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Raising Kids on the Spectrum: Sensory Processing Difficulties, Behavioral Problems, and Parental Stress

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A child's ability - or inability - to regulate sensation (i.e., the process of noticing, organizing, and integrating information from the environment and the body, and then processing and responding appropriately) significantly contributes to general behavior patterns. Problems with regulating sensory information (e.g., taste, sound, touch, smell, body movement, or body position) may lead to patterns of: hypo-sensitivity or sensory-seeking behaviors (e.g., needing high levels of sensory input such as a loud noise, firm touch, repeatedly crashing into walls, banging toys in order to register the sensation, etc.) hyper-sensitivity or sensory-avoidance (e.g., over-reacting to bright lights, loud noises, being held, etc.) a mixed pattern of sensory-seeking and sensory-avoidance ASD level 1 (or High-Functioning Autistic) kids with poor sensory regulation show a wide range of problems across several domains, including internalizing behavior problems, externalizing behav

Affirmations to Combat Marital Stress Associated with Parenting Kids on the Autism Spectrum

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==> Get Personal Parent Coaching from Mark Hutten, M.A.

Allowances versus Accommodations: How to Avoid a Popular Parenting Mistake

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==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management: Help for Children and Teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism

Managing Disruptive Behavior in Children with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's

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“We've been going in circles with our high functioning (autistic) 8 y.o. and his disruptive behavior – hitting, kicking, throwing things, just to name a few. We have tried all that we know to try. It's been difficult when he acts out, not respecting us or his siblings. It impacts the entire family! Do you have any ideas of how to handle disruptive behavior of this kind?” One of the biggest obstacles a parent faces is managing disruptive behavior in the child with Asperger’s (AS) or High-Functioning Autism (HFA). Whether the child is refusing to eat what was prepared, or throwing tantrum on the way to school, the parent can find herself at a loss for an effective way to respond. If you are at your wits end, the ABC method can provide a roadmap to a calmer, more reliable way to manage problematic behaviors. This method also offers a chance to help the AS or HFA child to gain the developmental skills he needs to regulate his own behavior. The ABC Method of Behavior Man