-
Exploring the Overlooked Connections: Sensory Processing Impairments and Communication Challenges in Autism Spectrum Disorders
(Note: “Aspie” is my preferred term for people on the Autism Spectrum) Effective communication is the foundation of strong relationships and personal growth. Sensory and emotional processing disorders affect children on the Autism Spectrum and may persist into adulthood, affecting all...
-
Can Being Denied Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Cause Lifelong Trauma?
Complex trauma happens when someone feels they are trapped and alone in continuing threatening or unsafe circumstances, like child abuse, war, or racism (World Health Organization, 2019). In situations where a person experiences threats every day, changes occur to the part of the nervous system...
-
Parent-Led Strategies to Support Communication in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
When Mukri Yilma noticed her son Kibur’s use of words and gestures starting to fade at 22 months, she knew something was wrong. Suddenly, he was not waving “hi” or pointing at airplanes anymore, and he stopped using words that had been part of his vocabulary. Concerned, Mukri took Kibur to...
-
Prioritizing Autistic-Centered Self-Care for Mental Health and Well-Being
I could never relate to most social media posts with self-care ideas, especially the ones showing nails getting done or drinking wine in a bathtub. The thought of going to a beauty salon has always given me anxiety, and baths were never my thing. I couldn’t really find self-care tips or ideas...
-
The Value of Facilitating Social Groups for Autistic Adults in a Community Mental Health Setting
Providing comprehensive and meaningful therapeutic services for autistic adult clients in a community mental health center requires offering a range of therapeutic groups within which a client can work to reach their potential in a way that might not be possible via individual therapy sessions...
-
The Power of Sensory Integration: Enhancing Communication for Non-Speaking Individuals
Communication is complex and extends beyond verbal expression. This is especially important to understand in non-speaking individuals. Non-verbal cues such as facial expression, body language, and sensory experiences play crucial roles in conveying and understanding messages. Sensory integration...
-
A World Without Emotions: Alexithymia and Autism
Before we delve into defining alexithymia and autism I’d like to paint a picture in your mind. Imagine living in a world where emotions do not appear to exist - no clear indications of anger, sadness, or happiness. So much so that even categorizing these emotions does not exist - a neutral...
-
Why So Many Autistic Individuals Have Eating Disorders
Eating disorders have a devastating effect on the lives of those affected and are associated with the highest mortality rates of all mental illnesses. While they can affect anyone, there is a higher incidence of people with autism who have eating disorders compared to the general population....
-
Finding David’s Space
I want to share a story from my recent experience or, more accurately, a story about the long journey leading to the experience. As I’m sure many of you know, the job of a speech-language pathologist is hard sometimes, but those challenging days also make the work overwhelmingly worthwhile. I’m...
-
Support for Parents in Teaching Emotional Regulation Skills
In addition to the defining features of an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), many individuals with Asperger syndrome (AS) and high functioning autism (HFA) also have difficulty with both awareness of their own emotions and their ability to regulate emotional expression. They may overreact in a...
