Autism

What is autism?

Autism, also called autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a developmental disorder that causes various challenges affecting your social skills, speech, nonverbal communication, and behaviors. Autism spectrum disorder causes a variety of symptoms with different degrees of severity in individual patients. This means that every patient has a unique experience and needs.

What are the signs of autism?

Signs of autism can emerge during early childhood. Some of the common warning signs of autism include:

• Doesn’t respond to other people
• Avoids eye contact
• Prefers to be alone
• Doesn’t play “pretend” games
• Doesn’t understand emotions, including their own and other people’s
• Has delayed or absent speech development
• Repeats words or phrases
• Has obsessive interests
• Gets upset by minor changes to routine
• Is hyper or under-responsive to sensory stimulation (lights, colors, sounds, etc.)
  
  

Autism symptoms vary significantly between individuals. You should make an appointment at Plymouth Psych Group if you have any concerns about your child’s behavior. When you start treatment early, you and your child receive the support you need.

How is autism treated?

The team at Plymouth Psych Group begins with a thorough evaluation and diagnostic l assessment to confirm your child’s diagnosis. The team has significant experience in working with individuals  with autism. 

In addition to individual treatments, Plymouth Psych Group also offers group sessions for patients with autism and their families. 

Social and emotional development program

This program is for patients aged 12-18. The group focuses on:

• How to make and keep friendships
• Identifying feelings and learning coping skills for emotional regulation
• How to hold a conversation by trading appropriate information
• Appropriate use of humor
• Skills for resolving disagreements
• Understanding emotions
• How to handle bullying and teasing
• Use of electronics in a healthy way
• Navigating life transitions such as high school and college

The purpose of the group is to help young people learn and practice social skills so they can function and thrive as they grow up.

ASD parent support group

Plymouth Psych Group also offers a support group for parents who have adolescents and teens with an autism (or related) diagnosis. The group provides support, help, and encouragement to help you navigate both the challenges and rewards of parenting a child with autism. 

We are now offering a weekly ASD Parent Support Group, led by a Mental Health Therapist.  The group focuses on providing parents with the knowledge and skills to assist their adolescent with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through the teenage years.  It is critical that parents of children with ASD have a strong support system that answers questions about the diagnosis, and how the diagnosis impacts social and emotional development.

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