Is it normal for parents to worry about autism?

Having a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) – a condition that affects the nervous system and can impair communication and interaction – is a common concern among parents. It often ranks high on their list of most upsetting diagnoses even though it’s not a terminal illness.

Do autistic babies eat a lot?

Even though picky eating is a common problem, research suggests that it’s usually a temporary and normal part of development. However, children with autism often have more chronic feeding problems that go beyond picky eating. This may mean the child won’t eat an entire category of food such as proteins or vegetables.

Do children on the autism spectrum experience fear and anxiety?

Not all children on the autism spectrum experience above average degrees of fear and anxiety, but many parents described their children’s fears and anxieties about various things and these are discussed here.

Why are children with autism afraid of being held down?

For example, holding down the arms of a child with autism could cause them sensory distress as well as frustration. In addition, the fear results might be related to gender, says Carolien Rieffe, professor by special appointment at the University of Leiden in the Netherlands, who was not involved in the study.

Why are some parents and grandparents afraid of autism?

Some parents and grandparents are frightened by autism because they expect (or experience) negative judgments on their gene pool, their parenting, or their ability to discipline their child. These fears are reasonable: people are judgmental and will make unwarranted assumptions.

Why are people with autism so scared of differences?

And if there’s one thing experience teaches us, it’s the fact that differences can be scary. Children with autism are taught to avoid “unexpected” responses to others—not because they are in any way harmful, but because the “unexpected” (rocking, flapping, asking the wrong question, repeating the same words, etc.) frightens people. 2