Effects of Autism on the family

Dear Ask The Doctor: What are the effects that an autistic child has on the family? (social, moral, etc.)

Dear Anam: An autistic child demands a lot of attention,caring and dedication to take care of. This may thus lead to caregiver issues and possible decrease in quality of life for the caregiver.Having the responsibility to take care of the child can lead to family issues of disharmony, caregiver fatigue and stress. This may impact the family socially too by limiting their social and work life due to overwhelming responsibilities. Having said this there are various support groups and resources available in the community to help with the caregiving as well as help the families pyschologically and mentally to deal with the stress of this condition. You should contact your family physician for more information on available resources within your community. All the best.