Aspergers (high functioning autism) is a developmental disorder falling within the autistic spectrum affecting two-way social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and a reluctance to accept change, inflexibility of thought and to have all absorbing narrow areas of interest. Individuals are usually extremely good on rote memory skills (facts, figures, dates, times etc.) many excel in math and science. There is a range of severity of symptoms within the syndrome, the very mildly affected youngster often goes undiagnosed and may just appear odd or eccentric. While Aspergers is much more common than Autism it is still a rare condition and few people, including professionals, will know about it much less have experience of it. It seems to affect more boys than girls. In general terms they find making friends difficult, not understanding the subtle clues needed to do so. They often use language in a slightly odd way and take literal meanings from what is read or heard. They ...
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I was wondering if you have written anything that may address the difficulties of encountering people, teachers, etc who seem to only identify autism as someone who looks like Rainman, lower functioning, Etc? I'm constantly finding myself having to defend the diagnosis we received from Duke with professionals who "don't see the Autism" because of the subtleties of my daughter's symptoms (at least for them - it's glaringly obvious to the private therapists who work with her). I've been trying to convey to them to look at the LACK OF BEHAVIORS, as they seem to be looking for meltdowns, aggression and constantly telling us, "but she's so smart".
Thank you for all of your amazing articles!!!
I obviously wait until the meltdown is over and explain why he is responsible for his actions. I also consider all information when choosing a consequence...but he does have a consequence.
Here's some more logic for you...if an alcholic (a disease where the person has no control over their drinking), drinks and drives and harms someone, should they have consequenses? They didn't really CHOSE to drink and drive because their disease doesn't allow them control, right? a behavioral symptom is not the same as a seizure. You can use behavioral modification to modify behavioral symptoms of aspergers, you can not however use the same type of modifications for a seizure.
I have to hide them.
But I can't make them go away. They end up as bouts of depression (interior meltdown's). They'll go away- but instead of feeling sleepy- I think I get so emotionally sick that's it ain't fun.
My meltdown have never left. They just attack me from the inside.
Now I can't do anything about them.
A certain book said that meltdowns were similar to throwing up. If you were grounded for throwing up- and held it in- what would happen? Probably intense stomach cramps- my guess. Very intense.