Does my child have autism?

Autism comes in many forms and there is no typical behavioural pattern, says Christina Schaefer, autism expert at the Children's Hospital in Zurich. In the Kosmos Kind lecture, the paediatrician talks about the path to diagnosis, the challenges for affected families - and the opportunities.

Parents of a child with autism face many challenges. Affected mothers and fathers often feel very emotionally burdened by this : «They want support in accompanying their children,» says Christina Schaefer. The paediatrician runs the autism consultation at the Children's Hospital in Zurich. However, the path to a clear diagnosis can be difficult, as the spectrum is very broad and the symptoms can vary greatly. In other words: «There is no typical behavioural disorder that automatically leads to a diagnosis of autism,» says Christina Schaefer.

ADHD diagnosis: both an opportunity and a challenge

In the Kosmos Kind lecture, Christina Schaefer talks about the process of diagnosis, the challenges for affected families and the opportunities for comprehensive support that enables valuable encounters with children on the autism spectrum.

Christina Schaefer is an autism expert and senior physician in the Department of Developmental Paediatrics at the University Children's Hospital Zurich.
Christina Schaefer is a senior physician in the Department of Developmental Paediatrics at the University Children's Hospital Zurich. The paediatrician is a board member of the Swiss Society for Developmental Paediatrics. (Image: zVg)

About Christina Schaefer

Christina Schaefer has been working as a senior physician in the Department of Developmental Paediatrics at the University Children's Hospital Zurich since 2014 and is a board member of the Swiss Society for Developmental Paediatrics. As head of the autism consultation at the Department of Developmental Paediatrics at the Children's Hospital, she diagnoses and cares for children and adolescents. Close and individual support for the affected families is an important concern for the paediatrician.

Lecture cycle «Cosmos child»

The Elternsein Foundation, publisher of the Swiss parenting magazine Fritz+Fränzi, has launched the "Akademie. For the child. Giedion Risch" has launched the exclusive lecture cycle «Kosmos Kind». Recognised experts address different aspects of childhood and convey them in a way that is understandable and relevant to everyday life. Fritz+Fränzi subscribers benefit from discounted tickets.