Ways ABA Therapy Can Help Improve Skills For Life
Learning that your child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be very difficult for family members. One of the most important things to remember is that your child is still the same child that he/she was prior to the diagnosis. As you learn about ASD and begin to use resources and find […]
Continue readingAnxiety and Autism: Best Ways to Relieve the Effects of Anxiety
Anxiety and autism disorders Approximately 40 percent of children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) also have an anxiety disorder (Steensel, Bögels, & Perrin, 2011). Anxiety can exacerbate symptoms of ASD making communication and social interactions increasingly difficult. Helping a child with autism learn practical skills to manage his/her anxiety can improve quality of life […]
Continue readingAutism Medication Guide: Treating Autism and Its Core Symptoms
While the first clinical account of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was published more than 75 years ago by child psychiatrist Leo Kanner, the precise cause of autism is still not clear to scientists. Billions of dollars have been spent on autism research over the years in an attempt to unravel the mystery that now affects […]
Continue readingFinding the Right Therapy to Help Foster Independence With Special Needs
Functional independence skills are necessary for daily living and establishing quality of life. For ‘neuro-typical’ individuals, we exercise functional independence every day without thinking much about it. We get ourselves up, bathed, dressed, fed and out the door instinctually. For children with autism, however, these functional skills are often not always innate. It’s important to […]
Continue readingNew Treatment May Help ASD Kids Struggling With Weight Gain
As many parents already know, medications for managing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can cause challenging side effects. For the common symptoms of irritability and agitation, only two drugs are FDA approved—risperidone and aripiprazole—and unfortunately both can cause intense food cravings that lead to weight gain. The drugs are effective at reducing tantrums and aggression, so […]
Continue readingAutism Toys for Children: Ultimate Guide for Choosing the Best Gift for Your Child With Autism
What are the best autism toys for children? Children are so different from one another and so are their needs. Does your child like physical activity? An indoor ball pit or trampoline might help your child with autism expend some energy. What about sensory issues? Many kids benefit from soothing toys such as stress balls […]
Continue readingSensory Integration and Special Needs in the Dental Office
Most people have some degree of aversion to the sensory-rich dental experience. The sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and metallic instruments are literally in our faces. We can’t move or escape, while the dentist contorts our lips, sprays water while our mouths are open, and we try to breathe and communicate. It’s a challenge whether special […]
Continue readingWays Autism Focused Couple Therapy Can Change Your Life
As a practicing clinician specializing in adult diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), I have noticed that as the diagnosis of children impacted on the spectrum has dramatically increased (current statistic from the Centers for Disease Control is 1:55), the first time diagnostic rates for adults on the spectrum also continue to skyrocket, making the […]
Continue readingCalming Self-Injurious Behavior with a Simple Touch
The hardest part of treating people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is observing self-injurious behavior. It is especially difficult for the individual’s family and carers to witness them hurting themselves with such aggression when they do not always understand the reason or cause of the trigger. Therefore, I take my clients’ needs very seriously, and […]
Continue readingAutism and ADHD: Do You Know How to Help with Co-Occurring Conditions?
Among school-age children, an estimated 11 percent are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). What most parents, teachers, and school counselors may not realize is that children with ADHD may also manifest symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Having two or more co-occurring diseases or disorders is defined as being comorbid or having comorbidities. […]
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