My ASD Child

Insistence on sameness is a core feature of autism spectrum disorders, characterized by compulsive adherence to routine, and stereotyped, repetitive behaviors. This makes it hard for children on the autism spectrum to adjust to the ever-changing demands of their environment. Their preference for sameness is typically accompanied by significant distress when a preferred activity is interrupted, resulting in serious behavioral management problems. It is possible that the brain systems responsible for changing from repetitive behaviors to more flexible ones are impaired in children on the spectrum. On the other hand, these children may not recognize or respond to external cues or rewards intended to promote changes in behavior. Understanding the brain systems involved in changing behavior and their dysfunction will ultimately help guide treatment for this understudied – yet disabling aspect – of autism spectrum disorders. Young people with Asperger’s (AS) and High-Functioning

Cognitive Restructuring enables teens with Asperger’s (AS) and High-Functioning Autism (HFA) to correct distorted conceptualizations and dysfunctional beliefs. The process involves challenging their current thinking with logical evidence and ensuring the rationalization and cognitive control of their emotions. The first stage of Cognitive Restructuring is to establish the evidence for a particular belief. Teens with AS and HFA often make false assumptions of their circumstances and the intentions of others. They have a tendency to make a literal interpretation, and a casual comment may be taken out of context or may be taken to the extreme. For instance, a 14-year-old male with AS was once told his “voice was breaking.” He became extremely anxious that his voice was becoming faulty and decided to consciously alter the pitch of his voice to repair it. The result was an artificial falsetto voice that was atypical of a male teenager. Another example of literal interpreta