My ASD Child

A sensory diet is the strategic use of sensory tasks. Most of us use sensory strategies without thinking about it (e.g., drinking coffee to stay alert, listening to soothing music to relax, jogging to reduce stress, etc.). However, most kids on the autism spectrum have sensory needs that require a more intentional approach. A sensory diet is a method for meeting the needs of kids with sensory processing disorders so they will be able to engage in social interactions, sustain attention to task more effectively, focus on their academic progress, and self-soothe. ==> Click here for more information...

“I have a 14-year-old son with high functioning autism who behaves in a way that mystifies me...I cannot do anything right, according to him. I had never heard of Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and after reading the symptoms, I think that he should be seeing a doctor about possibly having this disorder. I have noticed symptoms like the ones mentioned in him since he was very young.  I have tried to talk to him about it and he has told me that he feels out of control at times with his temper, especially when it comes to people of authority. I have learned to not talk about anything he might turn on. I e-mail him across the house and have learned to speak to him in his language. Is it possible for a child to have both disorders? What action should parents take in these cases?” Many parents have difficulty recognizing the difference between a strong-willed, emotional teen with High-Functioning Autism (HFA) or Aspergers’ (AS) and one with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Clearly,