Top support to help families navigate the many stages of an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis from early screening and detection to ways to manage a new diagnosis. Learn when to seek out professional advice and what happens following a diagnosis to include supportive personal accounts of the autism journey.
Certain health conditions may be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These are described below, though there is no evidence for a causal relationship with ASD. Sensory processing difficulties Children with ASD often have difficulty processing everyday sensory information in all senses, from noise to touch to smells, sounds, and tastes. Any of the senses […]
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Girls with autism are often misdiagnosed, misunderstood, and lack the essential support they need according to recent studies. Research by Brown University indicates that autism and Asperger’s syndrome are more common than previously thought and girls are more likely to be diagnosed 1.5 years later than boys. One of the reasons for this is the […]
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History of PDA The late developmental psychologist, Elizabeth Newson, first used the term Pathological Demand Avoidance in the 1980s while serving as the director of the Child Development Research Unit at the University of Nottingham. While observing children at play and interviewing their parents, she first worked with children who were non-communicative but began to […]
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What Is Oppositional Defiant Disorder? Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a type of behavior disorder mostly seen in children. Children with ODD have consistent behavior patterns which include being argumentative and defiant towards parents and other figures of authority. This is a different condition to Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) where the drive to avoid demands […]
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Signs of Autism in Teens Autism in teens can be recognized during regular interaction with others at school and at home. Verbal signs of autism in a teen might include: Not knowing how to engage in a two-way conversation; Usually talking about a single topic without allowing the other person to talk or respond Only […]
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The symptoms of autism spectrum disorders can mimic a variety of other conditions, making it crucial to receive an accurate diagnosis and may lead to autism misdiagnosed. Early intervention is key for autism symptoms, so being properly evaluated and diagnosed will give children access to the best therapies for their special needs. How often is […]
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Has your talkative, engaged, and very energetic child suddenly become quiet and uninterested? Does your child exhibit new, unusual habits? Have you noticed speech regression? If you answered yes, then he/she may have what’s called regressive autism. Based on data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in every 68 children […]
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Your 2-year-old son has tantrums all the time. Just moving his favorite chair can trigger a meltdown. He grunts and points when he wants something. He rarely looks you in the eye and often doesn’t respond to his name. Family and friends are reassuring. “Kids develop at different paces.” “He’s just quiet.” “My co-worker’s child […]
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Early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be detected in babies, infants and toddlers, yet many children with autism do not receive a diagnosis until the ages of two or three. It’s not uncommon for babies to go undiagnosed. Signs of autism in infants can go undetected until later on in life. The early […]
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Coming to terms with an autism diagnosis on a purely parental level can be indescribable. There is an entire spectrum of emotions that range from inconsolable sadness to incomparable relief when help has finally been found. It is a uniquely personal and sometimes misunderstood human process of emotions. I am told by various individuals that […]
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Question: Syed asks, “My son is 2 1/2 and does not talk yet. He has no words, only babbling. He has also signs of autism like hand-flapping, walking on his tip-toes, and other forms of stimming. He is registered at our local special needs office where we live. We are very worried about him and […]
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To be completely honest, I thought I was well educated on special education. I mean after all, I have worked with several different students with a wide range of learning disabilities, physical disabilities, etc. However, reality didn’t set in until I had my own child. Let’s face it – there is a huge difference between […]
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