My ASD Child

Question My eldest boy J___ who is now 5-years-old was diagnosed with ASD (level 1) last July. We did 6 months of intense therapy with a child psychologist and a speech therapist before we moved over to Ghana. J___ has settled in well. He has adjusted to school very well and the teachers who are also expats from England are also dealing with him extremely well. My current issue is his anger. At the moment if the situations are not done exactly his way he has a meltdown. Symptoms are: Extreme ear piercing screaming, intense crying, to falling down on the floor saying he is going to die. I have tried to tell him to breathe but his meltdown is so intense that his body just can't listen to words. I then have asked him to go to his room to calm down. He sometimes (very rarely) throws things across the room, but does not physically hurt anyone. As I have two younger boys (ages 1 and 3) I still need to be aware of their safety. I then managed to put J___ in his room

"What types of behavior change methods -if any- can parents use at home instead of putting their child in a formal treatment program?"   Let's look at a few ideas...   A short-term behavior modification plan can break through a cycle of bad behavior in your child with ASD level 1 [Aspergers or High-Functioning Autism]. Think of it as a learning tool to help him or her move forward to a new level of social development.    Four to six weeks on the plan is usually enough to change one or two specific behavior problems. At the very least, your youngster will have a clear understanding of your expectations for his behavior, even if he is not yet able to consistently maintain the desirable behavior. Chips or Charts? A chart system is useful when chores or homework are the issues. Use daily stars or stickers for completed tasks with weekly rewards for good performance. Weekend privileges or rewards are clearly dependent on consistently responsible behavior through the

Over 25% of public schools report that bullying among students occurs on a daily basis. Also, one in five middle school students with ASD (high-functioning autism) report being bullied in the past 3 months. The good news is that, since bullying has made national headlines, schools and communities – and even celebrities – are taking a strong anti-bullying stance. Parents can do their part at home, too. Bullying Facts: Bullies - and victims of bullying - have difficulty adjusting to their environments, both socially and psychologically. Bullies are more likely to smoke and drink alcohol, and to be poorer students. Bullying occurs most frequently from sixth to eighth grade, with little variation between urban, suburban, town and rural areas. Females are more likely to be verbally or psychologically bullied. Males are more likely to be physically bullied. Males are more likely to be bullies - and victims of bullying - than females. Students who are both bullies - and re

ASD manifests in many ways that can cause difficulties on a daily basis. Here are some examples of what to look for: • Being naive and trusting • Confusion • Delayed motor milestones • Delighting in fine details such as knobs on a stereo • Difficulty in conversing • Difficulty with multitasking • Extreme shyness • Lack of dress sense • Mixing with inappropriate company • Not understanding jokes or social interaction • Quoting lists of facts • Unusual and obsessional interests One of the worst problems is that you can never really understand what is going on inside your youngster's head. This makes it so difficult for you to understand his behavior. This can leave you feeling emotionally beat-up and completely useless as a parent. You may have to cope with crisis on a daily, hourly or even minute-by-minute basis. Undiagnosed ASD— Undiagnosed ASD is an issue that concerns me because so many kids have the disorder and are struggling to mak