After yet another display of lining up toys or endlessly performing the same behavior over and over it’s not unusual for parents to wonder if their child may have not one but two disorders - autism and OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) OCD is a neurological disorder that causes obsessive thoughts and behaviors and can greatly disrupt a person’s life

As parents work to find effective treatments for autism, many of the usual symptoms their children display will continue In the majority of cases, this often includes some form of ‘stimming’

Though autistic disorder is often thought of as a single condition, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in fact refers to five different kinds of autism When most people think about autism, they’re only thinking about one type – the kind they saw in the movie Rainman – and don’t realize that this is only a fifth of the disorders to which autism truly refers

Studies and anecdotal evidence alike are clearly showing that therapy based on music can have a significant impact on reducing the symptoms of autism in children including undesirable autistic behaviors Music therapy is a form of autism treatment based on carefully planned musical exercises and experiences

If your child has a history of autism, then you will want to watch for one of the more serious symptoms: seizures The first thing that you will have to learn if your autistic child experiences seizures is how to recognize an emergency

Even without autism, puberty can be a very delicate and trying time for a family When autism is involved, however, things can become much more complicated

Between the age of 6-18 children spend a third of each day at school, so it’s important to ensure they’re in the best environment for their needs This is particularly true for children with Asperger’s Syndrome

Children with Asperger’s Syndrome are known to be more naturally ‘anxious’ than their non-ASD peers The challenges presented by the 5 characteristics of Asperger’s Syndrome (social impairment, communication impairment, sensory sensitivity, repetitive behaviours and difficulty with change) potentially make their world a confusing and frightening reality

A common behaviour characteristic in children with Aspergers Syndrome appears to be a dislike of grooming and personal hygiene habits Aspergers children of all ages seem to have difficulty establishing sound hygiene routines in the areas of bathing/showering, washing hair, brushing hair, hair cuts, cleaning teeth and changing clothes

When it comes to diagnosing autism, there are many different factors that need to be considered This is because the autism spectrum disorders have such a vast range of potential symptoms and no two cases are alike

Recently, there has been a movement among some parents of autistic children toward a therapy that involves the use of Vitamin B6 and Magnesium However, before jumping on the bandwagon, it is a good idea to know what is involved in the treatment and understand the pros and cons of treating a child with substantial doses of vitamins and minerals