Autism Parents: Antidotes to Stress and Understanding Brain Waves  

Visit out website at www.myarchway.org 

In a recent article, I discussed the process called “fight or flight” which is a chemical reaction in our bodies caused by the many stress events we experience each day. To release another group of natural chemicals in our body that work very effectively to counteract stress hormones, we must first understand a little about brain waves.  Once we know something about brain waves, it becomes quickly apparent that people who experience huge amounts of stress would do themselves a favor to include activities in daily life that increase Alpha waves.  Later on in this article, we will list many activities that increase Alpha waves. 

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 My name is Tiffany, and I have never, ever blogged before in my life so I am a little unsure of how all this works.....  I joined as I have a nephew that I think has autism. If it isn't autism then he is seriously delayed socially. I did the check list and I felt it was discribing him, which helped me feel somewhat validated with my assumption.

 I am so upset about it and I am alone in this. My husband, his parents, and my newphew's parents aren't really concerned. I believe it isn't because the don't care, I just don't think they know enough about child developement to notice. Being that I am the "in-law" it makes it even worse. I have no idea of how to handle this. I don't know what to say or do I even tell Gage's, my nephew, parents?

Has anyone experienced this? If you have, can you help?  I just don't know what to do.

I am doing a parent survey to help with a state assesment for the school district and on the returns of most of the surveys i have noticed that most if not all parents do not know what a LEA is.  Worse than that i totally forgot myself.  I will look it up again because i have all that stupid jargon transilated some where around here.  any ways it made me wonder what else do we come into contact with in the schools that parents do not understand?  What about the teachers what do they question?  if any of you out there could tell me i think it would greatly influence how we speak to one another and benifit our kids with all disabilities included.

AUTISM SUPPORT:  OVERVIEW OF FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE STRESS IN PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM 

One of the biggest stressors for parents of children with autism is the question “What will happen to my loved-one once I am gone”.  For those looking for support on this and other stressors related to parenting someone with autism, you will find very helpful information at www.myarchway.org and you can also join us on our social networking site at www.myarchway.ning.com to join with thousands of other parents trying to find solutions to lifespan planning issues and the need for quality community housing for adults with autism. 

Here are the primary stressors for parents of children with autism:  read more »

Christine Evans, Assistant Professor, Department of Education and Judah Axe, Assistant Professor, Department of Education Do you know the three defining characteristics of autism?

Every child's autism is different and unique, however, there are also many common traits. One of the most frustrating and dangerous is what I call the deaf run. This is where the child will bolt from a parent's hand for some desired object. Normal children do this as well, however, many autistic children are particularly talented at ignoring their parents. They also may be quite fixated on a particular item or object which acts as a terrible distraction when attempting a therapy session. For instance I remember seeing a four year old bolt from his chair to go push a spring loaded door open so he could watch it automatically shut. The therapist repeatedly chased him down, took him by the arm and brought him back to the desk in an attempt to get the child reengaged at the task at hand. Of course the child resisted, flopped and whined making the time spent on therapy little more than a complete waste of time. I saw this as a terribly missed opportunity.

Personally I remember my son, Emerson, bolting from my hands to run for a small creek behind our house. He loved it down there and I provided every opportunity to go. Problem was he got so excited he would simply run and leave me in the dust.  I had to perpetually chase him down and try to reign him in. I wanted so desperately to connect, but I had no idea how to go about it.

Most any parent of an autistic child can tell a similar heartbreaking story of  how their child runs off, ignores their attempts of eye contact or any acknowledgement of their voice. So why not use this object of desire to connect, incite eye contact, develop speech and get a little joy all at once? Here's how.  read more »

how do you get help for a 12 year old girl when the doctors at the autism clinic keep saying things like the boys we see here and we help boys with this problem this way then turn around and say the girl isn't autistic because she doesn't react the same way as the boys so you are just bringing her up wrong?

Our son who is 20 has always had "autistic tendencies" but recently within the past 2-3 months he has developed occasional seizure activity which lasts anywhere from 5-30 seconds.  What can we do to help him?  When he's playing his Xbox and gaming in general there is no seizure activity per his friends.  Husband has noted that it is occuring when there is little to no input -- ie driving to church, walking thru a store, sitting in Sunday School, during church, etc.  He stiffens up, clinches his fists, stomps and/or raises-lowers his legs as if stepping, and seems to grunt some but low not loudly.  He also wants to hold someone's hand while it is occurring.  Tonight at the store he grabbed a stranger by the shoulder as he was far from us but we saw it occurring.  We were in a "friendly" environment so it was OK - first time it has occurred where we weren't close by.  His one friend said he even occurs when he's sleeping. 

 Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Thanks...and yes...I'm a new member here as well :-)

This is a first for me. I have made a comment or two but I'm not your typical blogger! To be honest, this will probably turnout to be one of my venting sessions! I just found out my four year old has autism. Now I have know for sometime he has delays in areas but I haven't ever felt he met the criteria for autism. And as Seinfeld would say "not that there is anything wrong with". I just thought delayed, he'll catch up. I have had Hume in speech therapy, early intervention plans, OT,etc. An outsider would probably think how and why I was so shocked. So hurt. I felt as though I had been kicked in the kidneys!!! Then comes the pouring out of advice! "You know they can cure autism!" said someone I will remain nameless. Well, good grief! What have I been so upset about I thought as I want to just yell "idiot!" to the top omy lungs. I did not. People mean well. I know. Just like some of the blogs on here when some one is having a bad day they just want to get it out there. But someone always writes some words of wisdom of how precious each child is and this and that. We know that! We've had a bad, frustrating, lonely day that no one in this world would get but each other. I love my son. I don't feel I have to prove that to anyone. Sometimes though, I'm mad.

I have a 10 year old son with a DX of Autism, and a 15q12 chromosome duplication. At one time about 5 years ago he was slightly toilet trained at the ABA therapy school he attended, however, he got influenza while there and all that he had learned was wiped out and we have never been able to get back anything he had learned. Currently I am placing him on the toilet every 30 minutes while at home (school does their best to do this too) and most of the time he fights and screams in protest of having to sit on the toilet. He seems to only urinate in the 1 toilet in the upstairs bathroom, so I am guessing this toilet feels more comfortable to him. I have him in underwear with a maxi pad to catch anything that might escape, and he can still feel the wettness with the pad. Poop will be a much bigger struggle I fear...I know when he is going to go because I catch him squatting down and rush him to the toilet and sit him on it...however, he has not ever gone poo in it....he waits until he has sat there for a few minutes, then as soon as I get the underwear on he poops in them...I don't scold him, I just dump the poo in the toilet and have him help me clean himself up, He loves car rides, so we tell him he needs to go potty first, then car ride...but recently, he will forgo the car ride in order to not have to sit on the toilet, so I'm kind of stumped on this. I should mention Sam is completely non verbal, but at times very very vocal in the form of stimming (vocal screams and high pitched screams, he can do this for HOURS without losing his voice, how I have no clue, lol). He is on a GFCF, soy free, sesame free, peanut free diet, and has been for years, so we know it's not diet related.  read more »