen young children who are knowledgeable on very technical topics.
Sorry for the slow reply and thank you.
I'm not even sure at this stage if I can as I understand so little but here goes.
He's what I perceive to be high functioning. In fact most of what they call out I view as being just a little boy. I'm slightly concerned that this attitude comes from my own childhood and whether we establish that I'm also neuro divergent but am keen that I focus on him and not me.
He's bright, good with maths as his mum teaches this. Struggles in class as they're not great at understanding his needs and just see him as wiggly/playing class clown to impress others etc.
He has always had sound sensitivity so people calling that out is interesting to me.
We're working with the school to get better mechanisms in place to support himvand my wife is already amazing at helping him at home.
In my head I need to get onboard too, and transition away from being the typical authoritarian role that a dad may take. I need to understand better what autism is and how to support him
He is also just a 5 year old boy. Autism can sometimes blend in until kids start having more complex social structures. As long as the teachers aren't being abusive school should be fine. I would get him some stim toys so that he isn't being disruptive and can self regulate.
Any suggestions for smell (that don't involve holding one's nose permanently and sounding like a muppet)? Because I spent over half my life in an environment teeming with cigarettes stale and fresh, and ever since I got out of that environment the faintest of fragrances are irritating and the strongest are repulsive. I've spent the past 15 years being incredulous that I'm either the only one that smells Whatever That Smell Is, or convinced I'm having olfactory hallucinations.
I carry a little bottle of mint and eucalyptus. I take a sniff when I want something nicer to smell or forget the wet campfire smells.
I'm sorry, but I don't know anything about that myself! If it's on one location you could try one of those odor spreading devices which change fragrances. (No clue how they're called!)