There's no doubt that autism can be a very isolating disorder.� A child with an autism spectrum disorder may make it very tough for families to engage in ordinary activities, from Thanksgiving with the grandparents to soccer with the community. What's more, parents may feel that their friends and family are uncomfortable with their child, critical of their parenting, or deliberately clueless about what it means to raise a child with a developmental challenge.

In theory, autism parents should be able to turn to other autism parents for help, support and understanding.� Sometimes, this works out well.� Often, though, there are serious splits within the autism parent community itself - and those splits can create an even greater sense of isolation.� And, as blog commenter Gretchen notes, "Feeling isolated within an isolated community sort of sucks."

What causes the splits?� Sometimes, it's the reality that autism is such a broad ranging diagnosis.� It's hard indeed for parents of children with severe intellectual, behavioral and speech issues to connect on a practical level with parents of children with mild or non-existent intellectual, behavioral or speech issues.� The fact that all these families have kids with social/communication delays becomes insignificant when one parent is worried about potty training a sixteen-year-old while the other is working on college prep and independent living skills.

Perhaps even more significant are the controversies over treatment.� Yes, all parents of kids with autism are looking for effective therapies for their children.� But tempers flare when parent X insists ABA is the key to success while parent Y advocates for Floortime and parent Z is certain that only special diets and biomedical intervention can make a significant impact on autistic symptoms.

With autism, the arguments rarely end with a smile and a "well, we all do what we feel is best for our kids."�� In part this is because each group really, honestly believes that their approach is far more likely to be helpful - and in some cases parents feel that different approaches can actually be hurtful.� Few parents feel comfortable saying, in essence, "well, that's great, you should go ahead and provide your child with a treatment that won't make a positive difference and could actually be harmful."

In practice, while parents can work together on specific projects (walks for fundraising, advocating for better adult services, etc.), it's common indeed to feel isolated on a personal level from other autism parents.

Do you feel isolated from other autism parents?� How do you cope?

• How Can Families with Autistic Children Find Support?
• How Do I Get the Support I Need from My Family?
• How Can a Family with an Autistic Child Find Support and Friends?
• When Friends or Family Members Have an Autistic Child

Autism Parents: Are You Alone Among the Lonely? originally appeared on About.com Autism on Friday, September 3rd, 2010 at 09:25:59.

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I've been the About.com Guide to Autism since 2006.� Since I began writing about autism, the same questions have plagued our community - is there a "real" rise in autism?� do environmental toxins cause autism, and if so which ones?� - and debate has raged.� In fact, of course, as parents we don't have real answers to these population-based questions; we only have the studies that seem to contradict one another at every turn.

There is, however, one question which we can answer from our personal, individual experience.� That is - are children with autism sicker than other children?� If so, what does that mean to our definition of autism itself and how it should be thought of and treated?� As with all things autism-related, of course, the answer to that question varies from person to person.� Some people with autism are very sick indeed; others are perfectly healthy - but do have the social/communications delays which presently define autism spectrum disorders.

As a non-scientist, I have no claim to "truth" relative to this issue.� I can say my own son - like many other kids I know with autism - seems not only healthy, but sometimes healthier than many other youngsters in our community. In addition, I can say that I honestly never saw a regression in my son; rather, I saw a slowing of development in certain areas.� Tom's development continues to be slower than it should be, and he has serious problems with social communication.� But he isn't sick; never has been; and he has developed new skills slowly and steadily throughout his childhood.

Yet I personally have met many parents who have spent unending hours in the emergency room with their children on the autism spectrum, and I've certainly read many books and anecdotes about extreme physical illness in young children on the autism spectrum.� The vast majority of those kids seem to have the same issues, too: explosive, uncontrollable diarrhea or vomiting, seizures, severe sleep issues, and serious skin problems.�

Many of the families I've met with autistic kids who have significant health problems describe their children as having developed typically until a sudden regression not only undermined their speech and social skills but also destroyed their health.� One day, parents say, their child was a healthy, happy, chatting two year old; the next he was in the emergency room with a high fever, seizures, or other major problems.� From that time forward, parents say, their child was never fully functional or truly well again.

There's been much debate about the question of "regressive autism," which is not an actual diagnosis within the autism spectrum.� Video and anecdote suggest that the disorder is real, but there are also those who say they can see subtle signs of autism in very early videos of children who then "regressed."� Part of the debate, of course, swirls around the question of whether regression, assuming it is real, occurred as a result of particular vaccinations.

Based on my own knowledge and research, it seems reasonable to me to suggest that we are actually looking at multiple disorders that happen to share certain symptoms.� Yes, all of our kids have social communication delays and challenges - but they seem to have very different sets of physical symptoms.� I can't help but wonder whether those children who suddenly wound up in an emergency room at age two, and continue to have serious physical and developmental symptoms, are suffering from something very different than the "autism spectrum disorder" that affects my son and youngsters like him.

Does your child with autism have physical symptoms?

Physical Illness and Autism: What's the Connection? originally appeared on About.com Autism on Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at 07:57:28.

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ISO a parent or therapist who has the technology and writing experience to review iphone/ipad apps for people with autism.� Interested?� Contact me at autism.guide@about.com!

Seeking an Iphone and/or Ipad Owner to Review Autism Friendly Apps originally appeared on About.com Autism on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 14:03:39.

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Share your knowledge, questions and insights on the Autism at About.com Facebook page.� A few of the issues now under discussion:

• Do you provide your own child's autism therapy at home? What do you provide - and how do you get the information, training and support you need?
• I'm investigating technologies that might help my son to build his academic competence and independence. Here's where I've gotten so far...
• Have you used concerta for your child with autism? have you experienced a change in sensory issues?
• How well do your relatives connect with you or your child with autism? Are you pleased or anxious when it's time to get together?

Come take a look, and if you find something that interests you - join the page and join the conversation!

What Do You Know About Autism? originally appeared on About.com Autism on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 07:16:44.

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If you think my website is loaded with information and resources, it's nothing compared to Teri Mauro's About.com Guide to Special Children.� Of course, Teri's site focuses on a whole range of special needs, but her hints, tips, resources and ideas for parents of kids with autism are outstanding.

Here are just a few of her offerings for parents of kids with autism who are trying their level best to work productively with the local school district:

• Preparing the School for Your Child with Autism
• Back to school with autism
• Write Your Own Behavior Plan

Have your own hints, tips or insights to share?� Share them by clicking on the links below and adding your thoughts to the Autism at About.com website.

• Autism and the IEP: Your Tips
• Dealing with Restraint and Seclusion in School
• Review Your Autistic Child's Public School Program
• Review Your Autistic Child's Private School Program

Join the conversation on the Autism at About.com Facebook Page!

School Resources for Parents of Kids with Autism originally appeared on About.com Autism on Saturday, August 28th, 2010 at 09:27:07.

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Science Daily reports that a new study has zeroed in on a specific problem in the brains of people with autism and mental retardation (also called intellectual challenge) which may be at least partially responsibility for problems with learning and memory.� According to the article:

According to neuroscientists at Tufts University School of Medicine, with students from the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts, a protein called APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) plays a key role in synapse maturation, and APC dysfunction prevents the synapse function required for typical learning and memory.

This issue, apparently, is of genetic origin - and researchers have found that individuals with autism and MR are more likely to have mutations in the genes responsible for the production of the critical proteins.

As of right now, while the findings are intriguing, it is unclear what impact this difference actually has in the real world.� To find out, the researchers have developed a mouse model for study:

The research team's next step is to examine the behavioral and cognitive changes that occur when APC is deleted in neurons of the mammalian brain. They have developed a new mouse model that will allow them to investigate how the loss of APC function leads to synaptic changes and impaired learning and memory.

More Articles on Autism and the Brain:

• Autism and the Brain
• Brain Scans May Diagnose Autism
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Autism
• Enlarged Amygdala Associated with Autism
  

Study Finds Protein May Be Clue to Autistic Brain originally appeared on About.com Autism on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 09:15:05.

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Commenting on the blog posts you'll find on the front page of the autism.about.com site is just one of many ways to take part in conversations about topics of interest to the autism community.� Of course, you're always welcome to comment here, but I invite you to...

• Join the autism at about.com Facebook Page, where you'll find ongoing conversations about subjects such as abuse of children with autism, waiting for an autism diagnosis, tips for helping a person with autism to listen to and respond to others, and much more.
• Join the Autism Forum and jump into or start up a conversation on topics such as treatments, schools, family and legal concerns.
• Add your voice (and information) to one of the many reader-generated templates requesting your thoughts on topics such as Best and Worst Public Schools for Children with Autism, Restraint and Seclusion in Schools, Toilet Teaching, and Tips for Parents New to Autism.

Join the Conversation on Autism@About.com originally appeared on About.com Autism on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 09:31:58.

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For years, parents and teachers have arranged environments to help children with autism manage obvious over or under-reactions to sensory inputs.� Too much or too little light, noise, smell, taste or physical sensation, we know, can make it impossible for many people with autism to function well.

Adults on the autism spectrum have the same issues.� As a result, many folks on the spectrum choose living situations and/or careers to accommodate sensory issues.

A whole therapeutic industry has arisen around the idea that some people have "sensory dysfunction," and that it's possible to help those people manage their sensitivities.� Sensory integration therapy has, for a long time, been a well-known but marginalized area of practice.

Movie houses (AMC and Regal, for example) are now offering autism-friendly movies that carefully manage the level of sound and light in the theater.

Toy companies and clothing manufacturers produce or market products that cater to the sensory needs of people with autism.� Chewy or "sensory" toys, soft and tag-free clothing, weighted vests and other sensory-friendly products are easy to find with a click of the mouse.

Are all these therapies and products based on misinformation about sensory integration in people with autism?

The answer, thank goodness, is a resounding "no!"� While a new study from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine is not the first to look at sensory integration and find that it is a legitimate issue, it is the first to actually show the differences in sensory integration in the brain.� According to Medical News:

The finding -- based on recordings of electrical activity in the brain -- is concrete evidence that children with autism spectrum disorders process information differently than typical children, according to Sophie Molholm, PhD, of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City, and colleagues.

As well as occurring later, so-called "multi-sensory integration" was also less extensive than in typical children, Molholm and colleagues reported online in Autism Research.

[Note: The name of this study is Natalie Russo et al. Multisensory processing in children with autism: high-density electrical mapping of auditory-somatosensory integration. Autism Research, August 17, 2010.� I've been unable to find a link; if you have it, please add it to the comments!]

It's important to note that while this study does, indeed, point to empirical evidence of sensory processing differences in people with autism, it says nothing about what impacts that difference may have on behavior or cognition.� It also says nothing about how helpful sensory integration therapy or related therapies may be in helping to alleviate sensory dysfunction.

For more information about sensory issues and sensory integration therapy in autism:

• Does My Child with Autism Have Sensory Processing Disorder?
• All About Sensory Integration Therapy and Autism
• What Do Sensory Integration Therapists Do?
• Where Can I Find a Qualified Sensory Integration Therapist?
  

Solid Research Finds Evidence of Sensory Dysfunction in Autism originally appeared on About.com Autism on Friday, August 20th, 2010 at 07:41:16.

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An interesting study from the Salk Institute finds that individuals with autism process language differently from typically developing people - and very differently indeed from people with Williams Syndrome, a disorder that features unusually high social engagement.� According to a Newswise article:

For their study, [researchers]... compared brain response patterns linked to language processing in individuals with Williams syndrome, autism spectrum disorders and healthy controls. They focused on the so-called N400, a distinct pattern of electrical brain activity that can be measured by electrodes placed on the scalp. Known as ERP or event-related potential, the N400 is part of the normal brain response to words and other meaningful or potentially meaningful stimuli and peaks about 400 milliseconds after the stimulus.

When presented with a typical sentence that finished with an odd ending ("I take my coffee with sugar and shoes"), individuals with Williams syndrome exhibited an abnormally large N400 response indicating that they are particularly sensitive and attuned to semantic aspects of language. In contrast, individuals with ASD did not show this negativity, suggesting that the inability to integrate lexical information into the ongoing context may underlie their communicative and language impairments. Healthy people fell between those two extremes.

This study reinforces previous thinking about differences in autistic processing and reasoning.� It also provides specific information about the physical causes of the differences, and offers some insights into just what makes it so tough for people with autism to "get" verbal content, make inferences, and respond to social cues.

Of course, therapists have known for years that people with autism process and use language differently, and many therapies have been developed to support linguistic and social understanding.� Perhaps this and similar findings will help to fine-tune those therapies, making them more focused on specific deficits and more effective overall.

• What Is Pragmatic Speech
• Why Does My Child With Autism Repeat Words and Phrases
• Autism and Social Skills Training
• Speech Therapy for Autism
• The Hanen Method of Speech and Language Training

Differences in Language Processing May Provide Insight Into Autism originally appeared on About.com Autism on Monday, August 16th, 2010 at 10:58:04.

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In many families with an autistic child, parents are in "emergency" mode.� Responding to the diagnosis as they might to a medical emergency, they drop everything to provide what's needed.� At home, dishes, bills and family dinners may go by the wayside.� In the community, friendships may slip and obligations may be forgotten.

When a parent is coping with autism, there just doesn't seem to be time for siblings' soccer games, social events or favorite outings.

And when a family is living with an autism diagnosis, the needs of children outside the family seem to disappear.� So what if other kids lose out on the arts or athletics in school to pay for special needs programs?� Tough luck on the teens whose college fund suddenly disappeared to support an intensive therapeutic program.

After all, some parents reason, those kids are typically developing and can take care of themselves.� A child with autism can't.

Autism, however, is not a medical emergency.� It's a way of life.� While a child with autism may improve tremendously with appropriate interventions, treatments and supports, those interventions, treatments and supports will be needed (at least) for many years.� Unlike a crisis, which is over quickly, autism will go on and on.

What's more, neither children with autism nor anyone else is likely to respond better when their family is in a state of upheaval.� In fact, kids with autism are MORE likely to need stability, predictability and harmony than most people.� And that goes double for the kids withOUT autism whose lives are suddenly set aside for the needs of a "special" sibling.� Not to mention the parents of the child with autism, who may be responding to a child's needs by undermining their own communities, careers, marriages or financial well-being.

Another important point to consider: the fact that a treatment or intervention is expensive or difficult to obtain does not guarantee that it is likely to be particularly effective.� Sure, you can spend thousands flying to the clinic of Dr. X for an expensive patented treatment, but you might do just as well driving around the corner to Dr. Y, whose services just happen to be covered under your insurance.� Today there are even do-it-yourself therapies such as floortime and some forms of ABA which may quite effective for your child.

If, as some have said, autism is a marathon - and not a sprint - then crisis mode is not the right response to an autism diagnosis.� Nor is an attitude of "do anything, sacrifice anything."

While a parent has the ability to decide the he or she really wants to sacrifice everything for the child with autism, the autistic child's siblings and schoolmates have no choice in the matter.� And while other children may not be autistic, they, too, have needs.� Many have challenges.� And none have the ability to just go out and find themselves the enrichment opportunities, tutoring or funding they need to explore their talents, build their resumes, pay for college, and find the job of their dreams.

• What to Do After the Autism Spectrum Diagnosis
• What NOT to Do When Your Child Is Diagnosed with Autism
• What If...? Getting Past Blame and Worry to Help Your Autistic Child
• Before You Drive Yourself Crazy Over an Autism Diagnosis
• Is It Possible to Do Too Much Research About Autism?

What About the Child Without Autism? originally appeared on About.com Autism on Saturday, August 14th, 2010 at 08:17:36.

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I am very excited to let you know about the upcoming Virtual ADHD Conference on October 4-6, 2010. This event is for everyone affected by ADHD, including adults, parents, spouses, and professionals. The Virtual ADHD Conference is a unique event that brings the top experts in ADHD directly to you. You can choose to attend sessions live via telephone or webcast, or just listen to the recordings later on. There will also be plenty of opportunities to interact with others like you in dedicated discussion forums.

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Edward "Ned" Hallowell, M.D. and Patricia Quinn, M.D.

SPOTLIGHT SESSION:
Interview with Peter Shankman

PRESENTERS:

Day 1

Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA
Six Simple Rules: Fundamental Strategies to Overcome Inattention, Hyperactivity, and Impulsivity

Rory Stern, PsyD
Raising A Happy, Responsible Child With AD/HD

Ronda Stone, MA, LMHC
Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents

Linda Anderson, MA, MCC
Prioritizing the Stuff of Life

Stephanie Moulton Sarkis, PhD, NCC, LMHC
AD/HD and Money: Financial Pitfalls and Solutions

Wilma Fellman, M.Ed
AD/HD in the Workplace: Issues, Strategies, and Building a Plan for Success

Edward "Ned" Hallowell, MD & Sue George Hallowell, LICSW
5 Steps to Creating the Best Possible Marriage with AD/HD

Day 2

Charles Parker, DO
Precise Solutions for AD/HD Treatment Options: Medication and Beyond

Keath Low, MA
Parenting the Siblings of AD/HD Children

Sarah D. Wright, MS, ACT
Teens Need Help, Too

Sheryl K. Pruitt, M.Ed, ET/P
So You Expect Them to Leave Home? Transitioning from High School

David Giwerc, MCC
The Power of the Pause: The Difference Between Reacting Impulsively and Responding Rationally

Kenny Handelman, MD
Medications for AD/HD and Co-Existing Conditions

Patricia Quinn, MD
Change Your Perspective for Success with AD/HD

Day 3

Mark Bertin, MD
Mindfulness-Based Interventions in AD/HD Care

Susan Leavitt Miller
AD/HD and Bullying

Jodi Sleeper-Triplett, MCC, SCAC
Empowering College Students with AD/HD

Tara McGillicuddy, SCAC
Effective Self-Advocacy Strategies for Adults and Teens with AD/HD

Becca Colao, MA, SCAC
Deepening Social Connections

Bonnie Mincu, MA, MBA, SCAC
Overwhelmed! Techniques to Break Through Mental Paralysis

Peter Shankman, CEO, Entrepreneur, Adventurist
Spotlight Interview

To learn more about the conference, review the full conference agenda, and listen to podcast previews of some of the sessions click on 2010 VIRTUAL ADHD CONFERENCE

2010 Virtual ADHD Conference originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 13:22:12.

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Adult ADHD is a very common, yet too often unrecognized condition. Many adults have been living with impairing symptoms of ADHD without accurately identifying the cause. Instead, difficulties may be attributed to stress or other concerns. As a result, many adults continue to live life undiagnosed, untreated -- and unhappy.

If you think you may be living with adult ADHD but are unsure, there is a self-screening questionnaire that you can use to determine your risk.

Click on Adult Self-Report Scale Screener to learn more.

_{Louis Fox/Photodisc}

Am I at Risk for Adult ADHD? originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 13:14:05.

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Children with ADHD have a greater than average need for stimulation. They do best with an engaging active school and home environment. Boredom can lead to problems as a child attempts to meet this need for stimulation in disruptive ways.

Read more about:
Helping Children With ADHD

_{Photo � Stockbyte}

Helping Kids With ADHD originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, August 30th, 2010 at 13:11:35.

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Do you ever struggle with people "not believing" in your (or your loved one's) ADHD? About.com readers share how they have dealt with the misperceptions and inaccuracies that so frequently abound around ADHD.

CLICK HERE TO SHARE OR READ RESPONSES

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Learn more or join the conversation!

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Dealing With Misperceptions About ADHD originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 at 11:43:57.

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Unfortunately, adults and children with ADHD are often labeled as unmotivated, lazy, or even apathetic. These negative labels are unfair and hurtful. Instead of simple laziness or a lack of motivation, this "immobility" or "sluggishness" often reflects the impairments in executive function that can be associated with ADHD.

Read More About ADHD and Motivation

_{Photo � Richard Drury}

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Learn more or join the conversation!

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Unfairly Labeled as Lazy? originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Tuesday, August 24th, 2010 at 14:23:58.

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"My child is starting at a new school this year. Part of me knows I should tell the school about his ADHD, but the other part hopes he can start at the school with a clean slate and maybe I shouldn't say anything. What should I do?" --About.com Reader

Click on Talking with the Teacher to read response.

_{Photo � Paul Burns}

Should I Tell the Teacher? originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, August 23rd, 2010 at 12:08:58.

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A new school year is beginning. Have you had any communication with your child's new teacher? Do you plan to talk with the teacher about your son's or daughter's ADHD? Please take the poll below and let us know.

Feel free to share more about your reasons for talking or not talking in the comments section below.

Poll: Have You Talked to the Teacher About Your Child's ADHD? originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, August 16th, 2010 at 18:10:12.

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Everything You Wanted to Know about ADHD but Forgot to Ask: Got questions about ADD / ADHD? Get them answered by experts Dr. Ari Tuckman and Tara McGillicuddy.

Time: 9:00 pm EDT
Date: Tues August 24, 2010

And

From Overwhelmed to Control: Are you feeling overwhelmed with your day? Are you always rushing and can't seem to catch up? Linda Hillger talks about easy routines and systems for creating a great day and getting things done.

Time: 9:00 pm EDT
Date: Tues August 31, 2010

To sign up for either of these teleseminars go to ADDClasses.com. Registered participants can listen to the live teleseminars over the telephone or the Internet.

Free Teleseminars from ADDClasses.com originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, August 16th, 2010 at 18:06:36.

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Helping your child ease from the lazy days of summer to the structured days of fall is important. If your child has ADHD, transitions can sometimes be difficult. Many children experience mixed feelings about restarting school. School may create feelings of excitement, but it can also create some anxiety, especially if previous school experiences have been frustrating. Here are some tips to make back to school a little easier.

Back-to-School Tips

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Preparing for Back-to-School originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Monday, August 16th, 2010 at 10:31:22.

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It seems that back-to-school time can often sneak up on us. Before you know it, the summer is over and school is starting again. Back-to-school time can sometimes be a tough transition for children with ADHD. It can help to begin preparing your child and family in advance - gathering and organizing school supplies, visiting the teacher and classroom, adjusting sleep and wake up times, etc.

What is your family doing to get ready for the new school year? Please let us know. Your ideas and tips will be helpful to other families who are working to prepare their children for a good start to the new school year.

CLICK HERE TO SHARE or READ TIPS

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Please Share: What's Your Family Doing to Get Ready for Back-to-School? originally appeared on About.com ADD / ADHD on Friday, August 13th, 2010 at 13:52:53.

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