What is your baby telling you?
Holding a newborn is the manifestation of a miracle. The warmth of a little being, the scent of a new baby, the delicate movements of the tiny, uncontrolled body speak to the parent in a way that generates emotions quite unlike any other. Mother and infant need one another to complete the expectations that bonding elicits.
However, when bonding does not follow its natural course, it is an indication that a disruption occurred that interfered with the process. Though it has not yet become clear what the nature of the disruption may be, that is, what the cause may be, it manifests itself in characteristics that are not always identical in every infant, but they are clustered in patterns that may lead to a diagnosis of autism
Detecting preAutism
Acknowledgement of autistic-like features is an indication that the parent/infant bonding has been disrupted. Recognition that attention is required to refer an infant for diagnosis provides the opportunity for intervention in the event that the infant’s responses appear inappropriate.
Parents, pediatricians, family physicians, mental health workers and community nurses would be the first to suspect that mother/infant bonding is not proceeding according to the norm, that mother is unhappy and is questioning her baby’s reactions despite his apparent good health.
Initial screening, using pre-autism indicators, will examine the infant’s social development, and the wisdom of referral for diagnosis by a trained specialist will determine whether intervention is indicated.
Treatment for Baby & Family
According to ipAn, a psychodynamic orientation in therapy is indicated in order to interpret the dissonance observed between parent and infant.
The nuclear family participates in the treatment to learn about how they are affecting their baby and how they are affected by their baby’s puzzling behaviour.
Parents learn how to use responsive sensory intervention and continue to help their child thrive throughout his daily life.
Training
ipAn operates training programmes throughout the world with centres in England, the USA and Europe. The courses accept individuals with a degree in the Social Sciences, Education, or Health Therapies who want to learn how to recognize early signs and treat infants at risk.
Ongoing Research
Evidence-based practice is a scientist’s ideal. Many treatment facilities have accumulated clinical evidence which can serve as a preliminary stage to test a hypothesis, and, when indicated, the information that emerges serves as the basis for a controlled study.
ipAn members will be assisted in networking with other members in an effort to locate like-minded researchers for the purpose of sharing and comparing their work, and to help create partnerships for collaborating on study projects.