Autistic Spectrum Disorders or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity disorders?     If your child had difficult or bizarre behaviours at times such as stripping their  clothes off inappropriately or unexpectedly keep a note of when (and where) such problems arise.    If they seem to be at a similar time each day – perhaps before or after a meal check whether he/she may have hypoglycemia.

A few thoughts & ideas for coping with exposure anxiety:Facilitating LearningThe concept of exposure anxiety challenges many common assumptions such as:• The child is rejecting. Although the child’s actions may indicate this, they do not necessarily relate to his real feelings.• Stereotyped behaviours should be discouraged. Stereot…[more]

Many children will ASD suffer from Exposure Anxiety – as  identified by Donna Williams in her book of the same name.  This is akin to social anxiety leaving the child or adult feeling acutely self-conscious.   Thus any attention from other people is seems potentially threatening and they feel ‘exposed’ each time another…[more]

In the fairy story of that name the princess was unable to sleep because the queen had had a dried pea hidden underneath 20 mattresses.  Unfortunately  such sensitivities are not confined to the realm of fantasy.    Sadly for the ‘hyper’ child,  normally pleasant stimuli are actually painful and go on and on…[more]

Grow up anywhere in the world and, while the language and climate differs, much remains the same.  From birth, the majority of us can see our parents and hear their voices.    Our senses help us learn about the world.  Initially we learn to associate pleasure and comfort with the touch, feel and smell of our mother, from the …[more]