A 2-Year-Old Boy Diagnosed with Autism — Healing Begins with Subtle Change
My child—whom we affectionately call “Zai Zai”—was officially diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and language delay at the age of 2 years and 6 months. It was a heavy blow to us.
The Early Struggles
At two years old, he still didn’t know how to call us “Mom” or “Dad.” Whenever we took him to playgroup, he would sit alone, showing no interest in other children or responding to the teacher’s instructions. We quickly arranged for him to start speech therapy and tried various methods to help him. However, his language skills remained underdeveloped, and he was emotionally unstable, often crying and having meltdowns. The atmosphere at home became heavy and stressful.
A Turning Point: The Introduction of Energy Therapy
After the Mid-Autumn Festival this year, by a twist of fate, we came across Dr. Liang’s remote energy therapy. I first contacted Dr. Liang on September 24. That marked the beginning of our first remote session. Although there wasn’t anything particularly noticeable on the first day, on September 25, Zai Zai attended his therapy class, and the teacher surprised me with a message: “He was very cooperative today, emotionally stable, and in a great mood.”
His condition remained stable over the next few days until September 28. He cried less and had fewer tantrums. On October 1, he had another outburst—perhaps because he wanted to touch something dangerous we had told him not to. He cried and screamed for nearly an hour. But once he calmed down, he surprised us by saying “Sorry”—his first time ever apologizing. It felt like he had matured overnight.
Later that day, when he was completely calm, we played as usual, and he even said to me, “You’re welcome.” That too, was his very first time using such a phrase.
Steady Progress: Language and Interaction Development
Starting October 2, Dr. Liang began a few sessions of rapid treatment. That was when Zai Zai’s progress became more noticeable:
He started using full sentences, saying things like “Mom, help me open it” or “Sister, help me open it” (referring to opening toy packaging).
On October 5, he sat still and drew pictures for ten minutes—something he had never done before.
He began understanding when he did something wrong. After being scolded by his dad, he would lower his head and avoid eye contact instead of throwing a tantrum.
Eye contact became more frequent, and meaningful communication started happening.
He could answer animal names correctly and began trying to tell stories.
On October 9, while playing with letter blocks, he flipped the letter "U" upside down and told me, “Mommy, this is a rainbow!”—a wonderful display of imagination and creativity.
His sleep also improved. Previously, he would cry or wake up in the middle of the night asking for milk. But after the October 7 treatment session, those episodes significantly reduced.
A Change in Me
This journey hasn’t only changed my son—it has transformed me as well. From feelings of helplessness and despair, I gradually learned to understand, accept, and support my unique child. Accepting that I had a child with special needs wasn’t easy, but the treatment also helped me feel emotionally lighter. As my own emotional state improved, I noticed it positively affected Zai Zai, too.
Now, when he looks me in the eyes, says “I love you,” or hugs me tightly, I feel a bond that I had longed for but never thought possible.
Professional Feedback: From Silence to Recognition
Over the past 8 months, his ASD training instructors never offered feedback. But ever since Dr. Liang’s treatments began, the instructors started providing positive comments after class. Here are some excerpts:
“Zai Zai’s eye contact improved a lot today. He looked at the therapist during many interactions.”
“He understood the story quite well. Although he couldn’t immediately grasp some scenes, he quickly caught on with some explanation.”
“He’s learning sentence structures rapidly. His rigidity has decreased, though he still has some tonal issues. His imitation skills are excellent—please have him observe mouth movements closely and repeat words to gradually improve.”
“He listened very attentively today, categorized objects with care, and showed great hand-eye coordination. We also encouraged him to ask more questions and express himself, which increased interaction and helped him practice memory and measure words. He was fully engaged throughout the session.”
Final Thoughts: Hope Is Just Around the Corner
Raising a child with autism is a difficult journey, filled with tears and challenges. But I believe that with love, faith, and a willingness to explore different approaches, we can always find the right path.
I am deeply grateful that we identified the issue early, and even more grateful that we found the right treatment. It has helped my son gradually emerge from his world and begin to connect with ours. While there’s still a long road ahead, I will walk it with him—every step of the way—hoping to discover and nurture his unique gifts.
