Asperger's Can

Children with Asperger's or ASD can be extremely demanding and time consuming. They take a lot of time and patience as you parent them. If you have other children in the home, please keep in mind that they also need your time because they can often be overlooked due to your other child's needs. These siblings can begin to resent the Asperger's child since they seem to get all of the attention. Each of your children are special and need your time and attention as well.

Asperger’s is now no longer a condition on its own but instead, is part of a group known as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Even so, there are still many who uses the term Asperger’s. It is known as a “high functioning” type of ASD which means that the symptoms in Asperger’s is less severe compared to other types of disorders in ASD that may have extreme mental disabilities. No brain abnormalities have been observed among those with Asperger’s compared to other forms of autism.

As life starts to get somewhat more normal and the idea of school starting is in people's mind, remember to be extremely sensitive to the needs of your Asperger's child. They are likely to be more anxious than the average child. In addition, they have been at home a long time, so that has been their normal for a while. Even though they might enjoy school, they also might resist going back. It is a change for them!! Please keep that in mind.

Are your children going stir crazy? Focus on what their strengths are. If they like to read, cook, garden, etc.. provide them with the items that they can use to do them. This will make them feel better about themselves and not feel so stressed out.

This time period is especially hard for Asperger children. They already have a high stress level. Try to keep structure in the household and that will help significantly. If your child is having more meltdowns, that is to be expected. Stay calm and let them know that they are loved and things will be OK.

Asperger’s can make it hard for someone to read facial expressions and to use these in order to pick up on a person’s mood. They might misread a situation, thinking that someone is happy or angry when they are not.
Another common symptom is that they will either avoid eye contact altogether, or they will hold it too intently and for too long – often making the other person feel uncomfortable.

A Few of the Positive Traits of Asperger Children -
Asperger Children are often:
Very honest to the point of being blunt at times.
Very intelligent and even gifted.
A bit eccentric which can add some spice to life.
Have refreshing and challenging takes on life which can be quite refreshing, challenging and sometimes even funny.
and much, much more.

An Asperger child looks at the world in their own unique way. They often have exceptionally good hearing so loud, sudden movements may scare them. Other kids make friends but he or she may have trouble. When things get too much for them, they may have a melt down or a tantrum. Looking people in the eyes is very difficult for them. A good routine is always a good answer for them. There are a lot of challenges for these children and yet they are often incredible in so many ways!!

Since Asperger’s is milder than Autism, it often goes undiagnosed. It can be a long time before it gets recognized – even in adults sometimes. This can make life unnecessarily difficult for those struggling with the condition as they are left without the help and support that they rightfully need and that can make life much less difficult. If you need my help, please contact me at 978 775-3369.

Do you have a child with Asperger's Syndrome or ASD?
I can help them learn how to use the strengths that come with Asperger's and determine how to manage the things that they struggle with. I want them to see the special things that make them who they are.

Asperger's Can is named for all the children and teens that have come to believe that they can't. These children are often extremely capable and have many positive traits. They have great attention to detail, self-motivation, logical decision making and independent decision making among others. My goal is to work with this population to see them come to their full potential.