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What the Future Holds for Your Child on the Autism Spectrum

There is some evidence that kids with Asperger's may see a lessening of symptoms as they mature. Up to 20% of kids may no longer meet the diagnostic criteria as grown-ups, although social and communication difficulties may persist. Although social impairment is life-long, the outcome is generally more positive than for people with lower functioning autism spectrum disorders.

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==> How to Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums in Children with Aspergers and HFA

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just Jennifer Boisvert I've observed a lessening with my son yet the social isms still persist. It was a looooooonnngggg road, but it is so much better than it was even 3 years ago.
27 minutes ago · Like · 1 person
Yara Victória Pereira
I don't know... I myself am Asperger. Does being a child and learning make it look or feel like it is more dificul? Does growing up make you learn how to cope with what is expected of you? Because I feel the same dificulty about things inside me.. I just don't freak out much about it because it has become rotine to deal with things, and growing up is always challeging for anyone. And I don't feel better trying to pretend all is good. I feel I should have the right to express myself, but people wouldn't understand, only thing we learn is that its not socialy comfortable for others... and we should learn how to socialize and not freak out others.

Anonymous said...

Terrie Johnson Wolf Yara, I love what you wrote a lot, it reminds me of something I would journal because no one would understand what I was saying! I
3 minutes ago · Like
Terrie Johnson Wolf My son is 15, everday it seems he matures and is able to put up with something else. I try and tell him all the time how great he is and how I know that he is the one doing a lot of the changing and that in itself show much more about him and his character than it does about all of ours.

Anonymous said...

My 5 year old Aspie has all the tell tale signs of Asperger's syndome, to the point where it seems like everything I've ever read was written with him in mind. Except for one key difference...my son is extremely social. He is very popular among other kids, they almost fight for his attention. They love the fact that he can recite comic books word for word, and remembers the names of even the most obscure Star Wars characters, and because he is a people pleaser he will share anything he has to maintain the friendship. He worries very much about how other kids see him and trys obsessively to fit in. I know all children with Asperger's syndrome are different, but my question is, is this very uncommon in Asperger's? I feel people "don't believe" he is on the spectrum because of his social skills.

Anonymous said...

Parenting Aspergers Children - Support Group He must be high functioning. Aspergers is on the high functioning side of autism anyway - but some are higher than others. So, "uncommon"? I would say yes.

Anonymous said...

Keturah Broadwood
My 7 year old is high function Aspergers. He is overly social but has no boundaries. He hugs and has no personal space. We are often told that there is no way he could have Aspergers but they don't realise that this behavour is only one aspect of Him. When he meltdowns over getting dressed or getting in the car I have no doubt. At the end of the day you are his parent and see Him for who he is and everything he does trust yourself.
16 hours ago · Like · 2 people
Jessica Swift My aspie is very social in that he loves being around other kids, but he isn't popular. He highly lacks in social skills despite his "socialness". It's like he wants friends but making friends is hard and he doesn't realize whenever someone is being mean.
16 hours ago · Like
Jessica Swift By the way my son is almost 8 and the "social rules" have gotten a lot more complicated from when he was 5.
16 hours ago · Like
Jillian Gomes
Thank you guys :) Keturah, my son is is the same as far as boundaries, when he plays with other kids we have to remind him to back up because he will talk (very loudly) into their face instead of to it. @ Jessica, you're absolutely right, what is accepted at 5 won't be at 8. I know my son also won't understand when someone is being mean to him. You guys gave me lots of food for thought and I really appreciate your input :).
16 hours ago · Like
Keturah Broadwood I agree, Jessica. My son loves being with other children but just doesn't seem to know how to play WITH them. He orders them around and expects to play all games his own way. Every year seems to get harder as the social gap between the kids getts wider. In his defense he is starting to learn more and more social ideas though doesn't seem to understand why we do them.
16 hours ago · Like
Erica Jean Rutherford
Ryan was diagnosed HFA/Asperger's and he is how you guys describe. He loves people, but has no social "skills" -- he can't tell when people don't want to play with him or talk to him. He tries to hug on perfect strangers in stores and such. He is bossy with HOW games are played (everyone has to follow his rules or they can't play anywhere near him).

I don't think that this type of social behavior is uncommon at all for Aspies. Many areas of documentation explain this as fairly typical Asperger's behavior... it's one of the determining factors that separates it from other areas on the spectrum. They generally WANT friends, they just don't know HOW to make them, where other auties are more or less oblivious to everyone else around them.

What seems to happen as the children get older and the social gap becomes larger and your Aspie son is still quoting comic books and Star Wars characters when all the other boys are chasing girls, they become less social. They learn that the other kids don't want to do the things they want to do, and then they begin to focus less on the social interaction.
15 hours ago · Like
Keturah Broadwood
A friend of mines son is 14 with aspergers. He wants to interact but has so much trouble. We were all introduced to him as a wonderful child who has an interesting view on life. Our group of friends are great. The 14yr old likes to shake everyones had when they arrive and then walks off. We are glad that despite the fact that he knows how different he is he trys to make an effort. I hope that I am blessed to still have this group of friends when my 7yr old is that old.
9 hours ago · Like · 1 person

Anonymous said...

Jessica Swift Yah, I do think the gap gets bigger as they get older. My son really gets along better with either younger children or adults because of this. He used to quote star wars too, btw, lol! Now he is constantly talking about Final Fantasy 7, and most kids don't even have a clue what that is since it is an old playstation game. Thankfully my hubby is a huge gamer and can carry a conversation with him. lol
August 10 at 4:36pm · Like · 1 person
Katie Cullen McGoey
I will add my vote to that of the other commenters. My son is the same way - playing 'next to' not with, or fully directing the game choices, character choices, rules and all else whenever he does attempt to play 'with' someone - and forbid they don't want to play along by his rules, then we have arguments and meltdowns because he can't tolerate "that's not how you play". His poor sister - she feels like she can't win; its all about him! ...
August 11 at 11:25am · Like
Katie Cullen McGoey ‎...This summer we sent them to "social skills camp" for the summer (so they could both learn), where the whole focus was on learning those skills - they are teaching the "how to" very systematically. Rome wasn't built in a day, but after 6 weeks we've seen improvement. On facebook you can find the camp for info - it is Camp Excel in NJ, for anyone local...
August 11 at 11:32am · Like · 1 person
Katie Cullen McGoey ‎...But good luck to all - its just who they are, and we just have to adapt and continually educate others so they can too. I just keep up my own mantra: "it's all good" and smile broadly at the fact that while he may be socially challenged, my son is smart and has a heart of gold, despite the fact that he doesn't verbalize it.
August 11 at 11:32am · Like
Christie Hess Johnson Thank you for posting this...it is like you were talking about my son. He was always described as "too social to have Aspergers," but I knew he did. And he talks to anyone and everyone, but very loudly. I am glad to know there are others who have had the same experience.
8 hours ago · Like · 1 person
Jillian Gomes Same with my son (speaks very loudly, and in a monotone), he also uses a "robotic" voice sometimes.

Anonymous said...

My son talks to anyone and crys when leaving school. He hates the holidays because he can't be with his friends. Even when they are being mean to him and kicking him he still thinks they are his friends. He try's awkwardly hard to fit in. It's ok at the moment but I know in highschool his weird little walk ,his obsession with trucks (and other things) his unusual language skills will all make life hard fir him. At home he runs in circles making weird noises (especially when tired) craves jumping on the trampoline to the point where he now has a serious hip injury. He struggles with a knife and fork and has just learned how to kiss and hug ( awkwardly but hey!) He is 7 and a half. I cry sometimes cause I just love him and want everything to be ok for him. The social thing us just so hard. I have watched him in social situations that are loud just stand and hold his ears rocking back and forth crying. Then he just shuts down. For hours just nothing . So sad to watch.

My child has been rejected by his peers, ridiculed and bullied !!!

Social rejection has devastating effects in many areas of functioning. Because the ASD child tends to internalize how others treat him, rejection damages self-esteem and often causes anxiety and depression. As the child feels worse about himself and becomes more anxious and depressed – he performs worse, socially and intellectually.

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How to Prevent Meltdowns in Children on the Spectrum

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 or HFA child is totally out-of-control. When it ends, both you and your 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.

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Parenting Defiant Teens on the Spectrum

Although Aspergers [high-functioning autism] is at the milder end of the autism spectrum, the challenges parents face when disciplining a teenager on the spectrum are more difficult than they would be with an average teen. Complicated by defiant behavior, the teen is at risk for even greater difficulties on multiple levels – unless the parents’ disciplinary techniques are tailored to their child's special needs.

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Older Teens and Young Adult Children with ASD Still Living At Home

Your older teenager or young “adult child” isn’t sure what to do, and he is asking you for money every few days. How do you cut the purse strings and teach him to be independent? Parents of teens with ASD face many problems that other parents do not. Time is running out for teaching their adolescent how to become an independent adult. As one mother put it, "There's so little time, yet so much left to do."

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Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism

Two traits often found in kids with High-Functioning Autism are “mind-blindness” (i.e., the inability to predict the beliefs and intentions of others) and “alexithymia” (i.e., the inability to identify and interpret emotional signals in others). These two traits reduce the youngster’s ability to empathize with peers. As a result, he or she may be perceived by adults and other children as selfish, insensitive and uncaring.

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Highly Effective Research-Based Parenting Strategies for Children with Asperger's and HFA

Become an expert in helping your child cope with his or her “out-of-control” emotions, inability to make and keep friends, stress, anger, thinking errors, and resistance to change.

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