I’d love to see some information about how to teach in a way that an Asperger’s mind will absorb, particularly rote facts such as math measurements and such. I’d also love more information about teaching basic social skills, manners, and social graces.

Asperger’s children have excellent rote memories and often show intense interest in one or two intellectual areas, such as math, transportation, history, or the characters in a television series. Sometimes the special interest is so absorbing that they ignore all other subjects. They learn every fact about the chosen topic and talk about it endlessly, whether or not their listeners are interested. The child may have little understanding of the meaning of these facts. But, if you can tie rote information into the area of interest, you may find it easy to teach him or her and the learning will be remembered. For example, if the child is interested in transportation, you might be able to involve him in measuring the length of railroad tracks or distances airplanes travel on various routes.

Often using a computer and rote learning computer games helps Aspies retain factual information. Surprisingly, Aspies often respond well to flash cards and other rote teaching methods also. Some Aspies are very good with visual memory and remember things they read or see on charts very well.

Etiquette and social graces are like a foreign language to Aspies. Social skills, such as saying “Hi” or “Good morning” or looking others in the eyes when conversing, are often taught by communication specialists or in social training groups. Imitating and practicing new skills in situations which are as realistic as possible is very effective. Skills’ training includes:

a. Learning nonverbal behaviours, such as using appropriate hand gestures, smiling, and verbal behaviours;

b. Interpretation of nonverbal behaviours of others;

c. Processing of visual information with auditory information;

d. Social awareness.

There are video lessons that teach social skills. Consider using “Model Me Conversation Cues” and “Model Me Friendship” videos, part of a set of videos that focus on social skills activities. You can find the Model Me Kids Videos at http://www.modelmekids-store.com/?Click=1082

There is a Skillstreaming Curriculum that may help with social skills.

Another idea for teaching social skills is to set a weekly or monthly goal. The goal is to learn a specific skill and be able to apply it in a variety of situations. Here is the procedure.

Decide which skill you would like the child to learn, for example responding to the question “What’s new?”

• Teach the child the question/skill and several possible responses. Explain that there are many ways to respond. Model lots of options.
• Involve family, friends, and school staff in setting up situations that require practicing the skill.
• Develop a plan for how the questioner should prompt or respond, if the child doesn’t respond correctly.
• Keep track of the child’s responses to see if the child uses the skill consistently.
• Use a lot of praise for appropriate behaviour, especially when it is used without prompting.

The AS child may form friendships with others who share his interests. Computer or math clubs, science fairs, Star Trek clubs, etc. are possible avenues to consider. Many of these children will develop coping and social interaction skills, and the ability to “fit in” as a result. For those that don’t, counselling and social “training” may help.

Asperger’s Syndrome – Practical Strategies for the Classroom; A Teacher’s Guide is a great place to learn more on the subject. You can see more about this book by Clicking Here

This guide explains the difficulties underlying Asperger’s Syndrome and how it causes problems in school. The book provides practical, common sense management suggestions. While focusing on “making sense” of the difficulties, common behaviours are discussed and “things to try” are recommended.

All the best

Dave Angel

This is Dave Angel and Welcome to the twentieth edition
of “The Parenting Autism & Aspergers Newsletter”…

Inside this edition you will find:

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Gamers Show Asperger’s Traits

2. In the News – John Schneider Promotes Asperger’s
Syndrome Awareness

3. Parenting Tips – Use an Exercise Ball!

4. Prominent People Linked with ASD – Carl Sagan, Astronomer

Thanks

Dave

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1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Gamers Show Asperger’s Traits

In an article written by Gary Bland, he states that people who
spend hours and hours playing video games exhibit many of the
same personality traits as people with Asperger’s syndrome,
according to researchers. The UK research creates concerns that
video games could further alienate players from peers and
increase mental health problems like depression.

In a research study, Dr. John Charlton, of the University of
Bolton, studied 400 gamers, asking how much time they spent
playing video games. These were not people with diagnosed
Asperger’s Syndrome. But, he found that the more time a
person spent playing video games, the more likely the person
was to show three specific traits: neuroticism, a lack of
extroversion, and a lack of agreeableness. He states that
people with Asperger’s may be more likely to become addicted
to playing video games, although playing them does not cause
Asperger’s.

He feels that since those with Asperger’s find social
interactions stressful, they may turn to video games to fill
time not used in spending time with peers. Unfortunately,
video games do not encourage social skill development or the
reduction of repetitive behaviours, which is not good for
Aspies.

To read the full article please got to: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2008/04/23/2225382.htm

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2. In the News –
John Schneider Promotes Asperger’s Syndrome Awareness

In this article by John Morgan, Spotlight Health, with medical
adviser Stephen A. Shoop, M.D., they discuss the fact that
John Schneider, who plays the father of teenager Clark Kent on
Smallville, is in real life, dad to an 11-year-old son, who
has incredible abilities. “My son has Asperger’s Syndrome,
which is part of the autism spectrum,” says Schneider, best
known for starring on the Dukes of Hazzard. “It’s likely
Albert Einstein had Asperger’s, and so did Thomas Jefferson.
Bill Gates I’m certain has it. With many highly motivated
successful people that have done something in an obscure area,
you’re going to find an ‘odd bird’ now and then.” “Ask Chasen
just about anything about baseball, and he can rattle off names,
dates, statistics, you name it,” Schneider explains. “He just
consumes everything he can about baseball. It’s his thing.”

To read the article go to: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlighthealth/2003-04-15-schneider_x.htm

John Schneider’s statements above are solely his and do not
necessarily represent those of the publisher of this
newsletter. People mentioned above as having Asperger’s may
or may not have actually been diagnosed with it.

————————————————————-

3. Parenting Tips – Use an Exercise Ball!

On May 25, 2008, Lorrie posted this tip on our website.

“My son has been diagnosed within the autism spectrum disorder,
he is 10 and loves being on the computer, but finds it hard to
just sit on a chair and sit still. He will twirl the chair on
one leg, rock back and forth, and whatever else he can find to
do with it. We have gone through a couple of chairs. I came up
with the solution to two problems. My son is also on medication
that has made him gain some weight which he is struggling with.
I was looking to buy an exercise ball for myself at my computer,
because I had read that by doing that you will strengthen your
inner core muscles. So I thought it would be great for me, but
then before I even got to use it I thought what a great idea
for a chair for my son. And it has worked out wonderful{ly}. He
can roll back and forth in the living room, the chair can move
all the time and not break anything and he is also getting some
great exercise and has lost a couple pounds just having the ball
for a month. I don’t know why I never thought of this before but
I sure wish I would have. So anyway, that’s what’s worked for me
to get rid of some of that excess energy that my son has.”

Thanks for a great tip Lorrie.

Please post any tips that you have and I will publish them.

You can post them at:

http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/parenting-tips-wanted/

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4. Prominent People Linked with ASD – Carl Sagan, Astronomer

Carl Sagan, astromomer, (1934-1996), was rumored to have had
Asperger’s Syndrome. Carl,an American of Jewish heritage,
was an astro-biologist, as well as an astromomer. He made
science popular with the mainstream and advocated a
humanist/scientific philosophy of life. His most famous
phrase was, “Billions and billions of stars.” He won a
number of awards including an Emmy and a Pulitzer Prize.
Carl was married three times and hosted a well-liked science
documentary, Cosmos, on television.

There’s a fascinating book by Norm Ledgin called “Asperger’s
and Self Esteem: Insight and Hope Through Famous Role Models”.
Ledgin discusses 12 historical figures and celebrities and
traits they had that are now identified with Asperger’s
Syndrome. People profiled include Orson Welles, Carl Sagan,
Albert Einstein, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

It’s important to remember that the people mentioned in this
newsletter, as well as those in the book, may or may not have
had Asperger’s Syndrome. Ledgin states that “because these
figures are all dead, we can never know whether all would have
met the classic definition of Asperger Syndrome.” The most
important message of the book is that these people exhibited
behaviors different from the mainstream, but succeeded in
life in spite of the challenges they faced.

To read the news article on Carl Sagan go to:
http://incorrectpleasures.blogspot.com/2006/09/referenced-list-of-famous-or-important.html
and http://www.aspergeratlanta.com/dan16.htm

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I hope the articles in this edition have given you much to think
about.

The next edition of the newsletter should be due in
mid-July.

And as ever … please send in any inspirational stories
that you know of, any questions that you would like our team
of experts to answer, any topics that you wish to be discussed
and news stories that you want to share VIA THE BLOG.

We will publish as many as we can.

Until next month………

Best Wishes

Dave Angel

This week’s article covers the following question:

My son (age 9) seems to suffer from SAD. Is this common in kids with ASD/HFA? What can be done (other than SSRIs)?

An extensive review of the current literature does not reveal a connection between Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Asperger’s Syndrome (ASD) or high functioning autism (HFA). However, that does not rule out the possibility that there may be one. Obviously, further research needs to be performed to determine if SAD is linked to ASD/HFA.

Seasonal Affective Disorder, commonly known as SAD, is caused by sunlight deprivation, which, in turn, can cause a neurochemical imbalance in the brain. This imbalance can lead to feelings of sadness or symptoms of depression.

The symptoms of SAD appear during the winter months, beginning in September or November and continuing through March or April. A diagnosis of SAD is usually made after three or more consecutive winters when the following symptoms occur:

Depression, including feelings of misery, guilt and loss of self-esteem, sometimes hopelessness and despair, or apathy and lack of emotion;

Anxiety and tension and the inability to tolerate stress;

Decreased libido and disinterest in physical contact, intimacy, and sexual activity;

Eating disorders, such as craving sweets and carbohydrates, weight gain;

Lethargy, a feeling of fatigue and the inability to carry out a normal, daily routine;

Mood swings followed by periods of hypomania (over activity);

Sleep disorders such as oversleeping, difficulty in staying awake or asleep, sleep disturbances; and ocial problems, such as irritability and a desire to avoid social contact.

Most sufferers show signs of a weakened immune system during the winter months, and this makes them more vulnerable to infections and other illnesses.

A very popular method of treating SAD is the use of light therapy. Research has shown that light therapy is an effective treatment for SAD about 50% of the time. Specially designed lighting is used in the home, and the person with SAD is exposed to the lighting for a daily period of time. Whether this treatment will benefit someone with AS remains to be seen.

There are two types of light therapy treatment. The first is bright light treatment. The person with SAD sits in front of the light for a specified time period. The second type is dawn stimulation. This therapy takes place while the person is asleep. A low-intensity light source is set to turn on in the morning, before the person wakes up. This light gradually increases in brightness as time passes. Many people prefer the passive experience of dawn stimulation because it is more convenient and less intrusive than bright-light treatment. It may be more appropriate for AS sufferers.

In addition to light therapy, a person with SAD can spend more time outdoors in the daylight hours, thereby increasing exposure to the healing effects of natural light.

Currently, research is continuing to determine the most effective way to use light therapy. In addition, medications and counseling may also be used to treat your child for SAD. Treatment for SAD doesn’t cure seasonal depression, but it can help relieve your child’s symptoms.

As with any illness, check with your child’s doctor and a psychiatrist before trying any treatment.

Have a great day

Dave Angel

This week’s post tackles the following question:

Question

I would really like to know the pros and cons of getting a diagnosis. My 6 year old has been evaluated by a therapist who suggested Asperger’s, but I have heard good and bad about having a formal diagnosis and would like your opinion.

Answer

The importance of having your child evaluated and obtaining a formal diagnosis cannot be stressed enough. A diagnosis of Asperger’s can be very tricky because, for most children, symptoms vary and change over time. Symptoms of various conditions do overlap and patients may have several conditions at the same time.

Regardless of the outcome of an evaluation, having a diagnosis of any illness provides a beginning for parents. If there is an illness or disorder diagnosed, the parent can then obtain a ‘road map’ for coping with or healing the child.

Not only is it important to obtain an early, specific diagnosis from a doctor or therapist, it is also important to obtain a second opinion. Many childhood behaviours mimic one another, and a second opinion is invaluable when assessing a child’s behaviour. Since Asperger’s Syndrome varies greatly from one person to the next, with some having many, serious problems and others having only minor problems, obtaining a second opinion can confirm a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome.

Also, it is important to obtain an early diagnosis because early intervention and treatment often lead to greater success. And also, age-appropriate learning proceeds without any unnecessary delay.

Many children with Asperger’s are very intelligent and clever. They are able to cover up difficulties and may not be diagnosed until they are adults. Many adults with Asperger’s Syndrome are very high-functioning people who learn various coping mechanisms on their own. The most widely recognized diagnostic tool for Asperger’s Syndrome is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Known as the DSM, it has the full diagnostic criteria for pervasive developmental disorders such autism and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). A good explanation of the criteria for autism and ADHD can be found at www.childbrain.com website.

As defined in DSM-IV, the most recent revision of the DSM, the criteria for Asperger’s Syndrome (AS) follow the same format as for autism. The symptoms are organized by onset, social and emotional, and “restricted interests” criteria, as well as motor deficits and isolated special skills. A final criterion for Asperger’s is the exclusion of other conditions, such as autism itself and Pervasive Developmental Disorder. The child might exhibit behavioural delays or deviant behavioural patterns in multiple areas of functioning.

If diagnosed, it will be helpful to explore resources for your son, such as an Asperger’s specialist who can teach him social skills and help him understand his diagnosis. Assuming that your child is currently in school, the first place to look for help is at school. School counsellors have been trained in teaching learning skills as well as basic techniques of psychology. They maintain a working knowledge of DSM diagnostic criteria, and many of them work closely with doctors and psychiatrists when they are formulating a child’s diagnosis.

Many countries mandate evaluations of all students who may have a disability – of any kind. The evaluation leads to a plan for remediation and assistance. If your child is out of school, find a licensed psychologist (one who has a Ph.D. from an accredited university) to help him and refer him to the resources that are available for people with Asperger’s Syndrome.

All the Best

Dave Angel

We recently painted my Aspie son’s room what we thought was a soothing and calming colour. We picked a field green, with a darker shade of green on one wall. It had the opposite affect on him. Do you have any colour suggestions that are calming? He is 12 years old and wants his room hot pink.

Children with autism sometimes have highly altered sensory sensitivity to the environment. Sounds, smells, touch, colors, or light are experienced much more intensely than other children experience them, even causing physical pain. When there are a lot of different stimuli, this becomes overwhelming, for example when there are many pictures on a wall, and can cause anxiety. This leads to stress, confusion, and anxiety, which may have a negative impact on behavior.

Environmental stimuli, such as paint color and pictures, can stimulate or calm behavior. Usually green is the color of balance and calm. In your son’s case, it obviously isn’t. Calming, muted colors in soft tones, not bright, primary colors, are recommended for people with Aspergers. Neutral beige is also often calming. There is little advice beyond this regarding paint colors for children who have Asperger’s. To some extent, it may be process of trial and error to find a calming color for your son’s room. Also, avoid florescent or bright lights in the room as the buzzing and glare can be very upsetting to children with Asperger’s and may be the problem more than the paint colour.

At 12 years old, your son probably would like some input into the color of his room. There are a couple of ways in which you can test paint colors in your son’s room. Before you try these suggestions, explain to your son what you are going to do and make sure he understands his part in the process. His part will be to stay calm while in the room, and, if he does, it will slowly get pinker.

First of all, paint the room pale beige or soft white. After a week, paint one wall only a very, very, soft pink. Explain to your son that as long as he remains calm while in the room, the paint color on that wall will get a little darker each month. If he does well with the soft pink during the first month, paint the same wall a bit darker pink. If he continues to stay calm the next month, try a bit darker pink color. Keep the color no more than medium pink on that one wall. If he can handle that, you could try a narrow strip of hot pink across that wall. Keep stressing that he must work to stay calm if he wants his room pink. That puts responsibility on him to earn the color he wants.

If he can’t handle even the very, very, soft pink wall, then keep the room beige or white and try hanging pictures or posters (one at a time) in pink colors. Again, as long as he remains calm in the room, the pictures stay. If he loses his calm, the pictures or posters can be removed for a period of time. Again, the responsibility for keeping them depends on his behavior.

Thanks

Dave Angel