I spent the morning with our Latchkey kids because they didn't have school today.  One of the girls has AS just like my boys and watching her with her stuffed animal reminded me how my boys loved stuffed animals when they were her age.  They played with them like they were real friends with real feelings and emotions.  My youngest son, who is now 22, still won't let me get rid of his "friends". 

Craters of the Moon

I spent the day with 32 kids at Craters of the Moon today.  One of my favorite kids is a little girl with Asperger's Syndrome.  She was totally into the whole experience.  She had her Jr. Ranger vest on with a matching hat and she brought her own guide book.  The best moment of the day was when we were taking roll and when we called her name she said "Could you just call me Jr. Ranger?"  And the worst moment of the day was when she hiked up to the top of a volcano and a big gust of wind blew her hat off and it went sailing into the next county.  She worked her way into a giant melt down.  After she calmed down we told her we would stop at the ranger's station on the way out and tell them to look for it.  It had her name and phone number in it so she's convinced they will find it and call her.  When we got back and her mom came to pick her up she wanted to e-mail the rangers right away.  Her poor mother probably got no peace until she did just that. 

Teaching Tolerance

I just read the most amazing post by a mother who has a son with autism.  You have to read it.  Click here.

You'll love it.  I promise.

Newspaper Article

My uncle sent me this article.  He lives in Phoenix, AZ.

I realized when I tried to read this that it's hard to see so I'm going to re-type it.

NASAL SPRAY MAY MITIGATE AUTISM

Study:Hormone eases interaction

Tuesday, February 16th, 1020

WASHINGTON POST

     A nasal spray containing a hormone that makes women more maternal and men less shy apparently can help those with autism make eye contact and interact better with others, according to a provocative study released Monday.
     The study involving 13 adults with autism found that when they inhaled the hormone oxytocin they scored significantly better on a test that involved recognizing faces and performed much better in a game that involved tossing a ball with other people.
     Although more research is needed to confirm and explore the findings, the results are the latest in a growing body of evidence indicating that the hormone could lead to ways to help people with the often devastating brain disorder function better.
     "This is the firsst study that looked at whether oxytocin has an effect on social behavior, which is a major deficit in autism," said Angela Sirigu, who directs the National Center for Scientific Research in France and led the study, published online by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.  "It looks like it could be very helpful."
     Researchers who were not involved in the study praised the work, saying the findings were promising and could lead to the first effecive treatment for the central problems affecting people with autism.
     Because oxytocin does not last long in the body and produces its effects for a relatively brief period, some experts said the findings were more likely to encourage drug companies to develop alternative substances that had the same benefits.

OkCupid.com: Take The Asperger's Syndrome Test

OkCupid.com: Take The Asperger's Syndrome Test

OASIS @ MAAP - U.S. Autism Prevalence Rises to 1 in 110

http://www.aspergersyndrome.org/News/U-S--Autism-Prevalence-Rises-to-1-in-110.aspx

What is Asperger Syndrome?

by Dr. Tony Attwood

Dr Hans Asperger, an Austrian pediatrician, originally described Asperger’s Syndrome in 1944. The syndrome has more recently been classified as an autistic spectrum disorder. Children and adults with Asperger’s Syndrome have an intellectual capacity within the normal range, but have a distinct profile of abilities that has been apparent since early childhood. The profile of abilities includes the following characteristics:

• A qualitative impairment in social interaction:
  • Failure to develop friendships that are appropriate to the child’s developmental level.
  • Impaired use of non-verbal behaviour such as eye gaze, facial expression and body language to regulate a social interaction.
  • Lack of social and emotional reciprocity and empathy.
  • Impaired ability to identify social cues and conventions.
• A qualitative impairment in subtle communication skills:
  • Fluent speech but difficulties with conversation skills and a tendency to be pedantic, have an unusual prosody and to make a literal interpretation.
• Restrictive Interests:
  • The development of special interests that is unusual in their intensity and focus.
  • Preference for routine and consistency.

The disorder can also include motor clumsiness and problems with handwriting and being hypersensitive to specific auditory and tactile experiences. There can also be problems with organisational and time management skills and explaining thoughts and ideas using speech. The exact prevalence rates have yet to be determined, but research suggests that it may be as common as one in 250. The aetiology is probably due to factors that affect brain development and not due to emotional deprivation or other psychogenic factors.
The characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome described above are based on the diagnostic criteria and current research and have also been modified as a result of my extensive clinical experience. I would like to provide a personalised description of Asperger’s Syndrome that also incorporates the person’s qualities as well as their difficulties.

From my clinical experience I consider that children and adults with Asperger’s Syndrome have a different, not defective, way of thinking. The person usually has a strong desire to seek knowledge, truth and perfection with a different set of priorities than would be expected with other people. There is also a different perception of situations and sensory experiences. The overriding priority may be to solve a problem rather than satisfy the social or emotional needs of others. The person values being creative rather than co-operative. The person with Asperger’s syndrome may perceive errors that are not apparent to others, giving considerable attention to detail, rather than noticing the ‘big picture’. The person is usually renowned for being direct, speaking their mind and being honest and determined and having a strong sense of social justice. The person may actively seek and enjoy solitude, be a loyal friend and have a distinct sense of humour. However, the person with Asperger’s Syndrome can have difficulty with the management and expression of emotions. Children and adults with Asperger’s syndrome may have levels of anxiety, sadness or anger that indicate a secondary mood disorder. There may also be problems expressing the degree of love and affection expected by others. Fortunately, we now have successful psychological treatment programs to help manage and express emotions.

Copyright © 2005 Tony Attwood