Coping with multisensory overload

Every child is different, and the same goes for how children with autism react to different stimuli. However, there are signs you can look out for in order to help relax your child and reduce their stress. Occasions of intense multisensory input Your child holds it together at school and over-responds at home The school day is full […]

Bedtime, mealtimes, and autism

It is common for children with autism to experience trouble with sleeping, but this will vary on your child. Eating problems are also common, with some children only eating certain food, others not eating in places such as school, and some experiencing pica (eating items that are not considered to be food). Bedtime Mealtimes With sleeping and eating […]

Self-care with autism

Dressing and self-care may be difficult for children with autism to adapt to as the processes involved can overwhelm their senses. Here are some of our top tips for managing self-care with autism. Clothing/Dressing Tooth brushing Hair care Nail cutting When you consider all of the different tactile sensations, smells and tastes associated with dressing and grooming, it is […]

Autism and hygiene

A common sign for those with ASD is the over-responsiveness or under-responsiveness of tactile interactions, the sense of smell, and the awareness of their body. Therefore, washing can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, which should be approached with care. Washing can be an uncomfortable sensation for those with ASD, therefore it is useful to introduce practices to encourage personal […]

Conversation skills

A common trait amongst people with autism is that they can find it difficult to communicate and pick up on social cues. Here we have some advice and tips to help develop their conversational skills. Keep on topic Be firm when your child goes off topic e.g. say “We are talking about X now and we will […]

Telling your child about their diagnosis

Deciding when to tell your child about their diagnosis is a personal decision and there is no right or wrong answer. Some parents like to tell their child straight away and some parents prefer to wait until a later date. We have compiled some general advice which may support you during this time: Don’t avoid […]

Developing Language

People with autism may have difficulty understanding the meaning of language used by others. They may not always realise when they have misunderstood instructions so may not ask for help when it’s needed. It is important to support your child in understanding the complexities of language cues so that they are able to improve their social interactions with […]

Visual Supports

Visual supports are tangible and non-transient. They remain for reference after the spoken words have gone. Most people with autism are visual learners and visual supports capitalise on this strength. They help the person to make sense of the world and provide much needed structure and predictability. How can visual supports be used? Visual supports can be […]

Managing routine change

Your child will need support and time to prepare for any changes to his/ her routines at school or home. This includes school trips or moving to a different classroom or teacher. Strategies for managing change People with autism can find change difficult, so to help your child feel at ease, try to establish familiarity and use […]

Understanding emotions and facial expressions

People with autism often have difficulty interpreting what people are thinking or feeling through their facial expressions and this can be very confusing for them. Helping your child understand emotions They can benefit from support in furthering their understanding of emotions and facial expressions. You could talk about emotions and the perspectives of others through discussion about […]

Teaching Self-Regulation

Children with autism often find it challenging to control their emotions and impulses, so supporting them with self-regulation is important early on. The Five Point Incredible Scale & Zones of Regulation The 5-point scale is a simple tool that can be used to teach self-regulation whilst also providing a visual representation of social behaviours, emotions and abstract ideas. It can […]

Social Stories & Social Skills

It may be helpful to use Social Stories with your child. Social stories are short descriptions of a particular situation, event or activity, which include specific information about what to expect in that situation and why. Using social stories to support social skills As explained on Carol Gray’s website for Social Stories: “A Social Story™ […]

Sleep problems

Sleep problems for children with additional needs are common. Parents may find the following information useful on how to develop good sleep practices and how to avoid sleep difficulties developing: Supporting your child’s sleep routine ‘Strategies to Improve Sleep in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: a Parent’s Guide’ is a booklet that contains strategies to […]

General Advice for Everyday Life

Everyday life can present additional challenges for children with autism. Activities such as sleeping, eating and toileting can be approached in different ways to ease the stress of performing them. Here are some resources put together by our clinicians to provide a starting point for these everyday activities. ‘It Can Get Better’ by Paul Dickinson and Liz Hannah gives practical […]

Language & Communication

We understand that children may struggle with language and communication, so it is important to know how to interact with those with autism in order to boost their skills. Here are some resources put together by our clinicians to provide a starting point for language and communication development. “More Than Words – Helping Parents Promote Communication and Social […]

Transition strategies for autism

Changing locations, making the switch from one activity to another or even tolerating change in the usual routine are all examples of the need to make a transition. Ordinarily we take such transitions in our stride however children who have difficulty processing sensory information may find these to be overwhelming. Strategies to Help Children with ASD may […]

Tactile stimulation and autism

You may find that the sense of touch produces a different effect if your child has ASD. Some children may over-respond to tactile interactions, whereas some may under-respond, but you can rest assured knowing that this is common. What is tactile stimulation? Our skin has receptors within it that respond to pain, temperature and light touch. This […]

Autism and visual processing

Children with autism may experience problems relating to their vision. While you should take your child to see an optician if they are having difficulty with their sight, you may notice that your child is experiencing other vision related problems. What is visual processing? Visual processing is the brain selecting and responding appropriately to visual input. This […]

Smell, taste, and oral seeking

You may find that your child with autism has an over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to their sense of smell and/or taste, but there are some strategies you can introduce to help combat this. Smell/Taste – How It Works Smell travels directly to the centre in our brain that controls emotions, memory and learning. Smell is closely linked to our […]

How to manage auditory difficulties

It is common for children with autism to experience an over-responsiveness or under-responsiveness to sound, which can cause them to feel overwhelmed. What is auditory processing? Auditory processing refers to how the brain recognises and makes sense of sounds. Sounds consist of loudness, pitch, how long it lasts for and where it is coming from. We automatically […]