A lack of empathy is often erroneously described as a defining characteristic of autism spectrum disorder, leading to speculation about children on the spectrum developing antisocial personality disorders in adulthood. “Autistic people and psychopaths are almost the opposite of each other…” This remark, made by Professor Baron-Cohen during an interview for the Autism Parenting Summit
in Social Skills by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Autism burnout is much more than exhaustion; overwhelm does not suffice to describe the depths many autistic adults mention when describing the sensory overload, stress and most concerning, the apparent loss of skills associated with autistic burnout. The first day at a new school or job is a sure way to experience stress, uncertainty, and
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Pain is a warranted worry for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders. Communication impairments could mean children struggle to put pain in words, meaning serious conditions and symptoms may be missed. With more autistic adults searching out advice about headache disorders, the association between autism and migraines deserves a closer look. My child banged
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
You’ve researched and pored over every reputable autism resource to check symptoms and characteristics of the neurodevelopmental condition. So many things finally make sense, including a spectrum of social communication challenges traceable from your early childhood. Obtaining a formal diagnosis may seem like the next step but, for many autistic adults, it may feel like
in Autism Diagnosis by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Discussions about the shared traits between children with autism spectrum disorders and their undiagnosed parents often lead to pondering the broader autism phenotype. Is it possible for relatives of autistic kids to have autism spectrum disorder…to a lesser degree? Autism spectrum disorder is a medical diagnosis but the broader autism phenotype is not. Rather, it
in Autism Diagnosis by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Autism guardianship is a decision with major repercussions; for some parents, however, it may seem like the only choice offering maximum protection for their almost adult child with developmental disabilities. In most countries around the world a child becomes a legal adult on their 18th birthday; this is a fact most parents find terrifying. Thinking
in Autism Parenting Advice by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
An article, in a parenting magazine about intimate or romantic relationships…groan…in this context, many parents would rather not talk about sex. But, open and honest conversations about sex, specifically when it comes to sexuality in neurodivergent individuals is a conversation that could keep your autistic adolescent safe—and make them feel seen. Your neurodivergent child is
in Transitioning to Adulthood by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Your autistic child’s behavior may not conform to “classic” characteristics described by doctors and research. Does the spectrum have subtypes meaning autism may manifest uniquely according to differing categories? This used to be the case, until an umbrella term, autism spectrum disorders, was introduced. The spectrum nature of autism makes it difficult to diagnose; it
in Autism Diagnosis by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
There are seven dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis; conceptually systematic may be one that needs a little more explanation… Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a controversial and unfortunately divisive topic in the autism treatment sphere. From parents who believe the behavioral techniques have helped their kids on the spectrum thrive, to autistic adults who feel
in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Developmental disorders like autism are complex, even specialists in cognitive science fields recognize there is still much to learn; however, when a child receives an autism diagnosis, parents often turn to the latest cognitive theories to learn more about their child’s unique brain development and other autistic traits. Many parents would love a single, concise,
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Parents concerned about their autistic child’s mood swings often ask if autism and bipolar disorder co-occur and whether symptoms overlapping mean the disorders are related. Autistic adults, diagnosed later in life, often talk about their struggle to get diagnosed. Far too many share details of being misdiagnosed, and suffering severe side effects of medication that
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
When kids on the spectrum struggle with listening, especially the processing and comprehension of sound, parents may wonder if it’s a characteristic of autism or an issue with auditory processing. Auditory processing disorder is a complicated condition courting controversy like most other sensory processing disorders. We tend to think of hearing in a simplistic way
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Autism Parenting Magazine realizes just how busy parents with kids on the spectrum are, so we’ve gathered all the latest autism statistics compiled from CDC reports, the latest autism research, and our own exclusive data collected from surveys sent out to more than 160,000 of our email subscribers. Breaking down autism prevalence stats… From 4-5
in Autism Advocacy, Autism Diagnosis, Autism News by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Could a visualizing and verbalizing® program be the answer for reading comprehension struggles? Children with autism spectrum disorder, especially those who struggle to form mental images while reading, may benefit from a program like the Nancibell® Visualizing and Verbalizing® Language Comprehension and Thinking program. Hearing your child read a sentence for the first time is
in Education and Classroom by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
A future where an autism brain scan facilitates accurate, earliest possible diagnoses of autism spectrum disorders may not only be possible but probable. If only there was a quick, accurate test that could diagnose autism effortlessly, a rapid blood test or brain scan, eliminating the need for doctors to painstakingly examine a child’s developmental history,
in Autism Diagnosis by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
There are very few prescription medications approved for autism spectrum disorders. Some feel this encourages off-label use of drugs to alleviate challenging autism symptoms of children on the spectrum. Clonidine is one such drug; frequently mentioned as a beneficial treatment option for sleep disturbances and behavioral challenges. Parents often experience frustration due to the lack
in Autism Therapies and Treatments by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Autism spectrum disorders and joint hypermobility related disorders: what’s the link, and why are these conditions increasingly mentioned together? It seems science is slowly catching up, searching along both spectrums to find the connection between autism and hypermobility spectrum disorder and other hereditary connective tissue disorders—hypermobility is often a sign of such hereditary connective tissue
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
If it takes a village to raise a neurotypical child, we should be working to provide that and so much more for children with autism spectrum disorder. Among those resources needed may be an autism psychiatrist, a professional whose role encompasses way more than just diagnostics. Psychologist, psychiatrist, behavioral pediatrician, neurologist, the terms and the
in Autism Diagnosis by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Parents with children on the spectrum often speak about their kids’ difficulty recognizing faces, even those of friends and relatives. Face blindness, or prosopagnosia, means a person cannot recognize that they’ve seen a face before; this condition, found in many on the spectrum, may have serious psychosocial consequences. What do you see when you look
in Social Skills by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
It may be a generalization, but autism is often linked to a visual learning style. It follows that using flashcards (especially picture cards as visual supports) for learning may be a great tool for parents to help their child on the spectrum. Looking back at our lockdown history, late-night online shopping was replaced by later
in Visual Supports by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
“Breast is best,” is a saying many of us have heard. But is breast milk really best for babies with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)? Is there any connection between breastfeeding and the development of autism? And is it advisable for autistic mothers to breastfeed their babies? It seems any article about breastfeeding needs to be
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
The world of complementary and alternative medicine may seem a little mystical and vague. Search suggestions from Google emphasize what many parents want to know: “Does it actually work?” But, more specifically, is acupuncture effective in treating a complex condition like autism spectrum disorder? What is acupuncture? Acupuncture has been around for a long time;
in Autism Therapies and Treatments by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
CEASE therapists are accused of making false claims about curing autism. With promises like “complete elimination of toxic imprints” CEASE therapy for autism fuels hope and derision in equal measure. As much as I dislike typing these words, many parents have admitted they want a”cure for autism”. They don’t want a “cure” because they don’t
in Autism Therapies and Treatments by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Anti-Bullying Week is a great opportunity to share stories and open conversation about a very sensitive topic. For individuals on the spectrum, bullying can be more prevalent, more severe and, due to communication challenges, even harder to talk about. This article shares personal stories about bullying to inspire change… Wanting to raise awareness of some
in Bullying by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Stimming refers to (repeated) self-stimulating behaviors; some feel the definition should also include a reference to “self-soothing” to be more appropriate. Whatever the definition, stims like finger flicking are not odd habits—rather, they may be one of the most powerful coping mechanisms for individuals on the spectrum. Have you ever felt a rising sense of
in Autism Behavioral Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
As more children are diagnosed with autism, researchers are examining a variety of potential “causes” including maternal hormonal disorders like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). One of the most debated autism theories may just be the “extreme male brain” theory. The theory suggests that autism may be an extreme manifestation of the male brain (Baron-Cohen, 2002).
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Autism speech patterns is an intriguing subject as the way people speak plays a major role in conveying emotion and meaning to others. If a child on the spectrum struggles with tone, rhythm and pitch, the intention behind their words can sometimes be misunderstood. A neurodivergent friend told me about an interesting interview question recently.
in Communication Skills by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Silk, cotton, velvet and cashmere; does the thought of these fabrics against your skin evoke a strong tactile sensation? For autistic children, the feel of fabric is a powerful force with the potential to bring about a meltdown or deeply soothing comfort. A memory that lingers long after my grandmother’s death is the way patients
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
When autism is found alongside (or co-morbid with) another disorder, diagnosis and treatment may be complicated. One example is cerebral palsy and autism spectrum disorder, where severity and symptoms tend to present differently in each individual. Autism rates among children with cerebral palsy are elevated when compared to prevalence in the general population. Even doctors
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Parents often speak about the difficulty of dealing with possible autism characteristics in a young child. When any red flags appear, parents start second guessing themselves. They watch their child like a hawk, dissecting every aspect of behavior. In such circumstances some parents mention that it would be easier if there were distinct autism features
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
With little more than anecdotal evidence available, should parents consider the GAPS (gut and psychology syndrome) diet for their kids on the spectrum? If you want to divide the room, any room, start talking about your child’s diet. Elimination diets, gluten-free diets and, yes, one of the most debated: the GAPS diet. But what if
in Autism Diet and Nutrition by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
The complicated and controversial history linking autism and schizophrenia does little to answer parents’ concerns about the co-occurrence of these two conditions in their children. Dr. Eugene Bleuler first used the word “autism” in the early twentieth century to describe symptoms related to schizophrenia. More specifically, symptoms of withdrawal into an inner world—which he had
in Autism Health and Medical Info by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Time does not exist, it’s an illusion, a human construct existing only in our minds to conceptualize change intellectually. There is no past or future, that is if you subscribe to theories by scientists like Carlo Revelli. For many parents with neurodiverse children, time feels very real. Watching a ticking clock after you’ve sent your
in Autism Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
For parents who want to find out more about autism, it is important to know what autism is… and what it’s not. For others there is concern that promoting pride in autism sometimes ventures into adding to the stigma of other mental conditions or intellectual disabilities. A LinkedIn post by Russell Lehmann caught my attention
in Autism Diagnosis by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Diagnosis, earliest possible intervention and finding the best available resources—supporting your child on the spectrum is well, a lot. South African parents just starting out on this journey may wonder where to start… South African parents with special needs children often comment in awe (and envy) about the resources available to children in first world
in Resources for autism by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
When researching whether autism is overdiagnosed, Google’s related search suggested, “Why is everyone autistic now?” Is autism on the rise and affecting individuals in record numbers, or is there a problem with diagnostic criteria resulting in an ever widening spectrum where normal behavior is pathologized… Could I be on the spectrum? Maybe you entertained this
in Autism Diagnosis by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Obtaining reimbursement for the treatment of sensory processing disorder may be tricky when a billable code to specify the diagnosis is a requirement. Certain classification systems may not even recognize the disorder—is the ICD-10-CM the code that legitimizes sensory processing disorder? Sensory processing disorder (SPD) has an almost ghost-like presence in the medical world. Some
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
Elon Musk has asperger’s, he revealed this during a Saturday Night Live gig. Apparently speculation about the billionaire being on the spectrum was pretty common online. Having previously spoken about “solving” autism, his asperger’s revelation was not applauded by all—but it did encourage more open conversations about autism. Unfortunately some of these conversations are based
in Autism Parenting Advice by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
As a parent you have a tool, an expertise that puts you in position to supplement your child’s therapy at home. This expertise is unmatched by even the most qualified therapist: you know your child. Your intimate knowledge puts you in a unique position to help your child thrive… Home is where the heart is,
in Communication Skills by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
We tend to have a narrow view of our senses. Very early in our education we are taught about the five senses (there are more!) and how these help us take in the world around us. For many of us, simplistic environmental perception remains how we think about our sensory system. The more we learn
in Sensory Solutions by Yolande Loftus, BA, LLB
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