By Nadia Shanab | Uncategorized
				
				
				
					A research from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California was recently published suggesting: “Children with both the risk of autism genotype and exposure to high air polluant levels were at increased risk of autism spectrum disorder compared to those without the risk genotype and lower air pollution exposure.” This study 
				
 
				Tags: air pollution, asperger's syndrome, autism, communication, genetics, neurodevelopmental conditions, parenting, research, symptoms of autism
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				By Nadia Shanab | Uncategorized
				
				
				
					Why do children with autism repeat and echo the questions they are asked? We agreed that the wiring of the brain in individuals with autism is different, compared to NTs (Neurotypically developed peers). Consequently, The processing or thinking speed of a child with autism is sometimes different. And while the child is trying to process/think 
				
 
				Tags: asperger's syndrome, autism, communication, echoing, health, parenting, social interaction, speech
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				By Nadia Shanab | Uncategorized
				
				
				
					Tip Give your child the opportunity to play a musical instrument at an early age. Help your child explore and experience the practice of playing music and look for her favorite instrument. It may take time to land on the perfect instrument that matches your child’s interest and needs. Be patient don’t give up. Why 
				
 
				Tags: asperger's syndrome, autism, communication, discipline, flexibility, health, independence, occupational therapy, parenting, research, senses, sensory, social interaction, speech, tips
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				By Nadia Shanab | Uncategorized
				
				
				
					There are three other conditions/diseases that may overlap with autism. Your child has been diagnosed with autism, but beware of other symptoms that may hide under the ASD ambrella. Epilepsy, Tourette Syndrome, and Mitocondrial Disease. The good new is that treatments administered to cure these conditions can also benefit your child with autism. 1-Is your 
				
 
				Tags: asperger's syndrome, autism, diagnosis, early intervention, epilepsy, health, Mitchondrial disease, parenting, research, symptoms of autism, tips, Tourette Syndrome
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				By Nadia Shanab | Uncategorized
				
				
				
					“There’s no reason to miss out on holiday gatherings” Here are some tips to help parents of special needs kids to enjoy the holiday season and be part of their community and stay connected to their family and friends. Don’t turn down any invitations. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how interesting your experience was. Read the 
				
 
				Tags: ADHD, asperger's syndrome, autism, communication, flexibility, health, holidays, independence, organization, parenting, senses, sensory, social interaction, tips
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				By Nadia Shanab | Uncategorized
				
				
				
					In a new finding from Stanford University, research was done on individuals with high-functioning autism with IQ higher than 70, shows that the connecivity in the brain is high compared to their peers with typically developed brain. This finding is challenging previous belief that: individuals with autism have lower connectivity in brain regions. “Using one 
				
 
				Tags: asperger's syndrome, autism, brain connectivity, communication, epilepsy, health, research, social skills, tips, visual aids
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				By Nadia Shanab | autism
				
				
				
					This is a summary of one of the sessions that I have attended at the Morgan Autism Center last September. The speaker, Jill Escher, narrates her own story of struggle and discoveries. She has 2 kids with “idiopathisc autism”. It is a very informative and eye-opening story that all parents should read. What causes autism 
				
 
				Tags: asperger's syndrome, autism, chemicals, communication, consequences, diagnosis, drugs, environmental, ferility treatment, genetics, health, IVF, neurodevelopmental conditions, pollution, research, smoking, social interaction, speech, symptoms of autism, toxins
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				By Nadia Shanab | Uncategorized
				
				
				
					Family gatherings are around the corner! Most people love to celebrate traditions and keep cultures. Soon you’ll receive many invitations to join lunches, dinners, parties with your family and friends. Parents with kids on the autism spectrum, tend to decline these invitations and find an excuse to escape all kinds of gatherings. As much as 
				
 
				Tags: asperger's syndrome, autism, communication, discipline, flexibility, health, independence, organization, parenting, sensory, social interaction, tips
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				By Nadia Shanab | Uncategorized
				
				
				
					It is never enough to emphasize the importance of being specific when interacting with individuals with autism to avoid any confusion. However, I’ve always found everything they say, and which may appear illogical to certain people, to be absolutely rational. Here are some examples: Example 1 We were reading a story and we came across 
				
 
				Tags: asperger's syndrome, autism, communication, flexibility, free thinkers, idioms, out of the box, parenting, senses, social interaction, tips, what's normal?
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				By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips
				
				
				
					Anecdote I was shadowing a student with autism from a Special Day Class (SDC) in a mainstream class for Math subject. The student looked around scanning the faces of all the students surrounding her. With confused and lost eyes the student looked at me and asked: “Am I a special ed student?” She was loud enough 
				
 
				Tags: asperger's syndrome, autism, combo class, parenting, positive psychology, schedule, social interaction, special education, tips
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