My ASD Child

Essential Aspergers Information That All Parents And Teachers Need To Know:

Taking your Aspergers (high functioning autistic) son or daughter to the dentist can be a difficult experience for both child and parent. Here are some helpful tips to effectively deal with dentist appointments: 1. Ask the dentist to lean the chair back before your child gets in it, because sometimes Aspergers and HFA children don’t like the feeling of being moved backwards. 2. Bring along a sibling or friend and let your child watch as the doctor or hygienist performs the task on them first. 3. Collaboration and teamwork are essential for a successful trip to the dentist. 4. Consider some physical exercise (e.g., riding a bike) to be done before and after the visit for calming. 5. Create and read a social story about going to the dentist with your child. The social story should take the uncertainty out of what will happen at the dentist office. 6. Deep pressure can be used before and during the visit for calming. 7. Dentists should review your youngster’s...

The following summary identifies the specific learning difficulties of Aspergers and high functioning autistic students and suggests a number of possible classroom strategies: Difficulties with language— “Comic Strip Conversations” can be applied to a range of problems with conversation skills difficulty understanding complex language, following directions, and understanding intent of words with multiple meanings encourage the student to ask for an instruction to be repeated, simplified or written down if he does not understand explain metaphors and words with double meanings limit oral questions to a number the student can manage pause between instructions and check for understanding small group instruction for conversational skills teach appropriate opening comments teach rules and cues regarding turn-taking in conversation and when to reply, interrupt or change the topic teach student to seek assistance when confused tendency to interrupt tendency to make irrel...

How does a diagnostician or clinician conduct an assessment for Aspergers? Autism Spectrum Disorders are very complex, yet their features can be very subtle; they are not always obvious on the surface. As a result, an Aspergers (high-functioning autism) assessment will take more time than most other assessments. Below are the methods that clinicians who are new to the field of Aspergers can use as a guide. These are also the methods that moms and dads should look for to make sure they are getting a good assessment for their Aspergers child. An assessment should be conducted by a doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist who has expertise in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This is important because most degree programs may only give passing information about Aspergers. A clinician may have a lot of experience in evaluating and may know the DSM criteria for Aspergers – but knowing the criteria on paper is not the same as having the background to really know all of the subtle featur...

Pets and kids with Asperger's or High-Functioning Autism (HFA) can be a great combination and give these children an opportunity to relate to another living being. Children with behavioral and social issues can be difficult to work with, and most of them have trouble trusting others. Dogs, cats, elephants, lizards, rabbits and horses can successfully be used in animal therapy (called Animal Assisted Therapy). Animal Assisted Therapy provides an experience with an animal that is non-judgmental, gives affection unconditionally, and provides opportunities for physical and emotional therapy. This includes therapy for strengthening muscles through horseback riding, low-impact swimming with dolphins, and a boost of confidence with service dogs and companion dogs. These pets promote confidence and self-esteem while motivating children on the autism spectrum to interact and get stronger. There are many cases in which kids with Asperger's and HFA have close relationship with...