Autism Magazine

 ASD VS ADHD Most individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder ( ASD ) have similar symptoms as a ttention deficit hyperactivity  disorder ( ADHD ). ADHD is one of the coexisting disorders in children wi th AS D. Defining ASD and ADHD ADHD is mostly characterized by inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Children with ADHD are easily distracted, and they are most likely to jump from one task to another. ASD is a neurological disorder that affect how people interact, communicate and learn. Children with ASD get too focused on one item, they are inflexible with routines, many are sensitive to noise, light and certain smells and touch. Why are there similarities between ASD and ADHD? These disorders are both Gentetic and neurodevelopmental (meaning that the brain is affected) that affects memory,language,focus and social skills. Differences between ADHD and ASD. For some children ASD might be noticeable by 18 months. Children w...

What is Echolalia in children with Autism and how to deal with it? Echolalia is the repetition or echoing of words or sounds that you hear someone else say. It is an important step for language development in children. Echolalia is a sign of autism, developmental disability, or communication disability in children over the age of 3.‌ It can happen in children with    Autism   Spectrum Disorder like Asperger’s syndrome . They may need extra time to process the world around them and what people say to them. This causes them to copy or repeat the sounds or words they hear. It is important to focus shaping communication intent as per the child’s echolalia. This can be done by: Avoid responding with sentences that will result in echolalia.  Instead of asking a child “Do you want juice?” choose a sentence that produces a correct echolalia response as “I’m thirsty” (while pouring juice) or “I’m hungry” while eating a biscuit. Respond to Communicative...

                                                        Teach children to follow instructions There are lot of reasons for children not to follow instructions, from lack of attention to the verbal instruction, to carrying certain tasks, understanding the instruction meaning and lack of motivation. One of the valuable skills of individuals diagnosed with autism is their ability to follow instructions. Children with ASD has potential to learn like everyone else, however some children find it difficult to learn because of non-compliance.     Five steps to teach your child to follow instructions Your child's development will determine the right level of instructions to teach and the best way to teach is to break lessons into smaller tasks. First thing when teaching instruction following is to teach one step instructions (com...