Helping autistic children for a living can be incredibly rewarding and fulfilling.

After you read this article, you will know what the best careers for working with autistic children are and how you can pick the most suitable one based on your passions and preferences.

What is autism?

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition and learning disability that impacts a child’s behaviors, development, and skills.

In brief, here are some of the main characteristics that define autism:

• Developmental Delays: Autistic children tend to develop certain skills and capabilities at a later stage in life. Examples include saying their first word and responding to their name.
• Communication Barriers: On a social level, kids with ASD show a lack of interest in playing with others, avoid maintaining eye contact, and struggle when they communicate. 
• Behavioral Challenges: An autistic boy or girl may resort to aggression instead of using their words, engage in repetitive habits, and obsessively focus on a single object or activity.
• Sensitive Sensory Functions: Children with ASD are usually very sensitive to bright lights and/or loud noises.

If you’re passionate about helping autistic kids overcome these issues and manage their symptoms, consider embarking on one of the career paths from the following list.

The 10 best careers for working with autistic children

Applied Behavior Analyst

An applied behavior analyst (ABA) is a therapist who specializes in evaluating a patient’s behaviors and habits, identifying the environmental factors that influence them, and putting together a treatment plan accordingly.

To become an Applied Behavior Analyst, follow these steps:

1. Earn a bachelor’s degree in a field like psychology or education.
2. Get a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis or a related area.
3. Pass your exam and get licensed by your state.

Those who want to take a step further in their career should think about becoming a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA).

Board Certified Behavior Analyst

A BCBA is an independent ABA therapy provider who is also in charge of overseeing Applied Behavior Analysts and other professionals that have similar certifications.

Wondering how to become a BCBA? Here is what you need to do:

1. Obtain your undergraduate degree.
2. Enroll in and finish a graduate program that’s certified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI).
3. Find a certified supervisor to oversee your required 1,500 to 2,000 fieldwork hours.
4. Pass the BCBA exam and apply for your state license.

When getting a masters degree is not possible or practical, other careers for helping autistic children may be more suitable.

Autism Spectrum Disorder Specialist

You can become a certified autism specialist in just four months by enrolling in a verified training program.

Many professionals who already work with children that have learning disabilities, such as psychologists and special education teachers, seek to be certified ASD specialists in order to enhance their skills and earn a higher salary.

Special Education Teacher

Special education teachers support kids that have a variety of emotional, neurological, and learning difficulties, including autistic children.

Before you embark on this career path, you must get an undergraduate degree. To teach at a public school, you will also need a certification or license from your state’s government.

If you want to work in an educational setting, but without becoming a teacher, you have other job options, as well.

School Social Worker

School social work entails supporting students, parents, teachers, and administrators on overcoming challenges related to mental health and learning disabilities.

School social workers tend to focus on issues that students may face both at home and in the classroom.

The requirements for becoming a school social worker include getting a degree in social work and undergoing the necessary training programs.

Art Therapist

Art therapy is provided by supervised and trained masters-degree holders who treat neurological and mental health problems through painting, drawing, and creating other forms of art.

Music Therapist

In the same vein, music therapy revolves around singing and using musical instruments to address mental, sensory, and motor-skill difficulties.

These professionals are also required to be trained and supervised graduate-degree holders.

Horse Therapist

Horse therapy is an effective way for helping autistic children improve their symptoms. The approach mainly focuses on riding, feeding, and caring for horses.

Some horse therapy sessions are offered by non-certified specialists, while others can only be conducted by certified and licensed therapists with graduate degrees.

Babysitter

You may be asking yourself: What does a babysitter do for autistic children? In short, they help them (and kids, in general) with doing their homework, making meals, going to and from school, and other household tasks.

The requirements for becoming a babysitter are simple. They are as follows:

• Be at the minimum age or older, which is either 16 or 18.
• Get trained by the employer.
• Obtain each of the first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certifications.

The job duties of a babysitter are relatively basic and straightforward in comparison to similar career paths. 

Caregiver

Professional caregivers assist patients who have physical or mental needs with fulfilling their day-to-day tasks. This includes adults and children who are diagnosed with ASD.

A caregiver is hired and trained by an employing agency. The requirements for this role are determined by the hiring company.

The same could be said about some of the other occupations that are on our list.

By going through them, you can easily find a suitable career for working with autistic children based on your academic background, willingness to enroll in graduate degree programs, professional preferences, and passions.

Additionally, It is important to acknowledge the vital role of social workers by commemorating Social Workers Month in supporting families of children with autism. Social workers provide invaluable assistance in accessing resources, navigating educational systems, and advocating for the needs of children with autism. Their dedication and expertise contribute significantly to the well-being and success of children and families affected by autism.

It is common for a person with autism to experience heightened sensitivity to lights, sounds, textures, and smells. 

This article will take a closer look at heightened olfactory sensitivity or a stronger-than-usual sense of smell. We’ll also cover the effects of olfactory sensitivity in children with autism and how you can help them manage these symptoms. 

What is the olfactory system?

The olfactory system is responsible for the sense of smell. This system picks up different smells in the air through the nose and nasal cavity and then sends signals, or information, to your brain. 

Your brain then processes the smells and interprets them based on what it already knows. The brain plays a large role in the workings of the olfactory system. 

Like our other senses, scents are associated with certain memories and emotions we have. We may associate a smell with a certain time in our life or food. It is an individual experience, as these associations are specific to each person. 

Do children with autism have a heightened sense of smell? 

Many studies have been conducted to determine whether children with autism experience a heightened sense of smell or hypersensitivity.

A 2018 study found that people with autism use different areas of the brain to translate scents than neurotypical people.

Because studies have shown that children with autism may have a heightened sense of smell, it follows that they have a heightened olfactory system that regulates those smells.

For some children on the autism spectrum, a foul smell can be detected from longer distances, and the reaction will be avoidance. While others will actively seek out strong smells from people or things they enjoy.

Research is ongoing to better understand hypersensitivity in autistic individuals and how often it occurs.

What effect can a stronger sense of smell have?

Hypersensitivity to smell can impact a person and their ability to function. A child on the autism spectrum may notice scents that you cannot, coupled with impairments in their ability to communicate; hypersensitivity may be expressed through unusual behaviors.

Experiencing the world differently from those around them can prove challenging for a child with autism in their daily lives and social interactions. 

As an adult with autism, a heightened olfactory system can make it hard to function in public spaces, during a commute, or the workplace. 

Children with autism may have challenges in a variety of settings, including:

Difficulty going to restaurants

It can be difficult for children with autism and a heightened sense of smell to go to a restaurant because there are so many different scents in that space. 

From the unfamiliar smells of strangers to the variety of foods and beverages being served, it can be overstimulating for a child with hypersensitivity to smells. 

The type of restaurant, how busy it is, and the environment should all be considered when going to a new restaurant. These factors can impact how the child will react to being in the restaurant.

Overt stimming reactions

Stimming is short for self-stimulating behaviors. Stimming is repetitive or unusual movements or noises, including flapping hands, headbanging, or rocking.

Not exclusive to those on the autism spectrum, stimming is associated with autism. A stim in a neurotypical person may be nail-biting, hair twirling, or shaking your foot. These actions help autistic individuals manage emotions and find comfort when experiencing sensory overload. 

Needing to smell comforting smells to calm down or help attach to a caregiver

Children with autism may need the comforting smells of caregivers or a toy to maintain calm. This can cause limitations in the ways children interact with others, as they crave only specific smells. 

May be distracted by smells unnoticeable to the neurotypical person

Children with autism may be bothered by smells that may not be noticeable to the neurotypical brain. 

Strong unfamiliar odors, perfumes, or cleaning products may cause the hypersensitive child to act out due to sensory overload and lack of communication skills. In a classroom setting, the child with autism may have trouble focusing while their brain is processing smells no one else notices.

For the sensory-seeking child, certain smells may distract them as they seek to get closer to the scent.

May act out or refuse to enter an area with uncomfortable scents

Entering a new space with unfamiliar smells, such as a friend’s home, doctor’s office, shop, or restaurant, may bring an intense reaction in the child with autism. 

He or she may be extremely bothered by the strong-to-them scents and react by stimming (repetitive behavior such as flapping arms), lashing out, or running away. 

How to help a child with a hypersensitive sense of smell?

Hypersensitivity to smell in a child on the autism spectrum makes ordinary, everyday scents into strong, intense ones. Common smells, such as spicy foods, scented shampoos, or gasoline, can overwhelm a child. They may refuse to eat certain foods, avoid certain places, or display unusual behaviors.

Some of the simplest ways to aid the hypersensitive child are using only fragrance-free cleaning products, avoiding scented candles, perfumes, and deodorants, keeping rooms well ventilated and offering a tissue or other face-covering covering the nose. 

For the sensory-seeking child, carry a piece of fabric with a favorite scent and cook flavorful meals.

When you work with your child to help identify the source of their reactions, you can create solutions to help them feel safe and comfortable.

There are some tools and therapies you may want to try with your child:

ABA Therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a strategy designed to help hypersensitive children increase their communication skills. 

Working with a trained ABA therapist, your child can learn language and communication skills. They may benefit from improved attention, focus, and social skills. ABA therapy helps with memory and academics and can decrease problem behaviors.

ABA therapy is flexible and individualized, with positive reinforcement as one of its core tenets.

Studies on long-term ABA therapy show many positive gains in intellectual functioning, language development, daily living, and social skills.

Sensory Support Tools

Sensory support tools are toys and other items designed to stimulate one or more senses. They appeal to some children on the autism spectrum as they can help the child feel calm and supply the sensory experience they are seeking, which can regulate their sensory needs.

Some support tools to consider are weighted vests or blankets, wiggle cushions, and balance boards. Sensory support toys include fidget spinners, pop-its, and slime or putty.

Be mindful when choosing a sensory toy or tool that doesn’t contain a strong odor from the packaging. 

Social Stories

A social story is a narrative created to help children on the autism spectrum understand how to communicate appropriately in social scenarios. 

Social stories can significantly improve the way children with autism relate to both peers and adults. They can demonstrate and teach what to do (and what not to do) in social situations and when problems arise.

Using social stories, you provide information and structure to help the child with autism navigate social situations.

An example of a social story may be in a comic book format or a series of simple sentences illustrating what the child can expect to happen and why.

Recognizing hypersensitivity in a child with autism is the first step to supporting them in life’s everyday scenarios. 

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can negatively impact your child’s ability to focus on their personal hygiene.

By the time you’re done with this article, you will know exactly what you need to do to help your autistic son or daughter reach the desired cleanliness and personal hygiene goals.

How does autism affect personal hygiene?

Due to the psychological and sensory challenges that they face, keeping healthy and hygienic is sometimes difficult for autistic individuals.

Why does sensory processing disorder make hygiene difficult for children with autism?

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) can make hygiene difficult for children with autism because it affects how they perceive and respond to sensory stimuli. Here are some reasons why:

1. Over-Sensitivity to Sensory Experiences: Many children with autism are hypersensitive to touch, smell, sound, and sight. This means common hygiene practices like brushing teeth, taking a shower, or even wearing certain clothes can be overwhelming and uncomfortable for them.
2. Difficulty With Fine Motor Skills: Hygiene tasks often require fine motor skills, something that can be challenging for children with SPD. For example, holding a toothbrush, applying the right amount of pressure while brushing, or using a nail clipper can be difficult.
3. Resistance to Change: Children with autism often prefer routines and struggle with changes. Introducing new hygiene habits can be seen as a change in their routine, causing distress and resistance.
4. Tactile Defensiveness: This is a term used to describe the reaction that occurs when someone is very sensitive to touch. For a child with this condition, the textures of a toothbrush, towel, or soap could cause discomfort or anxiety.
5. Difficulties with Interpreting Sensory Information: Children with SPD may have trouble processing multiple sensory inputs at once. This can make tasks that involve several senses, such as bathing, overwhelming.
6. Smell Sensitivity: Some children with autism have a heightened sense of smell. The scent of certain hygiene products could be overpowering to them.

It’s important to note that every child with autism is unique and may experience these challenges to varying degrees. Parents and caregivers can work with occupational therapists and other professionals to develop strategies tailored to each child’s needs to help them cope with these difficulties.

For a start, several types of mental illnesses, such as depression, can cause your child to neglect self care and cleanliness. This is a common sign of mental health problems among both autistic and neurotypical kids.

However, because of their delicate sensory functions, those with an ASD diagnosis may experience this problem more severely.

Here is how these sensitivities could impact their personal hygiene:

• Your child may not be able to tolerate a strong-smelling soap or shampoo. If this is the case, replace their soap and/or shampoo with a scentless product or one that’s designed for sensitive skin.
• The feeling of running water touching the kid’s skin can feel unpleasant. To address this, consider giving your child a bath instead of a shower.
• The laundry soap or detergent that you’re using could irritate your son or daughter’s skin when they put on their clothes. Buying alternative products may resolve this problem.
• In the same vein, the fabric or textile that their clothing is made out of might be uncomfortable. When this happens, you should try to find clothes with materials that your child can tolerate wearing.

Even though every autistic kid has unique mental and sensory functions, establishing daily routines is one of the best ways for teaching children with ASD how to take care of their personal hygiene.  

What kind of hygienic activities do autistic children need to learn?

Autistic kids tend to respond well to structures and routines. With that in mind, you may want to establish a consistent daily schedule that includes cleaning and self care.

This is a very effective method for teaching an autistic boy or girl about the hygienic activities and habits that they need to maintain. Splitting these tasks into morning and evening ones can make this strategy more successful.

Hygienic Morning Routine

Here are some of the hygienic activities that should be part of your child’s morning routine:

1. Wake up and make the bed
2. Go to the bathroom for a shower or bath
3. Use the towel for drying the hair and body
4. Put on a bathrobe or pajamas, and then the slippers
5. Brush their teeth
6. Comb their hair
7. Go to the dining room for breakfast
8. Put away the dishes after eating
9. Get dressed, starting with the shirt, then the pants, and, finally, the socks
10. Put on the shoes before leaving the house

When you put this routine together, you want to ensure that these tasks are done in a specific order. A consistent daily ritual makes it easier for your autistic son or daughter to remember these activities and when they need to do them.

Hygienic Evening Routine

Similarly, here is a potential hygienic evening routine that your child could follow:

1. Wash the hands before dinner
2. Have dinner and then put the dishes away
3. Go to the bathroom to wash the hands and mouth
4. Wash the face
5. Brush and floss
6. Comb the hair
7. Go to the bedroom to change
8. Get undressed, starting with the shirt, then the pants, and, afterwards, the socks
9. Place the dirty clothing in the laundry basket
10. Put on pajamas, beginning with either the shirt or pants

Regardless of which activities are done first, the most important thing is to follow the same order on a consistent basis.

Moreover, there are certain teaching methods that you could use to help your son or daughter with their morning and evening routines.

Teaching Your Autistic Child Proper Hygiene

Modeling

Simply put, modeling entails mimicking your child’s hygienic activities as they complete them.

For example, while your kid is washing their hands or brushing their teeth, stand next to them and copy their motions as if you’re doing the same thing.

Use Rewards

Rewards will give your autistic child the incentive to take care of their cleanliness.

For example, when they brush their teeth in the morning on their own and without being asked to do so, you could promise to give them their favorite snack or candy after dinner.

Over time, brushing their teeth in the morning will become a subconscious habit, and your son or daughter eventually begins to do it without expecting a reward.

Use Social Stories or Videos

Narrating a story about a character’s hygienic habits offers your child a practical example that they can copy. Using videos for this purpose is an even better tactic. 

Use Visual Checklists

Write down your son or daughter’s morning and evening tasks on a whiteboard or piece of paper that you could hang up on their bedroom or bathroom wall. This will help them remember these activities.

Add a check mark next to each task or cross them out whenever your boy or girl completes them. When they finish all the activities that are on the list, give them a reward.

On that note, you may want to consider getting the advice of a professional therapist on how and when you should reward your autistic child.

How ABA Therapy Can Help

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is arguably the most proven and effective approach for managing ASD symptoms.

At Hidden Talents ABA, a team of licensed and highly-trained experts will work with your kid and give a custom treatment plan based on their specific sensitivities, sensory issues, and needs.

By identifying and eliminating the smells, textures, lights, and other environmental factors that make your son or daughter uncomfortable, our ABA therapists will guide them towards attaining their personal hygiene goals and beyond.

Click here to contact us and get started!

Identifying the signs of autism spectrum disorder in children is an ongoing effort because young kids tend to rapidly grow and acquire new skills between the time that they’re born and their 3rd birthdays.

However, after you’re done reading this article, you will know how to spot and address the signs of autism in children at different stages of their early lives.

Early Signs of Autism in Children Under a Year

Kids that are younger than one year of age could show autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms by the time they turn 3 and 7 months old, respectively.

Since kids have many developmental milestones and grow quickly throughout their first year, they will experience different autism symptoms during each of those two life stages.

To clarify, here are the behaviors that may predict ASD among infants and toddlers by age:

Autism Signs By 3 Months

The following ASD symptoms typically appear between the time that a child is born and up until they turn 3 months:

• The boy or girl doesn’t smile back at others.
• They can’t maintain eye contact and avoid looking at people’s faces when they’re spoken to.
• The kid fails to respond to sounds or noises.
• When objects or toys are dangled in front of the boy or girl, they don’t follow them with their eyes, try to grab them, or show any interest in them. This is especially the case when it comes to brightly-colored toys since autistic children are sensitive to bright lights.
• The toddler doesn’t babble or try to pronounce words. Some kids with ASD babble when they’re a few weeks old, but begin to gradually stop doing so as they get closer to being 3 months old.

From there, many autistic infants could go on to show other developmental differences and symptoms between the ages of 3 and 7 months.

Autism Signs By 7 Months

These early signs of autism may indicate that your 7-months-old son or daughter has ASD:

• They don’t show any interest in socializing or playing games, such as Peek-A-Boo.
• Instead of grabbing objects or being interested in playing with the mirror, they become obsessed with specific and unusual things like fans and patterns on the floor or ceiling.
• The kid doesn’t respond to the word “no”.
• The child continues to avoid blabbering or attempting to speak.
• They also don’t respond when you call their name. This issue can be particularly concerning if it persists after they turn 9 months old.

Early Signs of Autism in Children Over a Year

During their second year, you may want to keep an eye on potential autism spectrum disorder symptoms and red flags that usually appear when a child reaches 12 months and 18 months of age, respectively.

Here the autism signs that your son or daughter might experience at each of these stages:

At 12 Months

• They don’t know how to ask for or point at a toy that they want to play with or grab.
• Instead of imitating people or noises, they become sensitive to sounds and/or uninterested in getting others’ attention.
• The girl or boy doesn’t make simple gestures, including waving goodbye or nodding their head when they say “yes” or “no”.
• Continues to avoid babbling or attempting to pronounce words.

At 18 Months

• The child still hasn’t spoken their first words.
• They avoid pointing at toys and objects that they are curious about.
• The kid is extra sensitive around noises and loud voices.
• If they already know how to speak, your boy or girl may start to lose their language skills when they turn 18 months old. However, this problem might not appear until their second birthday.

Signs of Autism in Children That are 2 Years Old

If your child has ASD, most of their early signs of autism will be identifiable by or before the time they turn 24 months.

The following are the main signs of autism are:

• They can’t use their words or speak. Keep in mind that many 2-year-old children already know how to use sentences or say multiple words. 
• Instead of socializing or playing “pretend”, the kid prefers to be alone and avoids trying to find common interests with other children.
• When they imitate or mimic those around them, they do so in a repetitive and obsessive way.
• The boy or girl continues to avoid socializing, communicating with adults, and playing with children.

Since your son or daughter’s ASD symptoms will be obvious by this point in their lives, you need to watch out for any regressions in their existing social, behavioral, and sensory skills.

In fact, even if your 2-year-old kid doesn’t display any autism signs, you may still want to keep an eye on any potential symptoms of regressive autism. This condition only develops after a child’s second birthday.

Regression

Unlike those with early-onset autism, children with regressive ASD experience almost no signs until they turn 24 months to 3 years old. After that, they start to lose some of their capabilities and skills and stop learning new ones.

Here are the most commonplace symptoms and early developmental differences of regressive autism:

• Your boy or girl begins to struggle when they want to pronounce words that they were previously comfortable with.
• You may notice that your son or daughter is no longer gesturing, maintaining eye contact, or using their nonverbal skills.
• The child gradually loses interest in engaging with others, and they revert to watching TV or playing with their toys on their own.

If you suspect that your kid has regressive autism spectrum disorder, they can be diagnosed with autism in the same way as those that have early-onset ASD.

The most effective way to identify and diagnose both regressive and early-onset autism is by having the child get tested at a young age and throughout their first few years in life.

Testing for Autism

Autism screening and testing generally falls under two categories: Developmental screening and a comprehensive behavioral evaluation.

Developmental Screening

Developmental screening entails regularly-scheduled and ongoing visits to the doctor. During each appointment, the doctor will ask you (the parent) and your son or daughter certain questions about the child’s development.

Additionally, the doctor might talk to or play with your kid to determine if they have any academic, behavioral, cognitive, and/or sensory issues.

Developmental screening starts before your child is 6 months old, and appointments are recommended when they are 9, 18, 24, and 36 months of age.

The goal of these visits is to either rule out ASD symptoms or, alternatively, undergo further testing if the doctor identifies potential signs of autism.

Comprehensive Behavioral Evaluation

First of all, the doctor who oversees the evaluation may conduct one or more of the following tests:

• A visual and verbal assessment of the boy or girl’s developmental patterns and behaviors.
• An interview with the parents.
• Genetic testing.
• Hearing and vision screenings.
• Neurological testing.
• Other medical exams and evaluations.

Next, if they spot any concerns, the doctor will refer you and your child to a specialist who can perform more tests.

For example, they may want you to see a neurologist, children’s psychologist/psychiatrist, and/or developmental pediatrician who is formally trained to work with kids that have special needs.

Identifying the Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children

As mentioned earlier, screening your child for ASD is an ongoing effort, especially throughout the initial 3 years of their lives.

Taking your child to the doctor for assessments at the appropriate time frames is a great way to get diagnosed with autism early, and manage autism at an early stage.

Equally as important, consider using the information that we covered in this article as a preliminary guide on how to spot ASD signs at home and know when it’s time to take your son or daughter to the doctor for a checkup.