Autism
Are you trying to understand and support your family member with Autism? Are you struggling to find Solutions and ResourcesSM to help them reach their full potential? Look no further.
What is Autism Spectrum Disorder?
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a range of complex brain development disorders. It ranges from very mild to very severe. It can happen in people of all ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds and males are four times more likely to have Autism than females.
Autism is often accompanied by either intellectual disability or issues with motor skills; however, many individuals with ASD do exceptionally well in visual arts, music, and academics.
Early Signs of Autism
Your child may:
- Engage in self-stimulatory behavior.
(e.g., flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles) - Have an over or under-sensitivity to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel.
(e.g., sensory processing) - Avoid eye contact
- Not respond to their name
(the child may appear deaf) - Not point at things of interest or demonstrate interest
- Like parts of objects
(e.g., wheels or tags) - Line up toys or other objects
- Play with toys the same way every time
- Not play “pretend” games
- Want to be alone
- Have no speech or delayed speech
- Repeat words or phrases over and over
(Echolalia) - Get upset by minor changes
- Avoid or resist physical contact
- Demonstrate little safety or danger awareness
- Want to be alone
Other Signs of Autism
- Hyperactivity
(continually active) - Impulsivity
(acting without thinking) - Short attention span
- Have low to no social skills
- Picky eating and irregular sleep habits
- Unusual moods or emotional reactions
- Have unusual interests and behaviors
- Have obsessive interests
- Reverse pronouns
(e.g., says “you” instead of “I”) - Give unrelated answers to questions
- Have difficulty understanding, or showing understanding, of other people’s feelings or their own
- Meltdowns
- Aggression
- Self-injurious behavior
- Lack of fear or more fear than expected
- Have extreme anxiety and phobias, as well as unusual phobias
Please Keep in Mind.
Though there is no cure for Autism, Dr. Diane® Brain Health can create a plan that will address many of the challenges that come with it. Your child will keep their personality and their unique abilities while we help them in the areas where they struggle.
Why Dr. Diane®?
There are many reasons to invite Dr. Diane® Brain Health to help your family, here are just a few!
Her research in Neuropsychology and Autism began when she created and developed the first integrative classroom for Autistic children in Marshfield, Massachusetts where she then taught. She was also the first to introduce the use of sign language to help Autistic children communicate.
She also has over 35 years of clinical experience as a neuropsychologist and a board-certified health psychologist.