My ASD Child

“Why does it seem to be the case that many (if not most) children with ASD also suffer from a significant degree of anxiety?” Kids with High-Functioning Autism (HFA) and Asperger’s (AS) are indeed particularly vulnerable to anxiety. This vulnerability may be an intrinsic feature of the disorder through a breakdown in circuitry related to extinguishing fear responses, a secondary consequence of their inability to make social judgments throughout development, and specific neurotransmitter system defects. Specific reasons for experiencing high degrees of anxiety include the following: 1. Limitations in generalizing from one situation to another contribute to repeating the same social errors. 2. Limitations in their ability to grasp social cues and their highly rigid style act in concert to create repeated social gaffs as well. 3. The lack of empathy severely limits skills for autonomous social-problem solving. 4. The social-skills deficits of HFA and AS make it difficult

Question "Can you offer tips for completing assignments?" Answer Children with High-Functioning Autism (HFA) have the same motivational needs as other kids. Sometimes less, and other times, a lot more motivation is needed to accomplish the same assignment. However, children on the autism spectrum will always have the need for a little extra help due to the challenges associated by the disorder. Because HFA affects functional skills in socialization and communication, teachers and parents will need to get creative in order to find ways to help these kids succeed. Here are a few tips to help with school assignments: 1. Children on the spectrum crave order, structure and routine. These desires can be utilized to help with assignment completion. Classroom time for the "special needs" child must be an organized and structured environment. Consistent structure will provide comfort, allowing the child to make progress on his assignments. 2. U

All teenagers experience depression from time to time due to the normal pressures faced during adolescents. Also, young people with ASD level 1, or High-Functioning Autism (HFA), experience depression occasionally due to dealing with the symptoms associated with the disorder. So, little wonder why a teenager WITH the disorder may have more than his fair share of depression symptoms. Depression in HFA teens is a serious condition – it affects emotions, thought and behaviors. Although adolescent depression isn't medically different from depression in grown-ups, HFA adolescents often have unique challenges and symptoms. Issues such as peer pressure, academic expectations and changing bodies can bring a lot of ups and downs for these adolescents. But for some, the lows are more than just temporary feelings — they're a sign of depression. Depression is these teens is not a weakness or something that can be overcome with willpower. Like depression in grown-ups, adolescent de

Dogs are wired to love their human family unconditionally, and are extremely loyal as well as being sensitive to moods and emotions. This is what makes therapy dogs so amazing for children with autism. Dogs also respond well to fixed structures, repetition and patterns, which makes it easy for them to fit straight into the routines and mindset of those with autism. If you have a therapy dog as part of your family you will want to make sure they are safe at all times when travelling in a vehicle, so choosing the right seatbelt is important. There’s no doubt that some dogs would prefer to enjoy the ride with their heads out of the window, or ride shotgun with no restraints, but the risk of them, or another passenger being hurt in even a minor traffic accident make that a definite no-no. Still, actually choosing the right travel seatbelt for your particular dog can be a bit of a headache, especially when you need to be sure it is the safest possible option. The fact is there are l