hat Is Aspergers Disorder? Understanding The Nature Of The Beast

By Benjamin Sayer

The question 'What is Aspergers?' can be answered expediently by way of definition: Aspergers disorder, also known as Aspergers Syndrome or autistic psychopathy, is a neurobiological condition which falls within the group of childhood disorders classified as pervasive development disorders.

The namesake of Aspergers disorder is Hans Asperger, a Viennese physician who in 1944 published a description of behavioral patters in male youths who displayed normal intellect and linguistic capacity but compromised social functioning and communication skills. It holds some parallels to autism, however children with Aspergers disorder rarely experience equivalent difficulties in language acquisition to those children who have autism.

Parents of children with Aspergers disorder are no longer left to ponder 'what is aspergers' insofar as it is now classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (text revised) as being a developmental disorder of childhood. However, the symptoms of aspergers disorder in children or individuals can be problematic and concerning pre-diagnosis.

The primary features are as follows:

1. Severe impairment of social reasoning & interaction including:

• A reduced appreciation of non-verbal communication, such as eye contact, body language, and facial expressions.
  
  
  
  




• A latency in developing age appropriate peer relationships.
  
  
  
  




• A lack of reciprocity, and spontaneity in engaging in shared interests with others, coupled with a notable lack of empathetic emotion.

2. Repetative patterns of behavior including:

• A pre-occupation with an interest or activity, often singular objects or parts of objects, which is extenuated by abnormal focus and intensity.
  
  
  
  




• Rigid adherence to routines or rituals.
  
  
  
  




• Repetative motor activities such as finger tapping, head motion, or more complex body movements.

What is often lacking in children with Aspergers disorder is any significant delay in general language capacity. Most children progress with normal development in infancy and are capable of communicating with phrases by the age of 3. Other children with Aspergers in fact display high degrees of functioning in specific areas, which can give rise to behavioral eccentricities. This at times can place additional emphasis on the social awkwardness of these children and serves to further alienate them from their peer group.

Similarly, Aspergers Disorder children can display normal cognitive development and the appropriation of self help skills, adaptive behavior and natural curiosity. However, basal motor coordination may be diminished, and as such children may present as somewhat clumsy, and lack coordination.

Focusing again on the question of what is Aspergers, it is noteworthy that the profession is somewhat divided as to whether Aspergers disorder equates to a form of High Functioning Autism, or whether it is more appropriately categorized as a Non-verbal Learning Disability.

Certainly the diagnosis of the condition has become more advanced, but if the question what is aspergers remains yet to be comprehensively answered, it begs the question as to how effectively it can be treated.

To find out more information on the recognition, diagnosis and treatment of aspergers syndrome, visit The Insight On Aspergers Syndrome Website.

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Aspergers Syndrome and Emotional Regulation

By Nelle Frances

Children with Aspergers Syndrome have difficulty managing their emotions, particularly with recognising and understanding feelings and expressing their emotions appropriately. AS children usually have intense feelings that often overwhelm them - this is caused by their lack of emotional aptitude.

Neurotypicals enjoy 'emotional competence', which allows them to manage their interactions with others more effectively - they find ways to cope and adjust their behaviour to better suit the current situation.

Aspergers Syndrome children are usually impulsive, which deprives them of the ability to think things through and see the consequences of their actions. They do not recognise the physical reactions of emotions such as fear or excitement, as being signs of emotion, and so they miss vital clues that would enable them to regulate their feelings.

Children with Aspergers Syndrome use mimicry in situations as a coping strategy, so they may utter phrases they've heard on TV or repeat something you've said. They develop a "script" to use in a variety of situations - mostly when dealing with conflict or confrontation. This is why sometimes what they say doesn't seem to "fit" the situation.

Children with Aspergers Syndrome are not able to generalize any emotional competence skills they do have, and adapt them to new circumstances. This means their judgement of certain situations is incorrect - they can appear to lack common sense. Neurotypicals use feelings to help them interpret rules and make exceptions, whereas children with Aspergers Syndrome are black and white in their thinking.

Being fact driven, children with Aspergers Syndrome tend to focus on facts and overlook their feelings, because this makes better sense to them. Emotions help neurotypicals shape their morals and value systems; therefore not interpreting emotions correctly can negatively influence the principles your AS child develops. It's important to take the time to "debrief" your Aspergers child after any major emotional 'incident' to ensure they've drawn the correct conclusions.

It's important to aim to expand your AS child's emotional vocabulary. Children usually begin with three basic emotions - happy, sad, and angry. Work at increasing your Asperger child's emotional vocabulary to include excited, surprised, worried, proud, embarrassed, content, peaceful and a feeling of anticipation etc. Use magazines to find pictures and label them. Ensure you explain that emotions look 'different' on different people, and find as many different examples of an emotion as you can to highlight this.

Concentrate your efforts to expand your AS child's emotional vocabulary on members of your family first- Mum, Dad and siblings, as these relationships are the most important in your child's life, and understanding each other's emotions more accurately will help to create a calmer environment for all of you. You may like to take photos of each other displaying emotions and label them. Show variations of facial expression for each emotion and note their body language as well. You may like to make a game, using a mirror to capture facial expressions.

Once you've practised recognising emotions from facial expressions, enhance this knowledge by linking emotions to situations. E.g. "What would embarrass you?", "What would make you proud?" etc.

Complex emotional concepts, such as conflicting emotions, are more difficult to understand and explain to children with Aspergers Syndrome. After focussing on simple emotions for a month or two you should introduce a scenario containing conflicting emotions and discuss at length, once a week. However, the black and white thinking of children with Aspergers Syndrome may never allow the dexterity to deal with emotionally complex situations such as this, on their own.

Working to maintain and increase your Asperger child's emotional competence is perhaps the most rewarding and worthwhile task you will undertake, in your journey on his/her path to an independent, happy life. After all, the key to successful relationships of all kinds lies in emotional competence.

©Nelle Frances

www.nellefrances.com

http://www.nellefrances.com offers resources, strategies, articles and links on Aspergers Syndrome for parents and teachers. Nelle Frances is the mother of a 15 year old with Asperger's Syndrome, a Special Needs Educator and Author of the Ben and His Helmet series of books for Asperger children.

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Aspergers Syndrome And Literal Meanings

By Nelle Frances

In looking at the early language history of children with Aspergers Syndrome, there is no clear pattern: some have normal or even early achievement of milestones while others have delays in speech. Frequently children with Aspergers Syndrome display language characteristics such as repetitive sayings or the use of catch phrases they’ve heard on Television, at the movies, or on the radio.



However, a common feature of Aspergers Syndrome language difficulties is their tendency to misinterpret information, particularly idiomatic or literal language. Literal meanings can cause real angst to the Asperger child for a number of reasons. Aside from not comprehending the abstract meaning behind an idiom, literal language arouses a number of internal rules for the AS child e.g. the rule issue; truth issues; and trust issues.



Take for example the adage “In a minute”.



Rest assured your Aspergers Syndrome child will be counting backwards from 60 the moment you utter these words. When the issue isn’t resolved “in a minute” those internal rules come to life.



“She said ‘In a minute’, so why isn’t she keeping to it?” (Rule)



“Why didn’t she tell the truth?” (Truth)



“I can’t believe anything she tells me ever again!” (Trust)



When we neurotypicals use an expression such as “In a minute” we mean an indeterminate amount of time – as long as it takes to finish what we are doing. We all “get” that abstract or implied meaning. Asperger children don’t. When a friend told her Asperger child “Just a second”, he replied “One….I’m ready”.



Take the time to make sure your use of everyday language follows the “Aspergers Syndrome rules”, especially in times of stress when an inconsiderate choice of words could be the “straw that broke the camel’s back!”



In our family we have a competition to find unusual or new idioms. This gives rise to discussion and explanation, which helps to clear up any confusion. After many years of using this strategy with our Asperger son we are still managing to discover new phrases!



©Nelle Frances



About the Author: Nelle Frances is the mother of a 15 year old with Asperger's Syndrome, a Special Needs Educator and Author of the Ben and His Helmet series of books for Asperger children. Her site http://www.nellefrances.com offers resources, strategies and articles on Aspergers Syndrome for parents and teachers.



Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=191887&ca=Parenting

All About Aspergers Syndrome

Submitted by: ian

If your child has recently been diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome, then you likely have more questions than answers about this little-known diagnosis.

This article presents answers to some of parents' most common questions about Aspergers Syndrome.

What IS Aspergers Syndrome?

Aspergers Syndrome, named for Hans Asperger, an Austrian physician, is a milder form of autistic disorder. Both conditions are part of a larger group of neurological disorders known in the US as Pervasive Developmental Disorders, or PDD for short. The 2 most common symptoms are eccentric behavior and self-imposed social isolation. Sometimes speech is affected as well as gait and motor skills. Your child may also be exclusively focused on a particular area of interest, such as cars or astronomy. The social isolation comes from the child wanting to know everything about his or her area of interest and little else. Conversations are usually focused only on that area as well.

What causes Aspergers Syndrome?

Experts believe that Aspergers and autism have underlying biological causes, but are not clear yet on what those causes are. They do know that there are certain brain structure abnormalities, but do not know why they occur.

How are Aspergers Syndrome and autism different?

Aspergers usually begins later in childhood and has a more hopeful outlook. The child tends to function at a higher level with Aspergers too. Aspergers children tend to be clumsy, but overall have less neurological deficits than autistic children.

How does the doctor know for sure that my child has Aspergers Syndrome?

Diagnosis of most any mental/emotional disorder tends to be one of ruling out other conditions and noting certain patterns of behavior. There is no definitive test for Aspergers, but there are certain patterns, including:

* Significant impairment in social interaction, as demonstrated by:
- impaired nonverbal communication
- failure to develop age-appropriate peer relationships
- lack of shared enjoyment of activities/surroundings with others
- unable to reciprocate socially and/or emotionally

* Repeated patterns of behavior or interest, such as:
- abnormal intensity of interest in one or two specific areas
- rigid rituals that serve no functional purpose
- repetitive mannerisms, such as hand or finger flapping
- persistently preoccupied with parts of objects

* Significant impairment in developmental areas of functioning (social, occupational and other areas)

* No significant delay in language

* No significant delay in cognitive development or learning of age-appropriate self-care skills

If your child meets one or more of the above criteria, then your doctor may suspect Aspergers.

Is my child crazy or mentally ill?

Aspergers Syndrome in and of itself is not a mental illness; it is a developmental disorder. However, it is fairly commonly associated with the following conditions:

* Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
* Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
* Depression
* Bipolar Disorder
* Generalized Anxiety Disorder
* Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

How is Aspergers Syndrome treated?

There aren't any treatments for Aspergers that will make it 'go away.' However, by using a combination of approaches that address the three core symptoms of the disorder (poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines and physical clumsiness); you can help your child live a fairly normal life. It's also important to start treatment as early as possible. The treatment approaches your doctor recommends may include:

* Psychotherapy
* Parent education & training
* Behavior modification
* Social skills training
* Educational interventions
* Medications, such as stimulants, mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and SSRIs

Is there any cure for Aspergers Syndrome?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for this condition, and children do not 'grow out' of it either. It is likely that your child will always find social situations and personal relationships to be challenging. But many adults with Aspergers are able to live healthy, productive lives, although they may always need support to do so.

What do I need to do as a parent of a child with Aspergers Syndrome?

The most important thing you can do is to get your child into a treatment regime early and then stick with it, even during the tough times. It will be worth it in the long run if you take steps to support your child's progress and help him or her adjust and adapt. You can serve as case manager or coordinator, and try to involve all of your child's caregivers in treatment as much as you can. You should teach your child self-help skills as he/she grows and develops. Look for treatment and educational programs that address your child's problem areas. Get support for yourself too. You won't be at your best with your child if you're exhausted and frustrated.

Hopefully, these answers have addressed some of your most pressing questions. To learn more, search for information on the Web at reputable sites or look for a book at your local bookstore. Also, talk with your pediatrician and never be afraid to keep asking questions until you get answers you can understand.

About Author: For more Aspergers Articles by Ian Williamson please visit http://www.real-articles.com/Category/Add/212

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Aspergers Syndrome - Who It Affects and How

By Oddvar Nilsen

Asperger syndrome is also known as AS for short. This is a form of autism, but only because it is associated with the neurological condition of the body. Neurological conditions that affect the language skills and the communication skills are affected by this disorder. The children who are suffering with Asperger syndrome are repetitive in just about everything they do, and seem to love habitual behaviors, and patterns in their life. Children who have Aspergers may not even show signs of this disease until they are a few years old, after they have learned to walk and talk like other children normally do.

A child with Aspergers syndrome is often not going to be one that is social, not even with their brothers and sisters. The child will prefer to be alone, to focus on their interest, their patterns, and their intense study of the topic they love the most. Narrow interests are signs of Asperger’s syndrome, where the child may focus on something natural, man made or just of their own interest.

This could include automobiles, how things run, or the stars, or another language, or the movements of any particular object. Children who suffer with Aspergers syndrome are going to learn how to ride a bike, and how to catch a ball, but it will take longer, as they are not going to be interested in the social interaction, in the time it takes to learn these skills, as they would rather be focused on something else.

Children who suffer with Aspergers syndrome can learn to be a functioning part of the family unit, and of society. There are times when the child grows that they will still find it difficult to cope in social situations and in personal relationship but these are feelings that can be overcome and that can be worked on to maintain a healthy functioning lifestyle. Moral support and continued encouragement from those who love the person are going to aid the person who is dealing with Aspergers to over come their feelings and their focus on one interests to broaden their intellect and abilities in all types of things for life.

A study was done in Sweden where it found that 36 out of 10,000 children had the symptoms of Aspergers syndrome. This is quite a high number, and thoughts are that the real numbers are actually higher. Some children who were never tested for Asperger’s have grown up to lead very normal lives, and it is thought that about 30% of those who have Aspergers syndrome are never diagnosed at all.

There are no real characteristics that are exactly ‘the same’ that those who have Apsergers are going to display. The general similarities are there, but only a physician is going to be able to determine the underlying causes and needs. The emotional state of someone who has Aspergers is one that always seems to be fragile, but over time, one will learn to cope and change this habit of feeling and being highly emotional.


Oddvar Nilsen writes about a variety of subjects. He is the owner of http://www.aspergerssyndrome-online.info where you find more information of Aspergers syndrome.

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Aspergers Syndrome And Personal Hygiene

By Nelle Frances

A common behaviour characteristic in children with Aspergers Syndrome appears to be a dislike of grooming and personal hygiene habits. Aspergers children of all ages seem to have difficulty establishing sound hygiene routines in the areas of bathing/showering, washing hair, brushing hair, hair cuts, cleaning teeth and changing clothes. Far from being lazy or slovenly, the source of the problem seems to stem from the sensory sensitivities associated with Aspergers Syndrome, particularly with tactile sensitivities.

The skin of an adolescent covers approximately 5 ½ square metres (18 square feet) and is our boundary between self and the world. It comprises about 5 million nerve endings (or touch receptors) and is extremely sensitive. In other words, our skin is our external nervous system. Touch receptors communicate information about pain, pressure, heat and cold, vibration and texture.

This may clarify the difficulty children with Aspergers Syndrome seem to have with showering. Our AS son will take a bath quite happily (for the most part!) but rarely showers, explaining to us that taking a shower “is a nightmare”, likening the feeling of the water spray against his skin as “tiny daggers stabbing me”. When he was aged about 9-13 he would often go into the bathroom and “pretend” to shower, by running the water for a reasonable amount of time, and then changing into his pyjamas. Taking a bath can present problems too, with Asperger children not liking the noticeable change in temperature and how that feels on their body, from warm bath to cool air.

The nervous system of children with Aspergers Syndrome is always on high alert, and their brains interpret touch in unexpected ways e.g. instead of being calmed by a gentle hug, they may become agitated or tense. Sometimes even anticipating being touched can trigger a fight or flight response in an AS child.

Additionally, poor vestibular system functioning means Aspergers Syndrome children often feel unsteady on their feet, and usually suffer from gravitational insecurity e.g. dislike of being upside-down, being suspended in mid-air or having their feet off the ground. This can mean that the simple act of bending forward or backward over a sink to have their hair washed can create dizziness, anxiety or mild panic.

Some Aspergers children fear falling over if they shut their eyes. Imagine then the distress experienced by simply washing their face in the shower. (Perhaps this is why our son always seemed to have soap in his eyes – he may have kept them open when washing his face and hair!) This fear of falling comes from a proprioceptive (bodily sense of self) imbalance – a common trait in those with Aspergers Syndrome.

Getting dressed and feeling comfortable in clothing is another area of distress for AS children. Irritations can occur from loose fitting clothing touching the skin, and tags or labels scratching. Clothes that are too stiff or too tight also cause problems. Clothing is usually chosen for comfort – for this reason our son insisted on wearing the same clothes each day, and it was our job to ensure they were clean and ready to be worn! This seemingly obsessional preference extended to his school uniform. Even though he had 3 sets of uniform (shorts and shirts) only 1 set was deemed comfortable enough to tolerate. He could distinguish his favourites by the length of the shorts and the sleeves of his shirt. Incredulously these only differed in length from the other sets by as little as 3mm (1/8 inch).

Cleaning teeth may also present challenges for children with Aspergers Syndrome. Problems in this area of grooming can be for a variety of reasons, from not liking the taste of toothpaste or experiencing burning or stinging from it, to having sensitive teeth and gums (their gums may become tender, bruised or actually bleed from brushing). I recommend trying a variety of toothpaste flavours and also using an electric toothbrush. Be sure to model the correct procedure for brushing teeth to your Asperger child. Our son brushes his teeth much the same way he brushes his hair (the word ‘brush’ is the same, so the procedure must be the same!). Your AS child may never brush his/her teeth for the recommended 2-3 minutes each time, however it’s important to focus on establishing the twice a day routine.

Dislike or distress at brushing their hair or having a haircut seems to be a common obstacle with Aspergers children. AS children usually have very sensitive scalps and skulls (our son would become hysterical when he bumped his head, and would tell me he could feel his brain ‘rattle’ or move). We were never able to go to a Salon to have his hair cut, and I had to add Hairdresser to my list of talents! He would refer to the process as a “Hairs Cut”, because he could feel each of his hairs being cut. He recently explained that the change in the weight of the hair produced by the haircut was what caused him so much distress, as well as feeling exposed and vulnerable by losing the ‘protective’ barrier his hair created between him and the world.

Using deodorant or anti-perspirant sprays is another area of discomfort for children with Aspergers Syndrome. The shock of the cold spray on their warm armpit coupled with the quite high-powered aerosol delivery causes genuine alarm and discomfort. Most deodorants are strongly scented, which also bombards a sensory sensitive Asperger child.

So whether your Asperger child is 4 or 24, personal hygiene and grooming may continue to cause distress through their sensory sensitivities. Using visual reminders/timetables to encourage the completion of daily grooming tasks can be helpful in establishing good routines. Being mindful of their sensitivities and being prepared to compromise helps too.

Look for ways to minimize their distress while completing their grooming e.g. suggest a bath instead of a shower, minimize temperature variations when bathing, use a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner to reduce time spent in the shower, provide a soft bristled electric toothbrush and bland tasting toothpaste, and experiment with unscented roll-on deodorants or natural crystal anti-perspirants. Being empathetic and talking with your Asperger child about their discomfort in the grooming process will help them develop better personal hygiene habits.

©Nelle Frances
http://www.nellefrances.com

About the Author: Nelle Frances is the mother of a 15 year old with Asperger's Syndrome, a Special Needs Educator and Author of the Ben and His Helmet series of books for Asperger children. Her site http://www.nellefrances.com offers resources, strategies and articles on Aspergers Syndrome for parents and teachers.

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Full Detailed Information on Aspergers Disorder

by Ricky Hussey

Asperger's Disorder is a milder variant of Autistic Disorder. Both Asperger's Disorder and Autistic Disorder are in fact subgroups of a larger diagnostic category. This larger category is called either Autistic Spectrum Disorders, mostly in European countries, or Pervasive Developmental Disorders ("PDD"), in the United States. In Asperger's Disorder, affected individuals are characterized by social isolation and eccentric behavior in childhood. There are impairments in two-sided social interaction and non-verbal communication.

Causes

Doctors and researchers don't understand what causes Asperger's syndrome, although there seems to be a strong genetic component. The disorder also seems to be linked to structural abnormalities in several regions of the brain.

Signs and Symptoms

The following are a number of signs and symptoms that might be present in a child with AS:

* inappropriate or minimal social interactions
* conversations almost always revolving around self rather than others
* "scripted," "robotic," or repetitive speech
* lack of "common sense"
* problems with reading, math, or writing skills

How Common Is Asperger's Syndrome?

Asperger's syndrome has only recently been recognized as a unique disorder. For that reason, the exact number of people with the disorder is unknown, although it is more common than autism. Estimates suggest Asperger's syndrome affects from 0.024% to 0.36% of children. It is more common in males than in females, and usually is first diagnosed in children between the ages of 2 and 6 years.

Treatment

Asperger syndrome treatment attempts to manage distressing symptoms and to teach age-appropriate social, communication and vocational skills that are not naturally acquired during development with intervention tailored to the needs of the individual child, based on multidisciplinary assessment. Although progress has been made, data supporting the efficacy of particular interventions are limited.

The ideal treatment for AS coordinates therapies that address core symptoms of the disorder, including poor communication skills and obsessive or repetitive routines. While most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better, there is no single best treatment package. AS treatment resembles that of other high-functioning ASDs, except that it takes into account the linguistic capabilities, verbal strengths, and nonverbal vulnerabilities of individuals with AS.

Hopefully this short article will provide useful information for you of the signs and characteristics of Aspergers and a greater understanding of how this may affect that person's emotional stability. This will help you to relate better to those people and support you both in planning effective interventions.

Read out for Anxiety. Check out blood pressure and stress

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What is a Symptom of Aspergers Syndrome?

by Dave Angel

In this article I will explore the symptoms of Aspergers Syndrome.

There are a number of symptoms associated with both children and adults with Aspergers Syndrome. These symptoms include:

1. Difficulty with social relationships - Many people with Aspergers syndrome have problems in understanding how other people think and feel.They find it difficult to understand facial expressions and all the non-verbal signals people use to communicate in everyday life. This can lead to socially inappropriate behavior. Some people with Aspergers want to be sociable and enjoy the company of other people whilst others are happy with their own company.

2. Difficulty with communication - People with Aspergers syndrome do not usually have the speech problems experienced by people with classic autism, they can be good talkers. The problems with communication lie in their inability to take notice of the reaction of the people they are talking to; they may continue to talk about one topic even though the other person has become (or never was) interested. Their tone of voice may seem flat and they fail to use appropriate facial expression or make eye contact.

3. Lack of imagination - People with Aspergers syndrome often excel at factual work, the kind of work that deals with facts and statistics but they can find it hard to use their imagination. They may have narrow areas of interest that they can become fanatical about and they can become attached to specific routines, for example always doing things in the same order when getting ready to go out in the morning. If for some reason they cannot follow their routine they can become upset and agitated or even angry.

4. Other - Many people with Aspergers also have difficulties dealing with change and may lack what is considered to be basic common sense. However people with the condition are not ‘backward' in any way and usually have average, if not higher than average levels of intelligence. In fact it is said that many of the so-called "techno-nerds" that work at the cutting edge internet and computer companies in Silicon Valley, near San Francisco, may well have Aspergers. And those guys have some serious brain matter!

To give some background; Aspergers syndrome is a form of autism that was defined by an Austrian pediatrician over 50 years ago. Autistic Spectrum Disorder (autism) is a life-long developmental disability that affects social and communication skills. Each person with autism displays different symptoms and behavior; some people with autism remain non-verbal and will need life-long care. Other people with the condition live independent lives, hold down careers, go to university, get married and have children.

People with Aspergers syndrome are usually at this more ‘able' end of the spectrum. Like autism, Aspergers syndrome, seems to be caused by a biological difference in the brain's development. In many cases there appears to be a genetic cause; there are many cases of autism and Aspergers syndrome running in the same family. One study has estimated that 3 to 7 in 1,000 people have Aspergers Syndrome. People with Aspergers Syndrome share many of the same characteristics as people with autism but they usually do not have any accompanying learning disabilities.

Those with Aspergers syndrome are different and unique people in their own right. However social problems, unusual verbal and non-verbal expressions and specific interests do seem to be common features of Aspergers. Sensory problems can be an area of difficulty for people with Aspergers. This means that certain sights, noises, tastes and textures can bother the person more than they would a person without Aspergers. Problems with food and eating are common.

Many people mistakenly believe that children with Aspergers are simply naughty and that they can be dealt with in the same way as children without the condition. Often, what appears to be ‘bad' behavior on the part of the child has been triggered by something that has upset them. That is not to say that all of the child's behavior can be excused because of the Aspergers or that you shouldn't try to explain why certain behaviors are unacceptable. Separating what is Aspergers and what is deliberately poor behavior is difficult, with many parents claiming to never be entirely sure if they have got it right. However a 50-50 approach is advisable. A person with Aspergers should try to learn the necessary social skills to function in regular, everyday life but if we are living or working closely with someone with the condition we too should try to enter into their world at times in order to understand them better.

Dave Angel is a social worker with families who have children on the Autistic Spectrum and is the author of a new e-book that answers the 46 most asked questions by parents of children with Asperger’s. To claim your free 7 day Mini-Course for parents of children with Asperger’s Syndrome visit:
http://www.parentingaspergers.com today.

Article Source: Add-Articles.com

Autism And Potty Training Techniques - How To Help Your Child Succeed

by Rachel Evans

It can take a lot of hard work and patience to successfully potty train an autistic child. However, ensuring your child is potty trained is a very important step in the developmental process, for any child. Autism potty training, however, may bring about a sense of foreboding to parents of an autistic child. But this doesn’t always have to be the case, as we explore in this article.

The first thing you’ll need to understand is that some of the universal rules that apply to potty training a child are not always applicable with an autistic child. Rather, they require some adaptation from their original form to become relevant. It is also important to remember that patience and determination are both prerequisites when attempting to undergo this challenge. It will not be easy, and will take some hard work.

Another thing you will need to remember is that autistic children do not react to positive reinforcement as you might expect a non-ASD child to act. Because of this, you can’t count on utilizing prizes and rewards to get your child to learn. And if you can’t count on a consistent reaction, it may be best to abandon this tactic altogether.

It is also very important that you take the time to effectively communicate the importance of using a bathroom or toilet to your child. This is because a child with autism simply might not understand the importance of the matter. One smart idea to accomplish this might be to use visual references instead of verbal references. You can use simple illustrative guides that show the step-by-step process. You can buy books or flash cards for this purpose or you could make your own. It doesn’t matter how you choose to address the problem, however it is vital to communicate the importance of why big boy and girls use the bathroom, which may be an especially difficult concept for an autistic child to understand.

Yet another obstacle you may encounter is the fact that children with autism have a difficult time knowing when they need to use the bathroom. This is probably the number one reason that accidents are common. The best way to overcome this is to set up a routine. Using a timer or a clock, have your child go to the bathroom at the same time every day. This shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish, as autistic children are generally prone to wanting routine anyway.

While you should be resolute in your commitment to helping your child, it is important to bear in mind that children with autism do not willingly and readily accept change into their lives. So, don’t become frustrated or disheartened if you don’t achieve your desired results soon. If your child does not respond positively to one strategy, then don’t be too unwilling to try another. If you’re determined to achieve success from the onset, then you will help your child master this very critical step in the developmental process.

It is true that autism potty training might not seem to mix without eliciting some negative emotion, but this needn’t be the case. Follow the above tips, stay flexible in your approach, and you should get the positive results you’re looking for.

By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter about autism and discover more on the signs and symptoms of autism.



Article Source: HealthandWellnessCentral.com

Five Autism Types Explained

by Rachel Evans

Autism used to be the term used for anyone with that particular condition. Today, there are several different sub categories for different levels of disability or function. No two children diagnosed will be the same, but there will be many things that they do have in common. With some high functioning autistics most people may not even be aware that they have autism, while others need assistance in almost any part of life, and they are obviously living a very different life than other children. More is being discovered about each of these different autism types as time goes on.

Asperger’s Disorder

This type of autism is something that you hear more and more about. These children are often misdiagnosed at first, and are thought to have Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, or perhaps Attention Deficit Disorder. These children are very unskilled with social interactions and have problems with communicating. They have repetitive motions, and are fixated on patterns of all types. They can have above average language skills, though they don’t use them well in social situations. They are often clumsy, as motor skills are under developed. Those with Asperger’s are thought to have a talent that they focus on almost exclusively, and are considered to be highly intelligent. Recent findings indicate that Albert Einstein may have had this condition.

Kanner’s Syndrome (classic autistic disorder)

This particular type of autism was named after a Dr. Kanner. He described and studied it in the 1930s and into the 1940s. This is the well-known type of this condition that is very common. Those with Kanner’s have very limited emotional connection with anyone, and they are very into their own little world. They want everything to be the same all of the time, and this includes routine (sometimes down to the exact minute) clothing, food, and television shows or movies. They can be deeply effected by noises, bright lights and smells. They are generally considered to be low functioning, but how well their mind works is largely unknown because of extremely poor social and communication skills.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder--Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).

This term is used to describe children who have most of the same symptoms as classic autism. They will need the same interventions and help that autistic children require. The differences between PDD-NOS and autism are minor and usually only obvious to researchers and doctors.

Rett’s Syndrome

Rett’s is a rare and relatively little-known type of autism, and it seems to only happen in girls. This branch of autism was first described by Dr. Rett. These patients often have problems with muscle atrophy, and tend to do repetitive hand motions. They area almost always mentally retarded to some degree. These girls are very low functioning and will need care for most of their lives. This particular type of autism has been diagnosed since the sixties, but in the late 1990s a gene that might cause this condition was found.

Childhood Disintegrative Disorder

This is also thankfully pretty rare and something that strikes children who appear to have normal development from birth. Usually between two and four years of age this changes. These children begin to regress, and often do not potty train. They will lose the will and the ability to interact with other children, and will lose an interested in play. They will also have problem with the motor skills that were something they at one time had mastered. They will stop talking, or their communication skills will regress to some degree.

Though there are more autism types out there, these tend to be the most common. They are all things that take parents by surprise, and each comes with their own set of difficulties. Most children will need to be cared for long after their peers have established independence, even though the will to be on their own is very strong.

By Rachel Evans. Sign up for a free newsletter about autistic and discover more on the signs and symptoms of autism.

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Aspergers Syndrome Children and Motivation

By Nelle Frances

Aspergers Syndrome children respond best when their motivation level is high; when the answer to the question "What's in it for me?" is something an Asperger child most wants or desires. Children with Aspergers Syndrome never really make the leap from instant gratification to internal motivation or drive, such as self-satisfaction in a job well done, or pride in their ability to face a challenging situation. Aspergers Syndrome children are simply wired differently emotionally, and parents and educators soon come to realise that motivation to attempt or complete tasks is closely linked to perceived personal gain or reward for the child.

For Asperger children to achieve and keep on achieving, the possibility of personal reward must be present as a motivator. Often this reward revolves around the special interest of the Asperger child.

So how do we achieve a state of constant motivation and satisfy the need for almost instant gratification without bankrupting our finances?

I believe a Token Economy best suits the needs of children with Aspergers Syndrome. A Token Economy is a system where the Asperger child earns tokens as a reward for desired behaviours or actions. A predetermined number of tokens are then exchanged or “cashed in” for an item or activity the Asperger child desires.

A Token Economy is flexible and can be easily tailored to suit the individual needs of a child with Aspergers Syndrome, and importantly, their individual desires – what motivates them.

Token Economies that use money tokens seem to be the most successful with Aspergers Syndrome children in increasing their ability to delay gratification, and lessening the risk of satiation (overuse of a reward can result in the child no longer viewing it as a reward). Using money in a Token Economy negates the need for the Asperger child to decode an abstract concept, as in the ‘real’ world people are paid money for completing tasks by way of employment.

A token economy works well with Aspergers Syndrome children at school and at home right through Elementary School, and can continue to be used successfully at home throughout High School.

Aspergers Syndrome children take a long time establish trust, and for this reason a token economy should focus on rewarding desired behaviours and actions. Once the program has been established for a number of years, you may then be able to introduce “fines” or response costs, where the Aspergers Syndrome child is fined for inappropriate behaviour. This correlates the Token Economy program with real-world experiences for Aspergers Syndrome children – if I drive too fast, I get a speeding fine; if I park where I shouldn’t, I get a parking fine. However, the focus of the program must be on the positives, because children with Aspergers Syndrome are prone to quickly losing their motivation and trust.

Be creative with the reinforcers offered as motivation for AS children. Offering a ‘menu’ of rewards to choose from seems most successful. Initially for children with Aspergers Syndrome “cashed in” rewards need to be fairly instant i.e. at the end of each day. Over time this can be stretched to the end of each week. As the AS child matures this delayed gratification may be able to be stretched to a month or term, however small rewards and motivators should be offered consistently along the way.

As with all strategies used with Aspergers Syndrome children, patience and perseverance are the keys to success when using a Token Economy – but the rewards for both participants and facilitators are immense!


©Nelle Frances
http://www.nellefrances.com

Nelle Frances is the mother of a 15 year old with Asperger's Syndrome, a Special Needs Educator and Author of the Ben and His Helmet series of books for Asperger children. She is also an active member of 5 Asperger's Syndrome Support and Advocacy Groups. Her site http://www.nellefrances.com offers resources, strategies, articles and links on Aspergers Syndrome for parents, carers and teachers.

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Can Adults Be Diagnosed With Autism Later In Life?

by Rachel Evans

Autism has been around for many years as specific condition but hasn’t always well understood by the medical community and for some people their condition has been misdiagnosed. Though the classic form of autism is something that is often quite obvious in a child, there are high functioning autism types like Asperger’s that can be thought to be something else entirely. This form is just now being understood, and many who have had it their whole lives are just now learning that this is the case. It seems to make the answer to the questions pertaining to can adults be diagnosed with autism rather simple.

Adults can most certainly be diagnosed with autism. It can be a tough journey though, as many doctors don’t like the Asperger’s condition, and think it is highly blown out of proportion. Others just don’t have the knowledge to accurately diagnose children and adults with higher functioning forms of autism. So, it was something that went unnoticed for a very long time. Most parents and doctors assumed the child was different or ‘shy’ but that was all the further thought that was put into the situation. These children are now adults and starting to question those assumptions.

This form of high functioning autism has gone undetected, and many adults tend to blend rather well, which is something that those with classic autism cannot do. Though the high functioning adults have jobs and lives, and are intelligent, they can be socially awkward, as it is something that doesn’t come easily for most.

They may have communication problems that cause friction at work and in personal relationships, and they are frustrated because they don’t know why these sorts of interactions don’t come as easily to them as to others. Some people are even wrongly told that they have conditions like Obsessive Compulsive disorder. Because of frustration and anxiety regarding socialization, many have become often loners.

There are other clues that an adult might have autism. Their social awkwardness comes in different degrees. Many cannot understand humor, and are very literal in their interpretation of figures of speech. They cannot understand when someone is teasing them, as they take all words at the most literal level. They may have nervous twitches when anxious, and they also tend to have motor impairment. They can get upset and anxious quite easily, and quite often.

Anyone who suspects that they, or someone they know, has these problems and who wants to know can an adult be diagnosed with autism, it is a good idea to go in to see a doctor for evaluation. Sometimes you might have a hard time finding a doctor to take your concerns seriously, but that just means you have to keep looking.

Though there is no cure, a diagnosis can help a patient feel less anxious about why they are different, and they can also take advantage of some programs that can help improve the quality of their life. There are some tests online that may answer the question of can adults be diagnosed with autism. You can take the tests to see if you fit the profile, and then share this information with your doctor if you wish. This might help a physician understand what is going on and how to best help.

Sign up for a free newsletter about aspergers and discover more on the signs and symptoms of autism.


Article Source: Health and Wellness Central

Asperger’s Syndrome- Is There Real Cure For It?

by Rachel Evans

If you know of a child who is having a greater degree of language impairment than other children or has diminished communication skills and also exhibits a restrictive pattern of thought and behavior, he may have Asperger’s syndrome. This condition is more or less similar to that of classic autism. The main difference between autism and Asperger’s syndrome is that the child suffering from Asperger’s syndrome retains his early language skills.

The peculiar symptom of Asperger’s syndrome is a child’s obsessive interest in a single object or topic to the exclusion of any other. The child suffering from Asperger’s syndrome wants to know all about this one topic.

Sometimes their speech patterns and vocabulary may resemble that of a little professor. Other Asperger’s symptoms include the inability to interact successfully with peers, clumsy and uncoordinated motor movements, repetitive routines or rituals, socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior, and last, but not least, problems with non-verbal communication.

Asperger’s syndrome sufferers find difficulty mingling with the general public. Even if they converse with others, they exhibit inappropriate and eccentric behavior. The Asperger’s syndrome patient may always want to talk about his singular interest.

Developmental delays in motor skills such as catching a ball, climbing outdoor play equipment or pedaling a bike may also appear in the child with Asperger’s syndrome. Children with Asperger’s syndrome often show a stilted or bouncy walk, which appears awkward.

The therapy for the Asperger’s syndrome mainly concentrates on three-core symptoms: physical clumsiness, obsessive or repetitive routines, and poor communication skills. It is unfortunate that there is no single treatment for the children suffering from the entire three-core symptoms. But professionals do agree that the syndrome can be cured when the intervention is carried out at the earliest possible time.

The treatment package of Asperger’s syndrome for children involves medication for co-existing conditions, cognitive behavioral therapy, and social skills training. The Asperger’s syndrome treatment mainly helps to build on the child’s interests, teaches the task as a series of simple steps and offers a predictable schedule.

Although children suffering from Asperger’s syndrome can mange themselves with their disabilities, the personal relationships and social situations are challenging for them. In order to maintain an independent life, the Asperger’s syndrome sufferers require moral support and encouragement to work successfully in mainstream jobs.

Studies are on the way to discover the best treatment for Asperger’s syndrome, which includes the use of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to identify the abnormalities in the brain which causes malfunction of the same, which in turn result in Asperger’s syndrome. Clinical trials are being conducted to identify the effectiveness of an anti-depressant in Asperger’s syndrome individuals. Even the analysis of the DNA of the Asperger’s syndrome sufferers and their families may cause a break through in the treatment of the Asperger’s syndrome.

Rachel Evans. For more info & to signup for a Newsletter on Autism visit Essential Guide To Autism or for articles go here Autism Articles

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Do You Struggle to Talk to Someone With Asperger's? The Problem is Fussy Language

By Steven Paglierani

When I was a boy, girls jumping rope sang things like, "Skinny and fatty ran a race. Skinny fell down and broke his face." And, "Step on a crack. Break your mother's back." Now most of you know I have Asperger's. So can you guess how I interpreted these words?

Of course, me being me, I took these words literally. Can you imagine? Laughing little eight year old girls singing, "break your mother's back!" Whoa! Was I confused. And try as I might, I could not, for the life of me, understand what would make them say such things. No less laugh while they said them.

Fast forward to August 2004. I start working with a little eight year old boy. A boy who, like me, has Asperger's. And as I watched his struggles, especially with his dad, I realized why I had struggled so to understood those childhood sayings. You see, he, too, understood only the literal meanings of peoples' words. And none of the social content.

Fortunately for this boy, his dad was the most patient father I have ever seen. Which explained why week after week, he patiently battled what I eventually came to call, his son's "fussy word disease."

What the heck is "fussy word disease?" Start with that it's not exactly a disease. I call it this merely to bring to peoples' attention that having this condition is painful. Both for the parents and for the child.

What is it though? It's when a child takes every thing you say as if you chose your words perfectly. Straight from a dictionary. With no non verbal meaning. Which then means, if you want to say something to one of these kids, you had better say it exactly as you mean it. Otherwise, you are going to hear about it.

This in fact is how this boy responded to most of his father's words. Thus if his dad said something like that they were leaving in ten minutes, at precisely ten minutes, they had better be leaving. No if's and's or but's. If not, the boy would blurt things out like, "you never do what you say!" "You promised!" Or "You lied!"

Worst case he might even call him, "stupid!" Can you imagine?

Being his dad was such a patient man, whenever this happened, he would calmly try to explain how he hadn't meant exactly ten minutes, that what he said was simply a figure of speech.

Of course, the boy would totally blow off these efforts, then rudely argue, "You're wrong! That's not what you meant!" Which would usually result in his father reluctantly getting firm with him.

At times, watching this happen made me well up with tears. This dad so obviously loved his son. And the boy so obviously loved his father. Despite this love though, week after week, they could not find a way to understand each other. Nor to stop their ever present arguing.

Finally, one day it hit me that the problem had nothing to do with this boy's social skills. Not directly, anyway. Nor was it rooted in his poor impulse control and outbursts of disrespect. What was happening was simply that when the boy said to his father, "you're wrong," he was simply trying to make him speak in a way in which he, the boy, could understand. In the boy's own language. And when this didn't happen, his frustration overwhelmed him and he blurted out insults.

Shortly after that, I began to call the boy's language, "fussy." And his father's language, "fuzzy." At which point, I explained this idea, the idea of "two languages," to the family. Then whenever this father spoke "fuzzy," I would gently remind him that "fuzzy" language confused his son. And whenever the boy felt compelled to make his speak "fussy," I reminded the boy that "fuzzy" was his and my language, not his father's.

These reminders also helped me as well. They reminded me that in no way did the boy intend to hurt his father. In fact, whenever I managed to get him to see he had hurt his father, he'd burst into tears. Partly from this realization. And partly from the sheer frustration of having to work so hard to be understood.

Here then was the opening I had been looking for. The boy's problem was that he had no sense of the personal meaning of his father's words. A meaning I was calling, the "fuzzy" meaning as in, the "warm fuzzy" meaning. And the father, while he could logically grasp the words his son was saying, had no idea his son could not interpret words in other than dictionary meanings.

Today, when I think about how most of today's therapists refer to Asperger's as a social impairment, I feel sad. They're missing the point. Moreover, treating these kids as if the main problem is a social problem only makes them worse.

The social difficulties in Asperger's are not the main problem. I say this knowing full well how disruptive kids with Asperger's can be. Even so, beneath this behavior is a far more basic problem. The thing which actually provokes their antisocial behavior. Their inability to navigate the range of specificity within normal folks' language. The degree to which we do, and do not, include the meaning in our words.

What I'm saying is, Asperger's is first and foremost a language problem, not a socialization problem. And whether these kids' brains are wired differently or not simply does not matter. Whatever the case, they, and I, simply speak a different language. Fussy. And because the majority of the world speaks fuzzy, we get told we have a disability.

[to read more on how Emergence Personality Theory sees Asperger's, visit http://theemergencesite.com/Tech/TechIssues-Autism-OCD-Aspergers-ADD.htm]


Steven Paglierani is a writer, teacher, personality theorist, and therapist whose work on learning and human consciousness is read weekly by thousands all over the world. He is the author of Emergence Personality Theory, and his mission is to make the world better for children by restoring and deepening their love of learning.

He can be read or reached at his site, http://theEmergenceSite.com

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What is Asperger's Syndrome

By Cathy Romanczuk

Asperger's syndrome (also referred to as Asperger syndrome, Asperger's disorder, Aspergers, or AS) is a condition on the autistic spectrum. Like other autistic spectrum disorders, Asperger's includes "restrictive, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests, and activities."1 However, this syndrome differs from 'classic' autism in that there is no significant delay in non-social aspects of intellectual development. AS can have both positive and negative effects on an individual's life. AS is a developmental disorder that is characterized by: 2 § limited interests or an unusual preoccupation with a particular subject to the exclusion of other activities § repetitive routines or rituals § peculiarities in speech and language, such as speaking in an overly formal manner or in a monotone, or taking figures of speech literally § socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior and the inability to interact successfully with peers § problems with non-verbal communication, including the restricted use of gestures, limited or inappropriate facial expressions, or a peculiar, stiff gaze § clumsy and uncoordinated motor movements

Speech and Language Differences One of the major differences between AS and autism is that, by definition, there is no speech delay in Asperger's. In fact, children with AS frequently have good language skills; they simply use language in different ways. People with AS typically have a highly pedantic way of speaking, using a far more formal language than appropriate for a context. A five-year-old child with this condition may regularly speak in language that could easily have come from a university textbook, especially concerning his or her special area of interest. Literal interpretation is another common, but not universal, trait of this condition. People with AS may not recognize verbal and nonverbal cues or understand social norms, such as taking turns talking or grasping the concept of personal space.3 Individuals with AS may also use words idiosyncratically, including new words or variations of words they have invented and unusual juxtapositions. This can develop into a rare gift for humor (especially puns, word play, doggerel and satire). A potential source of humor is the eventual realization that their literal interpretations can be used to amuse others.

Cognitive Differences Another distinction between Asperger's Disorder and autism concerns cognitive ability. While some individuals with Autism experience mental retardation, by definition a person with Asperger's Disorder cannot possess a "clinically significant" cognitive delay. This does not mean that all individuals with autism have mental retardation. Some do and some do not, but a person with AS may possess average to above average intelligence. Children with AS may show advanced abilities for their age in language, reading, mathematics, spatial skills, or music, sometimes into the 'gifted' range, but these talents may be counterbalanced by appreciable delays in the development of other cognitive functions. Some other typical behaviors are echolalia, the repetition or echoing of verbal utterances made by another person, and palilalia, the repetition of one's own words.

Other Differences While motor difficulties are not a specific criteria for Asperger's, children with AS frequently have slight delays in the development of fine motor skills. In some cases, people with AS may have an odd way of walking, and may display compulsive finger, hand, arm or leg movements, including tics and stims. Some people with AS experience varying degrees of sensory overload and are extremely sensitive to touch, smells, sounds, tastes, and sights. They may prefer soft clothing, familiar scents, or certain foods. Some may even be extremely sensitive to loud noises, strong smells, or dislike being touched.

Sensory overload may intensify problems faced by such children at school or even adults at work, where levels of noise in the classroom or workplace can become unbearable for them. Some are unable to block out, as in habituation, certain repetitive or background stimuli, such as the constant ticking of a clock, or a television in another room of the house. Whereas most children stop noticing a sound after a short time and can hear it only if they are listening for it, a child with AS can become distracted, agitated, or even (in cases where the child has problems with regulating emotions such as anger) violent if the sound persists.

1. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed., pp. 70-71) Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association, 1994

2. Asperger Syndrome Fact Sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (May 11, 2006). Retrieved 20 August 2007.

3. Asperger's Syndrome - Topic Overview, WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise, Retrieved 20 August 2007.

Cathy Romanczuk is a special education teacher and the mother of two children with 'classic' autism. She is also a certified biology teacher and a former captain in the United States Air Force.

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Aspergers Syndrome - General Information

By Mike Mansell

Aspergers Syndrome is a type of Autism, however, the symptoms are usually much milder and less distressing to those people around them. However, it is still a serious condition which affects 1-2 people in 2000, of which, more tend to be boys than girls.

Aspergers Syndrome wasn’t widely recognized by parents and professionals as recently as in the 1990’s. Autism itself was first diagnosed in 1943.

Despite what could be seen as a significant problem for the sufferers of Aspergers Syndrome, many people with this condition lead very successful and productive lives.

Autism is a neurological disorder. Nobody knows exactly what causes it although there does seem to be a high degree of evidence which suggests that it may be genetic. In many cases, where one child in a family has autism or Aspergers Syndrome, there is a significant chance that any other children will also have this condition either to a lesser or greater degree.

It is possible that there are other factors which may cause this condition either before during or after the birth of a child. At this present time, we don’t know the answers to this question although hopefully after much research, the answer will be found.

There is no simple test to diagnose Aspergers Syndrome or Autism, the diagnosis is done by taking a developmental history and observation of the patient.

There isn’t any cure for either Aspergers Syndrome or Autism either. However, with a lot of hard work, many sufferers of Aspergers live ordinary lives with few difficulties.

Aspergers symptoms include:
- Deficiency in social skills
- Difficulty with accepting changes to their environment
- They may be very pre-occupied with a specific topic and study it and talk about it incessantly, becoming very proficient in it.
- Find it difficult to read non verbal communication signals and tend to have poor body space i.e. they will invade other peoples space unknowingly.

Despite these symptoms, many sufferers from Aspergers live normal lives and in some cases, probably due to their obsession with a particular topic, may become very successful.

If you want to read more about this subject from other people visit my website Aspergers Syndrome where you’ll lots of useful information on Aspergers Syndrome and Autism.

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Dealing with Change

If your child has Asperger's syndrome, then you know how that they have a low tolerance for change. They can be ritualistic and thrive in structured environments where they what comes next. If something suddenly changes without warning, they feel a loss of control and until they get back into their routine, everything is chaotic.

The best thing you can do if you know something different from the norm will happen is to let them know ahead of time. Have a plan ready to explain to them. For example, they may have a dentist appointment coming up which will cut into their day, breaking their schedule. Sit them down and let them know what exactly is going to happen like who will take them there and what activity will be interrupted. This will help ease the tensions of a change in a daily routine, and may only leave the tension of going to the dentist which may be easier to handle.