Whew, this one was packed! Doug Hinderer and his daughter Monica (licensed counselor and resident therapist-daughter combo) look into what it’s like to raise a child on the autism spectrum.

 

You can listen to the whole hour here.

 

 

📈 Autism Is on the Rise... Like, A Lot

 

Doug and Monica kick off with some eye-opening stats:

 

In the early 2000s, 1 in 150 kids were diagnosed with autism. 

 

As of 2023, that number is 1 in 31. That’s a 175% increase in the last decade. Woah.

 

They suggest it’s not just better diagnosis, but possibly environmental factors too: like the rise of microplastics and gut health issues. And for the record, boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed than girls. Monica says that this is because girls are ninja-level social maskers.

 

 

🧠 It’s a Spectrum, Not a Cookie Cutter

 

Monica explains how every kid with autism is unique. You can’t just generalize. Some are super verbal, some aren’t. Some are hypersensitive to light, sound, or textures, and others seem totally unfazed.


Doug gives the example of a co-worker who missed sarcasm but was a total computer genius. 

 

They bring up two classic categories from back in the day:

 

General Autism Disorder (social, communication, and behavior challenges)

 

Asperger’s Syndrome (milder, but big trouble with reading social cues)

 

These are now all under one umbrella: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with three support levels. (Level 1 = needs help, Level 3 = needs lots of help.)

 

 

💡 Common Traits of Autism

 

They chat about what to look for:

 

-Delayed or difficult communication (verbal and non-verbal)

 

-Rigid thinking (cars drive on roads, not fly)

 

-Difficulty with imaginative play

 

-Trouble reading social cues 

 

-Repetitive behaviors like hand flapping or rocking

 

-Sensory overload

 

Monica also points out that diet and gut health can make a big difference in symptom severity.

 

 

💬 Real Talk from a Mom 

 

Then Mary, a caller, shares her story, and it’s powerful.


She raised a daughter diagnosed with autism at 3, went through denial, fought for a correct diagnosis, and gave up her career to be her daughter’s full-time advocate.

 

💛 Key takeaways from Mary:

 

-Don’t ignore red flags, even if they’re subtle

 

-Advocate fiercely (ask for second opinions, challenge bad IEPs)

 

-Go to every meeting, fight for testing

 

-Pour into your child’s life (playdates, music, bodywork; do it all)

 

-Build a strong relationship, and be their safe harbor


Now, her daughter is in her 20s, independent, highly intelligent, and thriving.

 

 

🎯 Final Thoughts: Parenting, Not Perfection

 

Doug wraps it up by saying this: You may never fully understand why your child has autism, but what matters most is what you do now.

 

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

Whew, this one was packed! Doug Hinderer and his daughter Monica (licensed counselor and resident therapist-daughter combo) look into what it&rsquo;s like to raise a child on the autism spectrum.
&nbsp;
You can listen to the whole hour <a href="https://relevantradio.com/2025/05/raising-children-with-autism/">here</a>.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="363" data-end="366">
&nbsp;
📈 Autism Is on the Rise... Like, A Lot
&nbsp;
Doug and Monica kick off with some eye-opening stats:
&nbsp;
In the early 2000s, 1 in 150 kids were diagnosed with autism.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
As of 2023, that number is 1 in 31. That&rsquo;s a 175% increase in the last decade. Woah.
&nbsp;
They suggest it&rsquo;s not just better diagnosis, but possibly environmental factors too: like the rise of microplastics and gut health issues. And for the record, boys are four times more likely to be diagnosed than girls. Monica says that this is because girls are ninja-level social maskers.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="913" data-end="916">
&nbsp;
🧠 It&rsquo;s a Spectrum, Not a Cookie Cutter
&nbsp;
Monica explains how every kid with autism is unique. You can&rsquo;t just generalize. Some are super verbal, some aren&rsquo;t. Some are hypersensitive to light, sound, or textures, and others seem totally unfazed.
 Doug gives the example of a co-worker who missed sarcasm but was a total computer genius.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
They bring up two classic categories from back in the day:
&nbsp;
General Autism Disorder (social, communication, and behavior challenges)
&nbsp;
Asperger&rsquo;s Syndrome (milder, but big trouble with reading social cues)
&nbsp;
These are now all under one umbrella: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with three support levels. (Level 1 = needs help, Level 3 = needs lots of help.)
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1656" data-end="1659">
&nbsp;
💡 Common Traits of Autism
&nbsp;
They chat about what to look for:
&nbsp;
-Delayed or difficult communication (verbal and non-verbal)
&nbsp;
-Rigid thinking (cars drive on roads, not fly)
&nbsp;
-Difficulty with imaginative play
&nbsp;
-Trouble reading social cues&nbsp;
&nbsp;
-Repetitive behaviors like hand flapping or rocking
&nbsp;
-Sensory overload
&nbsp;
Monica also points out that diet and gut health can make a big difference in symptom severity.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="2219" data-end="2222">
&nbsp;
💬 Real Talk from a Mom&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Then Mary, a caller, shares her story, and it&rsquo;s powerful.
 She raised a daughter diagnosed with autism at 3, went through denial, fought for a correct diagnosis, and gave up her career to be her daughter&rsquo;s full-time advocate.
&nbsp;
💛 Key takeaways from Mary:
&nbsp;
-Don&rsquo;t ignore red flags, even if they&rsquo;re subtle
&nbsp;
-Advocate fiercely (ask for second opinions, challenge bad IEPs)
&nbsp;
-Go to every meeting, fight for testing
&nbsp;
-Pour into your child&rsquo;s life (playdates, music, bodywork; do it all)
&nbsp;
-Build a strong relationship, and be their&nbsp;safe harbor
 Now, her daughter is in her 20s, independent, highly intelligent, and thriving.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="2895" data-end="2898">
&nbsp;
🎯 Final Thoughts: Parenting, Not Perfection
&nbsp;
Doug wraps it up by saying this: You may never fully understand why your child has autism, but what matters most is&nbsp;what you do now.
&nbsp;
The&nbsp;best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.