Autism Articles

There are so many theories and protocols about helping our children with autism. Some make sense. Some don’t. I had a parent ask me yesterday, “I want to know what I can do RIGHT NOW to help my son. I don’t have time to wait for a new doctor to see him or to wait for government help. The waiting lists are way too long!”

People with Asperger’s Syndrome are often described, as having social skills deficits, reluctance to listen, difficulty understanding social give and take, and other core characteristics, is typically quite misunderstood and/or misdiagnosed in our country today. First recognized by Hans ...

Check the label of any pain reliever on sale and you'll easily calculate what proportion to require. However, finding the right dose of cannabidiol Ointment CBD for pain relief isn't that straightforward. Enthusiasts swear by the properties of CBD to alleviate pain, reduce inflammation, relieve anxiety, and promote sleep. However, there's no conclusive research on what proportion CBD an individual must absorb order to feel the advantages. The reason for this is often that the

If you have a child with autism, you’re probably already aware that his body might have difficulty eliminating toxins and other harmful substances efficiently. He may have recurring viral infections or an abundance of heavy metals. There may be a lot of behavioral and mood issues, or perhaps an irregular bowel. He could have problems with food and environmental allergens, or maybe sound sensitivity.

Some kids love bath time and enjoy splashing in the tub and playing with their favorite floating toys. But other children dread bathing. For these sensitive kids, the water is always either too hot or too cold, or frighteningly intense as it sprays out of the showerhead. They may be agitated by the sounds, smells, and lighting in the bathroom, and may be very particular about the texture of the towels. If your child balks at getting clean, here are some tips for making bath t

If your child has AD/HD, autism spectrum or learning disabilities you may have heard the term “Executive Functioning”. Parents come to me with many questions about executive function: What is it? Why is this a problem? How can we help our child get better at this executive stuff? nnExecutive functioning is an abstract concept, so let’s use an example to start the explanation. Think about a business you know well. Maybe it is your own, one you work for, or a company you

Autism is described as a developmental disorder impairing ones ability to communicate and also causes hypo or hyper-sensitivity which ultimately creates behavioral and social skill challenges. Is this like the proverbial canary in the coal mine, an indicator of where our health on the planet is ...

As part of the autism spectrum, Aspergers Syndrome is characterized by poor social skills, poor large motor coordination, deep interests in particular topics, and a habit of repetitive movement (e.g., flapping one's hands). Because so many people with autism or Aspergers have other family members on the autism spectrum, it is thought to have some kind of genetic component. People with Aspergers Syndrome also have struggles, such as learning how to read facial expressions and

How often do you think about the weight of your hair? Probably never, but for children with sensory issues, the feel, weight, and movement of their own hair can be extremely distracting. If his hair is trimmed just a bit he may notice how different his head feels for days afterward! A haircut may cause him to have trouble focusing on tasks from schoolwork to eating a meal. What's more, a new hairstyle that involves the hair being moved in a new direction (for example, braids,

The word “remediation” is very important in the work my colleagues and I do with families affected by autism and other neuro-developmental disabilities, but it is a word that is unfamiliar to many people. I thought I would take a moment this week to talk about what remediation means in general, ...

Bring on the Visuals! For an individual who thrives on order and routine, our world is a scary place! Humans interact at record breaking speeds; everything we do is high speed, instant and ever changing. Even our homes and classrooms tend to be quickly moving people from one activity to the next, changing schedules and living in the moment. It is a sign of our times and right or wrong, it is what it is. As non – autistic people we need our Blackberrys, our calendars, and our day planners to stay organized. Many of us could probably benefit from having a personal secretary!

Bike riding is a great form of exercise and transportation, offering kids a sense of independence. Families can have a lot of fun together biking, too. but children with sensory issues often need extra help in learning to be comfortable bicycling. Part of their struggle with riding a two-wheeler is the difficulty of planning and quickly carrying out movements while on an unstable bike that they must control. 1. Choose the right bike. Encourage your child to start early riding

Neurofeedback is the rising star in the treatment of autism, yet relatively few have even heard of it. It is a form of biofeedback; in this case, it is biofeedback of brainwaves. In biofeedback, an electronic device is used to help a person learn to better control a body process. Biofeedback devices do not do anything to a person other than provide information about how the body is regulating the body process that has been targeted.rn In neurofeedback, three electrodes are pl

How would you decide whether your child's language development is on track? As communication is the basis of success in life and at work, emphasis should be given early on to assess the level of your child's control over his or her strength in managing language. This is especially true for special needs children who have either autism, asperger syndrome, learning disabilities, ADHD and down syndrome. Many may also have learning problems and intelligence that is below average.

I know that you loved your child very much and have done a lot of research into the causes and solutions for autism. If you have done some research, you probably are frustrated, isn’t it? After all, experts seem to disagree on the causes of autism and also the treatment methods. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was one source for all the health, social, behavioural and speech problems of your child? Then there is no need to waste time and money and you can relieve all th

When we first started trying to get to the bottom of my son’s health issues, one of the things we were told by his specialist is that he had a “leaky gut”. Wikipedia describes a leaky gut as “intestinal or bowel hyperpermeability”. That just sounds painful, doesn’t it?

My son’s grandparents are the first people he thinks of when he thinks of family. That warms my heart because I’ve made a pretty concerted effort at making sure we go and visit them at least once or twice a month. I want him to know them as long as we’re all around, because I don’t ever want to look back later on and say… If only…..

Dyspraxia refers to children who have movement difficulties and means the poor performance of movement. The word is taken from the Greek dys - bad and ‘praxis’ - the learned ability to plan, organize and carry out sequences of coordinated movements in order to achieve an objective. In ...Dyspraxia refers to children who have movement difficulties and means the poor performance of movement. The word is taken from the Greek dys - bad and ‘praxis’ - the learned ability to plan, organize and carry out sequences of coordinated movements in order to achieve an objective.

As you start looking at your child’s diet and what you can do to help your child’s body heal, you may decide to take gluten, casein, soy or even all three out of the daily menu. That can definitely be a step in the right direction, especially if your child suffers from gastrointestinal distress, skin disorders, allergies, sleep disturbances and/or behavioral problems.

There's something up with a child you know. She is clumsy, picky, always on the move, or perpetually flopped in a chair like a wet noodle. He is impulsive, intense, and quirky. Maybe this child has a learning disability, ADHD, or autism, or maybe not. Why are everyday sensations so distressing to him? Can she really "hear" the fluorescent lights that she claims are distracting her? It's very likely that this child you're concerned about has sensory processing disorder, also k

Encourage sensory kids, even preverbal or nonverbal ones, to work with To Do lists! Many people are able to organize their day and prioritize their activities without having to refer to a To Do list. Others enjoy the satisfaction of checking off each task on the list as they complete it. Kids with sensory issues often have difficulty with organization and should be encouraged to create and work with To Do lists for chores, homework, and appointments. Having visual evidence th

Suffering from headaches, problem concentrating, anxiety? If you have adhd or learning disabilities, these feeling would most probably be magnified compared to those who doesn't have the same conditions. Changing the way you breathe might spell relief from those constant irritation and improve the quality of your life. The benefits of breathing well goes for both normal people and people with adhd and learning disabilities. When there is a perceived threat, our heart rate, b

Researchers have found that most autistic children, especially those with late onset autism (emergence of autism symptoms only after or around three years of age) respond well when gluten and casein are strictly eliminated from their diet. Gluten is a protein found in everyday food that contains wheat, oats, rye, and barley. Where else another protein compound called casein are commonly found in dairy milk products such as yogurt, cheese, ice cream and others. Furthermore, m

Special needs children consists of those that fall under the categories of autism, learning disabilities, ADHD, down syndrome and others. These children have a myriad of conditions and developmental difficulties that prevents them from communicating and learning properly. The usage of apps for helping and teaching special needs children has been nothing short of a miracle. Together with devices like iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch, they offer some form of solution in managing an

If you are the type of person who usually drags yourself out from your bed and prepare for another eight hours job, do not feel about it. Most people do that, almost everyday. They have been counting days checking how close that weekends are just to get a better time to rest. The reasons for this are usually because of the hassles that they encounter, especially when their offices are miles away from their home. Business trips could also become tiring. That is why more people

Autism Spectrum Alte ative Program ASAP is an equine facilitated sensory integration program for individuals on the autism spectrum or with other physical, mental, emotional or behavior challenges. ASAP is an equine facilitated sensory integration program for individuals on the autism spectrum or with other physical, mental, emotional or behavior challenges. Our mission is to demonstrate the effectiveness of our equine facilitated programs in meeting the social and emotional needs of individuals on the spectrum in a positive and sensitive manner.

We’ve all heard about how children with autism are drawn to the Apple iPad because of its portability, ease of use and innovative touch-screen technology. Now, there’s another reason for children (and parents….and teachers) to be excited about the iPad. It’s called “Injini”.

A different tale this time: of mystery, child abuse, deprivation, political intrigue and murder all rolled into one. A tale of a young man who suddenly appeared in Nuremberg in 1828; walking painfully and clumsily - as if uncertain how to walk.

By Sam Vakninr Author of "Malignant Self-love: Narcissism Revisited" Asperger's Disorder is often misdiagnosed as Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), though evident as early as age 3 (while pathological narcissism cannot be safely diagnosed prior to early adolescence). In both cases, the patient is self-centered and engrossed in a narrow range of interests and activities. Social and occupational interactions are severely hampered and conversational skills (the give and

Autism rates are increasing in the United States and abroad. Costa Mesa California-based "Talk About Curing Autism" (TACA) researchers estimate that there are over one million cases of autism in the United States alone--1 in 150 children now have the disorder. According to the U.S. Department of Health, rates of autism continue to increase more than 20 percent a year.nnResearchers, pediatricians and parents are working relentlessly to find the cause of, and effective treatmen

Last month, I was honored to be invited to the iLs (Integrated Listening Systems) Annual Conference in Denver, Colorado, where I had the opportunity to interact with a diverse group of doctors, therapists, educators, and other professionals. The one thing all of these people had in common was their genuine quest for more knowledge in how the brain can grow and heal through neuroplasticity and the use of the unique technology of iLs.

I’ve been learning more and more lately about how many of our children with autism are affected by a disruption in their sensory systems. A lot of our kids are simply overwhelmed a LOT of the time. Their bodies do not process their environmental cues the same way other people’s do, and so it’s often like a traffic jam going on inside their little bodies.

I have parents ask me all the time about this elusive “window” for autism recovery. You know what I mean, right? We’ve been told in the past through the media and various sources (mostly well-intentioned, I believe) that you must get an autism diagnosis and begin treatment immediately, because there is only a small window of time for helping your child recover and lead a “normal” life.

Parents who are conce ed about vaccines do have another choice. I have a Practitioners diploma in homeopathic medicine with the Hahnemann College of Homeopathy and Heilkunst. As part of my curriculum the subject of homeoprophylaxis (HP) was discussed. Homeoprophylaxis is the administration of homeopathic medicines to induce in the patient immunity against a particular disease. Natural immunity – based on principles of natural law, you can receive a protection against the flu

Through all of the hustle and bustle of modern family day life, and especially if autism is part of your family dynamic, it pays to be reminded that we Mommy and Daddy Warriors need to remember to take care of ourselves along the way too. I was honored to interview self-help expert, David Riklan, several months ago, and decided that what he had to say was so important that I would run that episode again.

One of the biggest modern day struggles in the realm of autism is being understood and accepted by others. Children with autism in today's world can experience upsetting challenges and face unnecessary and violating conflicts with school, the public, and the law, all because their autism was not ...

My son’s autism diagnosis shook the foundations of my life. The future, my faith and even the present crumpled before me. Each day was a struggle to find any morsel of inner peace. Our son was somehow “broken;” not the perfect son for which we had hoped and prayed.

Imagine...after months of waiting and anticipation the moment has finally arrived! Your beautiful baby enters the world and life is the fullest it has ever been! As the nurse gently places your newbo in your arms she slips a book into your hands. “This is your child’s manual,” she explains, “Be sure to read it as soon as possible. Oh, and pay close attention to the section regarding special needs.” A crazy scenario, I know but, at times I wish that I had had that manual!

My last article on DSM-5 looked at the loss of one important diagnosis - that of Disintegrative Disorder. And yet reviewing the situation there is another aspect of major concern. And that, as you may have guessed, conce s the sensory differences. Why so? Let me explain.

There's something up with a child you know. He's clumsy, picky, always on the move, or flopped in a chair like a wet noodle. He's impulsive, intense, and quirky. Maybe he has a learning disability, ADHD, or autism, or maybe not, but his behavior and responses to everyday sensations are puzzling. Why does he withdraw or act out? Why are transitions so difficult? Can he really hear the fluorescent lights that he claims are distracting him? It's very likely that this child you'r

One of the most important routine to establish, especially for kids with ADHD and autism spectrum disorders, is the bedtime routine. But why are these routines so important? If you have a child who is hard to manage at bedtime, or will not settle for bed, who is up and down all night long, or comes into your bed in the wee hours-- you are tired. And guess what? Your child is tired, too. And believe it or not, a tired child can look like a more hyper and active child, and the

Why In The World Would You Defend Andrew Wakefield? By Susan Lynn Perry @ The Mother Cub Show This is not the first time I’ve been accused of being crazy. And I’m certain it won’t be the last. That question was actually put to me a few days ago. A person, who shall for now remain name-less, questioned me exactly like that (with a bit of ridiculous arrogance, if you ask me). “Why in the world would you defend Andy Wakefield?”

With Father’s Day right around the corner, I found myself recently wondering what it means, for most men, to be a good father. Different men have different upbringings and different ideas about how to be a father, but does that make them better or worse than the next guy? Some men may “father” children, but if they’re not there for them either physically, emotionally, or financially, do they really deserve the coveted title of “Father”?r

I’ve been threatening for some time now to do a whole show about poop. Yes, that’s right, poop. It’s a subject I’ve become rather familiar with – ever since my son got diagnosed with autism. And I know there are a lot of other spectrum parents out there who have reluctantly been promoted to poop experts too. In fact, there are websites, speakers, books and even seminars devoted to it. I’m not kidding. I mean, poop is a big part of everyone’s life whether you want to acknowledge it or not. It’s just one of those things we all do. We eat; we poop. End of story, right?

My last article looked at the effects of the changes in the DSM one year on, focusing on the deletion of Asperger's syndrome but, of course, there was also another omission that attracted little attention; possibly because Asperger's syndrome took precedence. And yet that omission too is of great importance.

It's a funny old world. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) produced by the American Psychiatric Association (APS) is one of two main international sets of diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorders: the other being the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), produced by the World Health Organization.

Is there really such a thing as autism independence? Many parents wonder what the future will hold for their child with autism. Will my child ever be able to drive a car, or live on his own, or be able to hold down a job?

The day I was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome, I at first thought of myself as an interesting person with something unique. I had always known there was something different about me. Now I finally knew why I always had the impulse to stem when I was excited, why I had such a hard time ...