Vacation, in my opinion, is the best word in the dictionary. Before I was married and had a family, I would dream about traveling the world on elaborate vacations. I still have that dream every once in a while but have to admit my favorite vacation time now is a week at the beach. The planning and packing, which I still have yet to master, take some time, but there’s nothing better than …
autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
Some Autistic People Can’t Tolerate Face Masks
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in sweeping changes to the way we live. While all of this takes considerable adjustment, change is especially challenging for individuals with autism. One challenge involves the use of face masks. For a multitude of reasons, wearing a face mask can be particularly difficult for an individual with neurology that makes them more sensitive to touch and texture. …
Scientists Discover Clue to Autism
Scientists have discovered a significant clue as to how autism spectrum disorder affects the brain. This was an unexpected and exciting discovery for researchers who had been studying brain cells for another purpose. The findings, reported in the February 2020 issue of the journal, Nature Neuroscience, offer new insight into possible treatment. This latest research identified abnormalities in …
5 Things That Made Holidays Hard For My Autistic Son
As the holidays approach, I reflect on how tricky they were for my son Joshua. There are a number of things going on at one time, which often challenge an Autistic child, regardless of where they are on the spectrum. By no means did we ever expect our family and friends to cater to us, but there are issues that affect an Autistic child that often do not affect a “typical” child. Here are some …
For Girls With Autism, Differences Matter
When you think of “autism,” does a male child come to mind? It’s understandable if you answer “yes.” Past estimates have suggested that for every female on the autism spectrum, there are three to four males. On the high-functioning end of the spectrum, estimates have been even higher — in the ream of nine males to one female. But those estimates are changing as we learn more about girls and …
How Having a Son With Autism Changed My Life
Personal insight from an autism professional My son, Sean, was 2 years old when we first noticed something wasn’t quite right. He stopped pointing at things. He lost what little language he had been developing. Looking back, I realize his development hadn’t exactly been “neurotypical” up to that point. But my wife and I didn’t know that then. We also didn’t know our lives …