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Autism Spectrum Disorders: How Parents Can Help Their Children

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Moms and dads are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their youngster. In some cases, the baby seemed “different” from birth, unresponsive to others or focusing intently on one item for long periods of time. The first signs of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can also appear in kids who seem to have been developing normally. When an engaging, babbling toddler suddenly becomes silent, withdrawn, self-abusive, or indifferent to social overtures, something is wrong. Research has shown that moms and dads are usually correct about noticing developmental problems, although they may not realize the specific nature or degree of the problem. Autism spectrum disorders can often be reliably detected by the age of 3 years, and in some cases as early as 18 months.2 Studies suggest that many kids eventually may be accurately identified by the age of 1 year or even younger. The appearance of any of the warning signs of Autism Spectrum Disorders is reason to have a youngster evaluat...

Teaching Children and Teens with Asperger Syndrome and High-Functioning Autism

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In this post, we will look at (a) the major challenges that Aspergers (high functioning autistic) students face in an educational setting, and (b) the appropriate classroom accommodations that teachers can utilize: Poor Motor Coordination—  Students with Aspergers are physically clumsy and awkward; have stiff, awkward gaits; are unsuccessful in games involving motor skills; and experience fine-motor deficits that can cause penmanship problems, slow clerical speed and affect their ability to draw. Classroom Accommodations— 1. Students with Aspergers may require a highly individualized cursive program that entails tracing and copying on paper, coupled with motor patterning on the blackboard. The educator guides the student's hand repeatedly through the formation of letters and letter connections and also uses a verbal script. Once the student commits the script to memory, he can talk himself or herself through letter formations independently. 2. Do not push the st...

Employing Older Teens and Young Adults with Aspergers: 10 Tips for Employers

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Teens and adults with Aspergers (high functioning autism) may experience some of the limitations discussed below, but seldom develop all of them. Also, the degree of limitation will vary. Be aware that not all teens and adults with Aspergers will need accommodations to perform their jobs, and many others may only need a few accommodations. Accommodation Ideas— 1. Employees with Aspergers may have difficulty communicating with co-workers or supervisors. Allow worker to have a friend or coworker attend meeting to reduce or eliminate the feeling of intimidation. Allow worker to provide written response in lieu of verbal response. Provide advance notice of date of meeting when worker is required to speak to reduce or eliminate anxiety. Provide advance notice of topics to be discussed in meetings to help facilitate communication. 2. Employees with Aspergers may experience difficulty managing time. This limitation can affect their ability to complete the task within a s...

Aspergers Children and Seasonal Affective Disorder

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Does your Aspergers (high functioning autistic) child or teen seem to have a change in mood as the seasons change? A form of depression that follows a seasonal pattern, SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER (SAD) appears and disappears at the same times each year. Aspergers children with SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER usually have symptoms of depression as winter approaches and daylight hours become shorter. When spring returns and the days become longer again, they experience relief from the symptoms and a return to a fairly normal mood and energy level. Signs and Symptoms— Like other forms of depression, the symptoms of SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER can be mild, severe, or anywhere in between. Milder symptoms minimally interfere with the child’s ability to participate in everyday activities, while more severe symptoms can interfere much more. The symptoms of SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER are the same as those of depression, but occur during a specific time of year. It's the se...

Misbehavior or Food Allergy? Tips for Parents of Kids on the Autism Spectrum

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Is your Aspergers (AS) or high functioning autistic (HFA) child "acting-out"?  If so, the behavioral problems may be symptomatic of a deeper issue... Digestive function is the key to physical and emotional health. If your youngster has gluten intolerance and/or autistic symptoms, chances are he has something called “leaky gut syndrome.” In a youngster with leaky gut, the stomach lining is more porous than it should be, allowing protein molecules to slip through the gut and enter the blood stream where it causes an autoimmune and behavioral response . The most common causes of leaky gut are parasites, low stomach acid, prolonged chronic antibiotic use and food additives and preservatives. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, barley, rye and oats. AS and HFA kids with undiagnosed and untreated gluten intolerance commonly show these symptoms: 1. Difficulty in group games or sports: Your youngster may appear to be “cheating” on a board game or sport when, in fact, he c...

15 Ways to Bully-Proof Your Child

Over 25% of public schools report that bullying among students occurs on a daily basis. Also, one in five middle school students with Aspergers (high-functioning autism) report being bullied in the past 3 months.   Click here for full article...