HELPING FAMILIES COPE
“A most important initial step to understanding your child is by obtaining the best comprehensive evaluation, identifying the child’s strengths and weaknesses, having questions answered, and developing a plan for intervention,” says Dr. Donnelly, pediatric neurologist at CHOC and UC Irvine. “Parents and families need help and hope. They need to believe their child will improve and has a chance for a meaningful life. They can get help by contacting The Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Santa Ana.”
TREATMENT FOR KIDS WITH AUTISM
“The main and most evidenced-based treatment is behavioral intervention, or Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA),” Dr. Donnelly says. “ABA is a method of analyzing behavior using certain principles to create a plan to change behavior using specific rewards and punishments, to facilitate social interaction and communication, and eliminate negative behaviors. Other treatments can include special education programs, speech and language therapy, social skills groups, and occupational therapy. Medical evaluation and treatment focuses on making accurate diagnoses, determining etiology, supporting and educating the family, providing genetic information, treating any related problems, like seizures, and pinpointing associated behaviors such as ADHD, anxiety or aggression, and supporting behavioral strategies or medication to help improve symptoms.”
TEACHING YOUR CHILD
It’s important for parents and families to be engaged with their child, says Dr. Donnelly. “Speak and play with your child and learn how to be their most important mentor. Get to know them and how they learn best. Identify their strengths and weaknesses and learn how to facilitate their social communication skills and behavior. Become a lay expert in behavior intervention. Have an optimistic but realistic outlook.”
THE NEW TERM: AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
“Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), as it is now called, encompasses autism and what was previously called Asperger syndrome,” says Dr. Donnelly. “ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by key behavioral features, including significant impairment in social communication and restricted and repetitive behaviors. The term “spectrum” is useful not only to describe a large group of varied individuals, but it also signifies a wide difference in the type and severity of specific behaviors. Symptoms can include things like poor social skills, atypical language, sensory issues, motor impairment and developmental delays.”
FAST FACTS
Dr. Joseph H. Donnelly is the medical director of The Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders located in Santa Ana, a partnership between CHOC, UC Irvine School of Medicine and Chapman College of Educational Studies. He completed an internship and residency in pediatrics at Boston City Hospital, and a fellowship in pediatric neurology at the Boston City Hospital-Boston University and Harvard University Neurology units. Dr. Donnelly specializes in child neurology and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and other developmental disabilities.
Dr. Donnelly’s philosophy of care: “The secret of caring for the patient is “to care” for the patient (as first said by surgeon Francis Peabody in 1912 at a graduation of medical students). In order to care for a child, one must relate to the entire family and develop a trusting relationship where the physician and health care team helps support, educate and guide the family.”
EDUCATION
Harvard College
Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington D.C.
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS
Pediatrics Neurology with special qualification in child neurology
Today, we hear from Teri Book, a nurse practitioner at The Center for Autism & Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Teri shares what she’s learned as a nurse caring for children with autism, and also as a mother of a child with autism.
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