My ASD Child

"How can I help my daughter (high functioning autistic) to better understand non-verbal cues such as facial expressions and body language?" “Flat affect” is a term used to describe a lack of emotional reactivity. It is manifest as a failure to express feelings – either verbally or non-verbally – especially regarding issues that would normally be expected to engage the emotions. With a flat affect, expressive gestures are rare, and there is little animation in facial expression or vocal inflection. A person with flat affect has no – or nearly no – emotional expression. He or she may not react at all to circumstances that usually evoke strong emotions in others. Many kids with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism (HFA) have a flat affect. Their facial expressions are fixed or “artificial” in appearance instead of naturally animated. The youngster may not laugh or smile unless cued to do so in an appropriate situation, or he may appear to have a collection of reh

How the symptoms of Aspergers affect girls differently than boys: 

“What kind of treatment has had the best outcome for children with autism - high functioning? I’m new to the world of Autism Spectrum Disorders, and I want the best for my child.” The type of treatment that will have the best outcome varies from child to child depending on his or her symptoms and level of functioning. The most important factor is early intervention. Research shows that early intervention treatment can greatly improve a youngster’s development. Early intervention services help kids from birth to 3-years-old learn important skills.  Services include therapy to help the youngster talk, walk, and interact with others.  Therefore, it is important for parents to talk to their youngster’s doctor as soon as possible if they think their son or daughter has Aspergers or High-Functioning Autism (HFA). Even if the youngster has not been diagnosed with the disorder, he or she may be eligible for early intervention treatment services. The Individuals with Disabilitie

"I’m feeling very weighed down right now because my son was just diagnosed with Asperger’s, and I’m a single mom with two other children. What can I do to help my son now – and as he grows older?" After a youngster is diagnosed with Aspergers or High-Functioning Autism, the parent may feel unprepared or unable to provide the youngster with the necessary care and education. Know that there are many treatment options, social services and programs, and other resources that can help. Some tips that can help you and your son are: Contact your local health department or autism advocacy groups to learn about the special programs available in your state and local community. Keep a record of conversations, meetings with health care providers and educators, and other sources of information. This will help you remember the different treatment options and decide which would help your youngster most. Keep a record of the doctors' reports and your youngster's eval