Why Does He Do That? A Parent's Guide to ASD

By Stella Waterhouse

This book offers busy parents a brief but concise introduction to many of the difficulties faced by children with ASD: including some of the less well known factors such as sensory problems and anxiety; exploring the effects these can have on the child's life.

Review by Karen Wright, Author:
I would really recommend this book, both to parents who are new to aspergers, and to those who have experience of the condition. It has introduced me to aspects I had not previously come across such as exposure anxiety and hyperacusis. All topics are covered clearly and with great insight.

The next book, A Survival Guide - Positive Parenting for Children with ASD includes many useful and relatively inexpensive ideas to make the child's life - and yours - more comfortable.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stella Waterhouse
• Release date: Oct 10, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301121977

Stella Waterhouse

My interest in autism dates back to the late 1960s when I worked in a Camphill School for children with learning disabilities. After completing a course in Curative Education at St. Christopher’s School in Bristol in the early 1970s I went on to work with children with a variety of special needs moving from there to spend 10 years working with emotionally disturbed adolescent boys. I then returned to work with adults with ASD in a residential home - first as a Senior Care Officer and then as Deputy Principal.Since the late 1980s my research has focussed on listening to and reading accounts of autism from the inside while my own experiences also led me to investigate the sensory differences in great detail. That, combined with a healthy degree of skepticism and the fact I have no funding from external sources, ensures that I am not constrained by preconceptions and/or allegiance to any particular theories that others might be.Since then I have written several short books for time-poor parents as well as two longer ones. I am currently working on The Ciphers, the second book in my series Autism Decoded. I am also the founder of Koloko CiC - a sensory friendly travel directory.

Book preview

WHY DOES HE DO THAT?

A Parent's Guide to the Autistic Spectrum

Illustrations by Kate Vargues

Copyright Stella Waterhouse 2013

Published at Smashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

For permission requests, please write to the author, addressed Attention: Permissions at [e-mail]

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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1 A PARENT’S GUIDE

Criteria

The Autistic Spectrum

Understanding

From Child To Adolescent

CHAPTER 2 FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Dietary/digestive problems

Bowel disorders

Genetic and/or metabolic problems

CHAPTER 3 GROWING UP

Neuro-developmental delay (NDD)

Physical Development

Understanding

Emotions

Exposure Anxiety

Thought

The Effects Of Visual Thinking In ASD

CHAPTER 4 THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS . . .

A Visible Difference.

The Princess and the Pea

Nose Pollution

The Torment of Sound

Try It Yourself

CHAPTER 5 PRIMARY EFFECTS

Anxiety

Other Effects

Mono processing

Information overload

CHAPTER 6 E-FFECTS NOT DE-FECTS

Learning Differences

Challenging Behaviors

Vulnerability

Signs Of Bullying

Cyberbullying

CHAPTER 7 PARENT POWER

RESOURCES & BOOKS

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INTRODUCTION

People with Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) often feel they inhabit another planet, which is why some refer to themselves as aliens. Certainly, judging by their reactions, they find this world both impenetrable and frightening.

Such feelings are often thought to result from the difficulties they have in relating to those around them, and their inability - regardless of intellect - to empathize with or communicate their emotions to others, in the way that most people do.

That idea is constantly reinforced by the criteria used in diagnosis which focus mainly upon the difficulties with social relationships and communication but those are merely the tip of the iceberg.

Since autism and Asperger’s syndrome were identified in the 1940’s many articles and books have been written by or featured people who have autism or Asperger’s syndrome. Such accounts have come, over several decades, from people of various ages and abilities living in different parts of the globe and yet despite this they remain remarkably consistent. Most noticeable is the fact that time and time again one reads or hears the words ‘ fear, terror or confusion’ as well as accounts of abnormal sensory experiences. These comments are supported by those people with ASD who are able to talk about their experiences.

The accounts of abnormal sensory experiences have been given further credence over the years by Dr Bernard Rimland and Dr Carl Delacato and since then, by the well researched and documented work of those who study neuro-developmental delay. Indeed similar (but less severe) abnormal sensory perceptions exist amongst many other groups