Providing stable and supportive environment for kids with autism

Yersin Nha Trang General Hospital, jointly with the Provincial Center for Rehabilitation and Education for Disabled Children, has celebrated the World Autism Awareness Day 2025 themed “For an autism-friendly community”, helping to raise public awareness of autism spectrum disorder, foster understanding and promote early intervention and community integration.

A child with signs of autism is undergoing evaluations at Yersin Nha Trang General Hospital.

Giving guidance and assistance to children with autism

Nguyen Vinh S’s 3-year-old twins from Phuoc Tien Ward, Nha Trang City, show delayed speech development, minimal communication and interaction with family members, a preference for solitary play, and shyness around strangers. Finding his children have signs of autism, he took them to Yersin Nha Trang General Hospital for consultation, examination and early intervention if needed. 

After 6 months of intervention, the 2 children began to speak single words and understand others talking and have better eye contact with family members. “Many children with autism participated in the program. I was very touched when seeing my two children join their friends playing games organized by the center’s teachers and doctors,” said Nguyen Vinh S.

Teachers and doctors provided information to 48 autistic children and their parents about autism, helping them understand the emotions and experiences of affected children through clips, images and illustrations. They were also introduced to diagnosis and intervention methods and family coordination strategies for supporting autistic children. Additionally, with the support of parents, medical staff, and teachers, the children took part in interactive activities, including movement games with picture-pasting, color recognition and musical performances.

The Provincial Center for Rehabilitation and Education of Disabled Children is caring for 57 children with autism. When discovering that a child has autism, the best thing to do is to quickly take the child to see a doctor or specialist for advice and proper intervention. Parents need to show love and patiently guide the child. To effectively teach a child with autism what they need to do, leverage their strengths in repetition and imitation by using clear, consistent instructions and positive reinforcement. In particular, do not impose teachings when the child is agitated or too anxious; support their progress with encouragement, according to Phan Thi Ngoc Sinh, Deputy Director of the Provincial Center for Rehabilitation and Education of Disabled Children.

Family plays an important role

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder with no complete cure for autism yet. However, early diagnosis and interventions help the children to improve their conditions and facilitate their integration into the community. Common signs of autism in young children include restricted and repetitive behaviours and interests; difficulties in social communication and interaction, and delayed language development.

The first 3 years of life are the golden time for intervention for children, because at this time, nerve cells are flexible and highly adaptable, so children can learn new things and adjust their behavior more easily, especially communication. In the treatment and intervention for autistic children, families play a crucial role in supporting individuals with autism, besides multidisciplinary coordination, for early diagnosis and treatment. 

According to MA. Dr. Pham Thi Thu Thuy, Deputy Head of Pediatrics Department, Head of Intervention Team for Children with Developmental Disorders, Yersin Nha Trang General Hospital, Yersin Nha Trang General Hospital has implemented diagnostic and intervention services for children with autism for over 1 year. The hospital's Autism Spectrum Disorder Intervention Department has conducted autism screenings for over 300 children and provided intervention support for over 50 children. In recent years, autism awareness has grown. Many parents have recognized early signs in their children and seek medical advice as early as 17-18 months old.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is estimated that about 1 in 100 children worldwide has autism. The number of children with autism has increased significantly in Vietnam over the past 15 years. Enhancing awareness and understanding of autism in families and communities is crucial for early detection, intervention and social integration of affected children.

C.D

Translated by N.T