Just like a child, you can sniff out things from people but overall you do not pay attention because you end up thinking nothing of it. Like for instance, you can tell a joke, but it might not be funny, but it would be funny to you. No one else would be laughing, but you know you told a joke and you’re okay with that at least. Once you get past how people feel about you or look at you, then you’re on your way to accepting yourself. People living with Asperger’s Syndrome battle with self esteem issues every single day of their lives. Their brain functioning is stalled in one aspect or another, be it physical motor skills or communication and social. Some “Aspies” they’re nicknamed, just have the social cognitive disorder, and others have the physical motor skills deficiency where they cannot really perform anything that requires good coordination. Like tying shoes, and operating motor vehicles take a lot of concentration and coordination and some “Aspies” might not have the wherewithal to succeed at those two actions. Others are considered lower functioning and do not make eye contact, start yelling really loud out of nowhere and making someone uncomfortable and rely on other people to do things for them.

Then there are the higher functioning people that make eye contact, use inside voices and manners and make it so that you cannot even tell they have a problem at all. Those type of people are on the mild end of the Autistic spectrum. There is nothing wrong with either end, all ends of the spectrum bring something to the table and either way, people with Asperger’s Syndrome are naturally bright individuals. Some are mathematical in nature and at the same time good with words, and others are engineer types that can calculate and build a model that will one day turn into a real life building. They are considered geeks and will never be the life of the party or most popular on school grounds, but many have married, had children and live very “normal’ lives in today’s society.

In order to live with Asperger’s Syndrome successfully, you need to be aware of who you are, and what you bring to the table. Do not try to be someone you’re not, embrace your strengths and weaknesses daily and do not be afraid to tell others who you are and what limitations you possess so that your employer or teacher will not assume you’re just clowning around and won’t fail or fire you. So as long as you end up being okay with you, understand who you are and what you offer, than you’ll be okay. It can be very tough to live your life different and it is very understandable to lash out with frustration, but as long as you understand that over time you will be okay and eventually you will become more and more accepted especially with all the new media attention garnering the disorder, than everything will be okay in your world. Just take it easy, breathe regularly and take care of yourself and you will be alright. The world is a crazy place and sometimes we need different people in order to keep it going.

Here are few tips to diagnose autism based on behavioral changes in children:

• Inability to Communicate – Let’s say you have a 3 year-old child, unlike other children of the same age, your child finds it difficult to communicate or does not seem to understand what people are telling him. For autistic children, their perception of language is different and they view the world differently. They are sensitive to noise as well. They may not be able comprehend what people are saying in close contact with them, but they are sensitive enough to hear distinctly a frail sound coming from a distant place. It is a sign of autism when a child is unable to communicate.

• Social Skills – Most of the time, autistic children are unsocial. Of course, there are exceptions too. For instance, it is easy to spot an autistic kid in a room full of people. How? You will usually find him sitting alone at the corner, barely talking to anybody and living in his own world of imagination.

• Lack of Interest – Autistic children do not understand games or interests that other ‘normal’ children of the same age do. By ‘normal’ children we do not imply that autistic kids are ‘abnormal’; they are slightly different. Common interests, activities, hobbies and others do not interest autistic kids because they simply cannot comprehend them.

• Educational Fallacy – For autistic children, studying or let’s say to begin with learning alphabets and numbers is very difficult because of the same reason that is, lack of understanding and comprehension. Or let’s say, their mode of understanding is different from how other children would understand. For instance, autistic children will mix up ‘B’ and ‘D’ and ‘6′ and ‘9′ because they cannot identify the difference.

In an autistic kid’s life, the role of parents is huge. They need to have the perseverance to teach the kid each and everything from scratch and most importantly, support him with love and care.

After Googling facts about Autism and diet and reading articles about how diet has changed the behaviour of a child’s autism I decided to do it for my son who was 3 at the time.

When cutting out things such as gluten, wheat and dairy I started with the staple foods you use everyday such as pasta, rice, bread, milk, and butter. Granted I did not see results straight away but after a good few months I started to notice he’s concentration improving, usually when my son would watch a movie he would spin around in circles until the credits started rolling and then he would sit glued to the screen. Now after starting this new Autism diet, the next time he would watch a movie he would sit and concentrate on the moving visuals and even communicate back to the screen in he’s own babbling language which was in my eyes progress.

One year on we have done our best to stick to the gluten and dairy free and I do admit it is hard for those days when you really cannot be bothered cooking but with a little research and preparation allergy free meals can be tasty and easy. If like any child yours love treats stock up on items such as rice flour, potato flour and your usual gluten free flours, they make great bases for cakes, biscuits, breads and bars. Also stock up on soy milk and rice milk, if your child isn’t keen and you are having trouble getting them to convert to something different try the flavoured version of soy milk first, this will make it easier for them to change in the long run.

Also there are many good allergy free cook books out there, as well as books about Autism and Diet and many of the major supermarkets are expanding their allergy free section so there is more choice. Also when eating out don’t be afraid to ask if there are alternative dishes to the ones you usually would order, many places are now recognising common allergies and are slowly catering for them.

So whether you have food allergies or not converting to a ‘free’ lifestyle is totally up to you, but I found that when cutting out gluten, dairy, wheat, colours, preservatives, sugars and artificial additives my son had major benefits from it as there was no rubbish passing through he’s tiny system, and I think it would benefit children without Autism as well.

A common trait that Asperger children share with autistic individuals is fixation, although they usually have more control over their fixations, which take the form of highly focused interests. Ben was born in Virginia, into an Air Force family and we did not have the privilege of seeing him on a daily basis but as far as we knew Ben did not exhibit any unusual behaviors that might have indicated Autism until he was about two years old. Even then we had no idea that his love for tiny match-box cars was the beginning of many fixations (obsessions) to follow.

Ben was slow at learning to talk, but we still thought nothing unusual about that since all children are not exactly the same. He could say many words, but did not make a sentence for quite a while later. We also noticed that he learned to walk much later than his older brother, but knew the danger of comparing one child to the other.

Ben also had trouble learning to use the potty. He was well past three years old before the training was completed.

Another fixation that appeared was his interest in hair. He definitely did not like to get a haircut, but a neighbor who visited his home had a large, rather bushy hairdo and he loved her hair. He would point to her hair and say “haircut.” On more than one occasion Ben would go to sleep by his mother while rubbing her hair. As Ben grew older, new fixations seemed to take the place of old ones.

At about three years old, Ben underwent some psychological testing which indicated some problems with development. However, nothing was said about autism at that time. He was placed in an early childhood program in their community. This program did help Ben in that he began to learn how to relate better to other children. I emphasize the word “began” because we have learned that relating to others appropriately is always going to be difficult for Ben or any other child diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome.

At about 15 months I began to instinctively feel that something was amiss. My beautiful blond haired, brown eyed boy was not responding in the same way that my daughter had.

Family members usually mean well and can be highly supportive but are also often the first source to lead you astray. When you finally pluck up the courage to mention the Autism word you are immediately assaulted with a multitude of alternative answers, boys talk later than girls being one I have heard a hundred times. They are more laid back than girls they naturally don’t pay attention to you when you call them. You may then proceed to talk to your doctor about but they who may also say reassuring things like it is too early to tell if your child could be on the Autistic Spectrum of Disorders at this stage or isn’t the child walking or crawling fine so you just have to be patient.

For many when the day of reckoning about the dreaded Autism word finally arrives when somebody impartial takes you aside and points out what has been blatantly obvious to you for a long time i.e. Do you think your child might have a learning difficulty, there are certain characteristics of Autism presenting themselves and perhaps your child needs a Psychological Assessment. This revelation of course is a mixed blessing. Yes it is a relief to finally talk to somebody who openly discusses your unexpressed belief and fear that your child has Autism but unfortunately this also means there really could be a real problem and it is not just a figment of your imagination anymore.

However you do not yet have a diagnosis of Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome or any other disorder on the Autistic Spectrum of Disorders, so your very first step has to be to get a full and comprehensive assessment of your child. Before this will be done you need to rule out the possibility of a physical cause of your child’s difficulty such as Glue Ear which can cause severe speech delay problems and ensuing behavioral issues. Therefore you will need a thorough ear examination.

The Psychological Assessment is a very detailed set of tests that will require extensive knowledge about the parents, siblings and other family members behaviors which could explain a lot of your child’s behaviors, any notes or information you bring with you will be very useful.

Whatever the outcome of this assessment now is definitely the time to trust your own instincts and move forward by educating yourself fully on how to really understand Autism and other personality disorders all said to be part of the Autistic Spectrum of Disorders. If your child does have Autism then Early Intervention in the forms of Speech therapy, Occupational therapy and Psychological assistance can make a huge difference to how much your child can progress during their early years.

Initially you will grieve for the child you thought you had but you will then come through this and embrace and love the one that you have been presented with. A diagnosis of Autism can be devastating so it is very important to get the help, support and advice you need for yourself and your partner as well. An Autistic child can put a huge strain on any relationship and this can further impact negatively on the child if not addressed and dealt with. The entire family needs support and advice. Adopt the methods that best help you as individuals to cope with the news. Only then will you all be able to do everything in your power to give your child the best quality of life possible.

The first day I went to the local Mother and Toddlers and spoke openly about my son’s learning difficulties was as good as any therapy session. With time you can learn to embrace your child’s uniqueness and accept that although he may have a different perspective on the world or he may not be the little boy you ordered he still has a whole lot to offer.

A child with Autism depending on the type and level of Autism they have may have very sever autistic behavior to very mild autistic behavior. All in which can be improved upon no matter how sever or mild the case is.

Research shows that through the proper Nutrition these children can function at a higher level when given a diet complete in vitamins and minerals. Though there is no known “cure” for this condition feeding your child a complete Nutritious diet improves their ability to use their mind more clearly.

Parents that have changed their child’s diet have seen improvements with in days. When given the proper nutrients children with autism have made major breakthroughs in their behavior. Re-leaving some of the stress that comes with raising a child with autism. Parents have been able to become closer to their children with autism because their communication is at a higher level. Communication is important between a Parent and child. Autism creates a wall barrier between them that can at sometimes be difficult to deal with but by giving your child the proper nutrition that barrier can be thinned and a closer relationship can be obtained.

Some ways to introduce your child with better nutrition is by supplying them with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, all nutrition is fully absorbed through foods and only small amounts are absorbed through vitamins from supplemental pills. The best way to supply your child with proper nutrition is through healthy foods fresh fruits and vegetable are ideal to give your child the nutrition that they need.

Home grown fruits and vegetables are best because they are free from pesticides and are able to fully ripen, most fruits and vegetables found in a grocery store are gassed to ripen and are tampered with leaving little nutrition in them for our bodies to use, but supplying fresh fruits and vegetables fresh from a garden is best in nutritional quality.

By supplying your child with the best foods possible, supplies them with the best chance possible for results of improving upon their behavior by opening their minds to higher levels allowing you to communicate more clearly with your child.

Teaching Children with Autism to Read: Understanding Your Child’s Unique Needs

It is very unfortunate for few children to suffer from autism. They face with touch challenges since they are not able to express their feelings of thoughts. Their way of communication and their social interaction lags behind and this forms the biggest hurdle in their life. However, there are few special characteristics they are gifted with that serves as their strength. You must be very patient and interactive when you are teaching such children.

a) The child might be frustrated and highly discourages and often feel inferior in the society. They find it difficult to perceive things in and around the world.
b) They also lack the common social skills which is the biggest barrier.
c) They fear in facing people and often feel disconnected from the entire world and this is why they feel reluctant to appear in public.
d) They get irritated easily and it is difficult for you to fix any schedule for him. They follow their own needs and have their own specific wants.
e) Few children are also not comfortable with physical contact. They need the extra support and constant push for their activities.

To help them to learn and be able to comply with the society, you need a lot of patience and understanding.

Teaching Children with Autism to Read: The Importance of Reading Comprehension, Learning Words and More Tips!

It is quite evident that the reading is one of the weakest fields for the children suffering from Autism. They are not able to perceive and never feel comfortable with the letters. It is tough for them to understand and assimilate things properly. Even if they read the letters with difficulty, they find it very difficult to join the letters as words and understand the information they are reading. According to experts, the best way to interact with the children is to use stimulating and cheerful activities. Few songs and interactive books with touch and feel with mix of music is much more interesting for them.

You must learn to demonstrate the words and explain the real meaning though pictorial images since this is the way they understand better. If you know how to express the gestures and use the body to effectively pronounce the words or digest the meaning, it is more useful for the child.

These learning techniques are not generic for all the children. They may differ with others and you should be patient to find the right approach. It is quite unlikely that you can teach them with conventional teaching style. Few children find pictorial images to be more interactive, while others find pronunciation to be more helpful. The best way is to try different approaches and find the right method and apply the technique in teaching. Try to understand what the child expects and what is amusing for him. If you are expecting something realistic, you are going wrong.

They might also forget things and find it difficult to recollect past incidences or learning. So, you must put in habit of repetition and help them with learning so that they develop the art of remembering and applying thoughts. If you are able to act the words, it might be more helpful and useful for the child. Reading the words and trying to impersonate or describing them will help them a lot. Go slowly and try to figure out if they understand the words. For these children, learning should be more of a fun activity rather than a mandatory exhaustive exercise. ]]> http://www.deseasesarticles.com/teaching-children-with-autism-to-read.html/feed 0 http://www.deseasesarticles.com/how-autism-is-different-for-everyone.html http://www.deseasesarticles.com/how-autism-is-different-for-everyone.html#comments Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:50:32 +0000 Charlie Prost http://www.deseasesarticles.com/?p=753 Autism is a neurological disorder developed in young children usually before the age of three. Autism affects the information processing in the brain causing impaired social interaction, communication and restricted and repetitive behavior. Unfortunately autism is one of the disorders that we have not been able to figure that much about. Because autism affects the way that nerve cells connect to their synapses it is hard to determine where the mutation, genetic abnormality or association of other agents fit into this disease. Although we have come along way to discover how the body and its mechanisms work unfortunately in the case of autism we have yet to come up with how autism occurs.

Parents usually start to notice signs of autism within the first two years of a child’s life. Symptoms usually progress gradually over time however in rare cases children will develop normally and then regress backwards. Severity of symptoms varies from case to case. Some individuals with autism are able to live on their own and only have minimal developmental challenges where as others are completely reliant on the care of another person. Early recognition and intervention can facilitate the child to live a more socially competent life however this will not stop the child from living with autism for the rest of their life. As there is no cure for autism presently, autistic communities have cropped up to aid in the fight against this disorder.

Several theories have been offered, tested and disproved, however the search is still on. Presently the strongest theory is based on genetics, although even if autism is caused by genetics researchers are unsure whether it is a rare mutation of genes or whether it is a rare combination of genetic variants. Either way autism is on the rise and if it is genetic it is important to figure out these specific mutations or variants to stop the rapid increase of autistic kids.

Before we proceed any further, let me give you a general definition of autism. Generally speaking, autism is a medical condition that affects the neurological development of young children. The result would be repressed/slower communication and interaction in every day society. Furthermore, autism will cause a child to repeat a series of actions that are driven by motor muscles. These repetitions appear to serve no purpose and is still considered to be baffling by experts since they could potentially injure the autistic.

The autistic child’s parents or guardian has a heavy responsibility in monitoring the child’s progress. It is vital for parents of autistics to spend as much time as they possibly can afford to in order to be able to fully understand, take note and monitor any signs and changes in behavior. This is because children who have been diagnosed at the early stages of the disorder is known to have the best options in support to help them cope with growth and development in order to maximize life’s opportunities.

Let’s move on to some of the signs. Before I go into it in detail, it is vital to note that many of these signs will tend to overlap. Among the many include difficulty in expressing desires and needs, repressed language development. In addition, autistic children will take a longer time to respond to names if they do respond at all.

Furthermore, they are known to appear to be in their very own world and oblivious to their surroundings. They have the tendency of walking on their toes and showcase other behavior patterns that are deemed to be abnormal on a regular and consistent basis.

In addition to the above, signs such as being resistant, hyperactive and being uncooperative towards their parents or guardians are all known to be displayed by those with autism. They are known to be loners and play on their own and find ways to amuse themselves. They have very minimal or no social skills at all – they do not bother interacting or playing with other children or couldn’t be bothered with what others are up to at all. To top it off, they are known to do things in a very specific manner and order; having compulsive behavior.

The flip side of this is the majority of children with autism shows special abilities especially where music and maths are concerned. As a matter of fact, there have been cases where they display abilities that are far superior compared to a handful of adults even to boot.

Autistic children are no less human being than a “normal” child. The above signs might not necessarily be a confirmed diagnosis of autism. Still, it is entirely up to the parents and guardians of these children to continue monitoring and to seek the earliest possible professional help.

Down syndrome has patients suffering from serious language difficulties and a few cognitive ones. However, they do not often have the social withdrawal symptoms that are so heavily characteristic of classic autism. Quite on the contrary, sufferers of Down-syndrome tend to be rather affectionate and very responsive to others.

Tourette’s syndrome is a neurological disorder that is characterized by involuntary body movements and the tics, vocal outburst that the patient cannot control. In between the sudden occurrences, though, the patients have normal social and emotional development that is uncharacteristic of autism. Added to this, their intelligence is unimpaired in any way.

And then there are a number of other diseases and disorders that share a few common symptoms with autism but do not have anything to do with the autism-spectrum. Symptoms such as scratching or biting oneself, head banging, and using objects in the immediate environment to hurt oneself happen from time to time in autism sufferers, but they are also characteristic of a number of other genetic disorders like Cornelia de Lange syndrome, Lesch-Nylan, and the fragile X syndrome.

You want to know these conditions that share various similarities to classic autism but as not PDDs – pervasive developmental disorders – or part of the autism-spectrum. One day, perhaps, you may save a life. even when you never thought possible. So – yes, no knowledge is ever wasted.