Autism & Special Needs

Caring for a Disabled Child: How to Manage Your Stress

Every parent will need to master stress management when caring for a child; however, this is essential if you are raising a son or daughter with a physical or learning disability.

In addition to dealing with typical parental stress, you might also need to handle the unique challenges of parenting a child who has additional needs.

There is, however, no shame in admitting to yourself or others that you are feeling the strain. You also need to learn how to manage your stress levels to live a happier life.

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Dental health is imperative for everyone, but for non-verbal children, parents everywhere might have a hard time instilling these crucial habits. Even those parents whose children only exhibit moderate or light symptoms of being on the spectrum can find visiting the dentist difficult, which is why if you have an autistic child it is best to follow this guide today.

Importance of Dental Health 

Dental health is critical in children and adults. Healthy teeth indicate good health, but more importantly, the saliva acts as a defence against bacteria. Brushing too little or brushing too hard can complicate the process and result in an abundance of bacteria that impacts your health or your gums.  

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There is no hard and fast rulebook for moving abroad with children with Asperger’s.

Why?

Because no child with Asperger’s is the same as the last. And, well, neither is any international move!

However, while there are certainly things that can cause a bit of pre-departure anxiety when prepping for an international move with your child—like breaking that well-established and hard-won routine, for a start—there are also solutions. There are always solutions.

So, take a deep breath and read on to see some of the potential stumbling blocks and how to resolve them…or at least scramble over them. Because knowledge is power, right? (Right?!)

Disclaimer: children with Asperger’s are not problems that need solving. However, their Asperger’s (especially when combined with an international move) can cause ‘problems’ to which there are some pretty simple resolutions.

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Arah Iloabugichukwu is a former Water Cooler Gossiper turned Helicopter Parent. She’s also a Gym junkie, holistic medicine buff, and alternative parenting specialist. Arah writes about life from the perspective of her kitchen window. That’s where she keeps the wine.

9 Things You Need To Know About Childhood Apraxia of Speech

9.) What Is Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS)?

Not to be confused with Acquired Apraxia which typically affects adult trauma victims, Childhood Apraxia of Speech is a rare neurological speech sound disorder in which the brain struggles with oral motor planning. Now talking may seem like a fairly simple process to those of us who’ve never struggled with a speech impairment, but the process is actually quite intricate, First, you subconsciously start with an idea of what you want to say. Then in the blink of an eye, you piece together a manual consisting of particular sounds and syllables, muscle movements, force needed to activate each muscle, appropriate timing, and a host of other specifications. This manual is what we’ll call a speech movement plan. The final step is to transmit the entire speech movement plan to the mouth, and Houston, we have lift off. It is believed that children with CAS struggle with the inability to transmit, create, and recall speech movement plans. More

Today I have a couple of videos to share as part of the Now Here Me campaign, set up by NHS Scotland to raise awareness and understanding of people using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

These videos explain very well in the AAC users own words, so are definitely worth a couple of minutes to watch.

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If bedtime is a battle, here are five tips from Antonia Chitty and Victoria Dawson, authors of Sleep and Your Special Needs Child that may help to make bedtime easier.

1. Check what your child is eating during the day time.  Some foods can give children a sugar rush and can therefore hinder a good night’s sleep.  Choose slow releasing carbohydrates such as porridge, calcium based food are good too like yoghurts or fromage frais.  Avoid anything containing caffeine or sugary snacks.
2. Ensure that your child exercises during the day but not too close to bedtime.  Exercise is important in maintaining fitness and can also help children to sleep better.  If your child is exercising however too close to bedtime this can have the reverse effect and actually make them feel more awake.
3. Plan what will happen right from your child returning home from school.  Make sure that you plan in time for calming activities, such as completing a jigsaw puzzle in the hour leading up to bedtime.  Use your child’s interests to help you to plan activities that they are going to be motivated by.
4. Avoid screen-based activities in the hour leading up to bedtime as the light can combat your child’s body’s signals to wind down. Cover up the television with a cloth: this can act as a visual signal that it is no longer available. There is some research to suggest that children on the autistic spectrum do not create enough melatonin to help them to nod off, the television can actually hinder melatonin production further so it is sound advice to avoid any screens in the hour leading up to bedtime.
5. Find out if your child is having any naps at school, this is particularly important if they are transported to school. The school bus can be an ideal place to catch up on sleep and this can interfere with night time sleep habits.  Keeping children awake on bus journeys can be a challenge but a well-stocked activity bag can help.
6. Wake them up at a regular time each morning.  This will help with their natural body clocks to strengthen which in turn helps at the other end of the day

If your child struggles with change, as many children do, pick just one suggestion from this article to introduce gradually, and see if it helps before moving onto the next one.

Sleep and Your Special Needs Child is on offer at just under £9 at time of writing. It addresses sleep problems using a highly successful behavioural and cognitive approach to sleep management, and is the first book to explain these approaches in detail. The practical advice contained is invaluable for parents who want to feel more in control and more confident about tackling sleep issues in a way that is appropriate for their child.

Photo source: Shutterstock “Cute Little Kid Sleeping”