My ASD Child

Question How can I help my 14-year-old child with high functioning autism to handle disappointments? Almost on a daily basis, he feels mistreated by one of his friends, or something at school doesn’t go just right, or he gets into trouble here at home and receives an undesirable consequence. I don’t want to send him into a depression – but at the same time, I want him to be more resilient and responsible. Also, I’ve heard you talk about how we, as parents of autistic children, tend to be over-protective – and the damage that we do as a result of this kind of parenting. Is there some way I can help him without being over-protective? Answer If there is one lesson that no parent enjoys teaching their youngster, it is “the art of getting over disappointment.” This is partly because no one likes to be disappointed or have their hopes shattered—but it is a raw and honest part of life. Figuring out how to teach our High-Functioning Autistic (HFA) and Asperger's kids this les...

“Would there be a list of traits associated with ASD [high functioning autism] that I could share with my son’s teacher to help her understand him more? Also, some helpful tips in dealing with my son’s challenges would be greatly appreciated as well.”  Below are some of the most prevalent features of ASD or High-Functioning Autism (HFA) observed in the classroom and other group settings, along with a few strategies that the teacher can use to help your son cope better. Common Features—   failure to comprehend that the eyes convey information on a person’s mental state or feelings strong preference to interact with adults who are far more interesting, knowledgeable and more tolerant and accommodating of their lack of social awareness tendency to interrupt; have difficulty identifying the cues for when to start talking tendency to make irrelevant comments less aware of the concept of personal space often aware of the poor quality of their handwriting and may be reluc...

As parents of kids on the autism spectrum, we've all heard about weighted blankets. But do they actually work? Listen to what this grandmother has to say about the Snuggle Pro weighted blanket: "I bought this blanket for our 6 y.o. granddaughter (who is high functioning on the autism spectrum). After just one night, my daughter told me it really does the job. My little girl is absolutely in love with her new blanket, so much so that she tried to take it to school (LOL). She gave up her other worn out blanket without a tantrum. Super soft and hypoallergenic. Easy to clean since it's machine washable. Very thoughtful packaging. Comes with a free storage bag. Bamboo fabric too!!! When she’s over to visit, it’s been hard to keep my granddaughter down for naps – until now! She recently said "Nonnie, that was THE BEST NAP EVER" :) ...and she woke up super relaxed (rather than her usual grouchy self). Not only does she sleep longer, but she also likes to have i...

Here are our top 10 picks for educational games to assist children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism:

Question When my 15y/o son with autism (high functioning) meets with disappointment, and when things don't go just as he wants them to, he has his meltdown …then it is so difficult to get him redirected back to doing what he should be doing. Are there any tips you can give me about how to try to get him back on track, to help him accept that something didn't work out or that he can't do or have something he really wanted? Answer What you’re referring to here is low frustration tolerance (i.e., needing immediate pleasure or needing to avoid pain at the cost of long-term stress and defeatism). Low frustration-tolerance originates from the youngster’s dysfunctional and irrational beliefs. Behaviors are then the result of avoiding frustrating events which, paradoxically, lead to increased frustration and even greater mental stress. Low frustration tolerance occurs when the youngster gets very frustrated and has an unwillingness or inability to tolerate the ne...

“What are some of the traits of high functioning autism that are unique to girls with the disorder?” High-Functioning Autism (HFA) affect behavior, personality, and the way the child interacts with others. The symptoms of HFA in females are usually displayed in a more subtle manner, which often results in missed or incorrect professional diagnoses, a lack of access to special education services and provisions in school, and a greater chance of social and emotional problems in adulthood. Several distinct differences exist in regard to the ways that females with HFA behave as compared to their male counterparts, for example: “non-autistic” females will play with dolls by pretending that they are interacting socially, but HFA females may collect dolls and not use them to engage socially with their peers a girl with HFA is more likely to have interests that are common to “typical” females, whereas an HFA male is more likely to have an unusual interest (e.g., a girl may be obsessed...

“I read the article ‘ Can Parents Detect High-Functioning Autism In Their Infant? ’ And I was wondering if I could get the answer to the same question – except for toddlers rather than infants? What are some of the symptoms of high functioning autism at that age approx.?” While symptoms of High-Functioning Autism (HFA) are sometimes noticeable as early as infancy, many moms and dads sense something different about their undiagnosed youngster by his or her 3rd birthday. In some cases, early language skills are retained, but the lag in motor development may be the first sign that something is different than "typical" 3-year-old behavior. Toddlers (approximately ages 1 to 4), may not show specific symptoms of HFA, but certain behavioral oddities may be noticed by parents as follows: Actions (e.g., waving or giving a toy when asked) seem like simple tasks. However, to a youngster with HFA, these simple gestures may not occur "on schedule" and may instead be dela...