Archive for the ‘Autism’ Category

Can Autistics Learn and Succeed

Thursday, April 23rd, 2009

Graduation for anyone is a scary thing, right? Especially when you grew up in a sheltered environment where everything you need is provided by your parents. Finally you are on your own. This is the scary part.

Imagine, for a moment, that your are an autistic individual on your way to the real world. This is harder since the environment in which you grew up in is a controlled one, meaning that your parents and school control the surroundings for you to be able to cope better. But in the real world of business it is not the same. You will encounter people who are not as understanding as the people you grew up with and most of them work in unethical ways.

Also you have to dress up all by yourself, fend on your own, brush your teeth, wear appropriate clothes and use a deodorant. These may come easy to others but for autistic individuals it can be a chore.

However, this may not be the problem for you, it may be for others. Problems in the work area may arise since others do not understand what autism is. They discriminate against it. For the bosses, they have to train autistic individuals to be able to function in the work area plus make the employees understand the situation of the autistic individaul tehy have to work with.

For all this to work out, an autistic individual should be made to realize that a big change will occur in his or her life once he or she graduates from college. having mentor or therapist or simply family support will be able to help the individul cope with the major changes in life.

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How Autism Is Diagnosed

Monday, January 19th, 2009

Autism is a complicated disorder to be diagnosed. So when a doctor suggests that your childmay have autism, you are most likely to seek a second or third medical opinion to prove or disprove your first doctors diagnosis.

A disorder that manifests during a young age, autism is usually detected at the age of three or can be earlier. Delay in speaking and unusual behavior in social situations are both early signs of autism.

If you suspect your child to demonstrate these unusual behaviors, then your child must undergo a thorough physical exam, a review of family history by your pediatrician and a visit to a specialist who has examined autism and oter disorders to ensure that your child is accurately diagnosed.

Hearing tests are also included in Autism diagnosis. There are two types of auditory tests. First. recognized tones that the child can hear is recorded. Another would require the use of sedatives then the brain response to the tone is measured.

Next step would be testing your child for Fragile X syndrome whih is present with children with autism. Metabolism can also be taken note of by analyzin a child’s DNA through a blood, urine or saliva sample.

Diagnostic tools such as MRI or CAT scan can also help. you would just have to trust your doctors. Second opinions are useful but if your child is diagnosed, stay with one doctor. by doing so, you are not only letting your child get use to his doctor but the treatments to be done will not be as complicated if you change doctors all the time.

It is a difficult disorder to be detected so parents and carehivers should arm themselves with enough knowledge to address the special need of an autistic child.

By early detection of autism, you are giving your child a shot to be a highly functional individual in his life.

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What Is Asperger Syndrome

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

A mild form of autism, asperger syndrome, does not affect language. It usually manifests later in life unlike other types of autism so some are undiagnosed. if you suspect yourself or your child to have the condition, see a doctor ASAP.

It is important to know that Asperger syndrome or any type of autism is not mental retardation. Famous people such as Albert Einstein and Mozart were found to have the condition.

Aspeger syndrome does not affect your mental ability but makes it difficult for people to communiate socially. If undiagnosed, people would not get the help they need leading to social problems like bullying in school. It is important to get treated to improve the person’s overall situation.

Social confusion is one of the symptoms to watch out for. People who have Aspeger syndrome find it hard to deal with changes because they find it confusing. They may also say rude things when they don’t mean to do so.

Fixation is a common trait that they share with other full blown autism. People with Asperger syndrome are highly focused in their interests though they are very much in control.

If you suspect that you or someone you know to have this disorder, you should consult a doctor immediately to answer more questions and provide treatment necessary for the disorder.

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Autistic Children And The Strain On Marriage

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Unfortunately, in modern times, many marriages end up in divorce or separation. This statistic rises even higher when you mix in an autistic child. No matter how loving and understanding you both may be towards your child, the truth is that autism is a very difficult matter, and strain on the marriage is not uncommon. By trying to stay positive about your situation, and by working to keep your marriage healthy, you and your spouse can avoid marital problems and hopefully survive the trying times of raising an autistic child.

Why did you marry your husband or wife? By asking yourself this question often, you can focus on the good things in your marriage. Raising a child with autism is stressful, and also you are stressed, you have a tendency to snap at another person for the smallest missteps. Instead of focusing on these bad qualities, take some time to enjoy one another the way you did at the beginning of your relationship. This may include spending some time apart from your children. When you find out that your child is autistic, it is beneficial to make sure that you and your spouse are not the only two people with whom your child will respond. A grandparent, aunt or uncle, mature sibling, or nanny are good people to have in your child’s life in the most intimate way possible. This way, alone time with your spouse is possible.

Work together with your spouse to help your child, instead of fighting with one another. It is very likely that you will have different ideas about what to do in certain situations, so be prepared to compromise and always seek professional consultations before making any medical decisions for your child. By working together, remember that you are giving your child the best opportunities. Try to set apart time every week to spend together as a family, especially if one parent or the other is the primary caregiver.

Lastly, seek help when you need it. Part of any successful marriage is spending some time apart to focus on individual needs, and it is no different when you have an autistic child. However, if you find that you and your spouse are not happy unless you are spending time alone, it is time to reevaluate the situation. A family or marriage counselor can help you and your spouse get back on the right track to a happy life together. It might also be beneficial to meet other couples raising autistic children. You are not alone, and it is never easy. By making an effort to keep your marriage happy, even when you are stressed with the task of raising an autistic child, you and your spouse can ensure that your marriage does not end in a messy divorce.

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Management Of Autistic Child

Friday, August 29th, 2008

Discovering your child is autistic may be a painful test, and unfortunately, time is of the essence. As a parent, you do not have time to examine why and how it happened, only what to do next.  The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone in your struggle. By researching and finding the disease through other similar situations, you can help your child while dealing with your own emotional reactions.

Join a support group for parents of autism. You can find these by contacting the Autism Society of America. From here you can find local branches, which offer many support groups for parents and families with an autistic child. Being in touch with other parents in similar situations can not only help you feel less alone, but it can provide a multitude of resources. A support group for parents will also tell you the direction of the best doctors, intervention programs, and workshops for your children and your family. Find a support group for other children you have together. Many parents forget that they are not the only ones who must learn to live and communicate with an autistic child. By locating a support group for your children, you can help to act or to act against autistic children by teaching them about the disease. As a parent, you must create a favorable environment for the whole family to manage the health of your child.

Consider marriage counseling if you are married. An autistic child can put serious strains on the marriage, leading to escalating arguments, neglect of another, and perhaps even blaming each other for the situation. Marriage counseling from the beginning can help a couple through this discovery and the rough transition, and help build a better environment for your children. Your marriage should not end as a result of having an autistic child, but the sad reality is that many of them do. Avoid this by using one another for support and understanding that you may need help to cope with one another, now and in the future.

More importantly, start on the path in becoming an expert. Several times, pediatricians or psychiatrists are not experts on autism, which can lead to misdiagnosis or incorrect treatment options. As your child the best advocate, you should know everything you can about autism. Parents of autistic children can be a great resource, which offers training and workshops. The SAA is a newsletter and offers a variety of information, from diagnosis to treatment. As always, remember that a support group for parents of autistic children can always provide you with books and research mnaterials that focus on the reality of the situation. Inform yourself and those around you to provide the most beneficial for your child love and guidance.

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