John, not his real name, a freshman was having difficulty managing his life on campus. Â He spent most of his time in his room playing video games or watching Netflix, went to bed a 2-3 am missed classes and was turning in late assignments. By midterm, not only had John gained weight, he had no …
Category Archives: High Functioning Autism
“Airplane” not “Mama:” Language Development in Children with Asperger Syndrome
Language development in children with Asperger Syndrome is often typical for verbal language but delayed in language use. “Compared with those affected by other forms of autism spectrum disorders those with Asperger syndrome (AS) do not have significant delays or difficulties in language or cognitive development,” states the “Autism Speak’s” website.  Slow developing non-verbal language skills in children …
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Mindblindness vs Context blindness
Replacing the generic term of “mindblindness,” often used to refer to people on the autism spectrum, with a more specific term such as “context blindness” has been proposed by Peter Vermeulen, PhD.  Simon Baron-Cohen created the term “mindblindness,” to refer to the deficit  people on the autism spectrum have in reading others mental states. This term …
Social engineering to improve social deficits
In a recent article in Attitude magazine, a magazine that offers strategies and support for people and their families with ADHD and LD, a mom created a Facebook birthday event for her son with Asperger syndrome.  No one wanted to come to her son’s 13th birthday  and her son was upset.  She decided to with …
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Researching Homework Problems
Parenting is a hard job. When your child begins to have difficulties with homework, parents often panic. Is it my fault? What can I do? Our minds, race. Will they ever learn to read?  How come I have to keep repeating myself so much? Why won’t he sit down and just do his work? Why …
Words are not enough
Vocabulary Development and Asperger Syndrome “Mama!” screamed the toddler from his crib. Usually children say their first words by 12 months,  as do some children on the autism spectrum; however, children with Asperger’s syndrome first word are often more complex than typically developing children. For example, a child with Asperger’s syndrome may say “airplane” as …
10 Fruits in 60 seconds: The importance of categorization
“Quick, in 60 seconds name 10 items that go in the category, fruits.”  Generally, this task for typically developing children age 10 and older, can perform this task quickly. Categorizing information into similar items is a task we often take for granted. However, for children with high-functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome, classifying and sorting like …
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Facilitating Language Using Asperger Syndrome Special Interests
“I love video games and science, ” states the 11 year old with Asperger syndrome. A Â characteristic of Asperger syndrome special interests can be used to facilitate language and provide career options. Â Using special interests in speech-language therapy is a way to motivate clients to practice skills until mastered.This benefit is not limited only …
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Visualization
Creating Pictures from Words: “Along the road stood many spindly trees…” Visualization or mental images we create in our mind help us see and plan for our future, convey a story, and to comprehend. The ability to make mental images in our heads is often taken for granted, but what happens if you can’t visualize? …
I Am Not My Disability
When I see children or adults in my practice what I enjoy the most is building the therapeutic relationship with them. After testing gives me a general idea of their needs, I spend weeks and even months getting to know who they are as a person. It’s part of the therapeutic process, but the best …
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