My ASD Child

Marriage to someone with Aspergers (high functioning autism) is challenging to say the least. Characteristics of Aspergers (e.g., difficulty reading body language and facial expression, struggling to perceive emotions in a spouse and in oneself) create significant communication hurdles for the Aspergers individual and his spouse. In addition, the neurotypical (non-Aspergers) partner may not truly understand how much the Aspergers spouse is struggling, and that his behavior causing him to fall short of expectations is not intentional. Repeated communication errors may lead to frustration and tension. Instead of supporting each other, resentments can build to the point of apathy. The heartbreaking conclusion is the loss of the relationship. Grown-ups and kids with Aspergers are often “rubber banding” (i.e., they have a natural social and physical state that may be lower, and a “stretched” state where they are able to push forward and achieve more). An adult with Aspergers may need ...

A new theory has been proposed that may explain the development of Aspergers. The new theory suggests that some of the symptoms of Aspergers (e.g., need for routine and resistance to change) could be linked to low levels of the stress hormone Cortisol. The body produces Cortisol, among other hormones, in stressful situations. Cortisol increases blood pressure and blood sugar levels, among other duties, to signal the body’s need to adapt to changes occurring around it. It’s thought that the increase in Cortisol shortly after waking helps jump-start the brain for the day ahead. Normally, individuals have a surge of this hormone shortly after waking, with levels gradually decreasing throughout the day. It is thought this surge makes the brain alert, preparing the body for the day and helping the individual to be aware of changes happening around them. Researchers have discovered that Aspergers kids do not experience this surge. Cortisol is one of a family of stress hormones ...

In today’s newsletter, I want to share with you the text version of a recent “phone-in” question- and-answer session. Also, I’ve included a great article about The Education System by Matthew Readman (a talented young writer who has Aspergers). Ready?   O.K.   Let’s go… What are some common signs or symptoms? The most distinguishing symptom of AS is a youngster’s obsessive interest in a single object or topic to the exclusion of any other.  Some kids with AS have become experts on vacuum cleaners, makes and models of cars, even objects as odd as deep fat fryers.  Kids with AS want to know everything about their topic of interest and their conversations with others will be about little else.  Their expertise, high level of vocabulary, and formal speech patterns make them seem like little professors.   Kids with AS will gather enormous amounts of factual information about their favorite subject and will talk incessantly about it, but the conversa...