My ASD Child

A meltdown is a condition where the youngster with ASD level 1, or High Functioning Autism, temporarily loses control due to  emotional responses to environmental factors . It generally appears that the youngster has lost control over a single and specific issue, however this is very rarely the case.  Usually, the problem is the accumulation of a number of irritations which could span a fairly long period of time, particularly given the strong long-term memory abilities of young people on the autism spectrum. Wh y T he Problems Seem Hidden— ASD   kids don't tend to give a lot of clues that they are very irritated: Often ASD child-grievances are aired as part of their normal conversation and may even be interpreted by NTs (i.e., neurotypicals, or people without autism) as part of their standard whining. Some things which annoy ASD kids would not be considered annoying to NTs, and this makes NT's less likely to pick up on a potential problem. Their facial expressions very often w

"My 6-year-old son was diagnosed with ADHD at age 5. But now we are seeing signs that he may have 'high functioning' autism. What percentage of ADHD children also have autism? Is a dual diagnosis common?" Most kids with ASD level 1 (high functioning autism) don’t receive that diagnosis until after age 6. Usually, they are diagnosed with ADHD as toddlers. Part of the reason is that physicians routinely screen kids for ADHD but not for autism.    Another reason is that an ASD child's social impairment becomes more evident once he starts school. Finally, physicians are reluctant to label a youngster "autistic." It is okay - and even a badge of honor - to have a hyperactive youngster , but it is another thing entirely to have an autistic youngster . Physicians make their diagnoses based on the youngster’s behaviors. Since kids with ADHD and ASD share similar behaviors, the two can appear to overlap. However, there is a fundamental difference between th

"Do children with ASD Level 1 have speech or language problems, or is this purely an issue in ASD Level 3?" Although kids with ASD level 1, or High-Functioning Autism (HFA), acquire language skills without significant general delay - and their speech typically lacks significant abnormalities - language acquisition and use is often atypical. Abnormalities include: abrupt transitions auditory perception deficits literal interpretations miscomprehension of nuance oddities in loudness, pitch, intonation, prosody, and rhythm  unusually pedantic, formal or idiosyncratic speech use of metaphor meaningful only to the speaker verbosity Three aspects of communication patterns are of clinical interest: marked verbosity poor prosody tangential and circumstantial speech Although inflection and intonation may be less rigid or monotonic than in ASD level 3, young people with HFA often have a limited range of intonation (e.g., speech may be unusually fast, jerky or

“My ASD son (high functioning) continues to be bullied at school, but nobody there seems to take it seriously. His teach said that ‘he seems to start the arguments by annoying some of the other students.’ O.K. Fine. Maybe this is true, but that doesn’t justify bullying. How can I get the school to take this seriously?” Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, disability harassment is against the law in all schools, school districts, and colleges and universities that receive public funds. “Special needs” kids who are bullied or harassed have legal rights to grievance procedures and due process on the local level. They can also file complaints with the Office of Civil Rights. Nevertheless, in spite of all these laws and policies, the National Education Association estimates that every 7 minutes of every school day, a youngster is a victim of bullying, and 85% of the time there is no intervention by other children or grown-ups. Your youngster's school may have anti-

"Would you have a simple summary, kind of a snapshot, that describes the most relevant aspects of ASD Level 1 that I can give my son's teacher so that she can get a basic understanding of this disorder without having to read a book on it?" Sure! Just copy and paste the quick facts below, and give it to the teacher... ASD Level 1: is a developmental disorder, not a disease or a form of genius affects language less, but does present with difficulties in appropriate speech and communicative development affects the way a child relates to others is a highly functional form of autism leads to difficulties in reading non-verbal cues is characterized by social interaction difficulties and impairments related to a restricted, repetitive, stereotype behavior is not the result of "bad parenting" is often confused with ADD and ADHD is not classified as a learning disability, but it is a disorder that impacts learning   Treatment: can help children

Image Source: Pixabay   Discovering that your child has Asperger’s is a challenging situation for any parent. You may feel worried or overwhelmed, unsure of how to tell your child about their diagnosis. While it’s natural to feel anxious, it’s essential to have a conversation with your child. Your child has the right to know and understand why they might be different from their peers. As a parent, it's your responsibility to ensure your child receives the support they need. In this post, we’ll explore when and how to tell your child about their Asperger’s diagnosis. Age and Maturity While there is no right time, experts suggest that it’s best to have the conversation before your child enters adolescence. Children are aware of their differences early on, and if you delay the conversation for too long, they may develop feelings of confusion and isolation. Children with Asperger's may already be aware of their difficulties in certain areas, like social interactions, m