Echolalia and Autism
Read more “Echolalia and Autism”Does echolalia always indicate Autism, even when functional and age appropriate speech is present?
Teens in Transition
Read more “Teens in Transition”My son completed high school last year but was only recently been assessed with ASD. He has absolutely no idea what to do next. University does not seem an option. Any suggestions?
Teaching Autistic adults to speak
Is it possible to teach adults with autism to speak?
Answer:
Unfortunately, the simple answer is that we don’t know because there is no research evidence that tells us one way or the other. There are reports of individuals which indicate that it may be possible (see for example, Helping to unlock the secrets of autism), but what works for one individual may not work for another. Because of that we cannot make any predictions about particular individuals. However, it is important not to assume anything. Experiences through work, reading of the research literature, and listening to the personal stories of Autistic people and their families lead us to think that we can’t predict what individual Autistic people can or cannot learn, and we shouldn’t give up trying to help them to learn skills. We shouldn’t be surprised by surprises.
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The inner voice
Has any research been done to investigate the inner voice (internal monologue) in people with Asperger’s Syndrome?
Answer:
There has been quite a bit of research on inner speech with a brief summary of findings provided below, including links to some of the research publications.
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When to tell a child
Read more “When to tell a child”My four year-old child has just been diagnosed with high functioning autism. She knows that something is happening (doctor visits, tests, etc). How and when should she be told about her ASD?
Using an eye tracker in Autism Research
A key question for science to explore in the twenty-first century concerns the mechanisms that underlie social behaviour. How do we understand other people’s thoughts, beliefs and intentions? To what extent can our mental states and feelings be shared with other people? And how do we incorporate other people’s thoughts, feelings and beliefs into our mental world?
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Autism assistance dogs
Are Autism Assistance Dogs suitable for children of all ages?
When should an Autism Assistance Dog be introduced to a child with autism?
Answer:
These questions, coupled with an increase in interest by families in acquiring a dog for their child and Autism researchers attempting to assess the effectiveness of dogs in support of a child and family. However, it is not yet possible to conclusively state that assistance dogs (also called service dogs) are effective companion for an Autistic child, let alone make recommendations as to the desired characteristics and training of dogs or suitable child and family characteristics (e.g., child age, level of functioning, behavioural issues; family type and dynamics). This is because the studies published to date have many limitations.
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Infographic: Autism & Vaccines
The movement against vaccinations continues to make news with numerous articles across all media, and public health experts are required to continuously defend vaccinations.
This topic is not a theoretical one…it affects the lives and health of many.
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Diet changes for children
Read more “Diet changes for children”Have any studies have been done on diet change for children with ASD?
Are gluten and casein-free diets helpful as a treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorder?
What is DAMP?
Could you please let me know where DAMP and Aspergers crossover, and where to find more info on DAMP?
Answer:
DAMP stands for Deficits in Attention, Motor Control and Perception. Put simply, it is a combination of features of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD). ADHD is characterised by attention deficits, inappropriate overactivity, and problems with impulsiveness, while DCD is characterised by persistent motor control problems in absence of clear intellectual disability or cerebral palsy and other major neurological disabilities.
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