PARENTAL ADVICE
Help:
Why Has Our Teen with Autism
Stopped Talking to Us?
By Rob BERNSTEIN
Dear Rob,
I have an 18-year-old teen daughter who has stopped talking to us, her parents, and has
become socially isolated. She graduated from high school and is taking a gap year. I feel
desperate and we must rely on ourselves to help her because we can’t afford profession-
al help.
— Marlene
➢
Dear Marlene:
This is an emergency situation. She sounds like a
bright kid (having a gap year after high school). Kids
48 | Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 68
like this often have suicidal ideation. This must be
taken extremely seriously. Something must be done
immediately.