By Jon Arnold

Why all the hubbub? Autism has been discovered to affect about 1 in every 156 students, depending on which research report you read. This is an incredible statistic and you should be concerned about it. Do you know what the signs of autism are? Do you know what steps you should take if your child has autism?

These are all good questions and they require an answer. First of all, you need to do your homework, do your due diligence, and find out exactly what autism is. Even if your child if affected with autism, it may not be severe enough for you to even notice, but it is something that could grow more pronounced over time, and you need to be prepared to take action and get it diagnosed early enough to make a difference.

One of the problems with autism is that the diagnosis of it is not an exact science. In other words, it is easy to diagnose a broken arm. You can see it, the xrays confirm it, and the doctor or physician knows exactly how to treat it. But on the other hand, autism is not nearly so well defined, and the diagnosis of it often depends on the number of signs of autism that the child represents, and even then can be a subjective call.

One of the primary signs of autism is lack of social interaction. That does not mean that the child is a computer nerd, but that the child clearly has problems, real problems, in social interactions. The verbal speech patterns are also affected, and an unreasonable delay in when your child starts to speak coherent words and phrases could also be a sign of autism. Children with autism have a very difficult time meeting your eyes or looking you in the eyes when you are speaking to them. In the more severe cases of autism, you may see intense concentration on a particular object, even something as simple as a puppet or a ball. This concentration is to the exclusion of all else in the autistic child. Although the signs of autism vary from child to child, it is well known that boys are much more frequently affected by autism than girls, where some studies indicate that the ratio is as high as 4 to 1.

Autism is thought to be a neurological disorder, where the messages coming into the brain in certain areas get scrambled or are not delivered properly. Studies have shown that this is not a hereditary thing, so there is not a need to feel guilty if your natural family tendency is to lean away from social interactions. Yes, you will probably feel guilty if your child is diagnosed with autism, but now is not the time for guilt, now is the time to make plans and arrangements to make things easier for your child and to put them into an environment that will accommodate their affliction.

Do your homework and understand what autism is. If you have reason to suspect that your child has autism, then get them checked out by a trained professional. Like most diseases, early diagnosis will provide your best opportunities to deal with it effectively.

Jon is a computer engineer who maintain a variety of web sites based on his knowledge and experience. For more information about Autism, please visit his web site at Understanding Autism.

By Dr. Charles Sophy

But who is the self-assured child? Simply put, it is the child who is confident of their self-worth, and their talents and abilities. A confident and outgoing child, who is not afraid to show the world all the unique ways in which he / she shines. The process of making a self-assured child begins at birth. Children are born with clean slates and do not implicitly know and understand their self-worth. The seeds of self-assurance and self-esteem, therefore, must be carefully sown by the adult figures in a childs life.

Lets take a look at 3 ½ year old Jennifer:

Jennifer attends pre-school. As part of the year-end wrap up, Mom and Dad meet with Jens pre-school teacher, Mrs. Hamilton.

Mrs. Hamilton tells Jens parents that she has noted that Jennifer is always seeking feedback on her accomplishments. 'When Jennifer finishes a drawing,' notes Mrs. Hamilton, 'she is undoubtedly never sure if it is good, and, therefore, fails to exhibit any happiness. Instead, she asks her teachers for re-assurance that the drawing is beautiful and has made them happy.'

Jennifers parents have noted similar behavior at home and during play dates with other children. 'Jennifer has tremendous difficulty making selections from colors of crayons to food,' states Jennifers mother. 'If I ask her what shed like for dinner, she always asks What are my choices? and I begin to narrow the selections for her. Sometimes, I even make the decision for her. No matter what I choose - even if its her favorite meal - Jennifers never happy and always demands to know why she has to eat that.' Mrs. Hamilton tells Jennifers parents that she too has noted that Jennifer will talk back to a teacher or adult in charge, demanding an explanation for having to follow direction. 'No matter how many times we try to talk to her,' notes Jennifers father, 'she doesnt seem to have an awareness of her behaviors.'

The following suggestions may help you raise self-assured children:

• Praise your child: Applause the effort, not just the outcome. Start early and give genuine compliments freely and honestly.

• Observe your childs schoolwork and other activities: Offer your child constructive feedback on their work, this will allow your child to have a safe and realistic view of themselves

• Frame social interactions: Give your child the boundaries with which to speak and respond appropriately to others

• Outline choices: Allow your child to choose from a limited amount of choices. Providing too many will overwhelm the child and may cause frustration and confusion • Lead: Always keep a watchful eye and take charge when necessary Keep In Mind: The process of building self-esteem needs to begin at birth but its never too late to implement positive behaviors.

The recipe for success in raising a self-assured child is simple; connect with your child through positive interactions and communications, and offer unconditional love and support.

You will forever have an impact upon the manner in which your child interacts and feels about themselves. Reach for assistance from a professional if you have any questions.

Dr. Charles Sophy currently serves as Medical Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. He also has a private psychiatry practice in Beverly Hills, California.

Dr. Sophy is the author of the 'Keep Em Off My Couch' blog and provides real simple answers for solving lifes biggest problems. To contact Dr. Sophy, visit his blog at http://drsophy.com.