Search This Blog

Should You Home-School Your AS Child?

In short, I am a proponent for home-schooling in certain situations. Home-schooling is a popular educational alternative for many families with children on the spectrum, especially if parents are tired of nagging school officials to accommodate their special needs child. However, there are some important issues to consider before making the decision to home-school. 
By

Teaching Personal Hygiene to Aspergers and HFA Children & Teens

While the typical youngster can usually master personal  hygiene skills by the time they are age 6, children with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism often struggle with these tasks due to sensory issues (e.g., smells, sounds and textures) that are related to these skills. Fortunately, as they become more familiar with the tools used for personal hygiene, these tasks will be much easier.


By

Aspergers and HFA Kids: How to Have Meltdown-Free Haircuts

So your Aspergers or high-functioning autistic child refuses to let you cut his hair. Even the mention of it causes him to start to meltdown. He’s starting to look like a girl. Are you a bit desperate at this point. Need some advice?

Click here for help... 

Highly Acclaimed Parenting Programs Offered by Online Parent Support, LLC:

By

Why Some ASD Children Benefit from a Gluten & Casein Free Diet

"I have a recently diagnosed son and have just joined this site. Why all the talk about a gluten free and casein free diet for children with ASD? Just curious."

There is a body of research that suggests that diet can affect a child's behavior. Allergic reactions to certain foods and sensitivities can make it worthwhile to monitor your son's diet and his reaction or subsequent behavior. Gluten and casein are two ingredients that are getting a lot of attention in the autism community.

Some parents, doctors and researchers say that children with ASD have shown mild to dramatic improvements in speech and/or behavior after these substances were removed from their diet. Some parents report no benefits from the diet.

Gluten and gluten-like proteins are found in wheat and other grains, including oats, rye, barley, bulgur, durum, kamut and spelt, and foods made from those grains. They are also found in food starches, semolina, couscous, malt, some vinegars, soy sauce, flavorings, and artificial colors and hydrolyzed vegetable proteins.

Casein is a protein found in milk and products containing milk, such as cheese, butter, yogurt, ice cream, whey and even some brands of margarine. It also may be added to non-milk products such as soy cheese and hot dogs in the form of caseinate.

The theory is that some kids with autism can't properly digest gluten and casein. As a result, this may alter the child's behavior, perceptions, and responses to his environment. Research in the U.S. and Europe has found substances with opiate activity in the urine of a significant number of children with autism. A doctor can order a urinary peptide test that can tell if proteins are not being digested properly in a child.

By

Dentist Tips for Aspergers and HFA Children

Children with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism (HFA) have the same rate of dental problems as the general population. As hard as it is for most children to go to the dentist, it’s even harder to have a positive dental experience for kids on the autism spectrum. Even so, there are some things you can do to improve the dental experience for your child.

Click here for some tips (some will work and some won't, but everything here is worth a try)...
By
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

Understanding Theory of Mind Deficits in Autistic Children: Misbehavior or Misunderstanding?

The concept of "theory of mind" refers to the ability to understand that others have their own beliefs, desires, and intentions, w...