Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can negatively impact your child’s ability to focus on their personal hygiene.

By the time you’re done with this article, you will know exactly what you need to do to help your autistic son or daughter reach the desired cleanliness and personal hygiene goals.

How does autism affect personal hygiene?

Due to the psychological and sensory challenges that they face, keeping healthy and hygienic is sometimes difficult for autistic individuals.

Why does sensory processing disorder make hygiene difficult for children with autism?

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) can make hygiene difficult for children with autism because it affects how they perceive and respond to sensory stimuli. Here are some reasons why:

1. Over-Sensitivity to Sensory Experiences: Many children with autism are hypersensitive to touch, smell, sound, and sight. This means common hygiene practices like brushing teeth, taking a shower, or even wearing certain clothes can be overwhelming and uncomfortable for them.
2. Difficulty With Fine Motor Skills: Hygiene tasks often require fine motor skills, something that can be challenging for children with SPD. For example, holding a toothbrush, applying the right amount of pressure while brushing, or using a nail clipper can be difficult.
3. Resistance to Change: Children with autism often prefer routines and struggle with changes. Introducing new hygiene habits can be seen as a change in their routine, causing distress and resistance.
4. Tactile Defensiveness: This is a term used to describe the reaction that occurs when someone is very sensitive to touch. For a child with this condition, the textures of a toothbrush, towel, or soap could cause discomfort or anxiety.
5. Difficulties with Interpreting Sensory Information: Children with SPD may have trouble processing multiple sensory inputs at once. This can make tasks that involve several senses, such as bathing, overwhelming.
6. Smell Sensitivity: Some children with autism have a heightened sense of smell. The scent of certain hygiene products could be overpowering to them.

It’s important to note that every child with autism is unique and may experience these challenges to varying degrees. Parents and caregivers can work with occupational therapists and other professionals to develop strategies tailored to each child’s needs to help them cope with these difficulties.

For a start, several types of mental illnesses, such as depression, can cause your child to neglect self care and cleanliness. This is a common sign of mental health problems among both autistic and neurotypical kids.

However, because of their delicate sensory functions, those with an ASD diagnosis may experience this problem more severely.

Here is how these sensitivities could impact their personal hygiene:

• Your child may not be able to tolerate a strong-smelling soap or shampoo. If this is the case, replace their soap and/or shampoo with a scentless product or one that’s designed for sensitive skin.
• The feeling of running water touching the kid’s skin can feel unpleasant. To address this, consider giving your child a bath instead of a shower.
• The laundry soap or detergent that you’re using could irritate your son or daughter’s skin when they put on their clothes. Buying alternative products may resolve this problem.
• In the same vein, the fabric or textile that their clothing is made out of might be uncomfortable. When this happens, you should try to find clothes with materials that your child can tolerate wearing.

Even though every autistic kid has unique mental and sensory functions, establishing daily routines is one of the best ways for teaching children with ASD how to take care of their personal hygiene.  

What kind of hygienic activities do autistic children need to learn?

Autistic kids tend to respond well to structures and routines. With that in mind, you may want to establish a consistent daily schedule that includes cleaning and self care.

This is a very effective method for teaching an autistic boy or girl about the hygienic activities and habits that they need to maintain. Splitting these tasks into morning and evening ones can make this strategy more successful.

Hygienic Morning Routine

Here are some of the hygienic activities that should be part of your child’s morning routine:

1. Wake up and make the bed
2. Go to the bathroom for a shower or bath
3. Use the towel for drying the hair and body
4. Put on a bathrobe or pajamas, and then the slippers
5. Brush their teeth
6. Comb their hair
7. Go to the dining room for breakfast
8. Put away the dishes after eating
9. Get dressed, starting with the shirt, then the pants, and, finally, the socks
10. Put on the shoes before leaving the house

When you put this routine together, you want to ensure that these tasks are done in a specific order. A consistent daily ritual makes it easier for your autistic son or daughter to remember these activities and when they need to do them.

Hygienic Evening Routine

Similarly, here is a potential hygienic evening routine that your child could follow:

1. Wash the hands before dinner
2. Have dinner and then put the dishes away
3. Go to the bathroom to wash the hands and mouth
4. Wash the face
5. Brush and floss
6. Comb the hair
7. Go to the bedroom to change
8. Get undressed, starting with the shirt, then the pants, and, afterwards, the socks
9. Place the dirty clothing in the laundry basket
10. Put on pajamas, beginning with either the shirt or pants

Regardless of which activities are done first, the most important thing is to follow the same order on a consistent basis.

Moreover, there are certain teaching methods that you could use to help your son or daughter with their morning and evening routines.

Teaching Your Autistic Child Proper Hygiene

Modeling

Simply put, modeling entails mimicking your child’s hygienic activities as they complete them.

For example, while your kid is washing their hands or brushing their teeth, stand next to them and copy their motions as if you’re doing the same thing.

Use Rewards

Rewards will give your autistic child the incentive to take care of their cleanliness.

For example, when they brush their teeth in the morning on their own and without being asked to do so, you could promise to give them their favorite snack or candy after dinner.

Over time, brushing their teeth in the morning will become a subconscious habit, and your son or daughter eventually begins to do it without expecting a reward.

Use Social Stories or Videos

Narrating a story about a character’s hygienic habits offers your child a practical example that they can copy. Using videos for this purpose is an even better tactic. 

Use Visual Checklists

Write down your son or daughter’s morning and evening tasks on a whiteboard or piece of paper that you could hang up on their bedroom or bathroom wall. This will help them remember these activities.

Add a check mark next to each task or cross them out whenever your boy or girl completes them. When they finish all the activities that are on the list, give them a reward.

On that note, you may want to consider getting the advice of a professional therapist on how and when you should reward your autistic child.

How ABA Therapy Can Help

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy is arguably the most proven and effective approach for managing ASD symptoms.

At Hidden Talents ABA, a team of licensed and highly-trained experts will work with your kid and give a custom treatment plan based on their specific sensitivities, sensory issues, and needs.

By identifying and eliminating the smells, textures, lights, and other environmental factors that make your son or daughter uncomfortable, our ABA therapists will guide them towards attaining their personal hygiene goals and beyond.

Click here to contact us and get started!

Identifying the signs of autism spectrum disorder in children is an ongoing effort because young kids tend to rapidly grow and acquire new skills between the time that they’re born and their 3rd birthdays.

However, after you’re done reading this article, you will know how to spot and address the signs of autism in children at different stages of their early lives.

Early Signs of Autism in Children Under a Year

Kids that are younger than one year of age could show autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms by the time they turn 3 and 7 months old, respectively.

Since kids have many developmental milestones and grow quickly throughout their first year, they will experience different autism symptoms during each of those two life stages.

To clarify, here are the behaviors that may predict ASD among infants and toddlers by age:

Autism Signs By 3 Months

The following ASD symptoms typically appear between the time that a child is born and up until they turn 3 months:

• The boy or girl doesn’t smile back at others.
• They can’t maintain eye contact and avoid looking at people’s faces when they’re spoken to.
• The kid fails to respond to sounds or noises.
• When objects or toys are dangled in front of the boy or girl, they don’t follow them with their eyes, try to grab them, or show any interest in them. This is especially the case when it comes to brightly-colored toys since autistic children are sensitive to bright lights.
• The toddler doesn’t babble or try to pronounce words. Some kids with ASD babble when they’re a few weeks old, but begin to gradually stop doing so as they get closer to being 3 months old.

From there, many autistic infants could go on to show other developmental differences and symptoms between the ages of 3 and 7 months.

Autism Signs By 7 Months

These early signs of autism may indicate that your 7-months-old son or daughter has ASD:

• They don’t show any interest in socializing or playing games, such as Peek-A-Boo.
• Instead of grabbing objects or being interested in playing with the mirror, they become obsessed with specific and unusual things like fans and patterns on the floor or ceiling.
• The kid doesn’t respond to the word “no”.
• The child continues to avoid blabbering or attempting to speak.
• They also don’t respond when you call their name. This issue can be particularly concerning if it persists after they turn 9 months old.

Early Signs of Autism in Children Over a Year

During their second year, you may want to keep an eye on potential autism spectrum disorder symptoms and red flags that usually appear when a child reaches 12 months and 18 months of age, respectively.

Here the autism signs that your son or daughter might experience at each of these stages:

At 12 Months

• They don’t know how to ask for or point at a toy that they want to play with or grab.
• Instead of imitating people or noises, they become sensitive to sounds and/or uninterested in getting others’ attention.
• The girl or boy doesn’t make simple gestures, including waving goodbye or nodding their head when they say “yes” or “no”.
• Continues to avoid babbling or attempting to pronounce words.

At 18 Months

• The child still hasn’t spoken their first words.
• They avoid pointing at toys and objects that they are curious about.
• The kid is extra sensitive around noises and loud voices.
• If they already know how to speak, your boy or girl may start to lose their language skills when they turn 18 months old. However, this problem might not appear until their second birthday.

Signs of Autism in Children That are 2 Years Old

If your child has ASD, most of their early signs of autism will be identifiable by or before the time they turn 24 months.

The following are the main signs of autism are:

• They can’t use their words or speak. Keep in mind that many 2-year-old children already know how to use sentences or say multiple words. 
• Instead of socializing or playing “pretend”, the kid prefers to be alone and avoids trying to find common interests with other children.
• When they imitate or mimic those around them, they do so in a repetitive and obsessive way.
• The boy or girl continues to avoid socializing, communicating with adults, and playing with children.

Since your son or daughter’s ASD symptoms will be obvious by this point in their lives, you need to watch out for any regressions in their existing social, behavioral, and sensory skills.

In fact, even if your 2-year-old kid doesn’t display any autism signs, you may still want to keep an eye on any potential symptoms of regressive autism. This condition only develops after a child’s second birthday.

Regression

Unlike those with early-onset autism, children with regressive ASD experience almost no signs until they turn 24 months to 3 years old. After that, they start to lose some of their capabilities and skills and stop learning new ones.

Here are the most commonplace symptoms and early developmental differences of regressive autism:

• Your boy or girl begins to struggle when they want to pronounce words that they were previously comfortable with.
• You may notice that your son or daughter is no longer gesturing, maintaining eye contact, or using their nonverbal skills.
• The child gradually loses interest in engaging with others, and they revert to watching TV or playing with their toys on their own.

If you suspect that your kid has regressive autism spectrum disorder, they can be diagnosed with autism in the same way as those that have early-onset ASD.

The most effective way to identify and diagnose both regressive and early-onset autism is by having the child get tested at a young age and throughout their first few years in life.

Testing for Autism

Autism screening and testing generally falls under two categories: Developmental screening and a comprehensive behavioral evaluation.

Developmental Screening

Developmental screening entails regularly-scheduled and ongoing visits to the doctor. During each appointment, the doctor will ask you (the parent) and your son or daughter certain questions about the child’s development.

Additionally, the doctor might talk to or play with your kid to determine if they have any academic, behavioral, cognitive, and/or sensory issues.

Developmental screening starts before your child is 6 months old, and appointments are recommended when they are 9, 18, 24, and 36 months of age.

The goal of these visits is to either rule out ASD symptoms or, alternatively, undergo further testing if the doctor identifies potential signs of autism.

Comprehensive Behavioral Evaluation

First of all, the doctor who oversees the evaluation may conduct one or more of the following tests:

• A visual and verbal assessment of the boy or girl’s developmental patterns and behaviors.
• An interview with the parents.
• Genetic testing.
• Hearing and vision screenings.
• Neurological testing.
• Other medical exams and evaluations.

Next, if they spot any concerns, the doctor will refer you and your child to a specialist who can perform more tests.

For example, they may want you to see a neurologist, children’s psychologist/psychiatrist, and/or developmental pediatrician who is formally trained to work with kids that have special needs.

Identifying the Signs of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children

As mentioned earlier, screening your child for ASD is an ongoing effort, especially throughout the initial 3 years of their lives.

Taking your child to the doctor for assessments at the appropriate time frames is a great way to get diagnosed with autism early, and manage autism at an early stage.

Equally as important, consider using the information that we covered in this article as a preliminary guide on how to spot ASD signs at home and know when it’s time to take your son or daughter to the doctor for a checkup.

If you are the parent of a child with autism, then you know that ABA therapy is essential for their development. ABA therapy can help children learn important skills and improve their quality of life.

But what happens if you can’t afford to pay for this therapy yourself? In this article, we will answer some common questions about insurance coverage for ABA therapy in Texas.

Give us a call if you want to work with the best ABA therapy provider in Houston. 

Is ABA therapy covered by insurance in Texas?

Texas law requires most insurance companies to provide coverage for autism treatment.

However, insurance companies are not required to cover the full cost of treatment. There are loopholes which enable certain companies to opt out or reduce insurance coverage for ABA therapy as a child gets older.

It is important to speak with your company’s human resources department to find out the details of the coverage your insurance offers for ABA therapy, and check if the plan is fully funded or self-funded.

If the plan is self-funded, ask if you have ABA therapy coverage. It is important to ask about information specifically on autism coverage; you might have to be in touch with the plan administrator and ask them about benefits for ABA therapy for children with autism.

Does Medicaid cover ABA therapy in Texas?

After a hard battle, Medicaid now covers ABA therapy for children with autism in Texas.

Beneficiaries must satisfy the conditions established in the Autism Services benefit description, and the treatment must be deemed medically required. Beneficiaries may obtain further information from their Medicaid insurance plan’s benefits representative as it becomes available.

Are there any caps on insurance coverage for ABA therapy?

In Texas, a law passed in 2013 which eliminated the previous age limit on insurance coverage for autism treatment (it was previously 10 years old). Currently, there is no limit.

However, plans can restrict ABA therapy reimbursement to $36,000 per year for children over 10 years old. Furthermore, to be eligible for coverage, a child must be diagnosed before age 10.

Some insurance plans also attempt to reduce coverage for ABA therapy as children ages. Insurers have their own standards for approving benefits for ABA therapy and do not always adhere to clinical recommendations.

Even though there is no formal cap on coverage for plans until age 10, obtaining insurance authorization for intensive ABA therapy can be more difficult as children get older.

Exceptions from insurance coverage in Texas

State of Origin

Check with your insurance provider to find out where your health insurance plan is based.

Some businesses, particularly those that operate in multiple states, may provide their employees with an insurance plan from a different state. Requirements and laws on ABA therapy insurance coverage differ from state to state.

Some states have limits on the amount of coverage, age caps, and other rules that might affect your child’s insurance.

Insurance plans are governed by the state law where the plan is issued, not the beneficiary’s location. So even if you live in Texas, Texas laws may not apply to your insurance plan.

Realizing that your plan is administered out of state is easy when it’s named something like “XYZ Insurance of Illinois.” Others may not be as recognizable.

If your plan is issued outside of the state, contact your human resources department or insurance provider to learn about rules and regulations in that state regarding covered autism therapies. Make sure you inquire about any restrictions or exclusions in ABA therapy insurance coverage.

Fully funded or self-funded?

Be sure to check if your company’s insurance plan is self-funded or fully funded. The Texas law only applies to fully funded (large and small) plans, not self-funded ones.

Options for families without employer ABA coverage

Consider these alternatives for obtaining an individual ABA therapy insurance plan if your family doesn’t have insurance through your employer:

Through the Affordable Care Act marketplace

In North Texas, there are two distinct insurance coverage plans accessible through the ACA (Affordable Care Act) marketplace. Some families may be eligible for tax credits for plans bought through the ACA marketplace, depending on their income.

Marketplace options are only accessible during open enrollment, which happens once a year (usually from November 15th to December 15th) or when a particular event occurs, such as a job loss or loss of insurance coverage from an employer. You can check out what plans are available on the marketplace by visiting healthcare.gov.

Individual plans can be purchased through a broker

There are also other kinds of individual insurance plans for ABA therapy available for children with autism. These alternatives may not be the same as those available through the Affordable Care Act insurance marketplace, and they do not qualify for the same tax credits.

There are brokers in the DFW area who are very experienced in finding insurance coverage for children with autism through ABA therapy.

How do I apply for ABA therapy?

To apply for ABA therapy, you will need to contact your insurance company and request an authorization for ABA therapy benefits. The insurance company will likely require a diagnosis and letter of medical necessity from a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist in order to process the authorization.

How can Hidden Talents help with ABA therapy?

Our focus is to help children grow and thrive by improving communication, social and adaptive skills. Hidden Talents ABA specializes in services for children from birth to age 12.

Our experienced team of BCBAs develops programs to fit each child’s specific needs. The dedication of our clinicians and our comprehensive, collaborative approach will allow our clients to truly shine and succeed.

It can be difficult to shop with an autistic child.

They may have trouble understanding what is happening around them, they may become overwhelmed by the noise and crowds, or they may have a meltdown in the middle of the store.

Here are some tips to help make shopping with your autistic child easier and ways to create a more autism-friendly shopping experience.

Why is it Difficult to Shop with an Autistic Child?

Autistic children don’t see shopping the same as their neurotypical peers. Some difficulties they face include:

Sensory processing disorder

For many autistic children, bright lights, loud noises, and strong smells can be overwhelming. A lot is happening around them which can make shopping a difficult and even painful experience.

Crowds and long lines

Large crowds of people can be overwhelming for anyone, but for a child with autism, it can cause a lot of anxiety.

Crowds also create noise which can be difficult for a child with autism to filter out.

Change in routine

Shopping is a deviation from the normal routine which can be difficult for a child with autism to handle. They may become agitated or have a meltdown because of the change in schedule.

Meltdowns

Meltdowns are a common occurrence for autistic children. They may happen when a child with autism is overwhelmed, frustrated, or tired. Meltdowns can look different for every child but may include crying, yelling, hitting, or self-injurious behaviors.

Anxiety

Many autistic children experience high levels of anxiety. This may be due to the sensory overload they feel or from knowing that a meltdown is possible. Anxiety can make shopping an even more difficult experience.

Challenges children with autism face in a store

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can face several challenges when visiting a store. These challenges can stem from sensory sensitivities, difficulty with social interactions, and the need for routine and predictability. Here are some of the key challenges:

1. Sensory Overload: Many children with autism are sensitive to sensory stimuli. Stores can be full of bright lights, loud noises, and strong smells, which can overwhelm these children and lead to distress.
2. Difficulty Understanding Social Norms: Social interactions can be challenging for children with autism. They might not understand the social expectations in a store setting, such as waiting in line or interacting with store employees.
3. Changes in Routine: Children with autism often rely on routines and predictability. A change in the layout of the store or an unexpected event (like an item being out of stock) can be extremely disruptive for them.
4. Trouble with Transitioning: Transitioning from one activity to another can be difficult for children with autism. This can make it hard for them to move from one section of the store to another, or to leave the store when shopping is finished.
5. Difficulty with Motor Skills: Some children with autism may have challenges with fine motor skills, making it hard for them to handle small items or money.

Strategies like providing a schedule, practicing and building tolerance, and preparing the child for what to expect can help manage these challenges. Additionally, making retail environments more autism-friendly, such as reducing noise levels and providing quiet spaces, can also be beneficial.

Tips for Shopping with an Autistic Child

By understanding what is difficult for your child during a shopping trip, you can be better prepared to handle any challenges that may come up.

Here are some tips to make shopping with a child with autism easier:

Prepare your Child for the Change in Schedule

The day before the shopping trip , tell your child about your plans. Explain that they will be going shopping and tell them what time you will leave. This will help your child prepare for the change in routine.

Make a Plan with your Child

Before you leave for the store, sit down with your child and explain what will happen. Use words and pictures to help them understand the steps of the trip. This will help reduce anxiety and make the trip more predictable.

Include what will happen once you get home by creating a social story.

For example, say we will get into the car, drive to the store and park in the lot. Once we enter the store we will choose a wagon, collect all of the items on our list and head to the checkout line. Once we pay for the items we will bag them and place them in the car. Once we drive home, we will undo and put away the items and then play a game of your choice.

Applied Pressure Techniques

Applied pressure techniques can help an autistic child with sensory processing disorder. Things like weighted blankets, vests, or stuffed animals can provide deep pressure input which can help calm the nervous system.

Bring along a fidget toy

If your child becomes overwhelmed, having something they love to focus on can help calm them down.

Fidget toys can be a helpful distraction for a child with autism. They may help them focus and stay calm while shopping

Reward them for Good Behavior

If your child does well on the shopping trip, be sure to reward them. This could be a favorite food, toy, or activity.

Rewarding good behavior will help encourage your child to continue following the rules while shopping.

Keep Trips Short

Autistic children can become overwhelmed easily, so it is best to keep trips short. This will help reduce the chances of a meltdown occurring.

Start with two or three items. If you have to make a larger purchase, break it up into multiple trips.

This will help your child stay calm and avoid becoming overwhelmed.

How ABA therapy can help a child go shopping

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a type of therapy that can be beneficial for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including when they go shopping. ABA therapy uses positive reinforcement to encourage desirable behaviors and reduce problematic ones. Here’s how ABA therapy can assist a child with ASD during a shopping trip:

1. Planning and Preparation: ABA therapy helps children with autism to understand and follow routines. Before a shopping trip, parents or caregivers can use ABA techniques to prepare the child for what to expect, such as making a list or discussing the steps involved in shopping.
2. Visual Supports: Visual schedules, which are often used in ABA therapy, can be incredibly useful for children with autism. They provide a visual representation of what will happen during the shopping trip, which can help the child understand the sequence of events and reduce anxiety.
3. Skill Development: Shopping trips can be used as an opportunity to practice and develop skills. For example, younger children may help gather produce, while older children might learn to compare prices or pay for items. ABA therapy can guide this skill development.
4. Behavior Management: ABA therapy can also help manage problematic behaviors that may arise during shopping. This can include using positive reinforcement to encourage calm behavior, or teaching the child strategies to cope with sensory overload.
5. Real-World Application: ABA therapy isn’t just for the clinic – it can be applied in real-world situations like shopping. This allows children with autism to learn and practice skills in a practical context.

Remember, each child with autism is unique, and what works for one child may not work for another. It’s important to tailor strategies to the individual child’s needs and abilities.

To conclude

Shopping with a child with autism can be a difficult and frustrating experience. However, by following these tips, you can make the trip more manageable for both you and your child. Remember to be patient and understanding, and most importantly, have fun!

Among the main challenges that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families face are meltdowns and outbursts.

These problems could cause physical, verbal, and emotional damage, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t control them.

In fact, this article was written to help you understand what outbursts, temper tantrums and meltdowns are, their common signs, how you should handle them when they occur, and what you need to do to prevent them from happening, in the first place.

What is a meltdown/outburst?

When autistic children find themselves in a stressful or overwhelming situation, they may become unable to well regulate emotions in themselves and their sentiments. A meltdown or outburst is an intense response to these feelings.

To clarify, meltdowns and outbursts aren’t necessarily bad habits. Instead, they are merely ways for children with autism spectrum, to express themselves when they don’t know how to do so in other ways.

What do outbursts look like?

After losing control of their emotions, your autistic son or daughter may have a verbal or physical outburst (or both).

Here are the characteristics of each:

• Physical Outbursts: Your child might engage in biting, hitting, kicking, and other physically-aggressive actions.
• Verbal Outbursts: Similarly, your kid could cry, scream, and/or shout.

Since meltdowns and aggressive outbursts can cause bodily, material, and emotional harms, you should keep an eye on their main signals and indicators. This allows you to prevent a meltdown before it happens.

Signs of an Outburst

Most of the time, an autistic child’s behavior will give you cues that they’re distressed and about to experience a meltdown.

The following outburst signs are common:

• Anxiety
• Asking repetitive questions as a way to get reassurances
• Pacing
• Rocking
• Staying very still

Once you identify these symptoms, you need to intervene and prevent the meltdown from happening.

What to Do When Your Autistic Child Is Having an Outburst

There are two aspects that you should focus on when addressing your son or daughter’s aggressive behavior or potential outburst.

Firstly, after you spot the main signs, you must manage them by doing the following:

• Ask if They’re Okay: A simple question like “are you okay?” could provide you with plenty of answers. However, keep in mind that some autistic kids might need time to give a response. 
• Give Them Space: This entails physical and mental space. For example, you may want to take your kid to a quiet and safe area that they’re comfortable with. In the same vein, turning down the music and/or lights can psychologically calm the child down.
• Give Them Time: Whenever your son or daughter suffers from a sensory or information-related overload, you should give them enough time to recover and recuperate.

Secondly (and equally as important) is knowing what the triggers of an outburst or meltdown are so that you can eliminate them and prevent one from happening. Here are a few prevalent triggers:

A Change in The Child’s Routine

It is very easy for autistic children to feel unsettled when they have to follow a schedule that they’re unfamiliar with.

Therefore, you may want to gradually make changes to their routine while keeping a close eye on their symptoms as you do so.

Communication Difficulties

Simply put, many kids with ASD have a hard time when they communicate with others and are likely to be misunderstood.

By working with your son or daughter on their communication skills and identifying the signs that they’re struggling to express themselves, you can cater to their needs and stop an impending meltdown in its tracks. 

Sensory Challenges

The brains of autistic kids are wired differently than their neurotypical counterparts. As a result, they may run into issues that impact their senses and the way that their body responds to sounds, lights, and other aspects in their environment.

This means that intense senses or sensory overload, such as loud noises and bright lights, might trigger an outburst or meltdown.

As a parent, you want to know what your child’s sensory triggers are in order to minimize their effect on their conduct.

At the end of the day, you should always remember that autism outbursts aren’t bad or aggressive behaviors in of themselves. Instead, they are verbal and physical actions that your child may engage in when they don’t know how to express themselves.

By identifying and managing an outburst’s signs, alongside eliminating its triggers, you can effectively prevent future meltdowns from occurring and help your autistic son or daughter communicate in a calmer and better manner.

Calming techniques for autism outbursts

Calming techniques for autism outbursts can be highly individualized and dependent on the person’s unique needs and preferences. However, several strategies are commonly recommended by experts and found to be effective in many cases:

1. Use Sensory Objects: Objects that engage the senses, such as stress balls, fidget spinners, or weighted blankets can help individuals with autism self-regulate and calm down.
2. Provide an Escape: Offering a safe and quiet space where the individual can retreat during a meltdown can be helpful. This escape plan can help them regain control over their emotions.
3. Simple Exercises or Routines: Developing simple exercises or routines that are calming can be beneficial. These could include deep breathing exercises, muscle relaxation techniques, or even listening to calming music.
4. Tactile Comforting Techniques: If physical contact is acceptable, comforting techniques like hugs, a favorite plush, or a cozy sweater can create a safe and comfortable environment.
5. Heavy Work Activities: These types of activities, which involve pushing, pulling, or carrying heavy items, can provide beneficial sensory input and promote calmness.
6. Preferred Sensory Activities: Engaging in activities that the individual particularly enjoys, such as swinging or jumping on a trampoline, can also be calming.
7. Relaxation Techniques: Methods such as deep breathing, meditation, and yoga have been found to be effective in managing emotions and behaviors in individuals with autism.

How ABA therapy can help autism outbursts

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is an evidence-based intervention widely recognized for its effectiveness in helping individuals with autism, including managing outbursts. Here are some ways ABA therapy can help with autism outbursts:

1. Reinforcing Positive Behaviors: The primary objective of ABA therapy is to reinforce desirable behaviors and decrease harmful or disruptive ones. By doing so, it can help children improve their communication, social skills, and self-control, which can result in fewer outbursts.
2. Reducing Aggressive Behaviors: Research shows that ABA therapy can effectively reduce aggressive behaviors in many cases. This is achieved by teaching alternative, healthier responses to situations that typically trigger aggression.
3. Improving Communication and Social Skills: Many outbursts in children with autism can stem from frustration over difficulties in expressing their needs or understanding others. ABA therapy can help improve these skills, thereby reducing the frequency and intensity of outbursts.
4. Personalized Approach: ABA therapy is tailored to each individual’s needs and abilities. This personalized approach ensures that the strategies used are the most effective for each child, taking into account their unique challenges and strengths.
5. Evidence-Based Treatment: ABA employs evidence-based treatments, meaning the techniques and strategies used have been scientifically proven to be effective. This gives families confidence in the therapy’s ability to bring about positive change.

In conclusion, ABA therapy, through its focus on reinforcing positive behaviors and reducing negative ones, personalizing treatment, and improving communication and social skills, can significantly help manage autism outbursts.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) causes a host of neurological and physical symptoms. One of the most noteworthy ones pertains to food sensitivities.

This article was written for parents that want to assist their children with autism with overcoming eating difficulties, choosing an appropriate diet, and maintaining healthy bodily levels of nutrients and vitamins.

Common Medical and Nutritional Challenges for Kids with Autism

Children with autism typically experience medical issues that impact their gastrointestinal (GI) tract and nutrition.

Firstly, if you suspect that your ASD-diagnosed son or daughter has a GI problem, you want to keep an eye on these symptoms:

• Abdominal distention (which can lead to eating too much or constipation without having an underlying sickness)
• Bloating
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Discomfort in the stomach or GI tract
• Fecal impaction (constipation patients are more likely to develop this condition)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Leaky gut syndrome
• Regurgitation of food (this entails spitting out or emitting it after it enters the stomach, even if the child doesn’t have an illness or health condition that may cause this)
• Releasing gasses excessively

Additionally, your child with autism could run into the following nutritional shortcomings:

• Allergies
• Intolerance towards certain foods
• Problems with eating or being fed

As a parent, you can minimize the effect of these health issues by feeding your child meals with specific ingredients while avoiding others.

Autism Diet

Since each kid with autism spectrum disorder is different, it is difficult to define a particular diet that suits every person that has ASD.

Nonetheless, you will probably provide your son or daughter with relief by making dietary changes that omit the following ingredients and food items:

• Casein proteins (you should consider a casein-free diet for your child, which leaves out milk, whey, and additional nutrients that are high in casein)
• Eggs
• Fish
• Gluten (a gluten-free diet excludes several types of grains)
• Individual proteins, namely casein, gluten, and others
• Peanuts
• Seafood
• Soy
• processed foods

Why does removing these foods work?

Some of the proteins and ingredients that we listed above could create inflammation in the gut and stomach. In turn, this might lead to further problems in the GI tract and organs.

You may prevent this from happening when you identify the nutrients that are causing these difficulties and take them out of your child’s diet.

How to Test the Foods and See if Symptoms Change

Before you make any meal plan changes, you want to initially pinpoint the foods that are affecting your son or daughter’s GI tract.

To so, follow these steps:

1. Pick an ingredient or item to remove, such as eggs, gluten, and/or seafood.
2. Gradually and slowly reintroduce these ingredients to your kid’s diet.
3. If your child’s symptoms reappear or get worse, you will know that the food product is what’s causing the problem. Consequently, you must permanently eliminate it from their meals.
4. If nothing changes and no symptoms emerge, you can go back to step 1 and test how other ingredients or items could impact your autistic boy or girl’s GI organs.

Keep in mind that kids with certain medical conditions have unique dietary requirements.

Dietary Restrictions for Those Who Have Autism and Seizures

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for children with autism to also suffer from seizures. In those cases, you may want to consider one or both of these diets:

• Ketogenic (Keto) Diet: Simply put, a keto regimen entails meals that are high in fats and low in carbohydrates.
• Sugar or Yeast-Free Diet: While this might greatly help, you should remember to avoid foods that can cause GI issues even if they don’t contain any sugar or yeast (fish and seafood, for instance).

Downsides to the Keto Diet

Before you switch your autistic child to a keto diet, you must first talk to their doctor and/or a registered dietitian so that they supervise the transition.

This is important since a keto diet, when implemented the wrong way, can negatively impact your son or daughter’s growth, weight, and cholesterol levels. A lot of parents attain good results from a keto meal plan by combining it with other ingredients and foods.

What if my child is a picky eater?

Some kids are very selective when it comes to food. This is even more likely to be the case among those who were diagnosed with ASD.

If this applies to your child, here is how you can effectively cater to their dietary needs:

• Avoid textures that your son or daughter doesn’t like.
• Give them their own plate, particularly when they feel uncomfortable with sharing one.
• Introduce new foods and meals in a gradual and slow manner.
• Make meal time more enjoyable and fun for your kid.
• Pick ingredients with colors that your child likes.
• Prepare their food in the shape(s) that they prefer.
• Talk to their doctor about supplements and vitamins when your kid’s picky eating habits are preventing them from obtaining the nutrients that their body requires.

In short, your ultimate goal is to eliminate or minimize any GI challenges that your autistic son or daughter is facing and, at the same time, ensure that they’re consuming a healthy amount of vitamins and nutrients.

You could do this by identifying the specific meals or ingredients that they’re insensitive towards and, from there, making the necessary dietary adjustments.

By being creative, many parents can create a food plan that pleases even the pickiest and most selective autistic eaters.

How ABA therapy can help children with autism and eating challenges

ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy is a widely recognized treatment for children with autism. It aims to improve specific behaviors and skills through reinforcement strategies. One of the many areas where ABA can be particularly beneficial is in addressing eating challenges, often faced by children with autism.

Children with autism might have sensory sensitivities, rigidity in routines, or anxiety that can lead to restrictive and selective eating habits. This can cause nutritional deficiencies and impact their overall health and development.

1. Increasing Food Variety: ABA therapy can help increase the variety of foods a child is willing to try. Therapists can use a technique called systematic desensitization, which involves gradual exposure to new foods, starting with looking at the food, then touching it, smelling it, and finally tasting it.
2. Improving Mealtime Behaviors: ABA can also focus on improving mealtime behaviors. This might involve teaching the child to sit at the table for the duration of the meal, use utensils appropriately, or chew and swallow safely.
3. Reducing Food Refusal: Techniques such as differential reinforcement can be used to reduce food refusal. This involves providing positive reinforcement (like praise, tokens, or access to a preferred activity) when the child accepts a bite of a new or non-preferred food and not providing this reinforcement when they refuse.
4. Teaching Adaptive Skills: ABA can teach skills like self-feeding, using utensils, opening food containers, and cleaning up after eating. These skills can promote independence and ease mealtime struggles.
5. Creating Positive Mealtime Environment: ABA promotes a positive mealtime environment, helping children associate eating with a pleasant experience rather than stress or discomfort.
6. Involving the Family: ABA doesn’t just work with the child – it involves the entire family. Therapists can provide parents and siblings with strategies to support positive eating behaviors at home, promoting consistency and generalization of learned skills.

In conclusion, ABA therapy offers comprehensive strategies to address the eating challenges faced by children with autism. However, it’s important to remember that every child is unique and what works for one might not work for another. Therefore, ABA interventions should be individualized and regularly monitored for effectiveness.

If you’ve ever tried to help an autistic child groom their nails you probably already know that it can be challenging, for you and the child! Some of the ways autism presents can make cutting nails more difficult than for other children, which also means it’s more difficult for the person trying to help them.

Not understanding why autistic children struggle with having their nails cut only makes the problem worse.

So, we’re going to talk about why it’s hard for autistic children to have their nails cut, and offer some solutions that might make it easier for you and the child.

Let’s get started.

Why Is Cutting An Autistic Child’s Nails So Difficult

It’s important to remember when you’re dealing with an autistic child, and that even most neuro-typical children don’t like having their nails trimmed. That’s important because it means that an autistic child’s discomfort isn’t that unusual, they just may have a more severe reaction to having their nails trimmed.

Autistic children are also likely to think that nail trimming is unnecessary, so they don’t understand why they need to go through a difficult and uncomfortable process. Sometimes you can explain why nail trimming matters, but autistic children might not care, and may not be able to listen at the moment.

Many autistic children also dislike being touched, especially for a prolonged period, due to sensory processing disorder. That means that holding their hand to cut their nails might be uncomfortable for an autistic child, and they might not want to let you hold their hand long enough to get the job done.

The last common reason autistic children don’t like having their nails trimmed is they don’t like the sound. Especially since the sound of nail trimming can be unpredictable, it may be overwhelming and uncomfortable for autistic children.

Those are only some of the most common reasons. Every child is different, so every autistic child is likely to have different reasons behind their behavior when their nails are trimmed.

Tips For Cutting Your Autistic Child’s Nails

Each of these tips can help make it easier to cut an autistic child’s nails, but it’s also important to combine different tips and to pay attention to how each child reacts. What works for one autistic child won’t necessarily work for another, and what worked once might not work a second time.

Always try to adjust your nail trimming process to meet the needs of the child, whatever those might be at the time.

First, Try Starting Slowly:

You might not trim every nail every time, but if you can trim even one or two you might be able to start building the child’s tolerance to having their nails trimmed.

Over time you’ll be able to increase how many nails you trim, or how closely you trim each nail. But, you may reach plateaus where there isn’t progress. Don’t let that discourage you.

Don’t Go Wild When They Do Cooperate With Nail Trimming:

Pushing too hard on a good day, especially if it’s uncomfortable or ultimately makes the autistic child unhappy, will likely make it harder the next time.

Make Sure You’re Both Comfortable:

You don’t have as much tolerance when you’re uncomfortable, and neither do autistic children. Making sure you’re both as comfortable as you can be will help make the process less stressful for you both.

Talk Them Through The Process:

Some autistic children benefit from being talked through what you’re doing as you’re doing it. Telling them you’re going to clip one nail, and before each clip, and then when you move on to the next finger will help them process what’s going on and stay calmer.

Explain Why This Needs To Be Done:

Autistic children usually don’t understand why their nails need to be trimmed, and it might take them longer to understand than other children. Explaining why you’re trimming their nails, with examples, each time will help them understand and stay calmer.

Explaining also sets the expectation that they get to know why something is happening and have some say in it.

Try A Hand Massage Before Nail Trimming:

Giving an autistic child a small hand massage before you get started can make the whole process a lot easier. That’s because it helps them associate their hand being held with a pleasant sensation, instead of just an uncomfortable one.

This can also be a good option to help after nail trimming, especially if the massage is comforting or feels good to the child.

However, a hand massage may not be useful for autistic children that are touch averse. If possible, you can always ask if they want a hand massage before you get started.

Try Using The Right Equipment:

Using a typical nail clipper might not be a good option for autistic children. They need to move too much, and it can be uncomfortable.

Switching to a 360-degree nail clipper is one option since the child can hold still while you adjust the clipper to the right angles.

If that doesn’t work, an electric trimmer might be a better option. It will feel and sound a little different, which might be more tolerable for some autistic children.

Try Filing First:

For some autistic children, filing, which is more consistent than clipping, might be a good starting place. You still need to start slow if you choose this option and work your way up to filing more than one nail, and then a whole hand.

But, once your child accepts filing you may be able to try nail clipping again, especially if you explain that it’s faster.

Consider Using Toys and Videos as Distractions:

In some cases, your best option might be helping your autistic child tolerate nail clipping by giving them something else to help them distract.

Stimming toys are a common option for this kind of distraction, but almost any toy or video your child finds engaging can work. You can even try playing their favorite song or letting them hug a favorite blanket.

Remember, the easier you can make nail trimming for your autistic child, the easier it will be for you, and the better they’re likely to behave. Fighting an autistic child to trim their nails is more likely to make it harder over time, especially if the child doesn’t understand what you’re doing or why.

Work with their autism, not against it, and you’ll have better results.

This article is about Autism Acceptance Month and all that you need to know about it. More specifically, we will go over a brief history of the event, how you can participate in it, and what its organizers are trying to achieve.

When you’re done reading this article, you will become more aware of what autism is and learn about how you can educate others about this condition.

The History Behind Autism Acceptance Month

The story of Autism Acceptance Month goes back to the 1970s. Firstly, in 1970, the Autism Society initiated its campaign to promote autism awareness across the United States. Their goal was to ensure that autistic people can obtain the best quality of life that’s possible.

Secondly, in 1972, the Autism Society went on to inaugurate the National Autistic Children’s Week. They started to host this event every year, up until it turned into Autism Awareness Month.

Lastly, but certainly not least, is that ‘Autism Awareness Month’ was renamed to ‘Autism Acceptance Month’ in March 2021, right before the annual occasion took place.

When is Autism Acceptance Month?

April is Autism Acceptance Month. The 2nd day of April is Autism Awareness Day. Yet, the entire month is dedicated to promoting acceptance of autism spectrum disorder.

How can I participate in Autism Acceptance Month?

By engaging in the following acts of kindness, you can partake in Autism Acceptance Month and help raise awareness about the challenges that autistic people face:

• Advocate for policies and laws that have a positive impact on the autism community.
• Dedicate yourself to taking action that makes the world a kinder place.
• Donate to autism charities, buy merchandise from them, and engage in other acts of giving.
• Educate yourself in classrooms and/or at fundraising events.
• Share resources (such as the real-time support, guidance, and information that the Autism Response Team provides) and potentially-influential stories on social media.
• Start an autism kindness campaign at your workplace or school.

When you participate in and support Autism Acceptance Month, you will be helping the event’s organizers reach their objectives.

The Goals of Autism Acceptance Month

Here are the main purposes of having an awareness and acceptance month for autism:

• Advocating for the inclusion of autistic people in schools, workplaces, and society in general.
• Assisting others learn more about what autism is and what the condition entails.
• Raising money and funds for autism charities and nonprofits.
• Increasing people’s understanding and acceptance of autism.

These goals have been consistent since 1972, when the effort was first launched. The expansion from having a week dedicated to autism to a month-long event enabled charities to further advance these objectives.

Autism Acceptance Colors

The color of autism acceptance is typically represented by a combination of different colors that celebrate neurodiversity. The most commonly recognized colors include:

1. Red: Symbolizing love and support for individuals with autism.
2. Gold: Signifying the value and preciousness of people with autism.
3. Rainbow or Multi-Color: Representing the diversity of the autism spectrum and the unique qualities of each individual.
4. Light Blue: Often used in conjunction with blue, light blue represents hope for a better future for individuals with autism.

These colors are often used in various awareness campaigns, events, and materials to promote understanding and acceptance of autism.

By dedicating yourself to kindness, donating funds, sharing resources, and hosting events, you can effectively participate in Autism Acceptance Month and help those in the autism community attain the quality of life that they desire.

If your son or daughter was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), you probably know that professional attention and care are crucial. Yet, they are also expensive.

In light of that, we put together this article to help you understand what your options are for paying for your autistic child’s ABA therapy treatments in Houston.

Click here if you want to learn more about our ABA therapy program in Houston.

What is ABA therapy?

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy enables autistic patients to manage and improve their symptoms.

Children with autism who undergo ABA therapy sessions typically perform better in the following areas:

• Academic performance
• Communication capabilities
• Reading
• Social skills
• Adaptive learning (for example, doing chores, employment, motor skills, and personal hygiene)

Because ABA therapy is the most prevalent treatment for autism, many people place a high value on it.

How much does ABA therapy cost on average?

The average cost of hiring a licensed and certified ABA therapist is $120 per hour. To clarify, this is equal to $4,800 if your child or loved one saw a practitioner for 40 hours per week.

On an annual basis, the expenses could add up to almost $250,000 for those who don’t have insurance.

Does Medicaid cover ABA therapy in Houston?

Three states’ Medicaid programs don’t include ABA therapy coverage, and Texas is among them.

Texas’s Law on Autism Insurance Coverage

In Texas, any health insurance plan is required, by law, to cover generally-recognized autism therapies and forms of care. However, for a health insurance plan to pay for ABA therapy, you need to obtain a recommendation from your or your loved one’s doctor.

Generally-Recognized Services

You want to keep in mind that Texas’s laws specifically use the term “generally-recognized services” when referring to prescribed ASD treatments that insurance plans must cover.

ABA therapy is among them, alongside the following “generally-recognized services”:

• Medications
• Nutritional supplements
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Speech therapy
• Other treatment plans

Although this requirement used to only apply to private insurance policies, it was recently extended to encompass state-funded coverage plans.

Does private insurance in Texas cover ABA?

This depends on the policy that you have. In short, there are two types of insurance plans in the Lone Star State:

Self-Funded Plans

With a self-funded policy, your employer (who provides the insurance) will directly cover the bill for ABA therapy sessions. After that, they contact the insurance company to receive reimbursement.

Employers that offer self-funded plans have contracts with insurance firms, and they work together on administering the treatments, maintaining claims records, and making payment/reimbursement arrangements.

In the past, only self-funded plans in Texas covered ABA therapy.

Fully-Funded Plans

On January 1st, 2010, a new law kicked in and mandated that state-funded plans pay for the care of any autistic child who is under the age of 10.

The Following Plans Cover ABA Therapy in Texas

Your insurance will cover your loved one’s ABA therapy costs in Houston (and in the state of Texas, in general) if you have a private health policy with one of those companies:

• Aetna
• Beacon/Value Options
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Texas
• Blue Cross Blue Shield Magellan
• Cigna Behavioral Health
• ComPsych
• Humana (LifeSynch)
• Magellan
• TRICARE
• United Health Care/United Behavioral Health/UMR

Texans and Houston residents who don’t have Medicaid or one of the above plans can still get ABA therapy coverage through alternative options.

Other Ways to Pay For ABA Therapy in Texas

The following governmental programs may help you pay for your child’s ABA therapy:

Supplemental Security Income

The Social Security Administration has a supplemental security income (SSI) for children program, and kids that are considered disabled could be eligible for it.

SSI is specifically designed to assist families and individuals that have a limited amount of income or resources.

Firstly, to qualify for SSI benefits, your kid must be under the age of 18. However, those who are attending college are entitled to these benefits until they become 22 years old.

Secondly, to obtain financial support through SSI’s disability program, your son or daughter must meet Social Security’s definition of “disabled”. To do so, you need to demonstrate two things (which shouldn’t be difficult for those with an autism diagnosis):

• The child’s disability causes “marked and severe functional limitations”.
• Their condition “has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months”.

Apart from the federal government, kids with ASD can get help from the state in Texas.

The Health and Human Services Children’s Autism Program

The Texas Health and Human Services Autism Program extends to any child who is a Texas resident, between 3 and 15 years of age, and officially diagnosed with autism.

The state’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will cover the costs of up to 180 hours of ABA therapy sessions per year. To clarify, this is the equivalent of 3 and a half hours per week.

Having said that, many autistic kids need 40 hours of ABA therapy (or at least when they initially start seeing a provider). If you’re in this situation, you should consider additional forms of support alongside the Texas HHS program.

Other Resources That Can Help Pay For ABA Therapy in Texas

There are several Texas-based and national nonprofit organizations that assist families with the expenses of ABA therapy.

• ACT Today: Autism Care Today/ACT Today has programs that pay for ABA therapy. Moreover, they can help you access funds through one of their many partner organizations.
• The People Project: Formerly known as the Huckleberry Foundation, the People Project “provides financial assistance to families with children in need of therapy stemming from special needs [and] mental health issues”. They are also launching a Mental Health Aid Fund that pays for evaluations, parental training, equine/horse therapy, prescriptions, and more.
• Autism Speaks: Autism Speaks, a nationally-renowned nonprofit, can refer you to a variety of programs and organizations based on your specific situation. Additionally, they have valuable financial planning tools and apps that are designed for parents.
• Giving Angels Foundation: The Giving Angels Foundation particularly caters to low-income households that have kids with physical or mental disabilities. Their one-time allowance/grant could be as high as $500, and families may obtain up to $50,000 per year in aid from this organization.

To summarize, the cost of ABA therapy is certainly expensive. While Medicaid in Texas doesn’t pay for it, the state’s laws require private insurance companies to do so.

The fact that there are multiple federal, state, and nonprofit programs that financially support the families of autistic children should give you even more options for ways to cover your son or daughter’s ABA therapy bill.