Whew, this one was packed! Doug Hinderer and his daughter Monica (licensed counselor and resident therapist-daughter combo) look into what it’s like to raise a child on the autism spectrum.
You can listen to the whole hour here.
📈 Autism Is on the Rise… Like, A Lot
Doug and Monica kick off with some eye-opening stats:
In the early 2000s, 1 in 150 kids were diagnosed with autism.
As of 2023, that number is 1 in 31. That’s a 175% increase in the last decade. Woah.
They suggest it’s not just better diagnosis, but possibly environmental factors too: like the rise of microplastics and gut health issues. And for the record, boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed than girls. Monica says that this is because girls are ninja-level social maskers.
🧠 It’s a Spectrum, Not a Cookie Cutter
Monica explains how every kid with autism is unique. You can’t just generalize. Some are super verbal, some aren’t. Some are hypersensitive to light, sound, or textures, and others seem totally unfazed.
Doug gives the example of a co-worker who missed sarcasm but was a total computer genius.
They bring up two classic categories from back in the day:
General Autism Disorder (social, communication, and behavior challenges)
Asperger’s Syndrome (milder, but big trouble with reading social cues)
These are now all under one umbrella: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with three support levels. (Level 1 = needs help, Level 3 = needs lots of help.)
💡 Common Traits of Autism
They chat about what to look for:
-Delayed or difficult communication (verbal and non-verbal)
-Rigid thinking (cars drive on roads, not fly)
-Difficulty with imaginative play
-Trouble reading social cues
-Repetitive behaviors like hand flapping or rocking
-Sensory overload
Monica also points out that diet and gut health can make a big difference in symptom severity.
💬 Real Talk from a Mom
Then Mary, a caller, shares her story, and it’s powerful.
She raised a daughter diagnosed with autism at 3, went through denial, fought for a correct diagnosis, and gave up her career to be her daughter’s full-time advocate.
💛 Key takeaways from Mary:
-Don’t ignore red flags, even if they’re subtle
-Advocate fiercely (ask for second opinions, challenge bad IEPs)
-Go to every meeting, fight for testing
-Pour into your child’s life (playdates, music, bodywork; do it all)
-Build a strong relationship, and be their safe harbor
Now, her daughter is in her 20s, independent, highly intelligent, and thriving.
🎯 Final Thoughts: Parenting, Not Perfection
Doug wraps it up by saying this: You may never fully understand why your child has autism, but what matters most is what you do now.
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