Living With Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

There is much a grandparent can do to help a grandchild with autism. First of all, accept and love your grandchild. He may not be the grandchild you had hoped for, but he needs you. A grandparent should learn as much as possible about autism.... Full Answer

Self-stimulatory behaviors in children, teens, and adults with autism can be soothing behaviors or excitable behaviors. If they are inappropriate, they can be decreased or replaced by other more socially-acceptable ones. Some research has shown... Full Answer

Eating habits may be affected in children with autism spectrum disorders. This is believed to be related to sensory issues that affect taste and eating habits. For example, some children may have sensory issues related to hearing (auditory), light, and... Full Answer

Watch as licensed psychologist and autism specialist Dr. Ronald Leaf discusses how people with autism can improve their social skills. Full Answer

There are different purposes to the self-stimulatory behaviors (like rocking, hand-flapping, or repetitive blinking, for example) of people with autism. At times, they may be engaging in self-stimulatory behaviors to excite the nervous system... Full Answer

Find a local support group of moms with children with autism so you do not feel so isolated. Connect with positive-thinking people. Make sure your child with autism knows how much you love him and how important he is to you, and ensure that he... Full Answer

If your child is severely impacted by autism and needs 24-hour supports, you may experience constant exhaustion. It's like having to watch a two-year-old all the time. Also, most children do not sleep through the night, and so the parents don’t... Full Answer

There many ways in which therapists can help the parents of a child with autism. Couples must be encouraged to acknowledge and face the emotions of the grief cycle and the loss of the child they were expecting, and to work through these emotions.... Full Answer

Many times professionals label a child as “untestable.” This can not be considered an accurate assumption. Individuals with autism and related disabilities may seem uncooperative, stubborn, or withdrawn while in fact the way a test is... Full Answer

Choosing a professional is not always easy. When choosing a professional to work with you and your child, it’s important to look for someone who shows respect for the parents and regards parents as experts on their children. The professional... Full Answer