Autism-Articles

For a typical child, speech begins to develop with the first sound the child makes. Words like mama, dada and ball are normal first words you normally hear. Incrementally, a child will create language by using those sounds and speech skills. By school age, most children already have speech that is understandable by someone who has not been around them. Children with autism may take longer to develop speech to a level which is understandable if at all. Parents and caregivers can go to their doctors to ask for an evaluation and a referral. From there, they are usually referred to a speech pathologist or therapist. Speech pathologists, also known as therapists, must hold masters degrees and work in a clinics, school settings, and private settings. Speech therapists have many interventions and tools to use from speech curriculum to play like therapy. Speech pathologists work with infants and young children in creating cognitive skills necessary for language developm...

A hammock chair could be one of the best gifts you can give a child with autism. The hammock chair holds the child tight while they rock back and forth. The improvement can be immediate. Even after fifteen minutes, the results can be dramatic, lasting throughout the day. Autistic children crave deep pressure such as brushing, even though they will have tactile defensiveness. They may feel like they are off balance and the reason why is due to vestibular dysfunction. This is the area of the brain that controls seeing, touching, and hearing. A dysfunctional vestibular system can cause panic attacks, leading to the famous autism tantrums. A great portion of occupational therapy for autism focuses on sensory integration and one of the greatest tools is the swing. People with various autism spectrum disorders such as Autism, PDD, ADHD, Asperger's, proprioceptive dysfunction, and tactile defensiveness will benefit from the use of a swing (hammock chair) as part o...

All children, but particularly those with sensory processing disorder, can benefit from movement activities in the classroom that provide input to the proprioceptive receptors in the joints and ligaments. In addition to providing exercise, these types of "heavy work" movements make it easier for the child to focus and attend. For the child with SPD, it's vital to get proprioceptive and deep pressure input throughout the course of the day as part of what's called a "sensory diet" of activities. It is not enough to get plenty of exercise and calming input before or after school, or during one session of OT. Most children with SPD need to be encouraged and guided to get the input they need throughout the course of the day. There are many ways to help kids get this input within an ordinary classroom and school building. The child who is a sensory seeker will likely eagerly participate and even find her own ways to get the input she senses...

Starting a new school year is always difficult for any child with autism or Asperger's syndrome. The change from the routine of summer to the new routine of the school year can lead to meltdowns, anxiety and other problems. Let's face it, our loved ones with autism spectrum disorders like routine... the same processes over and over again. The same faces. Getting up at the same time. Wearing the same clothes. Eating the same food...and seeing the same familiar faces. But as a new school year starts, these things change. Wow do they change! Many children, whether autistic or not, have challenges adjusting. But for a child on the spectrum the adjustment can be overwhelming. How to Ensure a Successful Start of the School Year for a Child with Autism Here are 5 tips to ensure a smooth transition and start to a new school year. 1. Communicate Ensure open lines of communication. Speak with teachers, guidance counselors and the principal. If possible, contact your ...

I am the proud mother of two young children that were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder a few years ago. One is now in grade one and the other will register for kindergarten in the spring. As a teacher, I already had some experience with IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) meetings which helped me a great deal with my son's first IEP. I was able to also inform my husband which also did a lot of research on the matter so he was already well prepared to face our son's IEP. Over the 17 years of teaching experience that I possess, I soon discovered that most parents tend to lack both information and confidence in their role and what type of services they can obtain for their child. One of the sad things that I also have learned is that depending on the school, the services vary and if you do not ask for them, you will not necessarily have them offered to you either. Both my children are situated on opposite ends of the spectrum, my daughter being on...

Transitions are very difficult for most children on the autism spectrum to make and going back to school may be the most challenging one there is. Preparing an autistic child for change can be time consuming and emotionally draining for any family. We all hope for a stress free and easy shift into a new school routine but don't always get what we want. If despite all your preparation the new school year did not get off to a good start, don't despair because it is never too late to turn things around. All parents want things to go smoothly and when they don't it is all too easy to place blame on yourself. But wait! Before jumping to conclusions that you did something wrong or that your autistic child will never settle into a peaceful back to school routine let's approach this from a different perspective. When an airplane pilot develops problems flying an aircraft or a sea captain experiences difficulty with his ship the trouble could stem from a number of ...

There are hundreds and hundreds of alternative treatments for autism available, leaving parents of autistic children left puzzled as to, what really works, and what is worth investing in. These treatments can be expensive and sometimes painful for the child, and many show no results. Some parents and doctors believe it is not worth the effort, while others are strong believers in some of the treatments. Every child with autism has different tendencies and symptoms, that causes many different reactions to the treatments. Many doctors have agreed, that there are two proven treatments for people with autism. One is applied behavioral analysis, and the second is a drug treatment. But others disagree and offer different results. Below are listed a few of the alternative therapies that have had results in some individuals with autism, in the past. *Gluten Free Diets-Many parents have spoken about the difference a gluten free diet can make with their children. A glute...