Asperger's Syndrome in the Classroom and at Play: My Own Observations By : JohnF I am a teacher at a Christian school for children with special needs. My son Nicholas, who has Asperger's Syndrome (AS), is a student at this school. What I offer here are my own views and observations of Asperger Syndrome as I have dealt with it in my own son and in several of my students. I do not offer this as medical advice or as a clinical or scientific study. These are simply things I have learned through my own research and observation that I hope will be beneficial to my readers.
Asperger's Syndrome and Unequal Reaction to Pain By :JohnF As Parents, Teachers and Professionals of children with Asperger's Syndrome we are all familiar with the enigma of their unequal reaction to pain and injury. A stubbed toe or paper cut may set off a pain response (crying, screaming, and sobbing) such as is equalled by the loss of a limb; yet a burst ear drum or broken limb may go seemingly unnoticed
Asperger's Syndrome and Transition Difficulties By :JohnF Transition is defined as "passage from one form, state, style, or place to another". A characteristic common to children/adults with Asperger's Syndrome is the difficulty they experience with making transitions.
For neurotypicals the transition process happens effortlessly (without us noticing), countless times a day. So it can be challenging for parents/carers/teachers to comprehend the impact that problems with transition create for those with Asperger's Syndrome.
Asperger's Syndrome - Special Interest Topic By :JohnF Let's talk about perseverating on a topic - a characteristic common to Asperger's Syndrome. Children with Asperger's Syndrome often have an area of interest that is all-consuming e.g. dinosaurs, sharks, horses, astrology, computers etc. and they are passionate about it.
Asperger Syndrome Children and Tantrums By :JohnF Children with Asperger's Syndrome the world over share a common trait - meltdown - otherwise known as a tantrum, a "birko", a "go-off" or "spack-attack".
The visible symptoms of meltdown are as varied as the Asperger children themselves, but every parent is able to describe their child's meltdown behaviour in intricate detail.
You can use this area to share your experiences or list resources that you have found to be helpful.
Asperger's Syndrome and Sensory Sensitivity in Children By :JohnF Children with Asperger's Syndrome suffer from sensory sensitivity or are "sensory defensive". This sensitivity can encompass any or all of the senses: sound, touch, taste, sight, and smell. These sensitivities are real, and cause the sufferer much discomfort, some describing it as 'painful'. Sensory overload can trigger a meltdown, often being the 'straw that broke the camel's back'. Some sensitivity's will diminish with exposure and the passage of time. Others will remain as severe for life.
Often parents feel rather overwhelmed with such a restrictive diet, and only opt to embrace it as a last resort. The results produced by the diet varies markedly - but the keyword here is RESULT. You can expect some result.
Asperger's Syndrome Diagnosis - Should I Tell My Child? By :JohnF To tell or not tell your child or others of their diagnosis of Asperger's Syndrome? It's really a personal decision that has pros and cons on either side. Some parents may struggle with telling a 3 year old they have Asperger's Syndrome, fearing they may not understand; that it could frighten them.
