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Parents & family

The relatives’ perspective

After your child’s diagnosis
Family life
Siblings

  • Knowledge article

    Siblings of children with autism

    How siblings of children with autism are doing, what studies show – and what parents can do so that siblings are seen too.

Partnership

  • Knowledge article

    Strain and the parents’ relationship

    What the 2021 guideline said on strain on parents, what it left open about the partnership and why social support counted as a protective factor.

Grandparents & wider circle
Self-care

  • Knowledge article

    Self-care for parents and relatives

    What the 2021 guideline said on support for parents and relatives: help of their own, psychoeducation, advice and the value of social support.

Respite & relief

  • Knowledge article

    Relief for families: services at a glance

    What relief there can be for families: care insurance, self-help, psychoeducation and what the 2021 guideline recommended for support of relatives.

Frequently asked questions

How do I tell my child they have autism?

The 2016 guideline stated that, when the diagnosis is communicated, an explanation adapted to age and stage of development should be given. Fears and feelings of guilt should be addressed specifically. Adolescents should, where possible, help decide who is involved. Concrete ways of talking are marked in the detailed article as suggestions of the editorial team.

In detail: Talking to your child about their diagnosis

How are siblings of children with autism doing?

A meta-analysis found on average more social, emotional and behavioural difficulties than in siblings of children without autism. This is an average finding and not a verdict on the individual child. Differences between families can be large; older reviews also describe studies without a difference. Siblings above all need attention, age-appropriate explanations and time of their own.

In detail: Siblings of children with autism

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