Autism-Articles

When asked to describe a child with autism spectrum disorder, it can be difficult. There are a number of different conditions that fall within this line of diagnoses, and children can experience the disorders to remarkably varying degrees. The common thread between children with these disorders, however, is that there is a fundamental difference in the way that they interact and learn. For virtually all children with an autism spectrum disorder, a different method of teaching is important. ABA therapy is proven to offer great benefit to students who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Applied Behavior Analysis therapy works by encouraging behavior patterns and repetitive actions in order to teach basic tasks. These exercises also help teach the mind how to learn by developing new neural connections that allow children to literally learn how to learn. These new pathways help children learn to connect the various parts of a task or concept togethe...

When it comes to treating children with autism, many schools seem lost in the dark. In fact, many schools have no set plan in place, putting kids in special classes where they receive minimal teaching. ABA therapy offers schools a uniform teaching method that offers significant benefit. As the only form of autism treatment covered by most insurers, This therapy is simply the most effective treatment. When your school is trained to provide this therapy, it can provide significant benefit to students with autism. When ABA is introduced into the school system, guidance counselors, teachers, and other support staff are all educated in how the therapy works. This ensures that everyone the child deals with throughout the school day is teaching the same principles. Since ABA requires repetition and consistency to be most effective, this ensures the best possible results. The method is also quite common in homes, and parents are often brought into support team meetings s...

Autism and school are becoming a hot topic for school boards and parent groups right across the country and around the world. This is because the occurrence of autism in children is increasing at an alarming rate. Educators today are seeing an exponentially higher number of autistic children in their classrooms than a decade ago. For that reason, an increasing number of parents and educators want to ensure all children receive a positive educational experience. As no two autistic children display precisely the same autism symptoms, it becomes impossible to create a standardized program that creates positive experiences for children with autism at school. Therefore, it is likely that in order to receive the best possible education an autistic child will need to undergo an ever-changing educational strategy throughout their entire learning career. For example, while some students on the spectrum may be able to keep up with peers on an academic level, they may expe...

The Special Education system in Ontario has a language of its own. If you are the parent of a child who has been recently identified as exceptional by the school board, you can get lost in the language during your first school meetings. There are many acronyms that are used by school administrators and school staff and most often they don't think about the fact that parents may not understand their "language". So it's up to the parents to become knowledgeable about the language of special education. In this article, I am going to explain the meanings of ten of the most important acronyms in special education. IEP - I ndividual E ducation P lan. The IEP is a document that lists the strengths and needs, and the programs, services, accommodations and supports that are required by a particular student. It lists the annual goals in each alternative or modified subject area, as well as the learning expectations for each term, which are determined by th...

In order to more fully understand the difference between Autism and Aspergers it is helpful to understand that Autism, also referred to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), covers a range of developmental and cognitive abilities ranging from mild to significant impairments. A person who has been diagnosed with autism may be so severely affected that there are significant impairments to social, language, and cognitive development. On the other hand, autism may be so mild that a person my function at a very high level intellectually while continuing to struggle with social interactions. One of the primary areas of difficulty for a person with autism is in the area of language development. Since the early 1990's many young people diagnosed with Autism have made progress (approximately 85%) with language development partly due to early intervention and increased awareness and understanding. Although speech can be developed, many individuals with autism continue to str...

Children with autism are often misunderstood, especially when it comes to autism and anxiety on socialization and it's not surprising that the most loving parents can make some mistakes. The body of information about this condition is vast, but some of it is conflicting. This can leave even the best parents feeling confused and overwhelmed. One thing no parent wants to see is his or her child is suffering in any way. When it comes to autism and anxiety of socialization, there is some conflicting information out there about the children and what they might really want to accomplish. For a long time it was thought that children with autism did not want to socialize. Some parents would feel bad about trying to get them to relate to other children their age, as it brought about a lot of frustration for the child. Autistics can lack many of the basic social skills needed to make and keep friends. They aren't good with eye contact, initiating conversations, and ...

Our children with Autism need friendships for a variety of reasons. Some of those reasons are the same as our typical children. Some of those reasons are a bit different for our children. Of course children with Autism need friends to be able to practice social skills. They need to learn to share and take turns. Friends are many times with people longer than siblings. Siblings share location and parents. Friends share interests and time. It is a bit more complicated when our child has Autism. They sometimes do not seem to really want friends. Our children like spending time alone. Many of our children like the quiet. There is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes. Even most of the time. The only problem is that they are missing out on a different type of relationship. Friendship is different than the relationship between us and our children. It is also different than the relationship between siblings. It requires different skills. Sometimes parents are years down th...

Children have been learning through play for millions of years. In my opinion most children learn best through play, including children with autism. Play is extremely important to children with autism, even though they typically have a difficult time understanding the concept of play. The reason is because play is an abstract concept and children with autism are generally more concrete thinkers. In addition, play involves an intense level of communication and eye contact, something children on the spectrum typically have a hard time maintaining. At the beginning of the school year 2010- 2011, my assignment was teaching a classroom of children with multiple disabilities. There were seven children and they were all of Kindergarten age. Three met the diagnostic criteria for autism. Two of the seven were non-verbal. Three were only partially verbal. The remaining two were verbal but with autism-like verbal skills which included an inability to understand abstract que...

No matter what autistic child we are talking about, they will most likely have problems with organization. This is not to say that they are stupid, because they are not, it's just a simple problem that children with autism (and Autistic Adults) have, no matter if they are super intelligent. So with such problems people would think that they have to crowd the autistic child, telling them to do something, being almost on their back about what not to forget. But this unfortunately is not the best way to get the most from your autistic child. Just remember that your autistic child is just like you, they are human! Do you like your boss or your spouse always being on your back? The answers are obviously no, but just imagine what your autistic child feels. Where you or I could say, stop annoying my, or go away, your autistic child most likely can't even articulate what they want to say to you, which would most likely be... "Get Off My Back". This is g...

Autism is an condition that affects over 1.5 million people in the U.S., including adults, and wandering is a behavior that is challenging for all. A generation ago, most children who were diagnosed with it were institutionalized. Thankfully, parents, schools, physicians and society in general now know most of the symptoms and behaviors of those afflicted, and can work with these individuals to ensure that they have a healthy and safe lifestyle. Without preparation for wandering, an individual can possibly leave the house and encounter dangerous circumstances. Preparing one's home, and taking measures to protect those with autism can give a sense of security to those that care for them. Preventing Wandering As much as you may want to be there for your child or adult that you are offering caregiving to, there will be moments when you cannot supervise every second. Bathing, sleeping, working or just turning your back for a few moments to complete a task can all...

The IEP goals autism sufferers typically attempt to achieve include more effective learning, minimized symptom behavior, and an individualized understanding experience. An IEP is the individualized education plan created for your child's learning experience at school. The IEP provides a uniquely tailored document that steers the educational development for the individual child, allowing teachers, parents, and experts to recognize whether or not progress is truly being made. The IEP goals parents are seeking are an overall outline that includes measurable elements so that progress - or lack thereof - may be recognized. No two plans are the same and they each have their own individual purpose and steps for achieving further educational development. Parents often wonder exactly what role they play in the development of their child's IEP, its goals, and its practice. Fortunately, there are many resources that help to guide parents along this sometimes daunt...

If you have an autistic child, then you are aware of the many challenges you face raising your child. With the behavioral problems that many autistic children suffer from, raising an autistic child may feel like two full-time jobs at times. Educating an autistic child is also a difficult task that must be fully thought out. While public schools are funded to handle children with special needs, these locations are not always the best arenas for autistic children. One of the reasons that home-schooling your autistic child is a good idea is because special education programs may lump autistic children in with others who have maladaptive behavioral problems. Remember, autistic children have behavioral problems due to their developmental inability to properly function normally in social situations. If they are placed in with others who have emotional problems they may regress instead of progress. However, if home-schooled, parents can control the social influences tha...

Autism is currently affecting 1 in 150 children, but children who suffer from the effects of Autism are much higher. In a family with more than 1 child who have a child with Autism, the effects on the non-autistic sibling can be life long. For a family whose Autistic sibling is the eldest, it creates an entirely different family structure with the younger non-autistic child either taking on a caregiver or guardianship role or emulating the behaviours of the child with Autism. Children with Autism take up a lot of the parent's time and energy often leaving little for the younger non-autistic sibling. Sometimes a non-autistic younger sibling feels that they have to compete for their parents attention and that the extra attention somehow means that the child with Autism is the more loved child. This can lead to resentment of their disabled sibling and sometimes negative behaviour. To these children, any attention is better than no attention - even if it is negat...

Have you considered a toy for autistic child? Regardless if a child has autism, another disability or not, all children love toys. Of course, no child is alike. Therefore, what may be enjoyed by one child may not hold the interest of another. Thus, the trick is to figure out which toys your autistic child will enjoy playing with, and will help them develop skills. The following are 10 great toys for autistic children. The first 5 are suggestions are for children age 3-7 and the second 5 are for children age 8 - 12. Following each basic toy description is examples of where you can find them - Ages 3-7 1. Paints and/or coloring pencils with large paper - This is a great way for an autistic child to express him/herself in color. Knowing what colors your child responds to may be helpful when it comes to learning. Check Toys R' Us, Sears, or Wal-Mart. 2. Building blocks - any toy for autistic child that can be stacked helps them improve their motor skills...

The lack of eye contact is one of the first noticeable signs of Autism. This becomes clear somewhere between 13 and 24 months. However, trying it can be for parents, all is not lost. A proactive program can be used to increase eye contact in children with Autism. Most children with Autism start to develop normally, but after their first birthday their temperament and socialization begins to change. Children with Autism start to avoid interaction with other people. Things that would make them smile and giggle before, now makes them cry. Before they would look at faces and recognize people. Then as if over night, children with Autism will wiggle and jerk their heads purposely not looking at other faces. When a parent tries to turn the children and look into his/her eyes, he/she with look up or down, anywhere but at the parents eyes. Why does this happen and why is it important to correct it? Autism is first and foremost a socialization disorder. Eye contact is very...

Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD, affects one out of every 150 children, but there are many different therapies available to help autistic children enjoy better quality of life. One of the best therapies recommended for autistic children is called deep pressure, which involves putting pressure on children's bodies in order to stimulate their nervous systems and promote calming feelings. One of the best ways to provide deep pressure therapy for a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder is with beanbag furniture. Bean bags can provide safe and even pressure all over a child's body. Because they are filled with shredded foam, beanbag chairs are perfect for deep pressure therapy for autistic children because the foam conforms to the child's body. The foam also is soft enough be safe for the child, even while providing the sensory input autistic children crave. Children with some forms of autism disorders like to make violent movements, and beanbag furniture c...

When a parent finds their child has Autism they deal with the emotions as well as the challenges of this realization. There are a variety of treatments for children with Autism. Parents are also being taught different ways to handle their child. It is also important to treat the parent and help them know the best ways to care for their child. The parent may not have Autism, but they are dealing with a lot as well. A parent must deal with the Autism symptoms of their child while also dealing with their own emotions. They are building their own relationship with their child while going through the aspects of Autism as well. They worry as any parent does that they are making the right decisions. They want to work with their child as well as loving their child. They want to make sure they do the best they can to help with every aspect of the child's needs. Parents need the knowledge to help their child not only with Autism symptoms, but the need for emotional car...

Do you remember not getting what you had your heart set on when you were a child? Maybe it was a special birthday gift, or that trip to the zoo, or that new skateboard you coveted. That was childhood but now as adults we are more mature in how we deal with disappointment, or are we? We are wise enough to know that not everything is within our grasp and there are some things that will elude us despite our financial means. Parenthood, for one, is a roll of the dice from the very beginning. There are those of us who struggle to bring a child into this world and those of us who easily procreate. Some parents may be briefly disappointed about the gender of their child but all are grateful for the birth of a healthy son or daughter. Despite this appreciation for a son or a daughter that has all ten fingers and ten toes, some of us secretly wish for more. As our children begin to develop, we anxiously anticipate the typical childhood milestones of smiling, crawling, wal...

Caring for autistic children can be difficult, yet there are steps and actions that can be taken by parents of autistic children to help them deal with the situations that will arise. Children who carry this autistic disorder can start showing signs as early as age 2, and if caught early, caregivers can learn to better cope with the disorder, as well as helping the child. Autism affects social skills and communications skills, among other areas, so getting an early diagnosis will help in implementing steps to help the child learn to express themselves better and to deal with the people around them and their surroundings. Everyone has seen children who behave badly on purpose, and children with autism may exhibit some of these same behaviors, but most often they will do so unintentionally. The bad behaviors that autistic children exhibit may actually be a product of what is going on around them. If they become startled by someone or something, then they may act in...

Whether the autistic child has just graduated from high school or passed out from college, learning practical and proven ways to deal with life outside a secure and disciplined environment that is mainly academic, is very essential to helping them adjust to the demands of a competitive environment, such as a work culture demands. Many autistic children are financially dependent to a certain extent, if not fully reliant, on sustenance from their parents, much like regular kids are, but the situation is more complicated for autistic children as opposed to normal kids who are better able to fend for themselves since they do have have the mental and physical limitations of autism disorder preventing them from adjusting to a new life and coping with work demands -even when both sets of kids may be initially scared of the change. Their time to live among peer groups in a controlled environment is over and instead of facing known situations every day as in a school rout...

A biomedical Autism Doctor Explains The Different Types of Aggressive Behaviors Displayed in Autistic Children In part 1 of this article on Aggressive Behavior and Autism I discussed some of the common issues seen with individuals on the autism-spectrum such as food sensitivities, intestinal issues and others that biomedical autism intervention and treatment can help. Here I explore these and other concepts more in-depth, and things you can do to assess your child's aggressive and/or self-injury behavior (SIB). Biomedical Autism Intervention - Assessing Your Child's Behavior The first thing to do is assess their pattern of aggression and/or SIB. The following is a list of things to consider. Does your child's behavior fall into one or more of these categories? Continuous - is the aggression and/or SIB almost continuous. In many individuals this can indicate pain - physical or emotional. For example, pain from constipation or intestinal cramping, infe...

A Biomedical Autism Doctor Explains The Causes Behind Aggressive Behavior in Autistic Children The Need For Biomedical Autism Intervention A very troubling issue with some individuals on the autism-spectrum is aggressive and/or self-injury behavior (SIB). This can be quite common in children (and as teenagers and adults) who lack the ability to communicate verbally, as well as those kids transitioning from one developmental stage to another. No particular time is more challenging than when a child is transitioning through puberty to become a young adult. There is no doubt that some individual's behavior is benefitted by prescription medicine - particularly when aggressive behaviors put themselves or others in danger. However, biomedical autism intervention and treatment has benefits as well, and is often an overlooked issue in autism. Biomedical Autism intervention Strategy # 1 - Diet As a biomedical specialist I have seen on many occasions that biomedical aut...

An Autism Doctor Explains The Many Benefits of Biomedical Autism Treatments: Biomedical autism treatment is an expanding area of medicine that recognizes for the majority of autism-spectrum children, teenagers and adults, that they are dealing with underlying medical issues that are at the root cause of their autism condition. Specialists such as physicians, scientists, general healthcare practitioners, and parents have known for years that biomedical autism treatment works for a large majority of autism individuals. These biomedical autism treatments include diet, supplement therapy, immune support, and more. The main areas of improvement are the following: * Better cognitive skills - learning, memory retention, etc. * Improved social skills - more appropriate interactions, willingness to engage socially. * Better eye contact, attention, focusing enhanced. * More stable behaviors - less aggressive, tantrums, and irritability * Improved capacity for speech development*...

Structure and routine are two common things that are needed in an autistic child's world. They have difficulties adjusting to changes and can become quite upset, and even angry when things don't go as they should. And these melt downs can make the change in routine even harder to handle. An autistic child survives on things remaining the same. Something as simple as day light savings time, when the external time is an hour off of their internal time, can create a nightmare for parents. Bedtime is now an hour different, meal times as well. Your child's body will be telling him one thing, while you're contradicting it, and telling him it's a different time. End result, a week or so of meltdowns as they readjust to the time. Another thing that can disturb them and cause a meltdown is something like a field trip in school. Instead of the regular routine they are expecting, the whole day turns upside down. While the other children are excited and ha...