Actor Steven Cheung Opens Up About Autistic Son's Self-Injurious Behavior, Calls for More Support
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 4 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong actor Steven Cheung has spoken candidly about the daily challenges of raising his son who has autism spectrum disorder and ADHD. During an interview with Health Guru, Cheung revealed that his six-year-old son exhibits self-injurious behaviors including scratching his mouth until bleeding, and sometimes smears feces on his bed. He expressed deep concerns about his son's future independence and called for improved government support services. Medical professionals explained the characteristics of autism spectrum disorder and emphasized that early intensive intervention yields the best outcomes, while research shows promising results from traditional Chinese medicine approaches.
Key Points
- Steven Cheung's second son Zhang Tianmu was diagnosed with autism and ADHD after government assessment, exhibiting repetitive behaviors like spinning and sudden laughter
- Cheung disclosed his son once scratched his mouth repeatedly until covered in blood because he could not express oral discomfort, and sometimes smears feces on the bed
- Hong Kong government autism services provide only one to two training sessions weekly, which Cheung says falls far short of the recommended four to five sessions needed for meaningful improvement
- According to government statistics from 2019-2020, the autism prevalence rate among children under 15 in Hong Kong is approximately 1.4 percent
- A 2017 Hong Kong Baptist University study of 68 children with autism found that twice-weekly scalp acupuncture over 30 sessions produced significant improvements, with children under six showing the best results
Why It Matters
This interview illuminates the urgent need for expanded autism support services in Hong Kong, where families often bear the primary burden of care with limited resources. The story also highlights the financial and emotional strain on single-income households managing children with special needs, underscoring calls for greater government investment in early intervention programs and broader public education to reduce social stigma surrounding autism spectrum disorder .
This interview illuminates the urgent need for expanded autism support services in Hong Kong, where families often bear the primary burden of care with limited resources. The story also highlights the financial and emotional strain on single-income households managing children with special needs, underscoring calls for greater government investment in early intervention programs and broader public education to reduce social stigma surrounding autism spectrum disorder .