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ARTICLES AND JOURNALS

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Living with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) as a woman can be challenging in many ways, especially when it comes to managing anxiety. ADHD is often misunderstood and underdiagnosed in women, leading to unique struggles that can make everyday life overwhelming. Anxiety in women with ADHD doesn’t just feel like

the typical nervousness before a big event; it can be a constant, gnawing presence that affects nearly every aspect of life.

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Abstract
This comprehensive review explores eight practical support strategies aimed at empowering parents of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It is intended to support clinicians in offering strategies that could be easily explained and provided to parents of children diagnosed with ADHD. Drawing upon empirical research and clinical expertise, this article delves into eight key elements for practical support. These strategies include managing visual clutter, implementing visual schedules and reminders, utilising visual...

AUTISM PARENTING MAGAZINE

Five Strengths of Autistic Individuals

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When a child has been diagnosed with autism, it may feel like every behavior is being closely observed and documented. We track every move and follow the recommendations from the pediatrician and therapists, and it can be exhausting. Let’s take some time to focus on the strengths of autistic individuals. Here are the top five...

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We often think of communication as spoken words and phrases, but there are so many ways in which we communicate daily. Think of the moment when your partner, a family member, or a friend remarks: ”You look tired,” after a full day of work and taking care of the kids. I am sure your body...

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In a world that often feels overwhelming, especially for neurodivergent children, visual schedules have proven to be powerful tools to provide structure, promote independence, and reduce anxiety. A visual schedule represents a sequence of activities or tasks presented clearly and organized using images, icons, or words. They serve as a roadmap for individuals to navigate...

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When Vanessa’s 8-year-old boy, Kyle, continuously showed a lack of empathy, she started worrying. “Does he have sociopathy?” she wondered. Do autistic children show compassion differently? What is the sociopathy vs. autism controversy all about?  As many parents probably wonder the same, Vanessa isn’t alone in her worries. In this article, we delve into the...

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Read on for suggestions about which therapies to use for your child  and how much therapy is sufficient. I’ve been working with parents and families for nearly two decades. I have not, in all these years, met a mom or dad that said: “Parenting is a piece of cake!”  It is the most important, yet underrated, job in the world. It is a tremendous responsibility for a young adult...

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Here are five ways you can support your child’s social development.  It is a common myth that children on the autism spectrum do not crave social interaction and friendships. The way our children initiate interactions, or, at times, wait for others to initiate interactions, does usually differ from neurotypical exchanges.  Children diagnosed with autism may...

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A look at how using an interest-based approach can effectively aid your child’s learning. I was trained in Verbal Behavior when I started out in the field of autism and related disorders. I loved working with Sue* who was two years old when I met her and “echolalic”. She was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder...

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Like parents, children on the spectrum have had to adjust to  COVID-19 regulations. Here are some tips for creating a home environment that supports your child’s development. We all know there’s no such thing as a “perfect environment”. But there is an optimum, and it is our goal to create it—not just for us, but...

AUTISM PARENTING MAGAZINE

Online Therapy: Does it Work and How?

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To be completely honest I had my doubts when we introduced online services at AIMS Global.  We, just like the rest of the world, had to adapt to a “new normal” and thus created training workshops to help our current therapists transfer their amazing “in-home” support to a virtual platform. With any change, anxiety increases...

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It’s not uncommon for children with autism to engage in repetitive behavior. You’ve probably seen your child do it many times, rocking while they’re playing or constantly repeating phrases and words. But is there a way to manage it, and why do they do it?  Understanding repetitive behavior is the first step in finding an...

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Image by Leo Rivas

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a type of therapy utilized for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There are controversial thoughts surrounding this type of therapy, but it has been researched as an evidence-based practice by The American Psychological Association and various studies. There are many forms of therapy that offer more holistic approaches and...

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Image by Danilo Ćalić

Being an online therapist, I realize that more people have been diagnosed with ADHD lately. Perhaps this is due to increased awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity and differences; thus, people feel more comfortable stating their challenges with everyday tasks. Whatever the reason, we see an increase in diagnoses on a clinical level. Chung et al. (2019) confirm the rise in ADHD diagnoses in...

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How many times have you remembered a specific moment in time and almost instantaneously linked a song to it? As humans, we combine our memories with our senses. Often when I look at a photo, I find myself “mind traveling” back to that very moment in time. I remember the smells around me, the interactions, the sights that...

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Image by Ben Wicks

With the increase in awareness and acceptance of Autism, parents are aware of the more evident signs – challenges with communication, behavioral issues, social interaction difficulties, and sensory sensitivities. But what about the more subtle signs – the feeling you have as a parent that your child might be on the...

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Image by Andrea Sánchez

It is 5 am as I am writing this to you, and I am wide awake with excitement. I wanted to write about my ADHD as an adult and how you can turn your ADHD traits to your advantage. Working with adults diagnosed with ADHD, I realized that there are undeniable similarities in this tribeYou might relate to the following...

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How do I turn my child’s impulsiveness and inability to complete specific tasks or stay focused to persevere into a superpower? If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, you might be looking at some of the traits explained online. Some of these include: Inattentiveness (difficulty concentrating and focusing) can be...

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The world is not kind to neurodivergent individuals. It’s noisy, inconsistent and unpredictable. In my years working with neurodivergent individuals, those are the things that they struggle with most – feeling sensory overload, not understanding why things and people change so suddenly, and not knowing...

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Image by Bailey Torres

What is the one thing we crave? What makes us feel safe? When we feel vulnerable and open up about our feelings, what do we wish our partner or friends could offer us? Pure acceptance and love, right? We want to be understood and accepted for our true selves. We don’t want to hide our true selves from people...

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Image by Mike Cox

1 out of 44 children is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, according to the CDC (2021). There has been an increase in awareness and acceptance of Autism and the rate of diagnoses. Many parents might wonder what “signs” to keep an eye out for to tell if their child should be assessed for Autism. Here are some signs...

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Image by Annie Spratt

As parents, we want to ensure our child reaches every milestone at the correct time. When we start researching milestone checklists, we might feel a little overwhelmed by the number of targets or goals included in each month of a baby’s development and then each year of a young child’s. Try and do...

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When do kids start talking? Typically, they start babbling around six months and begin formulating words around 10 to 15 months. Most children will start pairing words into phrases around 18 months. This is, of course, a very generic milestone description that is based on the average of children globally. Your child could be very different...

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Image by Katherine Hanlon

We are all beautifully unique and exceptionally different. We often surround ourselves with like-minded individuals, but sometimes it’s more challenging to find those people in our current environment. Think of neurodivergent individuals who might be diagnosed with autism, ADHD, or related conditions or...

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Image by Annie Spratt

Being a new mum can be overwhelming. You are aware you might have late nights or early mornings and friends have mentioned that date nights during those first few months, perhaps years, will be a luxury. You feel you have prepared yourself as much as possible, together with the almost anxious excitement that comes with being responsible for...

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Image by saeed karimi

This is a topic of discussion for all parents. As parents, we always look for more appropriate ways for our children to relay their message. We would love a clear vocal request instead of a scream, a cry, a meltdown or a child running away from bath time, or a healthy meal. But first, before we look at how to increase functional communication...

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