Is There a Cure for Autism?
For parents with children who have only recently been diagnosed with ASD, the news can be jarring. But take heart because the challenges associated with the condition are surmountable, for sure. 👐
Unfortunately, there is neither a cure for autism nor a one-size-fits-all treatment. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) treatments aim to reduce symptoms that interfere with daily activities. Among them, behavioural approaches have shown great promise.
ABA therapy applies our understanding of how behaviour works to real-life situations. As a result, it improves social skills, communication, and learning abilities.
If you want to know more about ABA therapy and how it can help your child, ring us at +65 6456 9950 or tap here ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/contact/
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What to do During a Meltdown?
As a parent, staying calm and ensuring your child is safe is essential.
What to do:
☑️Remove dangerous items
☑️Decrease stimulation
☑️Be understanding of their emotions
☑️Give them time
☑️Make them feel safe and loved
AutismSTEP aims to help children learn coping strategies and build vital emotional self-management skills to minimise the chances of meltdowns. Please schedule a consultation with us today. Call +65 6456 9950 or tap here ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/contact/
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Is Your Child a Picky Eater?
Kids with autism can be highly picky when it comes to eating. Here’s what you can do about it ⬇️
It’s common for children on the spectrum to be picky eaters. In fact, an estimated 46 to 89 percent of them have feeding problems.
Various factors contribute to food aversion, including rigidity, sensory problems, problems swallowing, oral-motor delays, and behaviour at the table. To address mealtime issues, you can help your child by offering food choices, letting them play with food to familiarise themselves with textures, allowing child-led eating, and involving them in the food preparation process.
If you find yourself battling mealtimes with a picky eater, ABA therapy can help! Call us at +65 6456 9950 or tap here ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/contact/
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ABA Therapy – Address Your Child’s Stimming Behaviour
Did you know that it’s not only people in the spectrum but all of us have stimming or self-stimulatory behaviours? You might not notice, but we often do this to cope with stressful situations.
Most people use these “stims” from time to time and we can control them. However, stimming in autistic children can be problematic and difficult to control.
The common types of stims in children on the spectrum include rocking, pacing, repetitive blinking, flapping hands, snapping fingers, staring at rotating/spinning objects like fans and car wheels, rearranging things, skin rubbing or scratching, smelling or licking objects, and watching objects sideways.
ABA therapy can help address your child’s stimming behaviour. At AutismSTEP, we provide personalised treatment to help your child achieve self-control and improve life at home, school, and in social situations. Call us at +65 6456 9950 or tap here ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/contact/
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The Goal of ABA Therapy
Every child on the spectrum is unique in their own way. While they face challenges, ABA therapy can assist them in becoming independent. 👌
ABA therapy teaches children the skills needed to create and maintain a community they can rely on. In addition, it improves language and communication skills, enhances attention, focus, memory and social skills, and addresses problem behaviours.
AutismSTEP offers ABA therapy tailored to embed various strategies to guide your child’s progress towards reaching their goals.
If you want to know more about ABA therapy and how it can help your child, ring us at +65 6456 9950 or tap here ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/contact/
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High Functioning Autism — Is It All Good?
Many children have unique sets of strengths and weaknesses, same as kids with high functioning autism. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses unique challenges for children in building meaningful relationships and routines. However, it is not the same for every child on the spectrum.
The same is true in children with high functioning autism (HFA), a condition wherein they exhibit no intellectual disability (some even have high mental intellect), but may exhibit deficits in communication, emotion recognition and expression, and social interaction. Many also exhibit talents in specific fields.
This blog will shed light on the strengths and weaknesses of high functioning autism individuals and how therapy can help them cope.
Weaknesses or Challenges of children with HFA
There are three levels within ASD, and those considered high functioning would fall in the level one category, wherein they are more independent and have milder symptoms.
According to the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost half of people with ASD function in the average or above average intellectual ability. Individuals with high functioning autism and Asperger’s syndrome fall into this category.
Nevertheless, even though they perform better than others with autism, they still face challenges interacting with others. The following are some of their weaknesses.
Strained social interactions
It is common for people with HFA to have difficulty interacting with their peers. Often, they are deemed socially awkward and have a problem making friends. Also, it is often challenging for them to understand nonverbal communication, puns, and other subtle forms of humour.
Among the symptoms of social deficits are the lack of reciprocal conversations, discomfort with eye contact, and non-verbal communication difficulties. Due to this, they struggle managing group assignments and tend to focus more on themselves than others.
Routines, restrictive and repetitive habits
Autistic individuals prefer predictability, routines, and patterns, making sudden changes difficult. It bothers them greatly when unexpected changes occur, and they become very upset about it.
For instance, HFA individuals may stick with routines developed for them by other people or themselves. These routines could look like wearing the same outfit every day, brushing one’s teeth for precisely three minutes, using the same bag, or eating the same meal each day.
Generally, dislike of change is a common symptom among children on the spectrum, including those with HFA. These routines help avert change from happening, hence, helping reduce anxiety and stress.
Sensory sensitivity
HFA individuals may have milder symptoms than others with autism but also share similar signs and symptoms. For example, they also experience sensory sensitivities, making them intolerant of specific tastes, noises, smells, and textures.
When they are in noisy public places, they may experience emotional distress. Likewise, they feel stressed when wearing uncomfortable clothing or coming into contact with unpleasant textures. However, those with HFA can learn to regulate their behaviour with the help of therapy.
Restricted interests
People with HFA may become focused, fixated, and even obsessed with specific topics or subjects. However, there may be recurring topics they talk about, such as cars, dinosaurs, animals, or sports.
Strengths of children with HFA
Recognising some aspects of your child’s strengths or skills is possible despite their challenges with autism. Additionally, children with high functioning autism have identifiable strengths.
Strong ability to concentrate
When a child with HFA is fixated on a specific interest, they devote long periods to learning about them. Therefore, they can focus to the point where their knowledge can be channelled into careers they enjoy and benefit others.
Furthermore, children with HFA can develop their maths, computer, musical, and artistic skills as long as they are interested in these activities. As a result of deep study of their favourite subjects, they are detail-oriented and possess extensive knowledge.
Long-term memory skills and higher intelligence
Spatial working memory in autistic children does not work properly like in others since the brain’s frontal cortex is known to be impaired in autism. Even so, children with HFA showed good verbal working memory, associative learning ability, and recognition memory.
Autistic people are highly polarised, with average to above-average intelligence compared to the general public. In fact, a 2016 study suggests that autism, particularly HFA, is a disorder of high intelligence. Autistic children and high IQ individuals share various similarities, such as large brain size, rapid brain growth, remarkable sensory ability, and enhanced attentional focus.
Moreover, some people with autism may learn to read very early, which is known as hyperlexia. As a result, they can decode written language even before they understand it.
Loyalty, reliability and honesty
High functioning autistic individuals tend to be particularly honest, loyal, and reliable — some of the most valuable traits for a long-term relationship. While they may not be able to socialise with others, make friends, or build relationships, they are more than capable of loving and having romantic relationships.
Dependable with schedules and adherence to rules
People with HFA are focused on routines and schedules, as these create order in their life. They will learn when to expect things and how to react. As a result, predictability can enable your child to thrive. However, these schedules can also be their strength as they are dependable in sticking to a plan, which motivates others to follow suit.
Aside from this, they are particular in adhering to rules and regulations. Those on the spectrum can find therapeutic comfort if rules are followed and observed, which ensures certainty and order.
ABA Therapy can help
It may sound like children with high functioning autism don’t need as much help to function well in society. On the contrary, they also have their weaknesses that can take a toll on their psychological and mental health. It’s a good thing there are options and support mechanisms that are available to parents and caregivers of children in the spectrum.
Applied behavioural analysis (ABA) therapy is a type of interpersonal therapy that helps improve social, communication, and learning skills through reinforcement. In ABA therapy, helpful behaviours are reinforced while destructive or unhelpful ones are decreased. ABA therapy also helps those with HFA gain the skills and strategies to manage their symptoms.
If your child has been diagnosed with HFA, finding a qualified ABA therapist is among your priorities, as they can help unlock your child’s true potential. At AutismSTEP, we offer ABA therapy that is evidence-based and customised to accommodate the challenges that children on the spectrum face.
We also offer home-based therapy to help your children maximise their strengths by refining behavioural, social, and verbal skills.
To help you make an informed decision on the type of therapy your child needs, please schedule a consultation with us today, or call +65 6456 9950.
What is Sensory Overload Anxiety?
Anyone can struggle with sensory overload, but it’s more common among children with autism. Here’s why. 👀
Sensory overload anxiety can occur in children who are on the spectrum. It happens when an intense sensory stimulus overwhelms their ability to cope.
As a parent, to address these behaviours, you need to understand their triggers and from there, introduce activities to help them cope better. Providing sensory-rich experiences is imperative in helping your little one make sense of the world around them.
ABA therapy can help! A modified ABA program will allow your child to cope based on a tailored treatment plan, enabling them to unlock their full potential.
Learn more about ABA therapy and how it can help your child thrive. Please schedule a consultation with us today. Call +65 6456 9950 or tap here ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/contact/
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5 Must-Know Facts About High Functioning Autism
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a tremendously complex developmental condition. Commonly, children with autism may experience restricted patterns of behaviour and impairments in social interactions and communication. It means they may find it difficult to interact with others and tend to exhibit repetitive behaviours.
For the longest time, only those with severe symptoms were diagnosed with autism. In the 1990s, however, milder forms of the condition have been recognised, including high functioning autism (HFA). In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association merged all these conditions into an umbrella term — autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Does your child seem to fit into this category? Don’t worry, we’ll guide you through everything you need to know about high functioning autism.
High functioning autism is used to refer to people with mild ASD
Autism refers to individuals who struggle with relationships and social interactions. However, people with high functioning autism may possess some characteristics that others with ASD may not.
High functioning autism is not an official medical jargon or diagnosis. Rather, it is a term used to refer to people with mild ASD. Though having autism can be challenging no matter the severity of the condition, people with high functioning autism tend to thrive in everyday life. They can perform tasks like reading, writing, and completing daily activities independently and can communicate with other people.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the spectrum, individuals may be nonverbal, and assessing their learning capabilities and intelligence is challenging.
HFA symptoms are similar to common ASD symptoms (but milder)
People with high functioning autism may be more independent and verbal than those with autism but also have difficulty with social interaction and communication. Moreover, they find it hard to read social cues and might find it challenging to make friends.
In a nutshell, the symptoms may include:
Focus on routines. Children with high functioning autism may be obsessed with consistency and patterns. Routines may come in the form of strictly scheduled tasks, like brushing the teeth for precisely 2 minutes, eating the same meal every day, wearing the same outfit or using the same bag daily, or getting exactly 8 hours of sleep at night. They may even feel stressed when the schedule does not go as planned.
Unable to make friends or socialise. Like in children with autism, one symptom of high functioning autism is the inability to interact with their peers. However, a study has shown that social interaction is a problem faced by children in the spectrum in their daily lives, even those who are high functioning.
Exhibit emotional sensitivity. One of the most overlooked symptoms in people with high functioning autism is being sensitive to emotions. Though they function independently in their day-to-day life, they struggle to control their feelings (the same way non-autistic people often do, for that matter). For instance, a spilt glass of water, a stubbed toe, or things that don’t go as planned may cause emotional distress — affecting their concentration and mood throughout the day.
Sensitive to physical sensations. High functioning autistic people also experience sensory difficulties. They may react differently to loud noises, specific tastes, smells, or tactile feelings. When they are in noisy places, they may experience emotional distress. Some individuals may dislike specific clothing, texture, or even food.
Show repetitive or restrictive habits. People with high functioning autism may be obsessed about a topic, which can take over their thoughts most of the time. During conversations, they tend to talk about their favourite topic repeatedly.
Focus more on self. High functioning autistic individuals may find it hard to develop deep social relationships with others. They often spend a lot of time talking about themselves, their likes, their hobbies, and their favourite topics, not allowing another person to share a complete response.
Display attention to detail. HFA individuals have a keen eye for detail, pattern recognition, persistence, and intense focus, making these traits some of their strengths.
Find it hard to communicate. Though HFA individuals can communicate verbally and have no problems understanding language, they may find it challenging to understand sarcasm, idioms, or metaphors — also known as pragmatic language. Additionally, if they are faced with stress, they may struggle to speak.
HFA assessment uses the same tools as ASD
ASD may come in different forms, and high functioning autism may be hard to spot or diagnose. However, there are many tools healthcare professionals use to diagnose this type of autism. Remember, seeking professional help in your child’s assessment is essential. Here are commonly used tools to assess HFA.
Autism Spectrum Rating Scale (ASRS) – The ASRS utilises observational data from parents, guardians, and teachers to determine if a child meets the diagnostic criteria for ASD. Usually, health care practitioners use this tool between the ages of one and a half and 18 years old.
Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) – The ADI-R is a structured interview to assess ASD in children at 4 years old and above.
Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) – The ADOS is one of the most widely used autism assessment tools for autism, particularly assessing an individual’s social interactions and imaginative play. Though some sections of this tool are specifically designed for children, they can also be used to evaluate adults.
Assessment of Basic Language and Learning Skills (ABLLS) – The ABLLS assessment is designed to determine critical learner and language skills in those with autism. The tool aims to assess language skills using the verbal behaviour method. At the same time, it helps health practitioners evaluate children’s academic, self-help, language, and motor skills. From the assessment, they formulate personalised treatment interventions.
Verbal Behaviour Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP) – The VB-MAPP is an autism screening tool to assess a child’s language and social skills. Further, the assessment tool gauges the child’s learning styles to develop an appropriate curriculum.
HFA symptoms usually fall under level 1 ASD classification
Children in the spectrum are classified into three levels: level 1, level 2, and level 3.
In level 1 ASD, people may have symptoms but don’t interfere too much with their daily lives. For example, they can go to school, work, and have relationships. This is what most people refer to as high functioning autism.
In level 2, people may need outside support daily, including social skills training and speech therapy. Meanwhile, people in level 3 include those who require daily external help, including intensive treatment and complete assistance. This level is also termed low-functioning autism.
The main difference between level 1 or high functioning autism and level 2 and level 3 autism usually boils down to their behaviour, based on the perspective of their parents or caregiver. Their symptoms may go unnoticed as HFA patients can communicate and may not show any sensory or motor impairment signs. On the other hand, people in levels 2 and 3 may struggle with verbal communication, sensory problems, and social interaction.
However, HFA individuals may still struggle with a lack of routine and forming and maintaining relationships and friendships. They may still require support and therapy for such challenges but can live independently.
ABA can also benefit children with HFA
There is a common misconception that Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) therapy will not help high functioning children. However, ABA strategies for behaviour management in these children give a varying level of a structure according to their needs.
In addition, a modified ABA program allows high functioning children to learn in a less structured format. Therefore, ABA therapy is essential and influential in this group of people to reach their full potential.
Therefore, ABA therapy is effective in all children across the spectrum. That makes sense since the key to ABA-based interventions is tailored for each person’s treatment.
The takeaway
It’s critical to keep in mind that high functioning autism is not a formal diagnosis. Instead, it’s better to refer to the levels of autism as a spectrum, where children have unique behavioural differences. No matter how well autistic individuals thrive and function, they deserve all the support they need.
ABA therapy and other supportive treatments help autistic children improve their self-care, communication, social, and play skills. Further, it helps children manage their behaviour while reducing bad habits such as inattention, screaming, and attention.
As such, ABA therapy can unlock a child’s total capacity to function and live independently in the future. If you are looking for a reliable ABA provider in Singapore, we’d like to invite you to learn about what we do by browsing our website. AutismSTEP provides personalised ABA therapy for children with varying needs. So you can help your child thrive and be capable of living a full life.
To help you make an informed decision on the type of therapy your child needs, please schedule a consultation with us today, or call +65 6456 9950.
What is Hand Leading?
At 18 months, toddlers can usually point to something they want. But this is not the case in children in the spectrum, who find it hard to communicate what they need.
To cope with this difficulty, they tend to overly rely on pre-symbolic gestures such as pulling or leading parents to what they want. These are some of the core deficits often linked to early autism.
Hand leading or pulling is considered an atypical behaviour showing a lack of intersubjective understanding. ABA therapy can uncover the causes of these behaviours, helping children to change or improve them. Eventually, they will learn to communicate better.
If you want to know more about ABA therapy and how it can help your child, ring us at +65 6456 9950 or tap here ➡️ https://www.autismstep.com/contact/
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Delayed Developmental Milestones
The red flags to look out for in children with suspected autism include:
☑️Having delayed developmental milestones
☑️Being socially awkward
☑️Having trouble with verbal and nonverbal communication
Anytime you notice these symptoms or any significant delays in your child, you can have them undergo an evaluation from a developmental paediatrician or a psychologist to determine if they meet the criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Book for a consultation now or ring us up at +65 6456 9950.
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