My Autistic brother...?

Question

I am 14, and I have an autistic brother who just turned 13 and he was born without speaking, and communicates through sign language, and also makes weird sounds.

I love him sooo much, the sweetest boy ever!

I'm just scared for him when he grows up, and his autism is still there, and he's going to live the rest of his life with the autism, what's going to happen? Are they trying to find a cure for autism still?

I Just asked my brother, "When you going to talk? what day? Do you want to talk?" and all he could do was nod ;( x

Answer 1

My little girl is autistic... she speaks--high functioning and has ADHD... learning is a difficulty, but with the right teacher she has shown great progress this year.

We are all hoping and praying for a cure. My little girl gets therapy and has for nearly 3 years. She takes meds for adhd and a mood stabilizer... I've heard the mood stabilizers  increase speech...I've seen it work in a younger child who didn't communicate clearly at all, now he's trying to talk and has a few phrases he repeats. He's 7.

Answer 2

My son has autism.  Having autism is not a death sentence of isolation but just an opportunity to find a different way to communicate.  Does your brother write?  Can he type?  There are a lot of different methods to communicate that have been developed to help autistic kids and adults function better in this society.  I would suspect that inside of his head, he's a genius waiting to get out.  

I know for my son, we are working at trying to instill in him the skills he needs to be more independent and be a responsible man when he grows up.  I'm pretty sure we'll always be a major part of his life and accept that.  If they never "cure" autism, it's ok.  He is my son and a great kid no matter what.  I think your brother is lucky to have a sister like you who loves him and takes care of him.

Answer 3

I really feel for you.

living with this MUST be hard.

I work with Autistic children at a elementay school.

I see his sister every day and she seems so sad and downharted. thischild is severely autistic, who bites himself very hard

and hits others.

I feel so bad that this little girl has to live with that.

It takes a lot of love and patience, but the communication part

has to do with sign language, pictures and talking devices.

from the schools

they need lots of hard hugs and a stemulation  that they enjoy.

autistic children are smart in their own ways.

just try to understand your brother,  try to read what he his trying to say to you.

Answer 4

not all kids with autism talk. Autism  is not something that can be cured. I think you need to sit down with your parents and talk about how your feeling.

  It's normal to feel this way. Your parents will be able to give some answers.

Answer 5

Talking is not all that is important. I worked at a camp last year with children diagnosed with "severe autism"  who all had no verbal language  and the children were one on one with staff. The children were between the ages of 7-16. I am sure things are hard and worrysome to have a brother with autism and to think about his future. They are still looking for a cure for autism. I think you should talk about some of your concerns with your parents so they can give you more information of what will happen as your brother grows up.

Answer 6

my little brother is also autistic, although he speaks. they are still researching this condition very much so, but it is still possible for him to lead a normal life using sign language. email me if you want to talk more, i'd be glad to talk to someone else in my position :)

Answer 7

Scientists are always researching for more understanding about Autism.  Your brother is very fortunate to be living in a time where there is so much more understanding and support and mainstream knowledge on this neurological disorder.  The numbers of diagnosed Autism are going up epidemically and that is getting a lot of attention.  The truth about your brothers future with Autism.  20% of people diagnosed with Autism live completely independently, and 20% live completely dependently.  60% live with some degree of support.  Since your brother can communicate he is most likely amoung the 60% who need some degree of support.  It is a great strength that he can sign and that he is affectionalte. This can range from as minimal to collecting SSI (disability income) and/or medicaid living on his own with or without a casemanager or family member checking in to living in a group home.  In a group home this can range from no locks, doors, cameras, medications and driving to work to more supervised care like being prompted to brush his teeth, adjusting the temperature in the shower, supervising his laundry and cooking ect.  He will have a real job that he gets paid for in the community.  He may have a job coach that oversees his progress.  There are things inbetween like apartments that have a nurse and cook staff.  He would be responsible for keeping his apartment clean, doing laundry, getting to work ect.  And staff would help him pay his bills budget his money, administer meds if necessary and accompany him to do errands. My sister-in-law is autistic.  She is much more dependent, lower functioning than most (she is in the bottom 20%) She lives in a group home, does not speak or communicate in any way, does not respond to people,  she is not potty trained, she has behaviors and is violent occassionally, she does not show affection.  She does have a job, she works in a hotel and does the laundry for 6hour shifts 3X a week.  She goes out in the community for field trips and out to dinner. Within the same company of group homes several of my family members work there.  Other group homes are apartments, they fly on a plane by themselves and take the bus to work.  One client works for the State Police, another works on a computer for the Government.  Both of these guys get paid very very well.  Twice as high as the workers at the group home.  This group home is called The Chimes, and there are several across the country.  As far as the rest of his life with autism, unless something changes in the medical field, yes however the autistic population tend to become higher functioning as they age.  If you think back to when your brother was little he has probably made a lot of improvements and he will continue to do so and have less symptoms/behaviors of autism.

Answer 8

i cant give you an answer but dont let it worry you,everyday they find new ways to help people with Autisum,i used to work at a autisic school,the older children were encourged to help on the farm,these days Autistic people can even go to collage!!!!

The important thing is that you love him and see good in him.

Good Luck,enjoy life,your sooooo young.and dont worry,with you in his life,he'll be fine.