| The following are 5 common fears suffered by | | | | and allow them to start the sound and slowly increase |
| autistics, and how you can effectively handle the | | | | its volume. Having control over the playback of sound |
| situation to create a more positive experience for your | | | | can help the child become familiar with the noise, |
| child. | | | | allowing them to recognize it when it occurs. |
| 1. Fear of the dentist - Many autistic children are afraid | | | | 4. Fear of looking at people - Many autistics don't look |
| of the dentist. This shouldn't be too surprising, | | | | directly at others. Many researchers believe this is |
| considering the dentist can be hard to take for the | | | | because autistics cannot accurately interpret |
| average person. | | | | expressions and emotions. Thus, autistics generally find |
| Understanding autism and fear of the dentist is a | | | | it disturbing to look at people's faces. |
| matter of introducing your child to the right dentist. You | | | | New studies on understanding autism have found that |
| need to find a dentist who is experienced with children | | | | autistics respond well to cartoons that feature trains |
| with disabilities, particularly autism. If you have trouble | | | | and cars that have people's faces superimposed on |
| finding a dentist with such experience, your best option | | | | them. These particular cartoons known as "The |
| is to choose one who has compassion and a | | | | Transporters" have been particularly successful at |
| willingness to learn. | | | | helping autistics learn about emotions. |
| Overcoming the dentist fear is about slowly introducing | | | | 5. Fear of socializing - One of the biggest autistic fears |
| your child to the environment. The first few visits | | | | is socializing. This means that it is often difficult for |
| should only consist of getting your child to sit in the | | | | them to make friends. The following are ways you |
| chair and the dentist looking in his/her mouth. | | | | can help encourage them to socialize with those their |
| Furthermore, distractions such as TV can help make | | | | own age: |
| the process easier to take. This process can take | | | | - Encourage your child to get phone numbers of some |
| several months. | | | | of his/her schoolmates and bring them home so you |
| 2. Fear of the dark - Many autistic children fear the | | | | can make calls. |
| dark because they can't control it and fear the | | | | - Schedule a playtime or invite another family of a |
| unknown. | | | | fellow schoolmate over to your home for brief |
| To help your child overcome this fear, try a game of | | | | interaction (2 hour limit) |
| peek-a-boo with the blanket, allowing your child to | | | | - Don't rely on the friendship of only one child. Invite |
| move from dark to light at their control. Other methods | | | | more than one child over. |
| that may work in understanding autism fears of the | | | | - Ask your child what he/she wants to do when the |
| dark include providing your child with a flashlight, lamp | | | | friend comes over. Create a list of activities so things |
| or nightlight. | | | | remain entertaining. Just remember, you need to teach |
| 3. Fear of loud sudden noises - Loud sudden noises | | | | your child to be flexible and accept suggestions from |
| such as a fire alarm or thunder, often startles and | | | | others. This can take time. |
| upsets autistics. Sensitivity to sound may be | | | | The more knowledge people have in understanding |
| desensitized through sound recording. Provide your | | | | autism, the easier it will be for your child to make and |
| child with a recording of the sound that upsets him/her | | | | keep friends. |