Encouraging Eye Contact With Sensitivity
Below are some general strategies you can practice. We caution that these strategies cant replace an individualized therapy program under the guidance of a qualified professional. Behavioral therapists use a variety of approaches to encourage and increase eye contact. These can include reinforcing natural and spontaneous occurrences of eye contact and increasing the duration of eye contact during conversation.
When introducing a new skill, its important to teach it in small steps, while slowly advancing your expectations as your son progresses. We recommend practicing in casual and private situations with few other demands on his attention.
Also keep in mind, that in some situations, there are more-important priorities than eye contact. For instance, most of us tend to break off eye contact when were trying to remember something.
Why Is It Important To Understand Camouflaging
Autistic people have lots of different feelings about camouflaging. For some people, camouflaging is helpful as it allows them to talk to people, go to school, and get a job without being treated differently because of their autism. But many other autistic people would like to be able to be themselves, and to make friends, without having to hide their autism.
Camouflaging takes a lot of effort. Hiding parts of yourself and pretending to be someone else can be really tiring. Many autistic people say that if they spend a whole day camouflaging at school or work, they need to come home and sit by themselves for a while to recover. One woman in a study said, It is really exhausting! . Some autistic people also feel like they are being fake versions of themselves, and they want to be able to stop camouflaging so that their friends can get to know the real them.
Researchers can measure camouflaging in different ways. One way is to look at the difference between how someone feels and how they behave. If someone feels like they have a lot of autistic behaviors , but other people do not notice this, they might be camouflaging their autism a lot . Another way to measure camouflaging is by asking people how many camouflaging strategies they use, on a questionnaire called the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire .
Autism Results In A Lower
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder , you may have been alarmed by recent studies reporting that people with autism have an average lifespan of 36 years, compared with a 72-year life expectancy for the general population. However, this research does not provide a clear picture of the relationship between ASD and overall health and wellness and remains one of the most disseminated myths about autism.While autism itself does not impact life expectancy, comorbidities and an increased risk of accidents explain these statistics. Many people with an ASD also have one or more comorbid conditions such as epilepsy, asthma, autoimmune disorders, Fragile X syndrome or gastrointestinal disorders, which can affect their health and longevity. People with autism, particularly children, are also much more likely to be injured in a preventable accident than the general population.
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Why Do Autistic People Struggle With Inappropriate
Ah, inappropriate. My least favourite word in the whole of the English language.
But the English language has over a million words. Why do I hate that one so much?
Because I just dont get it.
And of course, plenty of other autistic people struggle too. On I asked people if they were willing to share some of their stories about themselves or their kids doing something inappropriate without realising.
The results were amazing.
So, the pictures in this article will be made exclusively from their stories.
As a child, every time I got interrupted Id start my whole story again right from the start. That annoyed people, so in their eyes I was being socially inappropriate.
In all fairness though, people stopped interrupting me pretty quickly once they learned I always started the whole bloody story again. Inappropriate or not, it worked!
These days, Im an adult who goes really really high on park swings, rather than just sit back and watch the kids do it. Nobody has ever been able to explain why its inappropriate for me as an adult to have a go too. It just is.
Im a person who has no problem discussing religious beliefs in large groups. Its inappropriate to talk about it here in Britain, but nobody can tell me why. It just is.
I actually went into a nice rant about the last potato problem in a recent talk I did. Watch from 1:44.
Treatments For People With Autism
There is no known cure for autism. For young children with autism, it is best to get help early. Ask about local early intervention and preschool programs. Adolescents and adults with autism also benefit from treatment to help them communicate better in school, at work, and in the community.
A variety of specialists might work with a person with autism throughout their lifetime. These can include SLPs, audiologists, psychologists, special educators, vocational counselors, and job coaches.
SLPs play an important role in autism treatment. They can help the person with autism build communication and social skills in various settings like home, school, and work. SLPs can also help the person learn to use AAC if they need help communicating. SLPs may work with the person alone or in small groups. Groups can help the person practice their skills with others.
Depending on the persons needs, SLPs may work on some of the following skills:
- Getting along with others in a variety of settings
- Using appropriate communication behaviors
- Transitioning from one task or setting to another
- Accepting change and expanding interests, including trying new foods
- Improving reading and writing skills
For people with autism who are transitioning to work, SLPs can also
- help them write cover letters
- practice interview skills and
- learn strategies to communicate better at work.
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Wild Child: A Journey Through Nature
Autistic naturalist, Dara McAnulty has been heralded for his work as a conservationist by BBC Springwatch, The Daily Mirror and Birdwatch magazine. So, when 16-year-old McAnulty turned his hand to publication with his debut title Diary of a Young Naturalist, last year, its little surprise that the accolades didnt slow down. Now, one year later, McAnulty looks to keep up this momentum with the announcement of a new book entitled Wild Child: A Journey Through Nature, and its one youre going to want to keep an eye out for.
In this new book by the young autist, McAnulty invites readers to further discover the world around them, categorising the overlooked everyday into 5 easily replicated journeys
- looking out of the window
- venturing out into the garden
- walking in the woods
- investigating heathland
- wandering on the riverbank
In a style familiar to previous readers of McAnultys work, these chapters aim to raise greater awareness of just how wonderful our planet is and, thanks to stand-out illustrations from Barry Falls, this is a discovery with no age limit.
Furthermore, with each fact-filled section closing out with an activity such as planting wildflowers and making a bird feeder, Wild Child: A Journey Through Nature is the ideal read for those looking to make up for last years lost hours as well as those who just want to see the world through the eyes of someone who may one day be the next Attenborough.
The Secret Life Of Kitty Granger
Its always a bold move to say that a book is going to be part of a series before the first entry has even hit store shelves. Yet, after reading the synopsis of The Secret Life of Kitty Granger, its not hard to see why author G.D Falksen had the confidence to do so.
Set in the swinging 60s of psychedelic London,The Secret Life of Kitty Grangercharts the neurodivergent adventures of the titular Kitty Granger when, after a chance encounter with some international baddies, she stumbles into the world of spycraft. What transpires is a mission to fight fascism with all the gizmos and gadgets youd expect from a Bond movie only this time our autist agent must avoid all the obstacles which come with her condition, all the while harnessing the quirks which will give her a much-needed edge.
Whilst on paper, most will come to see The Secret Life of Kitty Granger as a kind of spectrum 007, readers should put their expectations more in line with the exploits of the Kingsmen comics/movies exploits which deliver unprecedented twists with protagonists unlike any the genre has seen before.
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Are People With Autism More Vulnerable To The Lure Of Pornography
I recently read a Daily Beast article on autistic males and child pornography by Temple Grandins mother. I shared the story on my Facebook and was surprised at the mix of strongly positive and negative responses the story generated. Whatever your thoughts about that particular story, its become increasingly clear that this is a subject that merits reasoned discussion.
Sex crime is a distasteful subject, and the last thing I want is a negative association between autism and such behavior. Autistic people are not by nature sexual predators of any sort. Multiple studies have shown autistic people are likely to be victims far more often than we are perpetrators of crime in general and sex crime in particular. Abuse of people with disabilities is a well known and tragically common situation. Let’s be absolutely clear on that. At the same time, I feel I must speak up. I say it here, and I’ll repeat it later: Very few autistic people will ever have trouble with sex crimes. Very few NT people get involved in sex crime either, for that matter. But those that do are highly visible and the autistic ones I have met needed help much more than punishment. Ignoring that reality is like ignoring the teachers who locked autistic people in basements at school when I was a kid.
Disclosing Autism To People Can Be A Hard Thing To Decide
There are many advantages and disadvantages of disclosing autism to people, including those you want to be friends with. Some people just hear the word autism and associate this with a disabling condition. They may not look beyond the label and explore the many strengths of the person with autism. This can make it hard for people to make friends as they may not be open-minded or understanding. On the other hand, if two people get on very well, they may have an in-depth understanding of the condition and this would give people a chance to reveal their true colours. It is incredibly frustrating and upsetting if a friendship breaks down because the autism is disclosed, but this can often mean the other person isnt worth your time and effort.
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How Is Autism Spectrum Disorder Treated
There is no cure for autism, but treatment can make a big difference. The younger kids are when they start treatment, the better.
Doctors, therapists, and special education teachers can help kids learn to talk, play, and learn. Therapists also help kids learn about making friends, taking turns, and getting along.
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This rate has more than doubled between 2000 and 2012, according to the network, which is a group of programs that is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and tasked with estimating the number of children with autism and other developmental disabilities living in the United States.
Risk is not evenly spread throughout the population, though.
The disorder is about four times as common in males as in females, for example. And among infants who have an autistic sibling, the risk of developing the disorder may be as high as one in five, while the risk for infants without an affected sibling is just one in 100.
Prevalence also tends to be higher among non-Hispanic white children and among children of highly educated parents.
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Some People Use Other Names For Autism
There are other names for autism used by some people, such as:
- autism spectrum disorder the medical name for autism
- autism spectrum condition used instead of ASD by some people
- Asperger’s used by some people to describe autistic people with average or above average intelligence
Unlike some people with autism, people with Asperger’s do not have a learning disability.
Some people call this “high-functioning” autism.
Doctors do not diagnose people with Asperger’s anymore.
But if you were diagnosed with it before, this will stay as your diagnosis.
They May Appear To Be Too Over
People with autism may get easily attached to people, leading them to become over-friendly. It can be difficult to understand other peoples perceptions of situations, therefore what they feel is appropriate, may be considered as socially unacceptable. This misunderstanding can lead to a difficulty in establishing friendships.
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Gender Differences In Camouflaging
Some autistic people and some researchers think that girls camouflage their autism more than boys do. This could be because girls feel more pressure to fit in with other people, or because people often do not realize that girls can have autism. If girls camouflage their autism more often, it could mean that it might be harder for doctors or teachers to realize when a girl is finding things difficult.
There has been a lot of research into gender differences in camouflaging over the last few years, and we still do not have a good answer! Some studies have found that girls show more of a difference between their autistic feelings and their behaviors, which might mean they camouflage more than boys do . Other studies have found that girls and women report using more camouflaging strategies than boys do . However, other studies have found that boys and men also camouflage frequently, which means that doctors and teachers should be aware that autistic boys might also find things hard .
We need to do more research in order to fully understand whether gender plays a role in camouflaging autism. At the moment, we know that all autistic people might camouflage their autism, and so it is important that we keep asking all autistic people about how camouflaging affects them.
They May Not Feel Confident In Their Own Abilities
Feeling self-conscious, timid and anxious can make it undoubtedly harder for people with autism to establish friendships. If negative self-talk overrides, people will begin to believe they are not as good as others or incapable of at making friends. It can be difficult if people are unaware of their special interests and what theyre looking for in a friend.
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How Autism Can Lead To Age
Some of the core symptoms of autism include:
- Rigidity and a need for routine
- Lack of imitative skills or awareness of others expectations
- Perseverative behaviors
- Special interests or passions
- Emotional immaturity
All of these symptoms can, in many instances, lead to age-inappropriate interests and behaviors. The good news is that there are many ways to help your child develop more sophisticated interests and behaviors without asking them to give up their passions.
This Story Is Part Of A Group Of Stories Called
First-person essays and interviews with unique perspectives on complicated issues.
On March 21, 2017, CNN on a new study from the American Journal of Public Health that found the average life span of an autistic person is 36 years. I wasnt shocked by this news. I know how dire things can be for so many of us on the spectrum, but that number struck me for a very specific reason. I had just turned 35 the previous month.
Since I learned this news, Ive been anticipating the milestone of turning 36 with a mix of confusion, dread, and a host of other feelings I cant quite articulate. Ive had more existential episodes than usual, brooding about the meaning of life. Its been a lot like a midlife crisis except that my own midlife might have happened as long as half my life ago. The average age of death for autistic people who live to adulthood might be older than 36 . Still, the figure from the research journal haunted me.
At some point between that moment and now, I made a pair of promises to myself:
1. I had to make it to 36.
2. Once I did, I needed to do something to mark this morbid accomplishment perhaps writing something to help the next generation of autists approach their own birthdays just a little easier.
The good news is that I have officially, as of 8:35 am Eastern on February 7, made it.
Turning 36 scared the shit out of me. I want the fact that autistic people die so much earlier than the average American to scare the shit out of you too.
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Causes Impacts And How To Help Your Child
People with autism, at every age and severity level, tend to be young for their age. In other words, they have at least some interests, behaviors, and emotional responses that would be expected in a much younger person.
Often these differences are mild enough or unobtrusive enough that they do not cause problems. Sometimes, however, age-inappropriate interests and behaviors can interfere with the persons ability to fulfill their goals. When that happens, its possible to take constructive action.
There are a number of interrelated reasons why people with autism are often intrigued by childish activities, TV shows, and behaviorseven as teenagers and adults. These stem from and include aspects of autism itself, but may also include socialization, education, and therapies that are commonly experienced by children with autism.