PARENTING AUTISM & ASPERGER’S NEWSLETTER
VOLUME 31      
May 2009        

Hi this is Dave Angel.  Welcome to the thirty first edition  
of “The Parenting Autism & Asperger’s Newsletter”

Inside this edition you will find:

1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Bipolar Disorder and Asperger’s Syndrome- How Similar Are They?

2. In the News – Cycling for Autism

3. Prominent People Linked with ASD – Dan Aykroyd, Comedian & Actor

Thanks

Dave
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1. Hot Topic of Discussion – Bipolar Disorder and Asperger’s Syndrome- How Similar Are They?

Bipolar Disorder in children and Asperger’s syndrome have very similar symptoms and treatments that doctors often misdiagnose patients who are suffering from one of the conditions. How exactly are these two conditions different and the same?

Bipolar disorder is characterized mainly by mood swings with alternating episodes of mania and depression. Signs of depression in bipolar individuals are anger, extreme sadness, or feelings of worthlessness. Meanwhile, manic symptoms include rage, extreme happiness, hyperactivity or obsessive behaviors. Although advancements are still being made to discover the causes of a bipolar disorder, factors dealing with the neurological, biological, emotional and environmental are identified to be probable causes of a bipolar disorder.

Asperger’s syndrome, on the other hand, is directly related to a condition known as autism. It largely affects development issues in the areas of communication and social development. Some symptoms of Asperger’s include odd habits, repetitive behavior and communication deficiencies. Further research is still needed to identify the causes of Asperger’s syndrome although studies have proven it to be hereditary.

Treatments for Asperger’s syndrome are very similar to bipolar disorder treatments as well. Counseling is chiefly used as a form of treatment for both bipolar disorder and Asperger’s syndrome. Additionally, medications used to treat bipolar disorders are prescribed to individuals affected by Asperger’s syndrome in most cases.

To read the full article, go to:
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/bipolar-and-aspergers-disorders-understanding-the-differences-between-the-two-739520.html

People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with it.

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2.  In the News – Cycling for Autism

Ethan Johnson, a fifteen year old boy who has Asperger’s syndrome, has been found after disappearing for six days. After leaving home on March 30 for his Queensland school, Johnson changed out of his uniform and began his 966 kilometer cycling journey down the Australian east coast. For six days, Johnson cycled from Queensland to South Wales alone, eating fast food and sleeping on benches and under bridges. Johnson withheld communication with his parents by switching off is mobile phone. He was reported to be alive when there were signs of bank activity and some sightings. 

On April 10, the police found Johnson at a Sydney train station. Johnson said that embarked on his 966km journey to prove to the bullies at his school that he is not an “idiot”.  He was also determined to explore Sydney after visiting the city briefly in the past. His mother wrote on a facebook page, “He wanted to prove to some bullies that he’s not an idiot – and he isn’t. He actually planned the whole trip himself, which is so very far outside his comfort zone.”
 
To read the full article, go to:
http://health.asiaone.com/Health/News/Story/A1Story20090430-138535.html 

People mentioned as having Asperger’s Syndrome may or may not have actually have been diagnosed with it.

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3. Prominent People Linked with ASD – Dan Aykroyd, Comedian & Actor

Dan Aykroyd, born July 1 1952, is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter and musician who has appeared in numerous films, TV projects and musical acts including Saturday Night Live (SNL), The Blues Brothers, Coneheads, and Ghostbusters the Movie. He has been nominated for an Academy Award and has won an Emmy for his work in Saturday Night Live as a writer. In SNL, he was known for his impersonations of Bob Dole, Richard Nixon and Jimmy Carter. He also co-founded and co-owns The House of Blues chains and the Hard Rock Café in New York City.

Aykroyd was born with heterochromia, his right eye is blue and his left is brown, and syndactyly (webbed toes). In 1960, he was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome. Aykroyd also revealed in an interview with Terry Gross that it was also in that same year that he was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome.

Dan Aykroyd is married to Donna Dixon, an actress and former Miss Virginia. Together, they have three children.

To see the full text of the article go to: 
http://movies.msn.com/celebrities/celebrity/dan-aykroyd/

The person mentioned above may or may not have Asperger’s Syndrome.
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I hope this month’s newsletter has intrigued you and provided information new to you.

The next edition of the newsletter is due in June 2009.      
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

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Articles posted this week at The Parenting Aspergers Community

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Can you give actual examples of behavior that demonstrate aspects of the “Triad of Impairment” in terms parents that parents can relate to. Terms used in diagnostic criteria such as ‘lack of appreciation of social cues’ could be illustrated by a very wide range of examples of real-life behavior, with which parents could identify.

This is the Triad of Impairment in Asperger’s Syndrome as it appears in the behavior of Asperger’s children and teens …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/257.cfm

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How can I make his school more cooperative in working with me?

You must be your child’s advocate. If you are unable to do that or are ineffective, consider getting help from an advocate group. An advocate will attend school meetings with you, keep you informed about education law, and help you obtain …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/256.cfm

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Video about Aspergers and meetings

This video features a young man in England. His video is all about how people with ASD are hugely disadvantaged in meetings. He talks about the problems for people with Aspergers in meetings …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/255.cfm
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