How much of the parent's time does caring for an autistic child take?

How difficult is it to care for an autistic child? Does the level of difficulty change over time?How much of the parent's time does caring for an autistic child take?
That depends on the severity of the disorder. If the child is high-functioning, the amount of care above and beyond what would normally be required can be minimal. If the child is low-functioning, the amount of care above and beyond can be significant. Also, the level of care depends on if the child is vocal or non-vocal, potty trained or still in diapers, etc. In addition, the level can be static or dynamic depending on the child. We still do not know what causes autism, thus it is difficult to say with any degree of accuracy what nuances are present in the disorder. A child psychiatrist would be your greatest asset in determining these questions.How much of the parent's time does caring for an autistic child take?
24'7
All kids take a lot of time, and kids with significant special needs usually take even more time. Kids with autism vary significantly in their ability levels, from above average and even genius to very low functioning, so the functional level will have some bearing. Obviously a child who is not toilet trained by the time they are school-aged will take more of his/ her parents time just in toileting and laundry. Kids with autism, no matter how intelligent they are, almost always need more help in communication than other kids. If the child is not verbal, another form of communication needs to be established, such as a picture system. And kids with autism really need to have their lives organized for them, so the parents need to come up with consistent methods and systems to help their child see the world as a manageable place. Many autistic kids feel much more secure when they have a visible schedule, either written or in picture format, so they know what's going to happen next.


Although I am a special education teacher and have taught children with autism for many years, I would advise you not to check with other professionals for insight into your question, but to speak with the parents of children with autism. They would be the true experts in the demands of living with the child.
well, autism is a spectrum disorder, so really it depends on the kind and degree of autism your child is dealing with. with high-functioning autism, hardly any extra care might be needed, a little more with asperger's, and a whole lot with kanner's, and of course within these categories there are degrees of affliction too. find yourself a good team of paediatrists and child psychologists and see what they make of your child, and the amount of care he or she will need if of course also dependent on the degree of educational and social support they get outside the house, the right kind of schooling etc. good luck!