Tips For Living with Autism

Living with autism can be difficult, but there are some simple changes you can implement that will make a big difference. In 1994, 1 in 10,000 children were diagnosed with autism, while studies today put the number at about 1 in 88. With the increase in the amount of diagnoses, people are requesting help and advice in coping with the disorder. Within the last ten years there's been an enormous rise in the research and knowledge available. There are several ways to help with the autism diagnosis:

1. Be considered a Self-Advocate

Being a self-advocate can make coping with autism a great deal simpler. It is important to know how to correctly explain and communicate your autistic child’s educational, physical, and emotional needs to caretakers and instructors. The more comfortable you feel about discussing autism, the easier it will l be for other people to understand and adapt. As children get older, it is important to encourage them to begin speaking up on their own behalf.

2. Dietary Considerations

Changing certain foods can sometimes make a difference in behavior associated with autism. Food allergies are common in individuals with autism. Some foods to look at when making dietary changes are:.

·         Gluten – is found in almost all grains, such as wheat, rye, barley, spelt, oats, and semolina

·         Casein – is found in animal milk items, anything with lactose, as well as the wax on some fruits

·         Soy – Soy isn't just present in items like soybeans and soy sauce, but can also be contained in virtually every processed or packed food you'll find

·         Corn –is generally present in virtually every packed or processed food

Individuals with autism should speak with a healthcare professional in regards to making dietary changes.

3. Develop a Strong Social Network

A powerful support network is essential for the happiness and health of people diagnosed with autism, as well as their families. It is crucial that you develop a network of people that will help you with various types of support, such as:

·         Social - This group includes friends, classmates, and co-workers who will help you with handling daily achievements and disappointments.

·         Emotional - This group includes friends and family who may serve as reliable confidants who can help when you really need anyone to share feeling, concerns, along with other emotional elements.

·         Educational - This group includes doctors, instructors, care providers, and practitioners, along with other experts within the area, that can provide you with suggestions about major choices regarding treatment and care. This group may also include parents of other autistic children.

·         Practical - This group includes anybody close by that may assist you for emergencies that inevitably arise.

By developing a strong social network, you'll be far better equipped to tackle any situation; this can make coping with autism much easier. 

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR AUTISM

Dispelling the Myths about High Functioning Asperger Syndrome

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This is an area of study that is changing and advancing rapidly, but the public has not yet caught up to the general consensus within the psychiatric community. Today, we're going to clear up some of the broad, widely-held misconceptions about the disorder formerly known as high functioning Asperger’s Syndrome.

1.       Though certain patients with particular symptoms are often referred to as having high functioning Asperger, the condition was actually formally known as Asperger's Syndrome, named after an Austrian pediatrician named Hans Asperger who first identified the syndrome back in the 1940s. Now, let's fast forward to 2013, when the psychiatric community elected to remove Asperger's Syndrome from the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) because it is technically an affliction on the autism spectrum, and shouldn't necessarily be treated differently. However, Asperger's generally describes a less severe case that still allows individuals to autonomously work, maintain a social life, and support themselves within our society's framework without unreasonable accommodation. So from here forward, when this article refers to someone who displays the traits or symptoms of high functioning Asperger, we will do so by the current medical terminology: Autism.

2.       Here is a quick list of the most common symptoms found in patients suffering from a relatively mild autism spectrum disorder:

·         Difficulty noticing, interpreting, and responding to subtle social cues

·         Difficulty reading body language, starting or maintaining a conversation, or refraining from interrupting others who are speaking

·         Difficulty feeling or expressing empathy, especially in appropriate social situations

·         Difficulty understanding or expressing differences in people's tone, pitch, or accent (for instance, having trouble recognizing sarcasm)

·         Constant verbalization of internal thought process

·         Abnormal eye contact – either very little, or too much

·         Deep, intense interest in one or a few different subjects, about which they sometimes speak at great length (often carrying on a one-sided conversation) and which they have a multifaceted, extensive knowledge about.

3.       Many people who are searching for information about high functioning Asperger’s are actually searching for information on high functioning autism. Though they sound like they should be the same thing, the psychiatric community is still working to fold the previous diagnosis of Asperger's into the autism spectrum (on a scale of severity). High functioning autism used to mean patients who suffered from an autism spectrum disorder, and had an IQ of more than 70. High functioning autism, like high functioning Asperger, does not appear at all in the DSM-V. This is likely due to the psychiatric community's increasing reluctance to utilize IQ as an appropriate measure of intelligence, since both the concept and the method of testing have proven to be faulty in many areas.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR HIGH FUNCTIONING ASPERGER'S