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Aspergers Children & Tantrums/Meltdowns

Click=> How to Stop Meltdowns & Temper Tantrums in Aspergers Children


What are meltdowns? They are overwhelming emotions that are quite common in Asperger’s children.

What causes them? It can be anything from a very minor incident to something more traumatic.

How long do they last? It’s anyone’s guess. They last until the child is either completely exhausted, or he gains control of his emotions -- which is not easy for him to do.


Meltdowns are not a pretty sight. They are somewhat like overblown temper tantrums, but unlike tantrums, meltdowns can last anywhere from ten minutes to over an hour. When it starts, the Asperger's child is totally out-of-control. When it ends, both you and the Asperger’s child are totally exhausted.


But...

Don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. At the least provocation, for the remainder of that day -- and sometimes into the next -- the meltdown can return in full force.

If your child suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome, expect him to experience both minor and major meltdowns over incidents that are part of daily life. He may have a major meltdown over a very small incident, or may experience a minor meltdown over something that is major. There is no way of telling how he is going to react about certain situations. However, there are many ways to help your child learn to control his emotions.


Click=> How to Stop Meltdowns and Temper Tantrums in Aspergers Children



24.6.09

What To Do When Your Child Has Been Diagnosed With Asperger's Syndrome

For many moms & dads, finding out that your kid has Aspergers can be a mixed blessing. On one hand, a positive diagnosis gives rise to the prospect of management and greater certainty as to the factors at play in your kid's life. On the other, most moms & dads are unprepared for the changes having a kid with Aspergers invariably brings.

We've compiled a list of the top 10 steps to take if you think your kid may have Asperger, or if you've had your kid diagnosed with the condition:

1. Be honest with yourself. At times rearing a kid with Aspergers can cause you anger, sadness, anxiety, frustration and depression. Be open to understanding that you will at times feel all these feelings, and allow that authenticity to give rise to the possibility that you will take care of your own needs. In doing so, you can more effectively tend to the needs of others. Don't feel the need to explain or justify your actions to others. However you cope with the situation is exactly the way you are supposed to.

2. Contact community services and inquire as to whether you are eligible for some type of Family Benefit as a parent of a kid with Aspergers. Your pediatrician or general practitioner should be able to advise you on this.

3. Contact your local Autism Association and ascertain what services are provided through the service. Make use of private and government resourced services.

4. Permit yourself to take stock of your situation from a place of positivity. With diagnosis comes some certainty, as you and your kid are now dealing with a known quantity. There's nothing wrong with taking each day at a time, and understanding that you can now make a difference to your kid's life which you could not in the absence of a diagnosis. You're kid has always had Aspergers ...the day your kid receives a diagnosis is the first step in the right direction.

5. If your kid is at school contact the Principal and advise them of the diagnosis. Many schools are aware of and in fact provide information on Aspergers and school counseling designed to assist with the condition. In addition, ask your kid's school whether they are aware of any parent workshops for Aspergers students. If your kid is older, home study and tutoring may be an option. It is important to be assertive in ensuring that your school can properly cater for your kid's needs, and ideally this can be achieved by working within the school protocols. There is no need for you to underestimate your kid's potential and certainly this attitude ought be reflected in their educational institution. Involve yourself where possible in your kid's educational and learning environments.

6. Invest in your own education. There is a vast quantity of information on Aspergers available both online, and in the form of medical literature. Sign up for information seminars, online e-courses, and if you are looking for immediately available information give consideration to investing in an ebook written by an expert on Aspergers. Knowledge is power.

7. Involve your family in the process and do your best to maintain objectivity. A kid with Aspergers may have certain special and additional needs, however they are for the most well functioning individuals who can thrive with appropriate and measured care. Try and maintain a balance between focusing on providing that care, and being a spouse and parent to the rest of your family.

8. Make inquiries with your doctor for a referral to a pediatrician who has experience with Aspergers. Having professional assistance can make an enormous difference to how effectively you can help your kid cope with Aspergers. Permit those professionals you consult to guide you through the process and make the most of their advice.

9. Make inquiries within your local community as to the support groups available for those with Aspergers and for moms & dads of kids with Aspergers. Sharing your situation with others who are in a position to fully appreciate it can make an enormous difference.

10. Remember to smile. You have a kid. One day...they just might be the ones looking after you.

My Aspergers Child
Posted by Online Parent Support, LLC at 24.6.09
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Aspergers Test

Psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen and his colleagues at Cambridge's Autism Research Centre have created the Autism-Spectrum Quotient, or AQ, as a measure of the extent of autistic traits in adults. In the first major trial using the test, the average score in the control group was 16.4. Eighty percent of those diagnosed with autism or a related disorder scored 32 or higher. The test is not a means for making a diagnosis. Many who score above 32 - and who even meet the diagnostic criteria for mild autism or Asperger's - report no difficulty functioning in their everyday lives.



Definitely agree Slightly agree Slightly disagree Definitely disagree
1 I prefer to do things with others rather than on my own.
2 I prefer to do things the same way over and over again.
3 If I try to imagine something, I find it very easy to create a picture in my mind.
4 I frequently get so strongly absorbed in one thing that I lose sight of other things.
5 I often notice small sounds when others do not.
6 I usually notice car number plates or similar strings of information.
7 Other people frequently tell me that what I've said is impolite, even though I think it is polite.
8 When I'm reading a story, I can easily imagine what the characters might look like.
9 I am fascinated by dates.
10 In a social group, I can easily keep track of several different people's conversations.
11 I find social situations easy.
12 I tend to notice details that others do not.
13 I would rather go to a library than to a party.
14 I find making up stories easy.
15 I find myself drawn more strongly to people than to things.
16 I tend to have very strong interests, which I get upset about if I can't pursue.
17 I enjoy social chitchat.
18 When I talk, it isn't always easy for others to get a word in edgewise.
19 I am fascinated by numbers.
20 When I'm reading a story, I find it difficult to work out the characters' intentions.
21 I don't particularly enjoy reading fiction.
22 I find it hard to make new friends.
23 I notice patterns in things all the time.
24 I would rather go to the theater than to a museum.
25 It does not upset me if my daily routine is disturbed.
26 I frequently find that I don't know how to keep a conversation going.
27 I find it easy to 'read between the lines' when someone is talking to me.
28 I usually concentrate more on the whole picture, rather than on the small details.
29 I am not very good at remembering phone numbers.
30 I don't usually notice small changes in a situation or a person's appearance.
31 I know how to tell if someone listening to me is getting bored.
32 I find it easy to do more than one thing at once.
33 When I talk on the phone, I'm not sure when it's my turn to speak.
34 I enjoy doing things spontaneously.
35 I am often the last to understand the point of a joke.
36 I find it easy to work out what someone is thinking or feeling just by looking at their face.
37 If there is an interruption, I can switch back to what I was doing very quickly.
38 I am good at social chitchat.
39 People often tell me that I keep going on and on about the same thing.
40 When I was young, I used to enjoy playing games involving pretending with other children.
41 I like to collect information about categories of things (e.g., types of cars, birds, trains, plants).
42 I find it difficult to imagine what it would be like to be someone else.
43 I like to carefully plan any activities I participate in.
44 I enjoy social occasions.
45 I find it difficult to work out people's intentions.
46 New situations make me anxious.
47 I enjoy meeting new people.
48 I am a good diplomat.
49 I am not very good at remembering people's date of birth.
50 I find it very easy to play games with children that involve pretending.

How to score:

"Definitely agree" or "Slightly agree" responses to questions 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 33, 35, 39, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46 score 1 point.

"Definitely disagree" or "Slightly disagree" responses to questions 1, 3, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 24, 25, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 40, 44, 47, 48, 49, 50 score 1 point.

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