A Message to Parents

Dear Parents, I am finally back after a long silence for almost two years. It is very hard to disengage myself from thinking and writing about...

Posts Tagged ‘occupational therapy’

Before You Go To An IEP Meeting

Before You Go To An IEP Meeting

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

You think you know your child well. Absolutely you know her/him well in certain settings. School is a highly structured setting compared to any other setting. School setting puts some pressure on the child because there are a minimum requirements of discipline expected from each student. Ask for an in-class observation as well as play

All That An Assistive Dog Can Bring To Your Family (Video)

All That An Assistive Dog Can Bring To Your Family (Video)

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

The proverb says: The dog is man’s best friend. Dogs are loyal and they love their masters unconditionally (I prefer to use the word masters over owners). They communicate without language, and understand the body language. If your child doesn’t talk or has poor verbal skills she/he can still have a social life. A dog

Basic Tips For Best Results

Basic Tips For Best Results

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

Here are 31 tips for teachers, educators, aides, and parents to work more effectively with children on the autism spectrum. General tips Always think SAFETY, SAFETY, SAFETY! This is the top priority when working with children, and especially special needs kids. Greet the student first by saying her/his name when she/he comes in. “Johnny! Good

A Quick Comprehension Test

A Quick Comprehension Test

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

There is a way to go into children’s mind and see how they think (especially those with poor verbal skills) and check their understanding of the language. The activity explained below engages several senses along with the thinking process. The kids usually like it because it appears to them as a game. It includes cutting,

Why Early Diagnosis Of Autism And Early Intervention Is A Necessity

Why Early Diagnosis Of Autism And Early Intervention Is A Necessity

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

The scientific reason behind encouraging early diagnosis of autism, and hence early intervention, is the fact that the brain development in early childhood years is fast and able to acquire new skills. It has been scientifically proven that late diagnosis results in unchanged IQ, however therapy is very important to hone social communication skills. Refer

Parents' Training Versus Education

Parents’ Training Versus Education

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

Wherever parents go, they keep hearing: “stay informed, stay tuned, raise awareness, …” Including myself, in autism-tips.com, I keep repeating: “knowledge is power”. It definitely is. But a new study has proved that training parents to handle serious disruptive behaviors of their child with autism is more effective than just educating them. The study offered

How To Improve IQ And Reduce Autism Behavior

How To Improve IQ And Reduce Autism Behavior

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

“When you intervene early in a child’s life, you can make a big difference. We hope this translates to a higher quality of life for people with autism spectrum disorder,” said lead author, Annette Estes, of the new study, and director of the University of Washington Autism Center. The study is about Early Start Denver

Premature Babies Are At Higher Risk For Autism

Premature Babies Are At Higher Risk For Autism

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

A recent research showed that premature babies have a different developmental behavior in their infancy than babies who reached their full term. Premature babies are at higher risk for autism, because their diagnosis comes at an older age. Explanation “The researchers were surprised to find that many of the babies who had averted their gazes

Don't Mistake Childhood Apraxia Of Speech (CAS) For Autism Spectrum Disorder

Don’t Mistake Childhood Apraxia Of Speech (CAS) For Autism Spectrum Disorder

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

Autism and Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) frequently coincide. Their symptoms “appear” to be similar. To make sure your child is getting the right treatment, you need to make sure you have the right diagnosis. According to a new study, about 65% of children with autism spectrum disorder suffer from a rare speech disorder called:

Facts About Autism

Facts About Autism

By Nadia Shanab | autism, general advice, parenting, tips

For parents who have just found about their child’s autism here are some helpful facts. 1- One child in 68 in the U.S. has been identified with autism spectrum disorder according to the CDC versus 1 in 88 in 2012. Which implies that autism is on the rise. 2- Boys are more likely to have