Children with Aspergers

A.,
All I can say is to give your son time, patience and continue to encourage him. My 5 year-old took a real long time to potty train too (and he enhibits some symptoms of Aspergers, and is currently being tested). For his poop, I just continued to remind him to "let his caca come out" and that everyone has a "bad caca sometimes" (because his one-time diarrhea scared him and prevented him from going). Still, he would also hold it and then finally have a super hard stool. After some research, I found that stool-holding can lead to an enlarged colon. So, I was patient and then calculated when he might have a bowel movement and let him sit on the toilet reading books for about 30 minutes until he was ready. I found a potty-training video called "Potty Power" and then more books about potty training like "Everyone poops" and even made up a silly son "You put the food in your hand, then the food in your mouth. It goes in your belly and you poop it out!" which I would sing with hand movements and all! Still, time and patience work best.
Good luck,
F.

Hi:

My suggestion is that you visit NAET.com and NARFNET.org and learn about the help available to your child in this regard. I think it is important that you read Dr. Nambudripad's book:

Say Goodbye to Allergy-Related Autism
By - Devi S. Nambudripad, M.D., D.C., L.Ac., Ph.D.
Paperback-2st Edition 2006
324 pages, 8.5’X5.5’X.75"
ISBN: 0-974391565

This book discusses about a drug-free solution for allergy-related autism using Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET®). In Say Good-bye to Allergy–related autism, Dr. Nambudripad, the developer of NAET®, helps the reader explore the truth behind most cases of allergy-based autism spectrum disorders-the most frightening epidemic attacking one out of one hundred and sixty-six children before the age of three today. This book provides useful, practical, effective solutions to help autistic children and their families. She explains how allergies are often the underlying causes to autistic disorders and how NAET® testing procedures and NAET® treatments can offer relief from their allergies and these allergy-based disorders. This book also explains the theoretical basis for her technique and provides true testimonials and fascinating case histories of autistic patients who have been treated successfully with NAET®. Dr. Nambudripad also discusses the transformation of autistic children as they become productive while going through NAET® treatments. She also shares results of two autism studies conducted using NAET®. It is encouraging for the parents of autistic children to learn about the recent (2005) NAET® autism study using 30 subjects in the treatment group and 30 subjects in the control group, where 23 out of 26 children from the treatment group significantly improved to the point that these children were able to remove the label of autism and attend regular school and normal activities, just after completing NAET® treatments for 50 allergen groups, within the span of 12 months. The book is filled with encouraging, educating and exciting testimonials from the satisfied and happy parents about their journey through the rocky road and their horizons.

Hi A.,
I have an HFA girl, 8 years old, (also live in Long Beach) and it's a process for all of us to improve upon the hygiene. I'd say, be patient, take detailed notes on what you observe and, then, come up with a "do-able" game plan. For example: I started by noting down when I noticed "skid marks." Then, I called it to her attention; proposed changing underwear whenever she went to the bathroom and she noticed any "skidmarks." This called her attention to what we were trying to improve. It led to 4 undie changes a day but lessened the intensity of the skidmarks. Then, she came up with using panty liners to address the replacement of underwear. After that, she started keeping a "bathroom log." When she went, what it was, what happened. She had to do this for a few months but noticed she went to the bathroom 3-4 times a day and had skidmarks. However, when she went 6-7 times a day, and just added a bathroom break 20 minutes after every meal in addition to the bathroom stops she normally took, the skidmarks were lessened or non-existent. It did take a very long time to get her to that awareness. It involved/involves alot of dialogue and data analysis. So, we're still not all done here but if she's on the spectrum. Part of the life-long challenge will be for her to identify social problems and make a plan to remedy them. Hygiene is a big part of that for spectrum kids. So, I figure, the sooner she starts getting into the habit of identifying a problem and developing her own game-plan the better. I just try to facilitate.
Good Luck.
:-)
Nez