Autism-Articles

This is the most common question that parents ask whenever they notice odd behaviors from their children. A lot of people assume that if their child fails to talk at the age or 2 or 3, he is autistic. This is a big misconception. There are numerous reasons as to why speech might be delayed in toddlers, and a lot of other reasons why some children are not hitting their milestones, but sadly, autism is one of them. It is comforting to know though, that talking late in toddlers does not automatically mean that your child is autistic. Autism is a disorder that lasts a lifetime. It is referred to as a developmental disorder because symptoms normally manifest before a child reaches the age of 3 which is a critical period of development. It then causes concerns in the child's development, learning and growth. When a child has autism, the areas that are affected normally concerns delayed skills in the following: - Sensory - the way a child receives and process inform...

When dealing with tantrums and difficult behaviors in autism spectrum disorders, using behavioral approaches alone can sometimes fail. What is the missing piece to managing these behaviors that a behavioral approach alone may not address? To start, we need to look at the reasons for behavior. According to behavioral approaches, most of the behavior we see results from one of three reasons: a request, seeking attention, or a sensory reason. Let's look deeper at these three reasons for behavior and the ways we currently handle them. Handling a request is fairly straightforward. To put it very simply, a request is usually something externally controlled by both reinforcing appropriate requests and not reinforcing inappropriate ones, such as a tantrum. For negative attention-seeking behaviors, we can eliminate the behavior by not giving the negative behavior attention and give attention for desired behavior - very straightforward, and again, usually externally co...

According to health officials and medical professionals, the exact causes of the Autism disorder are still unclear although there is considerable agreement that there exists some type of genetic link between the disorder and the afflicted person's genes. There are other variables that could be possible causes such as environmental factors and immune system abnormalities. Regardless, the majority of all health and medical professionals agree that early intervention and diagnosis is still the best course of action to pursue. Recognizing the early warning signs of the disorder Past clinical research has demonstrated that the earlier a child is properly diagnosed and a treatment is prescribed, the outcome in the long-run will be considerably better. The following are some of the National Institute of Mental Health's early warning signs: o In many cases, the child doesn't respond with a joyful facial expression (i.e., smile) o The child hasn't spoken a si...

Autistic children have great difficulties in changing from doing one thing to the next. To say they have issues dealing and coping with transitions is an understatement. In fact, some transitions can be downright difficult for the autistic child. So how can you ease the upset of a transition for them? Prepare them well ahead of time. If their schedule is going to be different from what it normally is, or if they have to move from doing one thing to doing another thing you need to prepare them for it, to make it as easy as possible on all parties involved. You can do this through talking to them, showing them pictures of what's going to happen next, and allowing yourself and them extra time for the change in routine. Try to maintain normalcy in as many other parts of their day as you can. Giving them a grounding point in the day where things are as they always are will help them to better cope, during times like holidays, when things are out of routine. Reward ...

The ever increasing number of children diagnosed with autism has created a degree of alarm in the US and around the world. So far, doctors have failed to find a cure for this illness. Some parents and health practitioners have begun to experiment with alternative forms of treatment including acupuncture. Acupuncture is a holistic approach in treating and preventing certain diseases. While still considered "strange" in Western eyes, it's been around for centuries and has been practiced for decades in the US. It uses very thin needles that are inserted into targeted points in the body. The body has about 400 of these points linked through a system known as meridians or pathways. Once these acupuncture points are stimulated, they are believed to help create balance in the body. Autism is a brain disorder that is long term. This disease is characterized by deficits in language, social communication and cognition. Children who are diagnosed with this ill...

By medical definition, Asperger Autism is a disorder of the Autism "spectrum" which is characterized by repetitive and restrictive behavior and interest patterns as well as significant difficulties with the ability to interact socially. According to Wikipedia, "it differs from other Autism spectrum disorders by [virtue of] its relative preservation of cognitive and linguistic development." The atypical use of language and physical clumsiness are oftentimes reported as characteristics although they are not required for diagnosis. A child may display numerous symptoms of Asperger Autism, or they may only exhibit a few. Additionally, the severity of these symptoms may range from mild to extremely severe in nature. However, the key characteristic of this form of Autism is that the child will have a significant amount of difficulty when it comes to interacting with others in social situations. As a result of this unpredictable variance, no two child...

When you are trying to figure out the autism symptoms of toddlers, it can often be confusing. How much is just normal toddler behavior, how much is a phase of some sort, and how much is cause for serious concern? One thing that you can use to look at to help you decide is the child's behavior. Routine Toddlers with autism will display many behavior related symptoms. They will have a marked need for routine, needing to do everything in the same way, every time. For example, if you always travel home from the grocery store the same way, your child might notice if you take a different route, and get very upset. Very likely, he will want to have the same things for breakfast and meals, and at the same time every day. Bed time should be kept consistent. This need for routine is a common autism symptom of toddlers and children. Lining up Toys A toddler might line up his toys repeatedly. This is a classic autistic symptoms that toddlers exhibit. He won't play wi...

Do you have a child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who is challenged socially? Do you realize that you don't have to rely on the professionals who provide services to your child to enhance their social skills. Social skill groups and classes led by experts in the field are extremely beneficial but you also have the power to take every social interaction your child experiences and turn it into a teaching/learning opportunity. As parents we interact with our children numerous times during the day. Each interaction has a specific reason attached to it, helping a child dress, tucking them into bed, or reading them a story are simple encounters that are almost done by default as if we are on automatic pilot. These can be anything from a greeting, asking them a question or giving them a direction that may be brief yet powerful. When you think of it, every contact we have with our children is a social one and as simple as it might be we can make it even more ...

Along with motivation, curiosity is the one of the best and most direct paths to learning new things. Encouraging curiosity in children is a crucial role parents need to play in developing their child's intellect. Children will stay curious as long as they are allowed to explore, discover and ask questions. It's that easy! If your child is non-verbal and unable to ask questions remember that there are many ways to be curious. Never assume that a child cannot learn just because he can't articulate a question. Every child's level of curiosity will be unique. Young children tend to show their curiosity in various capacities. Children with good communication skills may be verbally inquisitive and their constant questioning, the "whys" and "why not's", can drive you nuts! This is when parents need to practice patience. Other children on the spectrum explore their world more quietly because their ability to communicate is challeng...

Dinosaurs and the Autism Spectrum Autism is a life-long, debilitating condition that affects a surprising number of people. Research from the National Autistic Society suggests that as many as half a million people in the UK have some form of Autism or have a related condition such as Asperger Syndrome. Autism is a condition that affects the way in which people relate to themselves and the world around them. Sufferers can be over-sensitive to sensory stimuli, they can find it difficult to make sense of their environment. Asperger Syndrome is a form of Autism. People with Asperger Syndrome find it difficult to communicate and interact with others. Neither Autism or Asperger Syndrome are related to low intelligence, indeed, from our experience with children that have Asperger Syndrome the child concerned is often shown to have a higher than average IQ. For example, one of the attractions of dinosaurs to children on the Autism Spectrum are the long names and all the...

When you think about autism treatments for your child, teenager or adult, do not overlook diet. It may not occur to you at first, but what your loved one with autism is eating is just as important, if not more, than the medications or therapies he is getting in terms of affecting behavior and well-being. Many children with autism need to avoid certain ingredients in common foods, as they are very sensitive to them. Autism Treatment Using Diet Using diet as an autism treatment is often called a biomedical intervention. You will want to avoid artificial ingredients, food dyes, and as much sugar as possible. These can all bring havoc onto the system. A lot of people with autism are sensitive to gluten and casein. Gluten is an ingredient found in many foods, especially bread, cereal and grains. Nearly all pastries and other bakery items have gluten in them. Pasta also has it. Casein is found in most dairy products, such as milk, ice cream and yogurt. People who are int...

Are you the parent of a young child who you believe has Autism or Pervasive Developmental Disorder(PDD)? Are special education personnel in your district refusing to acknowledge this diagnosis, despite a lot of evidence? Many school districts refuse to admit that a child has autism, because they do not want to provide the special education and related services that a child needs! But this tool can be used by special education personnel to see if your child has autism. Below are 9 things that you must know about the ADOS: 1. Purpose: Allows an accurate diagnosis of autism and pervasive developmental disorder 2. Can be used for children who are 2 years up to adulthood. 3. Takes 30-45 minutes for a qualified examiner to use this tool. 4. The person using the tool must have prior education, training, and experience in using this type of diagnostic took. They must also have extensive experience with autism and PDD! 5. The person using the tool must take a clinical traini...

Does your child suffer from Autism Spectrum Disorder? If you are not sure, you may be looking for information on this condition in order to learn more and make a more productive choice of care for your child. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a disorder in the brain that affects the child's development. Signs and symptoms may begin as early as infancy or it can be delayed until around the age of two. Autism Spectrum Disorder includes several conditions; Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Development Disorder, and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. Each disorder has their own characteristics but they all share a common thread - autism. Behavior When a child suffers from Autism Spectrum Disorder, they display a variety of behavior problems. These behavioral issues can include repetitive behavior, social withdrawal, or impairments that can hinder the way they child functions everyday. They can be disturbing if others are talking in the room such as a school environment or if...

f you have noticed that your child is not developing like they should you may want to consider taking your child to their doctor to rule out autism. There are many other conditions and disorders that can affect your child at different ages but autism is becoming one of the most common conditions. Symptoms of autism can start as early as infancy but may not be detected until after the child is around the age of two when development stages should be very noticeable. Symptoms of Autism in Infancy A baby who has autism may develop signs that you can look for. These signs include a baby who doesn't pay attention to objects or toys, displays no emotions, doesn't copy your actions such as when you smile at him or her they do not smile back, doesn't try to create word sounds, cannot communicate with you or others, doesn't want to talk even though he or she has already started talking, doesn't want to be around you, or has trouble communicating. These are sympto...

Persuasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified is also known as PDD-NOS. This is where a child only shows some of the signs of Autism. They may not show these signs at all times, or in all places. Usually PDD-NOS is first seen in children three or four years of age. Yet some children show signs while still an infant. There are different areas that the signs could be present. We will look at two of these. Social Interaction The developmental delays in social interaction can often be seen when the child is a baby. They may not look you in the eyes, or smile when you are interacting with them. They do not hold their arms up for you to pick them up. They might play off by their self. Some of the children with PDD-NOS may enjoy being cuddled on occasion. They might enjoy rough housing with their older sibling or parent. These PDD-NOS children usually do not have problems with separation from their parents. They also do not have issues with strangers. They ...

This article is based on strong theoretical, logical and professional foundation of the Author. Autism has been a special area of concern for many since Dr. Leo Kanner a Psychiatrist at John's Hopkins University, who wrote the first paper using the term "Autism" in 1943 referring a group of Children who exhibited similar kinds of symptoms related to social, communication and behavioural problems. Basically the term Autism has been referred to a person exhibiting problems in social abilities and communication. Most of the professionals agree that Autism is a life long developmental disabilities resulting due to gross neurological disorder which affects the functioning of the brain. Prevalence of Autism is said to be one in every 500 people and male female ratio is 4:1. In due course of time based upon the group of symptom exhibited by the children it has been grouped into four types; 1) Aspergers syndrome 2) Rett disorder 3) Heller syndrome 4) Pervasiv...

Autism is a spectrum disorder and as a result of being one, you cannot group all autistic people into one category. They all have different types and severities of autism. Autism affects their worlds differently. Just like no two people are the same, no two sufferers of autism spectrum disorders are the same. You can have a person with autism who is self sufficient and able to function at a relatively normal level or you can have an autistic individual who is completely reliant on others for help with daily functioning. So what are the general types of autism? Asperger's syndrome. This is a mild form of autism in which the functioning level of the individual is much the same as those around them. This form of autism also responds quite well to typical therapies and treatments. In some schools of theory this is referred to as "high functioning" autism. There is also "low functioning" autism in which the personal is severely delayed in social...

Autism is a complicated illness which seems to be affecting a number of children nowadays. While there is no known cure for autism, parents who struggle to raise autistic child or children are finding ways to manage and cope with their situation. As a parent, one of the hardest sentences to hear is "your child is autistic". It would be unrealistic to say that this is the end of the world but for some parents it can be as close as it gets. First of all, it would be good to note that autism has no known cause. Studies have shown that children who are autistic seem to a genetic disposition to autism; however this does not mean that genetics is the cause of the illness. Whether predisposition to autism is genetic or not, there are triggers which can precipitate the disorder. These can be complications during birth or pregnancy, viral infections, chemicals and pollutants in the environment and even allergies. One of the hardest part about autism is that no t...

We have had over ten years experience with tutoring and teaching our daughter with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. Below is some of the Teaching Aids we used that we think were the most successful in her development and learning. These methods can be used with any child with or without an Autism Spectrum Disorder, Pervasive Development Disorder or Special Needs. Teaching Aid 1 - Setting up a Therapy Room In the beginning what got us going was the SON RISE program. Liz went to America to the Option Institute and did a two week course on how to cope with a child with Autism, methods for working with and tutoring a child with Autism and how to set up a therapy room for a tutoring a child with Autism and or Special Needs. The course is not just for Parents of children with Autism, but also for children with Learning Difficulties, Pervasive Development Disorder (PDD) and children with Special Needs in general. The course also focusses a great deal on how to deal on an e...

Autism, High functioning Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder Non Specific (PDDNOS) Which autism spectrum diagnosis has your child received? I understand this is a very anxious time for you. You've found out your child has Autism, a developmental disorder which until recently you may never have even heard of. I know too, that like many other parents that when he was much younger, you felt something was wrong, but no-one would listen to you. They said you were over-anxious or a new parent and told you to wait and see. Well you waited, and this is how it turned out! There is no blood test for Autism, no MRI scan. Diagnosis is through observation and parent interview using DSM-IV (American Psychiatric Association, 1994). A diagnosis of autistic disorder is given when an individual displays 6 or more of 12 symptoms listed across three major areas social interaction communication stereotypical behaviour When a child display similar behaviours...