Understanding Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (Child Mind Institute)
Description:
One of the ongoing challenges of helping children with autism thrive is understanding behaviors that can seem baffling.These resources may help to clear up some common misunderstandings. Autism experts explain how repetitive or self-harming behaviors may have medical causes, how sensory processing issues can trigger meltdowns, and what is behind picky eating and other mealtime challenges. And we discuss ways to help kids on the spectrum build communication skills, so they can express their own wants and needs more effectively.
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Some persistent problem behaviors turn out to be treatable illnesses
Practical tips for parents of kids with rigid eating habits and problem mealtime behaviors
How ADHD and sensory processing issues can prevent early intervention
They often go undiagnosed because they don’t fit autism stereotypes and they mask symptoms better than boys do
Oversensitivity, tantrums, clumsiness: all could point to problems taking in the world
Being able to make themselves understood can reduce frustration and self-injury
All kids avoid doing things they’re asked to do from time to time. But some go to extremes to ignore or resist anything they perceive as a demand. That pattern of behavior is called pathological demand avoidance, or PDA. It is seen most often in people with autism.