The autism answer book: more than 300 of the top questions parents ask

338 Pages·2007·1.779 MB·English

by  Stillman, William

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Written by an experienced writer and teacher,
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William Stillman is the author iSBN-13: 978-1-4022-0977-2 P3
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of Autism and the God Connection re0
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Guide to Children with Asperger’s eAN s Af th  Social connections
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in Hershey, Pa.
www.sourcebooks.com
williAm STillmAN
Susan Ashley, PhD
AutismAB.qxd 7/26/07 10:09 AM Page i
THE
AUTISM
Answer Book
More Than 300 of the Top Questions Parents Ask
W S
ILLIAM TILLMAN
AutismAB.qxd 7/26/07 10:09 AM Page ii
Copyright © 2007 by William Stillman
Cover and internal design © 2007 by Sourcebooks,Inc.
Cover photo © Veer
Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks,Inc.
All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic
or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems—except in the case
of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews—without permission in writing
from its publisher,Sourcebooks,Inc.
This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the
subject matter covered.It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in
rendering legal,accounting,or other professional service.If legal advice or other expert assis-
tance is required,the services of a competent professional person should be sought.—From a
Declaration of Principles Jointly Adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a
Committee of Publishers and Associations
This book is not intended as a substitute for medical advice from a qualified physician.The
intent of this book is to provide accurate general information in regard to the subject matter
covered. If medical advice or other expert help is needed, the services of an appropriate
medical professional should be sought.
All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks,registered trademarks,
or trade names of their respective holders. Sourcebooks, Inc., is not associated with any
product or vendor in this book.
Published by Sourcebooks,Inc.
P.O.Box 4410,Naperville,Illinois 60567-4410
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Stillman,William
The autism answer book / by William Stillman.
p.cm.
ISBN 978-1-4022-1937-5-0977-2
1. Autism in children--Miscellanea. I.Title.
RJ506.A9S756 2007
618.92'85882--dc22
2007021932
Printed and bound in the United States of America.
DR 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
AutismAB.qxd 7/26/07 10:09 AM Page iii
Acknowledgments
My grateful thanks, as ever, to my agent, June Clark, for always
keeping my personal and professional best interests at heart;for her
spot-on guidance and reality checks;and for her sensitivity in advo-
cating for people with different ways of being.
In compiling this volume, I was aided immeasurably by terrific
parents who submitted great questions; my gratitude to those who
took time out of their busy lives to send them:
Rummana Ali-Zaman, Kathy Baas, Holly Berlin, Debbie
Bradshaw, Traci Cornette, Margaret Deddy, Deborah A. Delp,
Marcella Kramer, Marcella Diaz, Kim Goodman, Carol Hammer,
Julia Howerin, Stanley P. Jaskiewicz, Trieste Kennedy, Kari Main,
Tami Malzahn,Laura Manley,Karin Renard,Kathy Scarfone,Sheryl
Shenk,Lesa Shusta,Nancy West,and Tamara Wilson.
Lisa Rudy, a mom and also the online guide for About.com’s
autism site,deserves special recognition for never hesitating to spread
the word about my endeavors to serve the autism community.
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Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Chapter 1:What Is Autism? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Chapter 2:Getting a Diagnosis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Chapter 3:Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Chapter 4:Sensory Sensitivities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Chapter 5:Physical Well-Being. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Chapter 6:Mental Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Chapter 7:Valuing Passions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Chapter 8:Treatment Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Chapter 9:Fair Discipline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Chapter 10:Making Social Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
Chapter 11:School Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Chapter 12:Young Adulthood and Beyond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259
Appendix A:Written Social Narratives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
Appendix B:Internet Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 295
Appendix C:Recommended Reading. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Index. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
About the Author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327
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Introduction
At first glance, the title of this book, The Autism Answer Book, may
seem a bit presumptuous.After all, how can any book propose to be
“the” answer book on autism when hundreds of others have already
been written on this special needs topic? Although the title is some-
what of a misnomer, The Autism Answer Book does endeavor to be a
comprehensive reference guide for parents,caregivers,and educators—
with a twist.Both the format and my unique qualifications make it an
easy-to-use and fairly definitive guide.
Herein, you will find many of the questions most commonly asked
by concerned and wondering parents,such as:
• Will my child ever recover from autism?
• What exactly caused my child to have autism?
• How can I get my child to use the toilet?
• How do I explain my child’s autism to relatives and extended family?
• How do I deal with my other children’s envious feelings because
of the extra attention I give my child with autism?
• Should I give my child medication for her autism?
• What’s causing my child’s public meltdowns?
• My spouse has similar traits as my child—is my spouse autistic too?
Dozens more questions—submitted by real parents—will be
answered gently and compassionately but from a unique,“inside-out”
perspective. That is, this handbook is the first question-and-answer
primer in which autism, in all its mystery and beauty, is decoded,
deconstructed, and respectfully explained by someone who, for the
most part, has been through it. As an individual with Asperger’s
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viii The Autism Answer Book
syndrome,my position as your author and guide differs from that of
other experts.It is my intent to support your understanding of autism
in the same way as your child might if he could sit you down and
walk you through it every step of the way. Besides, who better to
describe what it’s like and put to rest unfair myths and stereotypes?
You’ll also discover three very significant themes embedded
throughout the text of The Autism Answer Book, themes which are
generally absent in more clinically oriented books:the presumption of
intellect,the technique of prevention instead of intervention,and the
strategy of fostering self-advocacy in your child.Grasping these most
fundamental and salient of autistic tenets will go a long way toward
strengthening your relationship with physicians,educators,therapists,
siblings, and relations, and, of course, your child with autism. Many
opportunities to enrich and understand these bonds await you on the
path toward a bright and hopeful future.So,let’s begin!
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WW
HHAATT IISS
Chapter 1
AA ??
UUSSTTIISSMM
nWhat is autism exactly?
nWhat are the classic characteristics of autism?
nIs having autism like having Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s?
nWho “discovered” autism?
nI’ve heard autism referred to as a “spectrum disorder.” What does that mean?
nWhat is PDD-NOS?
nWhat is Rett’s disorder?
nWhat is childhood disintegrative disorder?
nWhat is Asperger’s syndrome?
nWhat is the difference between high-functioning autism and Asperger’s
syndrome?
nWhy am I reading and hearing so much about autism these days?
nWhat causes autism?
nAre certain people more at risk for getting autism than others?
nCan autism be screened or determined with prenatal testing?
nAre children born with, or do they acquire, autism?
nIs my child’s autism my fault?
nWhat are some early warning signs that a parent should look for?
nDoes having autism mean my child is mentally retarded or intellectually
impaired?
nWhat does it mean to “presume intellect” in my child?
nDoes having autism mean my child has a precocious savant skill, like Rainman?
nWill my child’s autism get worse with age?
nWhat is the cure for autism?
nIf there’s controversy about a cure, should I still have hope for my child?
nWho is best equipped to help raise my child?
nWhat kind of medication do I give my child for autism?
nWhat can I do to help my child with autism to grow and learn like other kids?
nWill my child always need care and supervision?