Posted by Susan Moffitt on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013
Recent studies at Vanderbilt University and the University of Rochester reveal a startling discovery about autism. In testing a common theory about autism that overwhelming sensory stimulation inhibits other brain functions, researchers decided to study how kids with autism process moving images. They found that children with autism detect simple movement twice as quickly as [...]
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Posted by Susan Moffitt on Friday, September 23rd, 2011
Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome (PDA) is the term for an obsessional avoidance of the ordinary demands of everyday life. The child with PDA exhibits a level of social understanding and ability that makes them able to be manipulative in their avoidance. Coupled with a capacity for imaginative play, early appreciation was that PDA was a [...]
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Posted by Susan Moffitt on Tuesday, September 20th, 2011
Pica is an abnormal craving for non-edible substances. The word “pica” comes from the Latin word for magpie, a bird known for eating anything in its path. Children between the age of two and three, and/or people with developmental disabilities display pica behavior such as consuming dirt, hair, foam, paper, etc. Hospitalizations for pica incidents [...]
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Posted by Susan Moffitt on Sunday, July 24th, 2011
Meditation is as old as the hills. Now, some researchers are conducting new studies into its benefits. Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin, has used high-tech imaging tools to examine the brains of Buddhist monks as they practice meditation. He has discovered that meditation stimulates the parts of the brain associated with [...]
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Posted by Susan Moffitt on Friday, July 8th, 2011
The grief of a child with autism, be it for a cherished pet, a grandparent or other close family member is very hard for a parent to experience. While most children openly cry and seek comfort for their loss, a child with autism will likely become more isolated than ever as they seek methods to [...]
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Posted by Susan Moffitt on Thursday, June 30th, 2011
Among the tried and true therapies available for autism is cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). In recent years, cognitive therapies developed in the 1950′s and 60′s evolved into cognitive behavior therapy as it is known today. CBT is based on the premise that how we think, feel and act all affect each other. Autism luminary Dr. [...]
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Posted by Susan Moffitt on Thursday, June 9th, 2011
Parents and caregivers of children with autism know that dealing with meltdowns is a part of life. We become adept at calming down our child as quickly and as best we can, whether at home or in public. It’s hard to surrender a child to environments where we are not present, knowing that others won’t [...]
READ MORE Posted in Autism Advice from Parents, Autism Awareness, Autism Behaviors 11 Comments »
