AspergerSyndrome.org

Video modeling is helpful in teaching social skills according to recent studies. “Results from [a] meta-analysis indicate that both video modeling and VSM meet the Council for Exceptional Children’s criteria for evidence-based practices. Improvements were most evident in the area of functional skills, followed by social-communication skills and behavioral functioning.” - Excerpt from Bellini, S. & Akullian, J. (2007)

Check out www.modelmekids.com for social skills training videos on topics such as saying hello, joining a conversation, waiting, reading social cues, taking turns, staying calm, and more.

This article confirms what I suspected about Asperger Syndrome and problems with sleep, particularly falling asleep.  Check out http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071101085018.htm

In a nutshell, a study showed that 50 percent of the children with Asperger’s were reluctant to go to bed, and notably 50 percent felt unrefreshed when they woke up in the morning.  The next step:  what to do about this.  If anyone needs a good night’s rest to decompress it is children with Asperger Syndrome, who often feel overstimulated during the day.

According to the According to the DSM-IV, Asperger’s is a distinct disorder.  One of the main differences features is that children with Asperger Syndrome, by definition, do not have a significant language delay.  The other defining area is in cognitive ability.  Those with Asperger Syndrome are considered “higher functioning” in terms of cognitive ability.  But there is a lot of gray area and overlap in diagnoses.  Ultimately the most important part of getting the diagnosis is its use in focusing the appropriate intervention.  So you may find some families willing to “push” for more severe diagnosis in order to qualify for hard-to-get early intervention services because a diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome may not get them those services.  Food for thought!  What do you think?

Is it Asperger or Asperger’s (and does it really matter)?  The disorder was named after Hans Asperger (singular), and Austrian pediatrician who first identified the traits that we know as Asperger Syndrome.  After this bloggers informal survey of other websites that refer to the disorder, it appears that the consensus is that it is Asperger Syndrome or Asperger’s (without adding the “syndrome” after it).