62 Results in Parenting

Dealing with unsafe situations – recognising danger

Children with ASD may be more prone to putting themselves in dangerous situations than children without ASD. It doesn't stop in childhood - adults with ASD too, may unintentionally put themselves in dangerous situations more frequently than other people. There is already lots of interesting and helpful information about this subject on the internet and in books. In particular, sources often detail on sensory processing challenges - for example, a person not being able to recognise when something is too hot, too cold, or too sharp and touching it. I am going to look at recognising danger from some other angles, however. I hope you enjoy my thoughts!

‘Cognitive loading’ and how to improve learning

'Cognitive Load' is a theory developed in the 1980s by a psychologist called John Sweller. It refers to working (short term) memory. Cognitive Load Theory is a good way to describe how much 'load' there is on the brain, i.e. how much mental effort is being used at any given time. When a person is learning, the most efficient way to learn is to reduce the cognitive load so that information will be retained - and more easily stored in the long term memory - with the least mental effort involved. In this article we will look at the process of learning, the types of load, how they are influenced by autism, and how the load can be reduced in people with autism.

People with ASD: argumentative?

I am the sort of person who always has to have the last word about something. I understand that many people on the spectrum have this trait. This article was triggered because my friend said to me, "Alis, my daughter always has to have the last word. And I think you are like this too? It's very difficult for the family." Funny enough, it seems to me that our neurotypical loved ones 'find' themselves in arguments... they do not tend to start them! Let's define what "to have the last word" means. It means that, in a conversation or - more commonly - in a disagreement or argument, a person says something which is final, i.e. that topic of discussion ends. It usually means that the person who makes the final statement has made the final decision. Two easy examples are a head chef having the last word on what dish is served next week, or a father having the last word on getting his child to have a bath. To have the last word also means not to be able to 'drop' something. Sometimes it means to initiate arguments. Although many people with ASD avoid conflict at all costs, others are very argumentative. In this article, I will look at why people with ASD might be so argumentative and how loved ones can cope with this difficult trait.

5 parenting tips for autistic parents

Being a parent is one of the most rewarding but also most difficult tasks and responsibilities this planet has to offer. Every parent faces difficulties and can be stressed at times, just as much as overwhelmed with love. Being an autistic parent can make all of those things extra intense and cause great stress on a daily basis. Here are 5 tips for parents, who are on the spectrum themselves, to help deal with the daily struggles. 1. Routine and structure We all know how routine and structure is important for people with ASD. Routine and structure is also vitally important for children (even neurotypical ones). Giving routine and structure offers children a safe haven in which they can explore themselves and grow. So routine and structure is good for both ASD parents and children. However, a routine or structure that is too rigid may cause frustration for both. Let me illustrate this with an example.

How to encourage someone with ASD to do something

A lot of people on the autistic spectrum like routine, repetition and sameness. To give an example of what I mean by this, if things were always entirely up to me, I would never do anything outside my normal routine. I am happy doing a very small number of things, exactly the same things, every day, forever. So, what happens when someone with ASD is interested in doing something but won't, or when their loved one wants them to do something they know they will like, yet they still say no? How can we help ourselves or how can our loved ones best encourage us? For me, there are four main barriers. Here they are and here are my thoughts on how they can be reduced:

Repetitive questioning

It is common for people on the autistic spectrum to repeat questions, words or phrases, or to seem to want to talk about the same thing. In this article, I will discuss why this might be, give examples, and suggest strategies to help. Personally, I do find myself asking the same thing over and over again. For myself, the primary problem is that I do not process social interactions very well (words, language, speech, gestures, expressions...). I can hear the words, but not understand what is meant. I receive the information but there is a delay before I actually understand what someone means. 

Helping teenagers to improve self confidence

Many people with autism also have mental health problems, which include: low mood, anxiety, loneliness and a lack of self-confidence. The teenage years are arguably some of the toughest years for everyone, so here are a few suggestions to help teenagers with ASD feel more confident. These are some of the things I wish my parents, friends and teachers had done and said to help me. I've written it for parents but it could be for anyone who cares about someone with ASD:

10 tips to combat sleep problems in autism

In my experience, sleep problems are particularly common for people with autism. Here are my top 10 tips that may help improve you or your loved one's sleep. 1. Ensure a comfortable sensory environment Here are some possible solutions for someone who is undersensitive (sensory seeking):

Difficulties and triggers vs likes and needs

One of the most helpful things about knowing I am autistic, is gaining understanding of things that help me and things that hinder me. Once I understood what are my difficulties and triggers, and my likes and needs (specifically, the things that make me gain social energy), I became aware of my limitations and was able to adjust my lifestyle. There are a lot of things I can do, but I don't (or I won't) do them. This is the way I live. It enables me to live a happy life and I achieve a lot of things. For me, putting limits on my lifestyle has been very enabling. In this article, I wanted to show why limitations can actually be a good thing.

Autistic responses to pain

Pain is a common cause of challenging behaviour in people with ASD. People on the autistic spectrum may have difficulty communicating that they are in pain, and instead show this by becoming agitated or challenging in their behaviour. People around them may be completely unaware of their pain, instead assuming that they are being difficult or naughty. There are 3 aspects to pain response I'd like to discuss: Pain experience Pain response Pain communication