My ASD Child

When moms and dads look for assistance for their Aspergers (high functioning autistic) youngster, they encounter diverse opinions (e.g., “he'll outgrow it” … “leave him alone” … “it's no big deal” … “he just wants attention” ...and so on). Many therapists try to work with the Aspergers youngster as if his disorder is like other developmental disorders, but it's very different. Generally, there's a profound misunderstanding by many people regarding the needs of these special children. For the unskilled, identifying the defining features of Aspergers as outlined below can be challenging, and misdiagnosis tends to occur frequently: A lack of emotional empathy Clumsy, uncoordinated movements Intense absorption in certain subjects Limited ability to establish relationships Naïve, inappropriate, one-sided social interactions Odd postures Pedantic, repetitive speech Poor non-verbal communication Diagnosis is further complicated by the fact that an Asperger

Click ==> Launching Adult Children With Aspergers Guide

Question My 17-year-old son has just recently been diagnosed with Aspergers syndrome. After several really rough years of being bullied and having difficulty with maintaining friendships, we began to see him drifting towards "the wrong crowd" and using marijuana. At first, we assumed it was an experimental thing, but has since caused him to be arrested for possession. He continued to use despite mandatory drug testing. The scary thing is that I fear that marijuana has become his new "obsession." He admitted to daily use and has told me on more than one occasion that he has no intentions of stopping. He sees it as a harmless, "natural" substance. Now, it has gotten to the point where I have seen discussions on his facebook that indicate he is involved in dealing, not as a big time dealer, but what looks like someone who delivers to "friends." He flat out denies he is involved in dealing despite my husband and I having read these

Question My 5 1/2 year old son was diagnosed with ASD by a neurologist over this spring. My in-laws were so upset that we had him tested. They insist that we "labeled" him and have now made his life hard. We feel that now he is getting the help that he needs and the label is not a "bad" thing. What do we do or say to those that think autism is something to fear? Answer The importance of getting a diagnosis for a child who truly has ASD (high-functioning autism) cannot be emphasized enough. If the issues that cause a child to behave strangely are unknown, parents can never get the child the help he needs and is entitled to. And someone with autism does need help! ASD children and adults see the world from a different point of view. They think “normal” people speak in riddles. Their thoughts go something like this: “How come they are not interested in details like me?” “Why are relationships so complicated?” “Why don’t people say what they mean

RE: "How should I treat my friend who has Aspergers?" First of all, thanks for asking. You must care about your friend. Aspergers (high-functioning autism) is the name given to a group of problems that some people have when they are trying to communicate with others. They have difficulty understanding others. Kids with Aspergers can hear what others say to them – and they know what the words mean – but they don't pick up the 'non-verbal' part of communication. As a result, they often don't get the full message. You might get angry with someone, and say ‘go away’. Most children know that means 'leave me alone', but a child with Aspergers might believe that you want him to go very far away. Aspergers is sometimes called an 'Autism Spectrum Disorder' because it is a little like autism. A child with Autism cannot communicate well with others and really does not understand that people talk about feelings and have emotions. Children wit

It is hard to know if kids with Aspergers (high functioning autism) are as lonely as their moms and dads believe they are. Therapists do know that playing with a friend, making a friend and being with a friend are "overwhelming skills" for Aspergers children. Kids without Aspergers make no sense to "Aspies," because Aspies are totally preoccupied with their own agendas. Click here for full article...

Aspergers is a developmental disorder on the Autism spectrum. It affects verbal and non-verbal communication (body language) social interaction, a dislike of change, an aversion to noise, inflexibility of thought and, quite often, an obsession with a certain interest. Kids with Aspergers (Aspies) usually have excellent memories, especially in the area of facts, figures, dates, times and statistics. Math and science are subjects of interest and kids usually excel in these areas. There is a large range of severity of symptoms with Aspergers. Kids who have very mild symptoms often go undiagnosed for years. It is not unusual for kids with medium severity to go undiagnosed until they start school, at which time the disorder is seen in behavior problems and lack of social skills. Although females do sometimes suffer from the disorder, it is far more prevalent in males. Aspergers Traits— Kids who have Aspergers have trouble interacting with their peers, but can carry on an i

Question How much assistance should moms and dads offer when it comes to helping their Aspergers child with his/her homework? Answer School can be a complex situation for kids with Aspergers (high functioning autism). Homework can be a real struggle, especially after spending an entire day forced to sit in the classroom. Truthfully, moms and dads of kids without Aspergers also struggle with how to handle the homework problem. Should you push, hover, beg, and plead – or should you gently remind your youngster about his assignments and then let her face the consequences? The answer lies somewhere in the middle. There are several reasons why homework can be such an issue for Aspergers kids. Homework interferes with free time, which is better spent on that special interest. Homework is hard because of the distractions of home. The main problems that interfere with homework are: Anxiety caused by frustration. Teach your youngster relaxation techniques he can

Thanksgiving is especially difficult for kids who have Aspergers (high functioning autism). They are easily over-stimulated, and their emotions overwhelm them. So it is up to the family members around them to make life a bit easier for these kids. Remember, they are not social people. Crowds and noise overwhelm them. They do not cope well with the hustle and bustle of family get-togethers. Some Aspergers kids may not want to join in when the family sits down to eat. They may be checking out the “goings-on” in the kitchen, trying to figure out how people cook, or they may sit in a corner participating in one of their obsessive hobbies. Let them be! If you pressure them to join in, they may become overwhelmed and go into a meltdown. Surviving Thanksgiving: Tips for Parents with Aspergers Children— Following these simple guidelines should lead to a much more positive experience for everyone, and will provide your Aspergers youngster with the love, support and confidence to

Click ==> Living with an Aspergers Partner: Relationship Skills for Couples Affected by Aspergers

The special needs of the siblings without Aspergers (high functioning autism) can be classified into four categories. These children need: 1. help dealing with peer and community reactions 2. information 3. to have expectations clarified 4. to have their feelings validated Having a child with any type of developmental disability can be very stressful for the parents and the siblings of that child. Siblings without Aspergers may be drawn into care-taking roles (e.g., teachers, co-parents). Many children find these roles difficult to fulfill because it takes away much of their own childhood and sets aside their own needs. For most siblings without Aspergers, having an Aspergers brother or sister becomes a central experience in their lives. They may see their Aspergers sibling as having the spotlight (not an easy situation for any kid). Thus, it is very important for parents to be aware of how the Aspergers child – and the sibling without Aspergers – may need to be nur