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.

In an historic decision, a family whose daughter has Autism was awarded compensation when it was determined that vaccines contributed to her development of Autism.  The compensation will come from a federal fund that compensates victims of vaccine-related injuries.   The ruling states that the girl’s pre-existing mitochondrial disorder had disposed her to autism and this was “significantly aggravated” by the vaccines she received as a toddler.  And the debate goes on…

 Story

What is the best treatment for Asperger Syndrome?  Here are a couple of approaches you may have heard about:  Some espouse Applied Behavior Analysis, a behavioral approach to teaching young children that involves breaking down tasks into their smallest pieces and using rewards to promote appropriate behavior.  Another treatment approach for Asperger’s is modifying the diet.  The gluten free casein free diet has been touted as a means of helping children with Asperger Syndrome.  It involves eliminating dairy and wheat from the diet, plus some other foods.  Corn may also need to be eliminated.  Here are a couple of websites that deal with both of these topics:

 ABA: http://rsaffran.tripod.com/aba.html

Diet: http://www.gfcfdiet.com/

A group in California helps connect young adults with Asperger Syndrome with one another.  The group of 20something met to play golf on an outing arranged a group started on the Meetup Web site by Escondido resident Lisa James and her daughter, Wendy Walker.  Here’s the link: http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/02/17/lifeandtimes/17_27_352_16_08.txt

Researchers in Texas believe that people with Asperger Syndrome may benefit from practicing skills in a virtual world known as “Second Life.”  The online therapy pairs the avatar (or icon that represents the person) of a clinician from the University of Texas at Dallas Center for Brain Health with that of a person with Asperger’s.  Then, they practice conversation skills and other interactions with one another in the virtual world.  The idea is that mastering the skills online will help the patient feel more comfortable with those skills in real life.  In an article on the ABC News website (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/OnCall/Story?id=4133184&page=3), the technique is referred to as “virtual socialization.”  Do the skills generalize from the virtual to the real world?  Perhaps, and hopefully more studies will research the benefits of this type of therapy.  In any event, it seems that the connections made and confidence built would nonetheless be helpful to a person with Asperger Syndrome.

I have to admit it:  I love the honesty of children with Asperger Syndrome.  It’s asking with curiousity  of an elderly person ”how old are you?” when a child of a similar age would know to not ask.  It’s saying to the host of a dinner party “I don’t like what you cooked, I prefer chicken.”  Now in a young child, this may be typical across the board.  But in a typical child of 10, 11, or say 12, those instincts are stifled.  But I never have to wonder what my son is thinking.  He says it! 

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).