Alee Behavioral Healthcare

One of the biggest issues that children with autism and related disorders encounter with literal thinking is difficulty understanding abstract thoughts and concepts. While neurotypical people may find it easy to use idioms such as “under the weather” or “piece of cake”, various studies have found that “children with ASD face greater difficulty than normal children in understanding idioms; they fail to consider social context and tend to interpret expressions literally.” For example, if they are told that information came “straight from the horse’s mouth”, this could be a point of confusion for them. More generally, this thought pattern also means that children with ASD may also be more straight to the point when communicating with others – which can sometimes appear as though they are being rude. While this is not the case, it can make it harder for them to communicate, especially among others within their age group. However, there are many ways in which you can encourage your child to...

  Heading back to school can be both exciting and challenging for children of all ages and abilities. For example, while they may be excited about seeing their friends again or learning new things, each academic year brings forth new challenges.   Children with autism and related disorders , however, are more likely to encounter challenges during school than their neurotypical peers. For example, a recent study found that “ 74% of autistic students in the U.S. graduate with a diploma, versus 86% of all students .”   However, this does not mean that your child is not capable of great things or excelling in school. You simply need to ensure that the right accommodations are put in place to allow them to thrive both academically and socially.   With that in mind, here are some useful back-to-school tips for children with autism ! Tour the Classroom Ahead of Time Students with autism and related disorders are more likely to thrive in environments they feel comfortable in...

  A parent will always be their child’s biggest advocate. However, when your child is diagnosed with autism or a related disorder , your advocacy becomes all the more important. Why is Autism Advocacy Important? There are many reasons why autism advocacy is important. It can help to break down harmful stereotypes, challenge misinformation, and perhaps most crucially, build a more welcoming and inclusive world for neurodiverse individuals. Furthermore, it can also help to raise awareness about autism and related disorders , which can increase acceptance and increase the amount of funding autism charities and research receive. How To Advocate For Your Child With Autism Start at home Advocating for your child often begins at home. Start by doing your research into autism, ensuring that all information is gathered from reputable sources. The more you understand the condition, the easier it will be to support your child throughout every stage of their life. If you have neurotypical chil...

  Literal thinking can come in handy in many different areas of your child’s life. For example, it often enables them to perform well in school, especially in subjects that are based in fact or the ability to recognize patterns. For example, in one study by Stanford University, “children with autism and average IQs consistently demonstrated superior math skills compared with non autistic children in the same IQ range.” Literal thinking can also help your children make smarter, more informed decisions in other areas of their life, as they’re better able to assess the situation and determine the best course of action. Furthermore, employers are often on the lookout for literal thinkers.

  There are plenty of guides out there that offer advice for parents whose child has just had an autism diagnosis, but very few that consider this process from the perspective of the child. After all, as the average diagnosis age is three for boys and four for girls, children are often too young to understand what the diagnosis actually means. While this doesn’t mean you should overburden them with complicated language and leaflets, you should make an effort to bring it into conversation with them. With that in mind, here are some simple ways in which you can begin to talk to your child about autism, their diagnosis, and how it may impact their lives. Start the chat when they are feeling relaxed and comfortable. When you feel ready to talk to your child about their diagnosis, make sure you do so in an environment where they feel relaxed and comfortable, such as the family home. Have an honest conversation. Obviously, the age of your child may impact the depth of the conversation yo...

  Again, the nature of the  speech therapy  support will vary depending on the individual in question. However, these sessions often include: Learning how to better understand and approach certain emotions. For example, learning how facial expressions express both positive and negative feelings, and how we can respond to these non-verbal cues. Learning how to attribute meaning and nuance to non-verbal signs of communication. For example, children may be asked to match facial expressions, gestures, or body language to specific phrases or sayings. This is sometimes achieved through the use of  Social Stories . This technique will help children recognize these social cues moving forward to better respond to these situations. Learning how to modulate tone of voice to convey emotions. This technique can also be used to understand speech patterns and nuances in conversation, such as sarcasm. Working on making clearer speech sounds or even developing muscles in the mouth or...