Parenting comes with many emotions, expectations, and responsibilities. All of these are concerned with the well-being of our children. Observing a hurdle in the progress of the children can clearly baffle any parent. In this blog, lets shed light on one common reason impacting a child's development- Autism.
Autism is an intricate neurodevelopmental disorder. It can affect a child with constant challenges with their social communication, repetitive behavior, and limited interests. Repetition in movements can look like rocking or flapping. Similarly, you might see them repeating words or phrases or preferring a routine.
What needs attention today is understanding how Autism is perceived everywhere. After all, recognition is the first step in seeking a solution, such as therapy for Autism. The trouble can come with a lack of awareness among parents and caregivers.
Recognizing, perceiving, and assessing Autism is equally important as seeking treatment plans. While there are several areas affecting these, this post will focus on cultural differences. Read this post to learn more about the relationship between Autism and cultural differences.
Understanding Cultural Factors
Cultural factors can refer to anything from beliefs to behaviors. These tell how certain nations or groups of people think or present themselves. When associated with Autism, it means how various cultural expectations and norms can impact the way the condition is viewed and supported.
Cultural Factors and Autism
Individuals from all backgrounds and cultures can be diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Yet, cultural factors can play a role here in the experience of the conditions. Something worrisome is that the difference in social norms can impact the way many cultures view Autism. Some can define certain behaviors as abnormal and a possible sign of a development difference. However, others can consider the same behavior 'different'. The behavior carrying lesser importance can often result in its neglect. Another reason it does not catch attention is that it is connected to cultural standards.
A great way to understand this is by picturing the perception of certain behaviors in Western cultures. What’s atypical might be seen as a method to express the self. Similarly, many cultures can emphasize the impact of certain behaviors.
Let us talk about another symptom of Autism to understand this impact better: eye contact. Many children with Autism tend to avoid eye contact. They might find it overwhelming and uneasy to comprehend all the social cues expressed through their eyes. Or, they might feel baffled by the eye contact. There could be many reasons behind this. However, in many Asian cultures, intense eye contact is seen as disrespectful.
Many cultures can show similar responses to facial expressions and personal space. As a result, they will not even notice that a child not making eye contact is serious.
Autism Diagnosis and Cultural Difference
Children who are left undiagnosed with neurological conditions like Autism face major issues as they grow. In the long term, they can deal with social, emotional, and academic challenges. A diagnosis, on the other hand, can help the child with the intervention. This way, they can receive tailored support and therapy to manage Autism. As a result, they can develop better life skills and live an improved lifestyle.
However, some studies have a different picture to present. They show that Autism spectrum disorder is common among all ethnic and radical groups. Yet, the same can not be said about its diagnosis. Some studies show that children from high socioeconomic status and white ethnicity have higher identification and diagnosis of Autism. However, the figures are different for children from other ethnicities, including Latinx and Asian. The children from lower-financial support families have a similarly lesser rate.
Causes of Delay in Autism Diagnosis in Different Cultures
Starting treatment plans like therapy for Autism is paramount. However, not all affected children can be seen taking advantage of it. Delay in diagnosis of Autism is one reason behind it. In the coming section, let us focus on the causes of delay in Autism diagnosis in various cultures.
A review on the delay in Autism diagnosis of Latinx and Hispanic families has something fascinating to pour in. Several barriers result in the delay, including the family and culture.
Many of these barriers can include the lack of proficiency in the English language and low-income status. Non-citizenship is another reason. These can result in less access to healthcare, which can invite cultural and family barriers. This can contribute to a lack of awareness of the Autism spectrum disorder. The stigma related to disorders is another byproduct of the delay. It is essential to understand and manage these areas and bring an impact.
Balancing Cultural Differences and Autism Diagnosis
The role of Autism diagnosis is undeniable for a child's promising future. The good thing is early identification of these signs, which can be seen in the initial 12-18 months of a child’s life. This brings the families an appropriate time to commence early intervention. In the coming section, let us see what Autism therapy centers can do to mitigate the impact of cultural differences.
An understanding of the cultural background of a child’s family is essential. Thus, these should be kept in mind and used as a source to prioritize cultural sensitivity in professionals.
Attendees should have an ease of communication. This can be brought through culturally appropriate or general ways of communication.
Behavior analysts or centers of Autism therapy can include different and more cultural tools for assessment. What needs to be considered is the set of standardization methods, including areas sensitive to cultural differences.
Applied Behavior Analysis is one of the Autism therapy programs. As a part of the program, the parents and family members of the child are involved in the child’s overall progress. An approach like this can be helpful in many ways and thus should be practiced more. For example- the professional team can listen to and seek an understanding of the cultural nuances of a family. Similarly, it is important to learn about their perspectives on a child's development. When explaining the diagnosis and treatment plan, it is essential to practice cultural sensitivity.
Community engagement should be conducted to learn about cultural differences.
Conclusion
A lot goes into the growth and development of a child with Autism. Understanding the condition, its diagnosis, and treatment plans are the leading areas. In this post, we learned how cultural differences can obstruct and impact the initial areas that can affect the understanding of Autism in children of all cultural backgrounds.
A way to deal with the hindrances of cultural differences is by understanding them. A practice of cultural sensitivity and engagement are other areas to prioritize. At BehaviorSpan, we offer ABA therapy in Denver. When offering a top-notch solution for children with Autism, we have also prioritized all-inclusive care.
Our intensive therapy plans actively involve parents and families. This allows us to be clear on the expectations and perspectives of families from all cultural groups. From practicing sensitivity to providing nourishing care, we do it all to walk kids hand in hand in their journey of dealing with Autism.
All you need to do is reach out to us today.
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