Hi there and welcome to this weeks blog article …

Question

How will Asperger’s affect my other (non-Asperger’s) 7 yr old son as he grows up?

Answer

Living with a sibling who has Asperger’s Syndrome is not always easy.  One minute the two are playing a game or sharing a special toy and the next minute, the child with Asperger’s is in the middle of a meltdown while the sibling sits wondering what happened to cause it. 

Everyone in your home should learn about Asperger’s Syndrome.  Even small children can be told why their sibling acts the way he does in a way they can understand.  Simple, matter-of-fact explanations will satisfy the younger ones.  Allow the children to ask questions.  Negative effects on siblings will be diminished if they are informed.  Young children do not like personal mysteries.

Here are some additional ideas for you to use to help your other children deal with Asperger’s Syndrome.

* There are books written specifically for the siblings of children with Asperger’s Syndrome.  These books are available for all ages and come in the form of non-fiction essays by real children, fictional storybooks, books written by teens with Asperger’s, and personal accounts written by parents or adult siblings to name a few.  You should be able to find just what you need for your child’s siblings.  A possible choice is “Views from Our Shoes: Growing Up with a Brother or Sister with Special Needs” by Donald Meyer, editor.  This book is a collection of essays written by the siblings of children with Asperger’s Syndrome.  They range in age from four to eighteen. 

* Special attention is a necessity for the siblings of a child with Asperger’s Syndrome.  The child with Asperger’s unintentionally demands attention.  His behaviors are questionable in his sibling’s eyes; they would never get by with doing some of those things.  Schedule regular one-on-one outings or play dates with each child.  Give each one your undivided attention and make them feel special as often as possible.  They need you and yes, you need them.
 
* Family counseling can help with all sorts of negative feelings, especially once the siblings get older.  The child with Asperger’s can embarrass them.  Having a safe place to vent frustrations and negative feelings will keep your household feeling positive while everyone makes the most of having a compassionate listener.

Siblings of a child with Asperger’s should suffer no ill effects when living in a balanced, supportive home.  Take steps when they are young to minimize any negatives and help them grow up to be caring, compassionate adults.

That’s all for this week and have a great week,

Dave Angel

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Articles posted this week at The Parenting Aspergers Community

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What tips can you give me to help my son with Aspergers to cope with his first day at college?

More children with Asperger’s Syndrome are going off to college now than ever before. While college is a big step in every teen’s life, you can help make the transition go smoothly with a little advanced preparation. Until he leaves, you are still in command. You can help him …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/331.cfm

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We are planning a family holiday this year with our child who has Aspergers – any tips?

There is just nothing better than a family holiday! Asperger’s Syndrome should not stand in the way of a fun family adventure. With a little advanced planning and extra consideration, you can arrange a trip that will be a great memory for years to come …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/330.cfm

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What tips can you give me to help my son with Aspergers to cope with his first day at college?

More children with Asperger’s Syndrome are going off to college now than ever before. While college is a big step in every teen’s life, you can help make the transition go smoothly with a little advanced preparation. Until he leaves, you are still in command. You can help him …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/329.cfm

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Hi there and welcome to this week’s Aspergers blog post; coming up below …

Just a quick reminder first of the 25% off offer for The Parenting Aspergers Volume 2 which is available for several days more at http://parentingaspergers.com/thankyouoffer.html

Here’s this week’s article …

Question

Where can I get help in dealing with my own feelings and the reactions of others, especially family members?

Answer

The biggest step a parent has to take after the diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome is acknowledgement and acceptance.  As hard as it sounds right now, you have to accept the diagnosis and move on. 

It helps if your family is supportive and understanding, but this isn’t always the case.  Your child appears normal and intelligent (which he is) so his behavior draws unwanted attention and unwarranted remarks from the people you love.  Honestly, sometimes you cannot be sure if his behavior is deliberate or not.  Here are some suggestions on how to deal with the issues that Asperger’s brings into your life.

Come to terms with the Asperger’s Syndrome diagnosis

It is what it is.  Think of your child’s diagnosis as information.  Your child is the same child he was before the diagnosis.  Now you have an explanation for his weaknesses and even some of his strengths.   Keep a positive attitude by focusing on the strengths. 

Educate yourself and your family about Asperger’s Syndrome

You must learn all you can about Asperger’s.  There are many books available written by professionals and by parents of children with Asperger’s.  For example, “Embarrassed Often…Ashamed Never” by Lisa Elliott is an encouraging and often humorous glimpse into her life as the parent of a child with Asperger’s Syndrome.  This is a great choice for parents and family members of a child with Asperger’s.

Find local Asperger’s Syndrome support groups

Connect with local families who have been where you are in the process.  These families know firsthand what it’s like to live with Asperger’s.   It is comforting and powerful to be with others who are on the same journey.  These support groups can help you find treatment resources in your area, community events for your family to attend, and more.   

Seek individual and family counseling

Asperger’s brings an added risk of anxiety and depression. Your child will benefit from counseling. While seeking a counselor for your child, consider finding a family counselor.  You are all affected emotionally be this diagnosis.  Individual and family therapy can help you work through the rough spots that will come.

Keep a check on your physical well-being

Regular medical care is necessary since stress can cause physical illness.  Your well-being is necessary in order to care for your family.  Allow time for yourself and your hobbies.  Plan regular outings and just be a family.  Asperger’s shouldn’t control your life. 

Don’t let the cynics get you down.  You can’t stop people from reacting negatively to your child, but you can stop responding to their negativity.  If they miss the joy of knowing your child, that is their problem.

Have a great day,

Dave Angel

PS – Don’t forget the current Aspergers Volume 2 special offer at http://parentingaspergers.com/thankyouoffer.html

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Articles posted this week at The Parenting Aspergers Community

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My 9-year-old son is having problems in Physical Education Class at school. His teachers don’t know what or how to cope with him when he starts to run away, and doesn’t want to do what the rest of the class is doing in P.E. What suggestions can I give them on how to deal with him in that class?

Physical education class can be a very frustrating experience for a child with Asperger’s. Gyms can be loud and overwhelming, with lots of activity going on. Often, there is music and people talking and shouting. These are all very normal behaviors, but they can be overwhelming for your son and he can feel very out of control in that atmosphere. One way to try to help you son deal with physical education class is to … To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/328.cfm

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Can children with Aspergers have some of the characteristics of Aspergers and not others?

The short answer to your question is that yes, many children will exhibit some symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome and not others. Many children will have Asperger’s compounded by other factors, such as ADD or ADHD, which can intensify some symptoms of Asperger’s as well as to add additional symptoms. While it is impossible to say that there is a set of symptoms all children with Asperger’s exhibit, there are a few cores symptoms that most children with Asperger’s will present … To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/327.cfm

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Is it possible to have varying degrees of the Syndrome and is it possible to grow out of it a bit and mature? Some mild, some middle and some severe cases?

There are varying degrees of Asperger’s Syndrome. The symptoms vary from person to person and the degree to which the symptoms affect the person can vary as well. Consequently, it is very difficult to pinpoint a set of Asperger’s behaviors that all children with Asperger’s will exhibit. It is not possible to grow out of Asperger’s Syndrome. It is possible, however to … To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/326.cfm

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Hi there and welcome to this week’s Aspergers article …

Question

Do you have tips for toilet training a young child with Asperger’s?

Answer

Toilet training your child with Asperger’s will most likely be difficult for you as a parent. If you have potty trained an older child, you will find this experience likely to be very different. Methods that work with some children are typically based on a child’s desire to please the parent and often based on a reward system. Many parents have relied heavily on ‘the M&M method’ or the ‘shoot the Cheerios in the bowl’ trick. These are not typically effective with children with Asperger’s, as children with Asperger’s don’t tend to have the same desire to please and have a more difficult time changing behaviors.

With children with Asperger’s, it can be effective to try to change only one behavior at a time. Concentrate on teaching a child to either pee or poop in the potty, not both at the same time. Watch your child to see if you see signs that your child is aware of needing to use the toilet. If he is aware of his need, it is time to start training.

Many parents find Social Stories helpful during potty training. These are short, pictorial guides designed to storyboard the potty process. Talking through these with your child can help familiarize him with the process of using the toilet. These stories should contain information about feeling the need to use the potty through flushing the toilet and washing your hands. You will need to repeat these Social Stories often, and understand that the potty training process take some time.

Establish a routine around using the potty for your child. This will help the child with Asperger’s feel more comfortable with the toilet training process. Look to see if your child has any fears about using the potty that need to be addressed. Look to see if your child has a degree of comfort and ability in manipulating his own clothing. Can he pull down his own pants? Can he work the button or snap on his pants? If he is comfortable with these things, use them in helping him establish his potty routine.

Maria Wheeler has created a good book on toilet training called, “Toilet Training for Individuals with Autism & Related Disorders.”  This comprehensive toilet training guide contains two hundred toilet training tips and over forty case studies with solutions. Reading this book will give you not only helpful tips, but also some real life examples of how those tips worked for people.

Have a great week,

Dave Angel

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Articles posted this week at The Parenting Aspergers Community

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I am having real problems with my 9yo aspie son who has developed a positive antipathy towards younger children.  In particular he seems to believe that babies are conspiring to take over the world (and he’s adamant that this is so), and that he is “bullied” by toddlers.  He has just eye gouged a 3 year old who asked, in a very friendly way, what his name was. He is convinced he is constantly bullied at school although the teachers tell me this is not so and he is under constant surveillance throughout break periods (although he doesn’t know this), so there is no substantiating this claim. It’s appeared to me to be a paranoid delusion.  What on earth can I do?  Is this normal for Asperger’s or something different that requires medical intervention?

Children with Asperger’s Syndrome can have trouble understanding social situations. They often have trouble reading people’s faces and body language and they can misinterpret social situations because of this. They often take what people say at face value and don’t understand how to interpret a figure of speech. These difficulties of interpretation can sometimes make social interaction difficult for children. Children with Asperger’s Syndrome are more often bullied at school than neuro-typical children. Children with Asperger’s tend to be … To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/325.cfm

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My 9yo son with Asperger’s often has extreme bloody noses that can bleed profusely for little or no reason.  It’s worse in summer of course, but even through winter he’d have real gushers.  Other parents of kids with Asperger’s have told me the same thing, so we’re wondering what, if any, the correlation between Asperger’s and blood noses might be.  Have you heard of this?

There doesn’t seem to be a strong correlation between a child having Asperger’s Syndrome and his propensity for getting bloody noses. Some children are simply more prone to having bloody noses than others. There are many theories about what causes the nose to bleed and if your son consistently gets serious nosebleeds, you should consult your doctor to see if you can work on …To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/324.cfm

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My 5 yr old boy has always had problems dealing with frustration and disappointment.  Although we have recently received help from a variety of professionals for other aspects of his ASD this issue still looms large. To explain, he doesn’t understand, doesn’t want to know about having to give things up or let them go or to stop an activity that he is enjoying.  Such as patting and cuddling the cat, pack up time at day care etc or stopping play time when it gets out of control. We have sort of managed so far, but as he gets bigger (and he’s going to be a big strong boy) I am concerned as to how to control him and train him to control himself because using technique’s that are useful now won’t be long term. He is a very determined child that’s coupled with a bad temper. HELP!

Many children with Asperger’s express frustration in inappropriate ways. Many parents are concerned with how to teach their children how to react more appropriately to the situations they find themselves in …

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http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/323.cfm
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Hi there and welcome to this week’s blog article …

Question

Where can I find the right medication to help his Asperger’s, not cure it?

Answer

Asperger’s Syndrome is not a curable illness. There are no medications that can make Asperger’s go away. Many children with Asperger’s benefit from social skills training and cognitive behavioural therapy. In addition, many children can benefit from medications for symptoms related to the syndrome. Many children with Asperger’s suffer from anxiety or depression. Some suffer from hyper-activity or attention deficit disorder. Some children with Asperger’s suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Medications designed to alleviate those symptoms are available for children with Asperger’s. Working with your doctor to understand the symptoms your child suffers from is the first step. Once those symptoms are understood, it is important to then talk with your doctor about which medications might be available to treat those symptoms in your child.

A variety of medications are often available for some of the symptoms of Asperger’s syndrome. For example, many different drugs are available for ADD. If your child suffers from ADD, your doctor will decide which medication and what dose is right for your child. Your child will need to try the medication to see how it affects him. During that trial period, you’ll need to watch your child carefully to see how he reacts. If he reacts well and tolerates the medicine, and the medicine alleviates the symptoms, your child will continue on with the medication.

If your child tries a medicine and suffers from side affects or if the medicine doesn’t help alleviate the symptoms, you’ll need to consult the doctor about changing the medication. This process could be a long one. It is not unheard of to try three or four different medications and dosages to find the medication that is right for your child.

Be sure that you understand the benefits and the possible drawbacks and side affects of any medications you give your child. Also, try to understand how the medicine can work in concert with behavioral therapy in helping your child manage the symptoms of Asperger’s. Be sure to tell the doctor about any herbal medicines or other supplements your child might be taking. Supplements can often have harmful interactions with medicines, or they can render the medicines ineffective.

Consulting a book such as Luke Tsai’s “Taking the Mystery Out of Medications in Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome” can help empower you with knowledge of the medications used in treating Asperger’s symptoms. This book pulls together twenty years of experience in working with people with Asperger’s and autism. It describes many scientific theories and practices that are effective in Asperger’s treatment.

Have a great week,

Dave Angel

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Articles posted this week at The Parenting Aspergers Community

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What can I do if my son with Aspergers doesn’t want to go for therapy?

People go to therapy for almost everything these days, especially teenagers. High school students who are feeling stressed out or depressed will see a therapist about how to better handle their scattered lives. Many teenagers find themselves needing someone to talk to when their parents’ divorce or when they find themselves with new, blended families to deal with. While many children welcome the opportunity to go to therapy, many are resistant to go. Children with Asperger’s often find the idea of a therapist threatening. Many children with Asperger’s have trouble …

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http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/322.cfm

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My son has primary absent epilepsy along with Asperger’s. The medical profession has recommended Epanutin, which I have not been happy to give. What are my rights to have this decision reviewed?

Epanutin capsules are used to treat epilepsy in children. This medication is designed to prevent seizures and head injury. The drug company, Pfizer, makes Epanutin and the drug contains phenytoin sodium. As with any drug, your child might suffer side effects from taking Epanutin. These side effects could be …

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http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/321.cfm

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Is there a cure for Aspergers?

There is no cure for Asperger’s Syndrome. Asperger’s Syndrome can be diagnosed at any point in a person’s life. Many children today are diagnosed early in childhood because there is a greater awareness of the syndrome than there used to be. It is possible to be diagnosed later in life, often during late teenage years or early adulthood. Many people who are diagnosed at a later point in their lives feel …

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http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/320.cfm

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