My ASD Child

Kids with ASD level 1 the world over share a common trait: meltdowns (also known as a tantrum , a birko , a go-off or spack-attack ). The visible symptoms of a meltdown are as varied as the kids themselves, but every parent is able to describe their youngster’s meltdown behavior in intricate detail. Meltdowns can be short lived, or last as long as two hours. They can be as infrequent as once a month (often coinciding with the lunar cycle/full moon) or occur as frequently as 4-6 times a day. Whatever the frequency and duration, an Aspergers youngster having a meltdown is difficult for parents and teachers to deal with. Meltdowns in these young people are triggered by a response to their environment. These responses can be caused by avoidance desire, anxiety or sensory overload. Triggers need to be recognized and identified. So how do we deal with a meltdown? What should you do when one occurs? A parent's (or teacher's) behavior can influence a meltdown’...

A meltdown is a condition where the youngster with Aspergers or High Functioning Autism temporarily loses control due to emotional responses to environmental factors . It generally appears that the youngster has lost control over a single and specific issue, however this is very rarely the case. Usually, the problem is the accumulation of a number of irritations which could span a fairly long period of time, particularly given the strong long-term memory abilities of young people on the autism spectrum. CLICK HERE for full article...

“My 14 yr. old daughter with ASD basically refuses to do her homework. It’s a daily struggle that results in meltdown. Desperate ...please help! Any advice will be greatly appreciated.” ==> Click here for the answer...

"Do you have any simple, 'cut-to-the-chase' advice I could share with my son's teacher (who seems to know very little about how to handle students on the autism spectrum who 'meltdown')?" CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWER

Question My son only wants specific foods. How do I ensure a healthy diet for him? Answer Children with Asperger’s commonly have difficulty when it comes to eating a variety of foods. Textures and smells play a part due to the sensory issues they experience. In addition, having too many choices goes against what is comfortable for these kids. Finding a balance will take work and special accommodation. Kids with Asperger’s have sensory issues that may prevent him from registering the feelings of hunger. Therefore, you can’t rely on your child’s hunger to motivate him to eat. Eliminating the foods he loves will create a true battle. When you begin your attempts to alter your child’s diet, do so quietly. The less fuss, the less likely it will become a bigger deal than it already is. And keep trying. Success may come slowly, but the ultimate goal is improving your child’s diet. Every little victory will bring you one step closer to the desired result. The most common trick ...

It's amazing how prevalent Aspergers is today. Aspergers is similar to autism but milder. The youngster is able to socialize a little bit more than a youngster with autism. Kids with Aspergers usually have a particular interest that they focus on -- such as math, painting, trains, etc. It is hard to get them interested in anything else. The onset of Aspergers usually occurs later in life than autism. Possible causes of Aspergers is candida overgrowth in the gut, pollution and exposure to chemicals, food allergies or intolerances, genetic defect and, as stated above, vaccinations and overuse of antibiotics. There are some alternative methods for helping Aspergers that have been working in many kids. One is heavy metal chelation therapy and another is rebuilding a healthy gut through the use of probiotics, enzymes and diet. I believe that a combination of both would be optimal. This comes from my own experience with heavy metal poisoning which caused me to have severe anxiety an...

“How do I help my 13 year old son to come to terms with his diagnosis of 'high functioning' autism and help him to understand that it is not the end of the world?” So many times in life, we focus on the negative. It’s raining, getting up early, taking a test, and spilling a glass of milk are things that happen all the time. None of these are true negatives, but our perspective makes them worse than reality. You can turn each of these examples into a positive with a shift of thinking: thick green grass, seeing the sun rise, showing off skills, and a floor that needed a good mopping anyway are all positive outcomes to the same situations. High-functioning autism (HFA) is definitely not the worst thing in the world. There are many positive qualities to be found in a teenager with the disorder. They’re smart, so knowledgeable, and have an amazing memory. Young people on the autism spectrum have an intense sense of right and wrong and desire to follow the rules. In the sam...