My ASD Child

Don't make these parenting mistakes that many moms and dads make after they learn their child has Asperger's or High-Functioning Autism (HFA): Resources for parents of children and teens on the autism spectrum :   ==>  How to Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ==>  Parenting System that Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder ==>  Launching Adult Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance ==>  Teaching Social-Skills and Emotion-Management to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ==>  Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Parents' Comprehensive Handbook ==>  Unraveling the Mystery Behind High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book ==>  Crucial  Research-Based  Parenting Strategies for Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism ==>  Videos for Parents of Children and Teens...

With the start of school, boys and girls begin to spend much of their day in the classroom, a place where pressures and relationships with other children can be quite stressful. While some youngsters with Asperger’s (AS) and High-Functioning Autism (HFA) naturally greet new situations with enthusiasm, others tend to retreat to the familiarity of their home. For some children on the autism spectrum, merely the thought of going at school – away from home and apart from parents – causes great anxiety. Such children, especially when faced with situations they fear or with which they believe they can’t cope, may try to keep from returning to school.  It's natural for your AS or HFA youngster to feel anxious when you say goodbye to him or her in the morning. Separation anxiety is a normal stage of development. However, if anxieties intensify or are persistent enough to get in the way of school or other activities, your youngster may have Separation Anxiety Disorder (SAD). This ...

“Any advice for helping our HFA child (age 6) with sleep difficulties? She has a hard time getting to sleep, will wake up numerous times through the night. We have a real chore with trying to wake her up in the morning, and we are getting reports from her teacher that she frequently doses off during class.” Sleep disturbance is common in kids and teens with Asperger’s (AS) and High Functioning Autism (HFA) at all levels of cognitive functioning. Sleep disturbance correlates with family distress and may have significant effects on daytime functioning and quality of life for these young people. In some cases, there may be an identifiable cause (e.g., obstructive sleep apnea, gastroesophageal reflux). Assessment and treatment for sleep problems are guided by history and physical examination. When there is not an identifiable medical cause, behavioral interventions often are effective (e.g., sleep-hygiene measures, restriction of daytime sleep, positive bedtime routines, extinc...

This video discusses assertive parenting skills for dealing with problematic behavior in teenagers on the autism spectrum. Learn how to "fight fair" and "confront bad behavior" in a way that yields positive outcomes for both parent and child. ==> Parenting System that Significantly Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism

“Do you have any advice on how we can make my 6 year old daughter’s upcoming visit to our doctor less stressful? She was diagnosed with high functioning autism recently, and has a history of not doing well while being examined, crying hysterically from start to finish. It’s a real ordeal for all of us, including the doc! Also, my daughter has pica.” Most children with Asperger’s and High Functioning Autism have difficulties with social interaction, communication, and accepting novelty. Therefore, spending the extra time to acclimate the “special needs” child to the new environment/experience will be crucial, for example: Allow ample time while talking before touching the child Allow the child to manipulate instruments and materials Exaggerate social cues Familiarize the child with the office setting and staff Have family and/or familiar staff available Keep instructions simple, using visual cues and supports Slow down the pace of the overall doctor’s visit These a...

That remains to be seen, is the short answer here (and it's certainly an interesting idea). Some people do believe that High-Functioning Autism (HFA) is indeed nothing more than a “different way of thinking” (i.e., a variation of "normal"). This notion is quite believable due to the fact that everyone has some characteristics of the "disorder." All the traits that typify HFA - and Asperger's - can be found in varying degrees in the “typical” population. For example, collecting objects (rocks, stamps, old glass bottles, etc.) are socially accepted hobbies; individuals differ in their levels of skill in social interaction and in their ability to read nonverbal social cues; people who are capable and independent as grown-ups have special interests that they pursue with marked enthusiasm; and, there is an equally wide distribution in motor skills. As with any disorder identifiable only from a pattern of “abnormal” behavior (with each trait varyi...

“Is it common for children with Asperger syndrome and high functioning autism to have epileptic seizures? What signs should parents look for if they think their child may be having mild seizures?” Some of the brain irregularities that are associated with autism spectrum disorders can contribute to seizures. These irregularities can cause changes in brain activity by interrupting neurons in the brain. Neurons are cells that process and transmit information and send signals to the rest of the body. So overloads or instabilities in the activity of these neurons can result in imbalances that cause seizures. The reported prevalence of epilepsy among children on the autism spectrum disorders ranges from 11% to 39%. The prevalence of epilepsy was higher in studies that included teens and young adults, because the onset of epilepsy in autism spectrum disorders has 2 peaks: one before 5 years of age and another in the teenage years. Epileptiform abnormalities on electroencephalogr...