My ASD Child

 "We suspect our 4 year old (Ryan) may have a form of autism, but my husband is reluctant to get a diagnosis for him for fear that it will cause more problems than it solves. What say you? I'm torn on this issue! I want to do what's best." Because the symptoms of High-Functioning Autism (HFA) can be subtle, moms and dads may not recognize any differences in their youngster until he is age three or older. Pursuing a formal diagnosis is a family's individual decision to make. There is no “correct” time to form this decision, although many parents agree that they wish to know their youngster's diagnosis definitively and as early in their youngster's development as possible.   ==> How to Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder If you are discovering that the criteria for HFA might have application for your youngster, then you are faced with a decision about seeking a diagnosis. You may NOT wish to pursue a formal...

When parents first discover that their child has an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), they may experience an emotional struggle that looks something like this: Denial: "Surely the doctors have misdiagnosed my child. He may be a little odd, but I have a hard time believing he has some kind of disorder." Anger: "Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this." Bargaining: "Maybe there's a cure!" Depression/Guilt: "I must have done something to make this happen." Anxiety: "I don't even know where to start in dealing with this." Acceptance: "This could be much worse than it is. I think I'll be able to handle it." It's natural for moms and dads to get angry with themselves, each other, teachers, doctors, and even the child himself. Parents are trying to make sense of what has happened. Moms and dads need to allow themselves to experience whatever emotions they are having. It's all par...

 "Any tips on how to help my newly diagnosed daughter (high functioning autistic) to improve her self esteem. She thinks she's 'stupid' ...she thinks she's 'ugly' ...she thinks nobody likes her... I don't know where she's coming up with these negative evaluations of herself, but it breaks my heart. We are all a bit anxious since we got the news about this disorder. But how can I help my daughter have a better perspective of her true self and her strengths?" The diagnostic criteria for High-Functioning Autism (HFA) or Asperger's can be intimidating to moms and dads with kids who are newly diagnosed. The traits attributed to children on the spectrum can set a negative tone because of the focus on “disabilities” rather than abilities. Thus, parents should temper this information with a balanced perspective. The youngster has much to offer in the form of gifts and talents, and the attitude with which parents receive these “abilities” will ...

“What would be the best therapeutic approach for a 6-year-old boy with Autism (level 1)?” The ideal treatment for ASD level 1, or High-Functioning Autism (HFA) coordinates therapies that address core symptoms of the disorder (e.g., poor social skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, etc.). While most therapists agree that the earlier the intervention, the better, there is no single best treatment package. Treatment takes into account the linguistic capabilities, verbal strengths, and social vulnerabilities of kids on the autism spectrum. A typical program generally includes:  training of social skills for more effective interpersonal interactions  training and support of mothers and fathers, particularly in behavioral techniques to use in the home  social communication intervention, which is specialized speech therapy to help with the pragmatics of the give-and-take of normal conversation  occupational or physical therapy to assist with poor sensory ...

“We are new to the world of autism spectrum disorders. Is it common for a child with high functioning autism to spend all (or certainly most) of his time doing only one thing? Our 5-year-old son would spend 24-hours-a-day telling you about dinosaurs if he didn’t have to sleep. Should we just go along with the program, or attempt to curb this appetite for dinosaur trivia?” I would recommend against curbing the appetite – unless it gets in the way of fulfilling his responsibilities (e.g., homework, chores, etc.). Parents and teachers can use a child’s special interest to their advantage in multiple ways. Kids with High-Functioning Autism (ASD level 1) often display behavior, interests, and activities that are restricted and repetitive and are sometimes abnormally intense or focused. They may stick to inflexible routines, move in stereotyped and repetitive ways, or preoccupy themselves with parts of objects. Pursuit of specific and narrow areas of interest is one of the most strik...

Do loud noises annoy and disturb your high-functioning autistic child? If so, she or he may have APD. Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is an umbrella term for a variety of disorders that affect the way the brain processes auditory information. It is not a sensory or inner ear hearing impairment. Kids with APD usually have normal peripheral hearing ability. However, they cannot process the information they hear in the same way as others do, which leads to difficulties in recognizing and interpreting sounds, especially the sounds composing speech. APD can affect both kids and grown-ups. Approximately 2-3% of kids and 17-20% of grown-ups have this disorder. Males are two times more likely to be affected by the disorder than females. APD can be genetic or acquired. It may result from ear infections, head injuries or developmental delays that cause central nervous system difficulties that affect processing of auditory information. This can include problems with: auditory...

“My son with high function autism is almost completely heartless when it comes to dealings with his younger sister. He’s rude and mean and sometimes aggressive with her. Is it common for a child with this disorder to have no empathy? Will this aggression become more violent over time?” The lack of “demonstrated empathy” is possibly the most dysfunctional aspect of High-Functioning Autism (HFA). But I do use the term “demonstrated empathy” for a very important reason, and I want to be very clear about this: It’s not that these children have no empathy – they do. Rather, they often “give the impression” that they do not care about others.    However, this is due to their “mind-blindness” and “sensory sensitivity” issues, and has little to do with their ability or willingness to have feelings for others. Kids with an autism spectrum disorder experience difficulties in basic elements of social interaction, which may include the following: lack of social or emotiona...