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Should I Treat My High-Functioning Autistic Child the Same as Her Sibs?

Question

"My husband as well as most of his side of the family often accuse me of mollycoddling our 6 y.o. girl with high functioning autism. They believe she should receive the same treatment as her brothers. What do you say about this? Should you treat a child with the condition the same as those without it? I'm torn on this issue because I know that my daughter has some special needs, yet I don't want to enable. Advice?"

Answer

You should not treat the high-functioning autistic (HFA) child the same as the other children. Love them the same? Of course. Treat them the same? No.

The youngster with the disorder will need more support than her siblings do, but there are some things you can do to limit the amount of sibling rivalry and jealousy that siblings feel because of this inequality:

1. Do not pamper your HFA daughter any more than is necessary. She will need to learn how to stand on his own two feet, and dealing with a brother or sister is a normal part of gaining this fortitude.

2. Don't tolerate inappropriate behavior from your daughter, and don't expect perfection from your other kids (this will lead to resentment and acting-out).

3. Encourage your kids to talk to you about how they feel about their "special needs" sibling. Listening to their feelings can make them feel validated and can help to avoid any unnecessary jealousy.
 
4. Fully educate yourself about the disorder, and then inform your other children on an age-appropriate basis.

5. Know that kids on the autism spectrum find it very difficult to pick up on social cues and often have intense, narrow interests. Even a very young brother or sister can understand that, "Michelle gets upset when we stop talking about dolls, but we're working on ways to keep her calm.”

6. Learn a few parenting techniques specific to raising an HFA child, and implement them at home (more here).

7. Realize that just as you may grieve the loss of a more “normal” child, her siblings may also be heartbroken that they don't have the kind of sibling-relationship that other families have.

8. Seek a support group. Getting feedback from other parents on how they have dealt with sibling issues can be quite enlightening.

9. Spend quality time each week (one-on-one) with the other kids - as well as your HFA child (this may sound difficult, but one way to accomplish that is to take one youngster at a time on an errand when possible).

10. Understand that HFA is an "invisible" disorder. Brother and sisters may be embarrassed in front of their friends when their autistic sibling (who looks no different than any other child) can't stop talking her favorite special ingterest.
 

On an interesting side note, here are some comments made by children who have a sibling with HFA:

• “He gets bullied a whole lot, at least he used to. Children would make fun of him for the weirdest things…it was terrible. He would come home crying off the bus.”

• “He is incredible at directions… he is able to give directions to anybody to anything, if you're any place in the united states, he will let you know what your location is.”

• “He is great at baseball and making jokes…I like his funniness.”

• “He talks non-stop.”

• “He’ll hit his head on the floor and he will kick the drawers and he will kick his door and he will hit his walls and toss stuff across the room.”

• “He’s very literal. In the event you say ‘throw laptop computer in the rear of the truck,’ he is actually likely to do that. That’s really happened.”

• “I like to see him giggle, but when something is humorous he's, horrifyingly noisy, he is outrageous. Occasionally I will take his hand and I will give him just a little squeeze on the hand and that is kind of his signal to kind of like ease it down slightly.”

• “I try my best to introduce him to all the folks that I know so he does not feel uncomfortable and alone.”
 

• “I’ve figured out either to leave him alone for about 10 mins, or you can attempt to calm him down, but most of the time I leave him alone for 10 mins or so…and the storm goes away and he is normal and it will be a typical day.”

• “James, a lot of the times is by himself. He likes to be in his own little world.”

• “My brother’s great at checking up on the weather…he’s usually watching the weather channel - so he knows what to wear. It’s excellent in the family, he always knows what the temperature is going to be and if the sun is going to be shining.”

• “When he comes back home sobbing due to something one of his buddies said, I will attempt to give him advice about coping with other students, and most of the time he does not want to take that advice. My mum will just kind of pull him aside and state, ‘Your sister has been through this, so listen to what she has to say.’ And then he usually does.”

• “When he needs his time, you give him his time. And when he’s ready to come out and be sociable again, then he will come out.”

• “When he is doing something that he really wants to learn about or that he is enthusiastic about or that I have done, he is extremely energetic. He is happy. And that is when he gets to his noisy stages where he will giggle and he is way up there.”

• “He really wants to believe that everyone wants to threaten him. For the longest time I would scream at him because I would say, ‘Stop crying - why are you crying? There is no need to be sad. I did not say anything!’ But to him, it is a threat should you say anything and…he simply cannot manage his feelings.”
 




Resources for parents of children and teens on the autism spectrum:
 




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You can usually find CBD pastes and concentrate packed in a tube and they can give value for your money. This page discusses why you should buy CBD pastes and concentrates.

The benefits of CBD pastes and concentrates:
It’s easy to use CBD pastes and concentrates because you just need to squeeze a small portion which is about a grain-of-rice size and place it onto your tongue to swish for almost 90 seconds before swallowing.

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CBD pastes and concentrates work pretty fast and they are long-lasting. So if you decide to have a strong CBD product that has these properties, you should try CBD paste and concentrates. The good news is that they only take at least ten to 15 minutes for you to feel their effects, but can last up to twelve hours.

As mentioned earlier CBD paste and concentrates have a higher concentration, so you may not find any other CBD product that can be stronger than them. These products are specifically designed to offer a strong serving size of CBD, simply and quickly.

No doubt, CBD paste and concentrates offer a great value for your money. They have up to ten times more cannabidiol than the normal CBD product. Also, a three-gram tube can withstand a couple of months with regular use.

Remember that pastes and concentrates may have a strong flavor. They are pure and not flavored, meaning they don’t come with added flavors. Hence, it can be hard for you to use them if you don’t like an earthly flavor.

If you’re a beginner when it comes to using CBD, it may be a good idea to find CBD oil for sale with lower concentration until you’re comfortable with the serving size. You see, concentrates can offer a very high amount of CBD regardless of whether it’s the smallest serving size.

Where you can buy CBD pastes and concentrates:

You should choose CBD pastes and concentrates if you desire to have a strong CBD product that can last for a long time. This product is extremely popular, offers great value, and easy to use. Many only CBD oil stores both online and land-based sell a wide variety of CBD pastes and concentrates. These products are of the highest quality and have purity, strength suitable for those looking for a long-lasting effect.

For example, you can choose the best CBD oil for pain which is strong and needs just a grain of rice to be taken either once or twice a day to have the desired effects. With that serving size, you can rest assured that the three-gram tube can last you a couple of months with daily use.

Dealing with Difficult Behavior in Children and Teens on the Autism Spectrum

 

Resources for parents of children and teens with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's:
 

Tips for Educators and Parents to Teach Children with ASD

Though every child has a unique learning ability and needs, children with ASD or Autism Spectrum Disorder need extra support and guidance to thrive. Both teachers and parents must understand the specific needs of your child with autism. Understanding the requirements is the primary basis for helping your children learn better and quicker.
 
Tips to help your child with ASD learn:
 
Establish a structured learning environment
 
A child who has autism will feel comfortable only in an environment where they have routine involving minimal deviations from their schedule and clear structures, says Janice, an educator who offers online finance assignment help. Thus, the educator needs to ensure that the lesson plans and the learning environment are structured so that it is easier for both the teachers and the students to know what needs to be done, how much is to be done, and for how long.

Further, both the child and the teacher should know about the subsequent flow of events after completing the task at hand.
 
Make communication seamless
 
Educators use several different types of communication techniques to educate children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A few learning centres employ a sign language for autistic children who lack adequate speech skills. Another useful technique that can help is facilitated communication. It ensures quick learning.

As part of this technique, you will hold the child’s arm or hand and persuade them to push the apt key on any portable communication device.   
 
Employ visual aids
 
For young children, especially children with ASD, visuals are a vital medium of learning, says Chloe, an educator with TAE. The tutors can incorporate photographs, drawings, language build cards, picture cards, stickers, if or then cards, among other things, into day-to-day activities.

You can also use some videos and online tutorials for delivery information visually. Visual learning makes it easier for the child to absorb the information.   
 
Know about the sensory issues
 
Generally speaking, children with ASD are either under-sensitive or over-sensitive to the sensory stimuli, which generally we do not even notice. They can be bothered with smells of perfumes, buzzing of electrical appliances, unusual lights, and echoes from the environment. It can lead to an extreme reaction from them.

Thus, you need to be aware of their potential triggers and keep them at bay. You can offer them some sensory tools that can help them lower their stress levels and quickly process the information communicated to them.  
 
Encourage social engagements

As a parent or a teacher, you need to help your child with ASD develop the necessary skills and knowledge that are mandatory for social interaction, says Amy, who offers the best product management courses online and has a 5-year old with ASD. We agree with Amy’s point, but it is also crucial to know that a child who has autism usually might not seem interested in interacting with teachers, parents, and peers.

However, it is still quintessential to impart social skills to them. Teachers can use the classrooms as the perfect setting for this. Every childhood educator of a child with ASD should create an environment that encourages children to work on their communication skills.  
 
Activities have to be structured too
 
Maintaining a structure within different activities is also an effective way to facilitate learning in children with ASD. You can use visuals to provide the requisite information related to the activity or the task. For instance, use a timer to tell the child how long a particular task will last. In the activities, do not forget to include peer interactions, which can help them put their social skills to use.  
 
Direct language only
 
If you are dealing with a young ASD student, he may not pick up a figurative language or abstract concepts, and they might even take most of your said thing literally. Unfortunately, even the non- verbal cues, like facial expressions or hand gestures, might not be easy to comprehend for them.

For educators who are used to teaching children without autism, it might take a while for you to get the right wording for what you wish to say, says Stanley, who offers online do my economics homework service and works with an NGO to educate ASD students. However, at all times, you need to be as direct in your speed as possible.
 
Spare some extra time

 
Even after using direct language, there will be times when a child does not react or respond immediately. Thus, it would help if you gave the child some more time to absorb what you are communicating and then process it in their head.

So, if you are teaching a child with autism, patience is the key. Please bear in mind; at any time, if you rephrase the instructions, questions, or statements or rush through your speech, you are only slowing them down further because as they begin re-processing.
 
Bottom line
 
If you need guidance, you should consult a therapist or a doctor and even research new techniques to teach a child with autism. It is best to try new methods. It will help you judge what bets work with the child.

Lastly, do not lose patience. It only needs some effort and practice, and you will find a way that works with them the best.

10 Healthy Supplements to Consider for Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or simply autism is a condition that affects the way a person’s brain functions. It also impacts the social interaction, language, and basic communication of the affected person. Children with autism may involve repetitive behaviors. 


Although there is no curable remedy for autism, the treatment is based on the individual that may involve helping the patient through their symptoms with education, self-help, skill development and socialization. Children and adults who are affected with autism may develop limited food intake or choices. Since their bodies may break down fat differently it is possible that their bodies may lack certain nutrients. This is related to selective eating, decreased gut absorption, or depletion of nutrients from chronic stress. Hence, diet changes and supplementation have proved to be very helpful methods of aiding children with autism. With enhanced food choices, you can help your autistic child better manage the daily struggles.

Following are the ten broad dietary supplements that you can consider for helping autistic people:


Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential nutrients for the development of the brain and eyes in the body. Many children with autism also suffer from Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) where the brain has trouble receiving and responding to the signals that are sent by the senses. Omega 3s have been found to be in lower levels among people with autism and therefore it becomes an important supplement to include in your child’s diet. Foods that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids are fish oil, plant oil and nuts and seeds. Omega 3s also help fight joint pain and inflammation. Here’s an honest review on Omega XL which is a dietary supplement containing benefits of 30 different fatty acids. However, more research is needed into how Omega 3s can really help autistic individuals therefore its best to take your doctor’s advice on it.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps assist the brain in creating new connections and bettering already prevailing connections. It is said to affect the neurotransmitters in the brain. Studies have shown that children with autism develop vitamin D deficiency. A daily dose of its supplement can help reduce the ASD symptoms affecting the child’s social interaction, communication and engaging in repetitive behaviors. Salmon, mackerel, tuna, fortified foods, egg yolks, milk and mushrooms are a good source of vitamin D.

Oxytocin

The chemical oxytocin is created naturally in the brain and has an effect in forming social interaction and bonding in an individual. When it comes to ASD symptoms, some children are found to have reduced oxytocin levels in their bodies and some do not. Hence, more clinical research is needed on how oxytocin can benefit kids with autism.

Melatonin

Melatonin helps regulate the sleep cycle in the body. This hormone helps in treating insomnia and those who are affected with sleeping disorders. It has been found that reduced levels of melatonin is correlated to severe ASD symptoms among kids. Effective melatonin supplementation has positive impact on autistic individuals with better sleep cycles and daytime behavior. Ask your doctor for the right dosage before starting its medicinal course. Nuts, seeds, grains like rice and barley, asparagus, tomato, olive, pomegranate, grapes and broccoli are foods that help increase levels of melatonin in the system.

Sulforaphane

Clinical trials have shown that supplements having sulforaphane (SF) have helped reduce the behavioral symptoms of people with ASD. Sulforaphane is found in broccoli sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale and mustard greens. Taking sulforaphane as a supplement can have an improved effect on social interaction, communication, and a reduction in aggressive behavior.

Methyl B 12

Methyl B12 comes from the vitamin family that plays an important role in the functioning of the body’s nervous system and it intermingles with folic acid to produce cells in the body. Children with reduced developmental capacity have an impairment in processing the body’s methyl B 12. Early lab research suggests that kids with autism showed improvement in few metabolic and cellular processes when given methyl B 12 supplements.


Vitamin C

Children with autism can find it hard to fight free radicals in the body, which can cause an imbalance in their system. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that helps protect the body from free radicals. A study with a small group showed that children with ASD symptoms showed reduction in typical autistic activities like flapping hands, pacing and rocking. However, more research is needed in this domain to find clinical evidence of benefits of vitamin C supplementation for autism. Red and green peppers, spinach, cabbage, turnip, leafy greens, winter squash, citrus fruits and tomatoes are rich sources of vitamin C.

Vitamin B-6 and Magnesium

Another great multivitamin is B-6 that has loads of health benefits. Magnesium ensures proper functioning of the brain and muscle cells and is found in many foods like whole grains, nuts and seeds and leafy greens. Vitamin B6 and magnesium are typically used together as supplements, as B6 can sometimes cause an upset stomach, and magnesium appears to counter that. Some studies have shown that children with autism may have a magnesium deficiency. Research on supplementing B-6 and magnesium is still in an early stage when it comes to ASD.

Calcium

Calcium helps you develop strong teeth and bones. Low calcium intake may lead to a high rate of bone fractures seen in children with autism. Rickets and eye-poking is often associated with calcium deficiency. Not only is calcium found in dairy products but in green leafy vegetables as well. Many calcium supplements come in the form of chewable pills, liquid and powders. It is advisable to take your doctor’s opinion for catering to autistic patients.

Zinc

Zinc plays a vital role in enzyme function, nucleic acid metabolism, growth, and cellular repair. It is a major factor in the etiology of behavioral and mood disturbances in humans and its deficiency is high in children diagnosed with ASD. Meat foods, nuts and seeds, seafood and legumes are rich in zinc.

Articles in Alphabetical Order: 2019


Articles in Alphabetical Order: 2019

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.

Click here to read the full article…

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.

Click here for the full article...

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.

Click here to read the full article…

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."

Click here to read the full article…

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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to read the full article...

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.

Click here for the full article...