Loving Anthony

A Parent Comes to Terms with Autism

Like all new parents, Chevalia Evans dreamed of giving birth to a healthy, happy baby. After a normal pregnancy and delivery, Evans welcomed her first child, a beautiful baby boy she named Anthony. The young mother knew that along with the joys of parenthood would come challenges and heart-breaks, but she didn’t anticipate any problem that her fierce motherly love couldn’t overcome. Little did she know that her optimism would soon be tested by a life-altering diagnosis.  

Though he appeared physically healthy, Anthony displayed troubling symptoms from the start. Despite his mother’s best efforts to comfort him, he cried constantly during his first few months of life and had difficulty feeding. As he grew older, the crying stopped but eventually gave way to aggression and temper tantrums. The pediatrician called it “normal behavior for a boy,” but Evans knew it was something more.

By age two, Anthony still was not talking or behaving like other toddlers his age. He did not initiate contact with his mother and did not make eye contact even when spoken to directly. His tantrums worsened and he began banging his head against the wall in frustration. Evans sought the advice of a special-ist, and it was then that she was first introduced to the term “autism.”

Denial Gives Way to Acceptance
Autism is a complex developmental disability that usually appears in early childhood—most often during the first three years of life. It is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). As a spectrum disorder, autism affects people differ-ently and in varying degrees. People with autism have delays in speech development or very limited expressive language skills, difficulty interacting with others, and may engage in unusual and repetitive behaviors. Autism can range from mild to dis-abling and can last throughout a person’s lifetime. In a report issued in 2007, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that one in 150 children in the United States has an ASD, and the prevalence is much higher in boys, with an estimated one in every 94 boys now affected.
 
“When I was first told that Anthony had autism, I got mad and stormed out of that doctor’s office,” Evans recalls. “I didn’t want to believe what she was telling me. When I got home, I just fell to the floor, crying.”

Evans eventually turned to her spiritual faith for guidance. “I just talked to God,” she says, “and He gave me the strength to accept it and do what I needed to do for my child.” For Evans that meant returning to the specialist, apologizing and asking for help. In the following months, she learned as much as she could about autism and treatment. She prayed that with the proper help, her son might one day speak and interact with others.

That day eventually came, but not before years of disappoint-ment and frustration. Evans had difficulty affording treatment; schools were often ill equipped or inexperienced in educating children with autism; and family members, unfamiliar with the condition, offered little support. At times, Evans says, she felt helpless and alone.

Turning to DePelchinIn
August of 2007, Evans was referred to DePelchin Autism Services where she met Dr. Alice Mao, Director of Psychopharmacology, Research and Education at DePelchin.

“The Evans family’s stress is similar to that experienced by most families coping with autism,“ Dr. Mao says. “They are looking for answers about outcome and interventions for a disorder that can have very different outcomes for children depending on the severity of the intellectual disability accompanying the speech and social deficits.”

“At DePelchin, we observe and assess children in a number of ways to reach a diagnosis and to help the family determine the best services and therapies available in their community,” Dr. Mao continues. “Our goal is to help every child reach his or her optimum potential, given their developmental delays or intellectual disabilities.”

Dr. Mao works in collaboration with an expert diagnostic team of psychologists, psychiatrists, master’s level clinicians and a speech pathologist that assesses children, ages two to seven,  who have symptoms of ASD. For most, the assessment con-sists of three sessions: intake, testing and observation, and a feedback session with parents. To make a diagnosis, the team observes the child’s communication, behavior and develop-mental levels. Because ASD has some of the same behavioral traits as other disorders, medical tests may be done to rule out other possible causes of symptoms. And because one-time observations cannot give a true picture of a child’s abilities and behaviors, it is important to get input and a developmental history from parents or caregivers.

After a diagnosis is made, a plan of action is developed. Although there is not yet a cure for ASD, treatment, education and support can help—children with the disorder improve and develop skills needed to live fuller lives and participate in their community. Since ASD is a spectrum disorder, no single method works for every individual. Current treatments include, but are not limited to, medication,  dietary manage-ment, and occupational, speech, and sensory therapies. Studies show that children with ASD respond well to a highly struc-tured, specialized education program tailored to their needs. Experts agree that early intervention is key to reducing autism symptoms and achieving the best outcomes.

DePelchin Autism Services helps everyone affected by autism—children and families alike. The Social Thinking Academy is a social skills therapy group designed to help children with autism learn how to interact with their peers. Participants attend up to 17 sessions over the course of several months and tackle a number of topics including the following:

identifying feelings in themselves and others coping with expected and unexpected behaviors in social situations (dor example, group, class, playground, school and community settings) learning how one's behaviors affect the feelings and actions of others monitoring one's own responses and inner feelings interpreting verbal and non-verbal communication in others (for examples, literal and figurative language, clues to deciphering language meaning) practicing social thinking skills through role mondeling, conversations, cooperative place and social activities

While children are attending the Social Thinking Academy, parents and siblings attend Family Talks, educational and sup-port groups that cover topics of interest to families of children with autism. Information gained from the Social Thinking Academy is shared with parents so that they may help their children practice social thinking skills at home and at school. The goal for the sibling group is to offer support and informa-tion to help siblings better understand their brother or sister with autism. The group‘s most important function is to pro-vide a place for siblings to discuss their feelings with others who face the same challenges. The presentations and support groups are led by DePelchin’s professional staff of licensed psy-chologists, psychiatrists and interns, professional counselors and marriage and family therapists.

Breaking the Silence
While the Evans family continues their autism battle, they say that DePelchin has better equipped them to win the war. Anthony is seen monthly by Dr. Mao, who manages his medi-cation and care at DePelchin. “Dr. Mao is simply wonderful. She has helped us so much. I don’t know where we would be right now without DePelchin,” says Evans, whose feelings of desperation and isolation have faded, along with many of Anthony’s autism symptoms. Although Evans is quick to credit DePelchin with Anthony’s progress, Dr.  Mao is just as quick to reciprocate. “There is nothing more important for a special needs child than a family’s love and commitment,” she says. “Mrs. Evans is a real survivor and a stellar example of some-one who is fully dedicated to helping her child succeed. She seeks and accepts help when needed and is her son’s biggest advocate.” 

With the help of medication, speech therapy, support groups and a very structured home and school environment, the child who once raged in silence now smiles, laughs, plays, and is on the “ honor roll” in his special education first grade class. One small accomplishment leads to another, according to Evans, who is optimistic that her son will one day go to college and live independently. Meanwhile, she’ll continue to put one foot in front of the other, day-by-day, and revel in Anthony’s small triumphs — in  using a napkin, doing a puzzle and brushing his teeth. But there are big triumphs to celebrate as well—such as learning to speak new words, including the one his mother waited so many years to hear: “Momma.” 

To access DePelchin Autism Services, call 713-730-2335.