Author: Hgrant

Encouraging A Child’s Friendships

Written by Hgrant on October 19, 2018. Posted in Parenting.

Parents always want the best for their children, hoping for positive interactions in their social life. For parents of children with autism, friendship can be a source of anxiety. Kids on the spectrum struggle with social interactions and their sensory limitations can limit their capacity for making new friends. How do you get them out of their comfort zone to interact with children their age and create new friendships? You want to see them fulfilled with meaningful interactions that will help solidify the skills that they need to work on. As a parent, you can help encourage your child’s friendships and help them learn to interact with other kids so they can connect with buddies that make them feel rejuvenated. Below is a list of things you can do to help your child make friends.

Find Opportunities To Interact Socially

Despite the social struggles, children with autism can form meaningful bonds of friendship as strong as any of their neurotypical peers. Many kids just need the right opportunity or environment to develop those bonds. One of the many ways that parents get their children to form friendships is through play dates. Playdates allow for meaningful interaction and a controlled environment. It’s important that you provide for the comfort of your child. Perhaps schedule play dates in your home rather than in an environment that might be uncomfortable to them, which can cause stress and anxiety. You can also use your child’s interests as a starting point for forming a friendship. If your child is interested in something like chess, a chess club is a great environment to stimulate their interests and offer them the opportunity to make new friends.

Help With Non-Verbal Communication

Parents of children with autism know that their children struggle with social communications. One of the most common ways that we communicate as humans is non-verbally through body language, gestures, and posturing. Often these indications can be hard for people with autism to catch on to. When your child has a playdate, you can help them to understand non-verbal communication between them and their friend by observing the children and pointing out very clearly what non-verbal cues their friends are exhibiting. You can even use visual cues to help them understand certain non-verbal cues and what they mean. Children want to understand. Be patient with them while they learn these things and they will get better at forming lasting friendships.

Improve Social Skills At Home

There are a lot of steps you can take at home to help improve communication which will help improve friendships. Reading is an activity that you can do with your child to help build their vocabulary and increase their comprehension skills. It’s also an activity that can help them understand complex emotions through the scope of their favorite characters. Family can be crucial in helping children with autism formulate friendships. Sibling interaction can be a model for positive encounters with new friends, but sibling relationships can be very different from friendships. Build their interests up at home and help them to take those things into meaningful friend encounters.

Let Your Kids Be Who They Are

When your child is still working out how to make friends, don’t create too many expectations for them. Just because you might have been a social butterfly when you were the same age as your child, doesn’t mean that they will be the same. They may have many friends or they may only have one or two close buddies. It’s really about the quality, rather than quantity, of friends that children with autism choose to hang out with. As we watch our children grow and formulate important friendships with peers, we look back at memories of our own formative friends and sometimes make expectations off of those memories. Children deserve the room to form bonds in a way that’s meaningful to them. You might be tempted to try to get them to be friends with the offspring of your best friends, so the whole family can hang out at the same time. While this seems like it might be a good idea, it’s important to respect their individual choices when they pick their friends.

Professional Models For Friendship

You can do a lot as a parent to help your child build their social skills and form lasting bonds of friendship. Sometimes, one of the best things you can do is seek help from positive professional figures in your child’s life. Teachers can model good social interactions and teach children about friendships. Many young people with autism can also learn to expand their social skills in occupational therapy or with other direct-care staff that help them expand their world view.

Lexington is a great place for children to learn social skills and formulate the bonds of friendship. Our members interact in classrooms designed for students with autism, expanding their social skills and academic understanding with peers that share their perspective. Contact Lexington today for more information.

If you want to find out more about this and other subjects, check out our previous blog.

How To Avoid Overstimulation With Your Child

Written by Hgrant on October 16, 2018. Posted in Parenting.

Infant Overstimulation

Did you know that the same stress that affects you from overstimulation – an overflowing email inbox, piles of laundry, making dinner – also affects your child? What begins as a simple game of peek-a-boo and laughter descends into your infant looking away from you and trying to comfort herself. Do not take such behavior personally. She is simply overstimulated.

Bear in mind that an infant’s disposition, like an adult’s, varies. Some adults are outgoing and crave attention, while others are easygoing and can take attention or leave it, and still others need a great deal of quiet time between social interactions. The same is true for your infant.

Monitor your baby’s reactions during playtime to determine what she finds pleasurable and what her limitations are. When you notice signs of overstimulation, try calming her by speaking softly or simply holding her. Ignoring your baby’s distress leads to her withdrawing from you at a time when you should be bonding.

Toddler Overstimulation

Young children can, simultaneously, look forward to an event and end up in tears over the event. Look at pictures of your own childhood birthday parties. Almost certainly either you or one of your guests ended the day in tears. Toddlers have a limited number of ways in which to express themselves and often do not understand the cause of their dismay, even after they are in total meltdown.

While some parents may encourage their child to “soldier on” through the experience, especially if they have just paid an exorbitant amount of money for a bouncy house, a face painter and a clown, this course of action will only lead to more hysterics. Too many choices and too much attention often lead to overstimulation.

Know your toddler’s limits and pay attention to the signs that he or she is overstimulated. Often, toddlers do not need a nap as much as they need to be removed from the commotion for a while. Take him or her to a quiet place, whether it is a separate room in the house or a quiet part of the backyard.

Do not chastise your child for missing the excitement. Sit quietly, if that is what he or she prefers, or talk about fun memories, such as the time Daddy fell into the river while fishing or the time Mommy forgot her own lunch and had to run back to the house before going into the office.

Once your child has calmed down, ask if he or she is ready to return to the festivities and be prepared to accept whatever he or she chooses. Giving your child some control over his or her level of stimulation enables your child to return to the occasion happy rather than being dragged back to the party kicking and screaming.

How To Recognize Overstimulation

Just as with adults, toddlers react to overstimulation in varying ways, depending upon their personalities. While some toddlers thrive in the limelight, others just want to sit on your lap and have you read to them.

Overstimulated toddlers exhibit one or more of the following behaviors:

When seemingly small things that your child would normally ignore induce a bout of cranky behavior, he or she is overstimulated. Using the birthday party example, your normally easy-going daughter may become angry with her best friend if she has the same design painted on her face that your daughter chose. Even though the two friends often dress alike and wear their hair in the same style, your daughter is anxious and irritated with the commotion, not the face painting.
If your child starts pushing his friends into the bouncy house walls, he is expressing the fact that too many activities are occurring at one time for him to process. If your child takes a balloon animal from one of his friends and pops it, he is telling you in the only way he can that he needs a break from the excitement. Because he is in an aggressive mood, he may resist your attempts to quiet him at first. But you will both be much happier in the long run if you nip aggressive behavior in the bud.

Overly emotional reactions. This behavior is the opposite extreme of aggressiveness. If your child bursts into tears because she wanted strawberry ice cream to go with her cake, but you only have chocolate and vanilla, she is expressing the fact that she feels out of control. Rather than reminding her that she hates strawberry ice cream, allow her to choose one of her dolls to join her for cake and ice cream. Remove her from the activity for a short time. She will return feeling more in control of her situation with her favorite toy beside her.

Zoning out/hyperactivity. These two behaviors are opposite sides of the same overstimulation coin. Some children zone out or turn inward to escape the over-abundance of activity surrounding them. Other children feel the need to control the chaos by adding more chaos of their own. In either situation, parents need to be alert to these behavioral cues and act accordingly.

Forcing a child to re-engage in activities he or she is trying to escape is counterproductive. Allow your child some downtime, just as you escape a hectic workday by closing your eyes for a few minutes. Conversely, disciplining a hyperactive child uses negative behavior to escalate negative behavior. Instead, pull him aside for a few minutes of quiet time alone with you. He may resist at first since he is no longer the center of attention, but he will calm down and you will de-escalate the situation.

How To Avoid Overstimulation

Just as it is impossible to avoid overstimulation in your own life, you cannot eliminate it entirely from your child’s life. The following suggestions reduce the likelihood of frequent overstimulation:

Limit extramural activities. Even infants can have too many extramural activities, especially around the holidays when every family member wants to hold the baby and play with her. When she starts to fuss over too much handling, take her to a quiet room for a nap. Toddlers’ schedules fill up quickly when you have his t-ball practice, daycare or pre-school activities and friends over after dinner to play outside. If your toddler exhibits signs of stress at the end of his day, eliminate a few activities from his schedule.
Schedule simple playdates. Instead of creating elaborate playgroups for your infant such as mommy/baby yoga, plan simple events with one or two close friends. Each baby can then play or rest as she chooses among people she recognizes. Toddler playdates run the gamut from banging pots and pans with spoons to chasing one another around in a rousing game of tag. In between these bursts of activity, make sure you schedule some quiet time such as reading a story.While children need to burn off excess energy, they also need sufficient downtime to recharge.
Give your child alone time. Infants and toddlers alike need rest so that their brains can develop and process all that they have learned during the day. “Rest” and “sleep” are not necessarily synonymous. If your toddler is content to read a book or color rather than nap, those activities also count as rest. When you are constantly in the room with your child, his or her attention will be drawn towards you, so it is important to give him or her rest from you as well as activity.

Striking The Right Balance

It is never easy to know where the line lies between enough activity to keep a child from being bored and so much activity that he or she is stressed. Understand your child’s personality. Observe his or her reactions to certain activities and events.

Take your cues from his or her behavior, and you will learn how to keep your child engaged and learning without overstimulation.

At Lexington, we believe in member success and take steps to avoid overstimulation for all our members. Our highly trained and empathetic staff members are part of the reason why people choose Lexington. If you are searching for solutions, contact us today.

If you want to find out more about this and other subjects, read the most recent blog.

Why People Choose Lexington

Written by Hgrant on October 12, 2018. Posted in Educational.

As an Arizona parent or a guardian looking for services, therapy, or educational options for your child with autism or other developmental disabilities, it can be easy to get overwhelmed. Perhaps you’re a parent that is fed up with the public special education programs where your child is currently enrolled. Maybe you’re looking for respite services for your family or therapy options that work for your child and your schedule. You could be looking for behavioral health solutions for your loved ones. Whatever you are searching for, Lexington is here for you.

Lexington Services provides support and service for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and behavior disorders. At Lexington, we promote choice, dignity, and independence at all levels of development from early intervention to provisions for independent living. Lexington provides members with reputable educational, therapeutic, and consulting services through evidence-based practices that we value. If you have been considering a school change for your child or you’re looking for services for a person with special needs, Lexington Services is the best option for your loved one. Here are some reasons why.

A Leader In Autism Education

Lexington Life Academy provides for the educational future of students with autism. These students have traditionally been underserved in public school education programs, competing with large classes of peers for educational resources and the attention of their teachers. At Lexington, we take pride in small classroom sizes and education professionals that work hard to integrate unique solutions into their teaching to help students with autism learn. Classrooms are structured based on how our students learn, so Lexington can help students that are low functioning and non-verbal or high-functioning and articulate. Teachers guide students through curriculum that helps them learn and build life skills. The spectrum is wide and no one person on the spectrum is the same, but they all deserve the attention and provisions that help them learn. Lexington focuses on evidence-based practices while providing structured learning, standards-based curriculum, sensory integration, and behavioral health solutions.

Commitment To Service

At Lexington, we take pride in offering services and programs that benefit our members and increase their quality of life. Other companies use that “quality of life” phrase a lot, without really examining what it means to them as a provider. For us, it means that our members excel beyond their wildest capacities and surprise everyone, including themselves, with their vivid accomplishments. Lexington Learning Center provides DDD services for children and adults that work for our members and their families. We work with our members in-center or in-home to cater to the differing needs of individuals on the spectrum. Our staff of providers are energized, committed, and compassionate, giving each of our members the attention they deserve. Through Lexington programs, members of all ages interact with their community, expand their skills, and work on independence as they examine their interests. At Lexington, we work tirelessly to see members flourish.

A Sense Of Freedom

One of the primary reasons parents and members love Lexington is because we provide every service we can in an environment that works for the members we serve. Lexington offers Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) for habilitation, respite, and attendant care in member homes, ensuring comfort and familiarity. You won’t have to drive all over the city or crunch for time to make therapy appointments because Lexington employs trained, expert therapists that give therapeutic care in-center. We have programs for adults that focus on skill-building and community involvement. Lexington also provides after-school programs and summer programs for student age children to help expand on their academics and get them involved in the expansion of their social skills. Lexington doesn’t just seek to provide care or education. We work with parents and guardians as a partner to manage all of our member’s needs under one roof.

Locations Close To You

Our mission is to serve the people of the valley in a way that suits them. Arizona commutes are long and can be exhausting, especially when the hot sun is beating down on us. Lexington has locations throughout the Phoenix area, as well as a location in Show Low. We serve the community in the neighborhoods our members live in so they get as much enrichment possible out of their time with staff without having to make a huge trip. Lexington also provides transportation for members that need a ride so parents and guardians can get to work or appointments with the confidence that their loved ones are in good hands. Whether you come to Lexington or we come to you, the quality services we provide are never far away.

Our Members Love It

Lexington’s consistent growth and expansion can only be attributed to the success our members see in our programs. Parents and members have expressed how much Lexington has helped in the development of skills necessary for a greater sense of independence. Students at the Lexington Life Academy have greatly improved their academic understanding, their social skills, and their confidence in the material they are learning. Our staff is passionate and eager to take part in the growing programs we offer at Lexington because they get to see what we offer to these members that they wouldn’t get elsewhere. Lexington provides unique solutions for sensory needs and motor skill function. We network with a number of businesses and community leaders to give our members the opportunity to foster a sense of community and their place in that community. You will notice a difference at Lexington and that’s because our members are important to us and we work hard to see them improve and thrive.

If you have been searching for a place to provide for your loved ones with autism and other disabilities, Lexington is the right place. We are dedicated to our members and would love to give you more information or schedule a tour with you. Contact us today to see what Lexington can do for you.

If you want more valuable information, read the most recent blog.

Integrating Pets Into The Lives Of Children With Autism

Written by Hgrant on October 9, 2018. Posted in Parenting.

Pets And Children With Autism

A dog is man’s best friend. But for a person with autism, a dog or cat may be much more than that. He can be a confidante, a furry shoulder to cry on and a faithful companion. Integrating a pet into the life of a child with autism can make the difference between loneliness and solitude and a happy, full life.

The relationships between children with autism and pets can be magical. Here are things parents need to know to encourage positive interactions with pets.

The Benefits Of Interacting With Animals For People With Autism

While spending time with animals can be a positive experience for anyone, developing a relationship with a pet can be especially beneficial for individuals with autism. Research suggests that interacting with animals enhances children’s social, emotional and cognitive development. Having a pet teaches a child to consider and provide for the needs of another living creature. By learning to care for an animal, children with autism develop empathy and become more responsible.

Having a pet has also been linked to many different health and wellness benefits. Children who regularly interact with companion animals typically demonstrate higher levels of self-esteem and autonomy, and research suggests that they may have stronger immune systems and experience fewer allergies.

Many people report that having a pet decreases their stress level and increases feelings of calm. When researchers studied interactions between humans and dogs, they found higher levels of oxytocin – the “feel good” chemical – in both species. Spending time with a pet can decrease anxiety and lower a person’s heart rate, which can be especially beneficial for individuals with autism.

Animals often provide a sense of companionship and can help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to connect with other people. When a child with ASD interacts with a pet, the animal assists the child in making connections with their peers as well. Research has shown that children with autism make and receive more social approaches when interacting with an animal as compared to playing with a toy.

In a study of animal-assisted activities in schools, researchers followed 64 elementary school children with autism before and after an eight-week program in which animals were introduced into their classrooms. This research found significant improvements in the children’s social functioning after the program. At the study’s completion, the children with ASD were more likely to demonstrate appropriate social behavior and less likely to withdraw from social interaction. During the animal activities program, the majority of the children’s parents also reported that their child was more interested in attending school.

Why Many People With Autism Relate Well To Pets

Many individuals with autism enjoy a special connection with their pets. A 2013 study researched the interactions between children with ASD and dogs. When the researchers interviewed 70 parents of children with autism, 67 percent of them said that their family had at least one dog. Of those with dogs, 94 percent reported that their child with autism had bonded with their dog, and 70 percent of the parents whose families did not have a dog said that their child liked dogs.

For children with autism, an animal can be an excellent companion. Many pets are soft and generally quiet, qualities that are very appealing to people with sensory challenges like ASD. Animals don’t have any preconceived notions about children with autism and are typically open to bonding with anyone who abides by the basic principles of animal behavior.

The right pet provides positive interaction without the same demands as a human relationship. Unlike people, animals are nonverbal and nonjudgmental. They don’t share human’s expectations of appropriate social behavior. Many people enjoy talking to their pets because they listen without criticism or complaint. For someone who struggles with social interactions, relationships with pets can be easier to develop.

People with ASD can learn an animal’s likes and dislikes without the same level of pressure. Once they get to know a pet, the relationship is fairly routine. An animal’s needs and preferences tend to be predictable, and people with autism appreciate situations in which they can learn and apply a consistent set of rules.

Programs That Help Children With Autism Connect With Animals

If your child is unsure about or even afraid of pets, there are programs that can help introduce children with autism to animals. A program called Story PALS brings dogs to local libraries. Children have the opportunity to interact with and read to the dogs in a controlled setting. In addition to exposing children to animals, this program may also help its participants become better readers.

Children with autism can also benefit from interacting with therapy animals. These animals, typically dogs, are specifically selected for their temperament and/or receive special training to provide comfort and support to people in a variety of situations. Many hospitals and health care facilities offer programs or have volunteers who bring in therapy dogs. If you are interested in finding a program, ask your child’s doctor for a referral or visit the Assistance Dogs International website to find an accredited agency.

How To Choose A Pet And Integrate It Into Your Child’s Life

Whether your child is asking for a pet or another family member wants one, you should consider this decision carefully. Take a trial run first before committing to an adoption. Find a local shelter or rescue where you can observe how your child interacts with different animals. Consider volunteering so your child can learn the basics of animal care.

Introduce a new pet slowly. Like other major transitions, let your child with ASD know that you will be getting the animal and what to expect. Even if your child has been around animals before, review the basic pet safety rules. Discuss the pet’s needs and who will be responsible for different aspects of pet care.

When you bring your new pet home, let your child observe first without contact with the pet. Give both your child and the new pet time and space to adjust to each other. Model appropriate behavior, so your child can learn how to interact with your new pet. Allow your child to approach the animal on their own terms. When your child is ready to start interacting with the pet, provide supervision and intervene if necessary to ensure that they are both comfortable. If your child will be responsible for pet care, introduce these activities gradually.

While encouraging a positive relationship with animals may take some effort, research demonstrates that doing so can be very beneficial for your child’s development. Investing the time to slowly introduce your child to pets can help them develop rewarding connections with both animals and people.

At Lexington Services, we use the latest scientifically proven techniques and strategies to help children with autism achieve their full potential. Learn more about our wide range of services for people with autism and developmental disabilities.

If you want more valuable information, read the most recent blog.

Special Needs Care: How Can I Get Involved?

Written by Hgrant on October 5, 2018. Posted in Educational.

When it comes to the education and care for people with special needs, community has been a key factor in human development. Often people from the community want to provide support and help to individuals with special needs and their families. You don’t always have to go to years of school in order to be an asset to individuals that need support. People often get involved with special needs care by becoming a provider or caregiver in some capacity within their community or they may even offer up their house as a place for the provision of care. Often there is a lot of training involved and the job is certainly one where you must have a passion for people and a knack for caregiving. If you are thinking about getting involved, there are some things you will need to know before you can even begin taking the steps toward a program to provide for people with special needs.

Should I Turn My Home Into An ADH Or CDH Home?

Developmental Homes are residences that provide licensed care and supervision 24 hours a day for individuals with developmental disabilities. These residences are allowed to provide care for up to 3 individuals at a time by Arizona law. There are two types of homes: Adult Developmental Homes and Child Developmental homes. Obviously CDH are for individuals below the age of 18 while ADH are residences for people over the age of 18. These homes provide care for individuals with developmental disabilities in a home setting that is usually not their own, but retains that cozy feeling that clinical care might not be able to replicate. These homes can provide room and board, personal care and supervision, and habilitation. If you are considering the option of turning your home into a Developmental Home, there are a few things you have to ask yourself. One of the most important questions you should ask before undertaking this endeavor is this: Can you provide a positive home environment for an individual with special needs with respect to caring, nurturing, and safety? If you believe it might be something you want to pursue, here are a few things you will need to keep in mind:

You must be at least 21 years of age.
You must obtain a fingerprint clearance card issued by Arizona Department of Public Safety.
You must be lawfully present in the United States and live in Arizona.
You must be physically, mentally, and medically able to care for a child or vulnerable adult.
You must provide a clean bed and sufficient bedroom space.
You must meet the conditions, both with your income and with the life-safety requirements for your residence, to provide for an individual in need of care.

If you feel that you can handle those requirements for the special care that a child or vulnerable adult would need in a developmental home, you can contact a contracted licensing agency and get more information.

What About HCBS?

One of the ways that you can get involved is to seek out a vendor that provides Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) and get involved in their program. HCBS are designated services that Medicaid beneficiaries can receive in their home setting or in a community setting, rather than in the isolation of institutions and the like. These programs are great for people with special needs and disabilities because they provide for a degree of comfort and routine. Often these services include care, habilitation and respite and may even include therapy or transportation depending on the provider. HCBS providers must be a qualified vendor for the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) before they can apply for HCBS certification, which comes with it’s own set of qualifications. If you can find employment in with one of these vendors, you can be involved with in-home or community care for people with special needs.

Are There Other Ways To Get Involved?

If you have a desire to get involved in care for special needs individuals, there are a number of routes that you can take. First, you should decide at what level to do you want to be involved in care and education. If you have desire to further your understanding or get involved on a clinical or director level, you can pursue a collegiate program that caters to individuals with special needs. You could pursue education, therapy, behavioral health, or administration and a myriad of other things. If you are curious about moving forward in a career in the special needs field, this list of skills you will need is a great resource.

If you are looking to get involved first and provide direct care to individuals with special needs before making a decision on continued education, there are many employment options you can pursue. You can become a caregiver or a provider rather quickly, provided that you can meet all the requirements which include the necessary identification verification, background information, and pass certification courses for Arizona care providers. These things are required of caregivers to provide for the safety and comfort of individuals with special needs. Look into local job postings for caregivers and providers. There are also many volunteer programs, including summer camps, for people to get involved with mentorship, fundraising, or advocacy.

Lexington Services is always looking for quality caregivers, providers, and educators that are blessed with that special gift of compassion for individuals with special needs. If you are looking for a great work environment with passionate team members that works diligently to provide for individuals with autism and other special needs, consider applying today.

Curious about what else Lexington does? From education to care, we are leaders in Arizona when it comes to providing for people with autism and other special needs. If you have questions about our programs or services, contact us today.

If you want more valuable information, check out the most recent blog.

How Can I Tell If My Infant Has Autism?

Written by Hgrant on October 2, 2018. Posted in Parenting.

Is that a burp or a smile? Is my infant looking at me? These are common questions that parents ask themselves. While they may sound silly, these questions actually mark important milestones in your baby’s development. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) notes that, by the time your child is two months old, he or she should smile at you and clearly look at you. Your child should also turn towards sounds and exhibit other important markers of normal brain development. Parents and professionals look for these signs to tell whether there is an early indication of autism.

Why Is It Important To Diagnose Autism Early?

If, by two months of age, a child has already missed important growth milestones, parents should consult their pediatrician. While not all missed markers indicate autism, some may. With early diagnosis, age-appropriate behavioral training can begin.

One common misperception regarding autism is that its onset occurs with age. In many cases, children are not diagnosed with autism until they are slightly older, as some signs of autism may indicate other cognitive disabilities and other signs may simply be part of the child’s personality.

A strong indicator of autism in infants is the inability to interact with the primary caregivers. This trait follows autistic infants through childhood and adulthood, if not treated. Autistic infants do not smile at Mommy or coo at Daddy. They do not wave goodbye when someone leaves the house.

One can attribute some of these symptoms to shyness, but you should examine them more closely to rule out autism – especially given that one in 59 children are born with autism in the United States alone.

A promising study conducted jointly by the Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston University used an EEG (electroencephalogram) to record the brain’s electrical signals in infants as young as three months of age. Participating children received EEGs at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24 and 36 months old.

One group of infants had siblings with autism, putting them in a high-risk category. The control group was composed of low-risk infants. Doctors found that, through the EEGs, they were able to predict both autism and its severity with nearly 100 percent accuracy by nine months.

What Are Other Warning Signs That My Infant May Have Autism?

Along with a lack of interaction with the primary caregivers, several other behavior patterns may appear as early as six months of age. Babies are mimics. They learn about their world by mimicking the behavior of the adults around them. If your baby is not trying to talk to you when you speak to him or her, or not trying to repeat your facial expressions, speak to your pediatrician.

Another sign is often misdiagnosed as a hearing impairment. While your baby’s hearing is important, saying his or her name should elicit a positive response. The baby should look at you or turn to find you. Have the baby’s hearing checked, but do not rule out autism.

Babies showing no interest in facial expressions are at risk of autism. Interpreting facial expressions appropriately allows an infant to become more socially interactive as he or she develops. A recent finding from the Yale School of Medicine shows that infants who paid little attention to facial expressions were more likely to be diagnosed with autism.

Delayed motor development such as turning over or crawling should raise red flags. Physical ailments should be ruled out first, but these are also signs of autism in an infant. Taken individually, these signs might not seem so unusual. Together, though, they require early intervention and proper diagnosis.

Can Autism Be Diagnosed In Toddlers?

In toddlers, autism is most often recognized as regression. If your baby used to smile, play and interact with you, but now seems indifferent towards you, consult your pediatrician. Other forms of regression can include relapse of motor skills such as no longer playing “peek-a-boo,” a relapse of speech skills such as no longer saying “Mama” or “Dada,” and regression of social skills such as no longer waving goodbye.

By the age of 2, your child should be able to speak meaningful two-word sentences such as “more milk.” He or she should initiate contact with you, doing something to gain your attention to be picked up and held. Toddlers should be able to visually track objects such as hand gestures or toy movement. They should also enjoy interacting with other people and playing with other children.

A child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at this early stage has a better chance of mitigating autism’s effects than older children. At this age, a child’s brain still retains the elasticity to learn new behavior patterns. Children do not outgrow autism. A “wait and see” attitude at this age may make it more difficult for your child to learn appropriate coping mechanisms later.

How Do Autism Symptoms Differ Between Boys And Girls?

Differences begin with the diagnosing process. Parents of girls are often told to wait to see if the child outgrows the symptoms or they are handed several small, unrelated diagnoses because it was traditionally thought that boys were four times more likely to fall on the autism spectrum disorder than girls.

In a collaborative effort between the University of California, Harvard University and the University of Washington, girls and boys are evaluated for autism separately using brain scans, genetic testing and observation.

One of the group’s early findings shows that using brain scans, autistic boys utilize a different portion of their brain than other boys. Autistic girls, on the other hand, scan closer to a typical boy’s brain of the same age.

A smaller study regarding social skills supports this finding, noting that autistic girls scored equally as same-age boys, but lower than same-age, non-autistic girls in empathy and friendship quality tests.

Another reason that girls are often undiagnosed is that they tend to compensate for their autistic tendencies better than boys.

Girls generally mimic the behavior of their peers in order to fit in, often going undiagnosed until adulthood. Girls care more than boys about developing social connections and so strive to overcome the “typical” antisocial behavior associated with autism.

What Should I Do If My Child Is Diagnosed On The Autism Spectrum?

A proper diagnosis is the first step towards appropriate treatment. Behavior management, speech therapy and occupational therapy all help boys and girls cope with their symptoms. Specialized schools such as Lexington Services provide a wide range of youth programs, adult programs, autism education and other therapies to help your child.

Reach out to Lexington Services and begin your child’s journey to a more fulfilling life.

If you want more valuable information, check out the most recent blog.

Improving Your Home Environment For Children With Autism

Written by Hgrant on September 28, 2018. Posted in Parenting.

Everyone loves to be home. A home is a physical shelter, a place where memories are kept, and where people can feel safe to be themselves. Yet sometimes, the home can still be stressful or even dangerous for a young person with autism. If you are the parent or guardian of a child with autism, you might feel pressure to alter your home to make it into a calming or safe environment, which can be more than a little stressful. Luckily, there are quite a few relatively inexpensive things that you can do to make the home environment space manageable and cozy for all members of the family. You might not be able to keep your home space calm and comfy all the time, but you can make a few adjustments for your loved one with autism that will help them appreciate your home as much as you do.

Reworking The Environment

Because children with autism struggle with sensory conditions that can cause stress, anxiety, or even self-stimulating behavior, the home needs to feel like a place where kids can count on feeling as comfortable as possible. Addressing these challenges can be hard on a budget, especially for big busy families, but subtle changes throughout the house can make life easier for family members with autism.

- Lighting – Lighting especially can contribute to sensory overload and may cause autistic children to have a meltdown. To manage this, experts recommend that you try to use overhead lighting less, specifically fluorescent lighting which has a flicker that can trigger light sensitivity symptoms. Try using more tabletop lighting or desk lamps, all with full-spectrum bulbs. You can also reduce light sensitivity incidents by keeping computer screens and tv screens away from windows to reduce glare, using area rugs to reduce glare or shine off of tile, and the use of color filters.
- Color – Since children with autism see color more intensely than their peers, color in the home can be a major factor in how your child feels or reacts on a sensory level. To cut down on over-stimulation throughout the house, especially in a child’s room, aim for colors that are low-toned or muted, with minimal pattern usage. Children with autism tend to feel calmed by blue color schemes, while red tends to be more arousing. However, some studies have shown that boys on the spectrum are more likely to prefer green or brown than their typically developing peers. Whatever you choose, make sure to choose wisely based upon your child’s preferences.
- Sound – Sound can be extremely over-stimulating for people with autism and it’s also one of the environmental influences you might have trouble controlling. Barking dogs, lawnmowers, honking cars, overly-loud sports on the tv, and a myriad of other factors can be stressful and you might not be able to control all of them. Many experts recommend some kind of noise-canceling headphones or earbuds to help keep a child from a sensory overload.
- Smell – Smell is one of the most distinct senses that humans have, with the ability to help you recall a memory from a certain scent or to sense danger without seeing it. Children with autism process smells differently than their peers. There is some debate about whether or not a child with ASD has a stronger or more refined sense of smell but there is no conclusive answer. Because smell is so powerful, it can be a huge sensory trigger for kids with autism. Unfortunately, there is no cut-and-dry solution to sensory overload because of certain smells in the home. Monitor and record what smells upset your child and keep areas that they use often like the bathroom or their bedroom clean, sterile, and neutral in odor.
- Space – Controlling the look, feel, design and tactile quality of the space that a child with ASD will inhabit will be based a lot on what your child prefers. To maintain a sensory-friendly environment, try to incorporate logical organization and structure. Keep playthings organized in shelving or containers that are accessible and easy to use for youngsters that might have motor-skill challenges. Create an organized flow pattern with your child’s room so that they can keep up a routine. What you incorporate into the space of your home will likely be unique to your child’s needs, so cater your design to them as much as possible.

Try to make the prospect of remodeling your home environment for your loved one fun for the whole family. It doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Taking ownership of your space by changing it can make a home more comfortable.

Managing Safety

Safety concerns occupy the mind of any parent. For parents or guardians of children with autism, there are unique safety concerns related to ASD. Roughly half of all children with autism reportedly attempted to elope from safe environments without the knowledge of guardians at some point. Maintaining a safe and secure home environment for children with autism is vital and because of the inflated mortality rate for people with ASD due to accidents, safety is important. Don’t let the statistics scare you. Simple changes in your home can provide the security that your child needs while putting your heart at ease.

To safeguard your home environment for your child, simple yet effective precautions will do. First, you should make sure that you use locks and home alarm systems if you need to. Locks can be used on windows and doors and are usually standard with any domicile, but many people forget to check to make sure they are latched. If you have a home alarm system, set it at night, or if you are worried about your child leaving, you may need to invest in one. This should at least notify you if your young one tries to abscond without you noticing. Make appliances and outlets safe with plastic covers for cord ends or plugs and make sure to lock hazardous materials, medications, or cleaning supplies away. Teach safety as a measure for the whole family, perhaps incorporating safety protocols into any visual schedule you may have designed for the school year. You don’t have to be an overly cautious parent, but a little focus on safety for your child will go a long way.

Take Stress Out Of The Picture

We have previously noted how stress and a lack of self-care time can affect you as a parent. Stress and discomfort can also have an effect on your child and make it harder for them to feel comfortable in their home environment. Children are more receptive than we think and they are often able to tell when an adult around them is stressed. This can cause behavior outbursts and an increase in self-stimulating behavior. Make sure to find ways to relieve stress for yourself, even if that means being a little selfish sometimes. Your home environment will be much calmer if you do. Children can also tell who might have a little discomfort around them and this may lead to a feeling of anxiety in their own home, which can associate safe spaces with those feelings and make it harder for a child to feel at peace. Try to bolster comfortable and happy interactions in the home environment. Overall, take emotions out of the picture that cause discomfort and make your house a place that everyone wants to be.

A Happy Home

A home isn’t a rigid fixture, but an evolving structure and environment, based upon the unique needs of a family as it changes. Like no child on the spectrum is the same, no two families are the same. You can maintain the identity of your family, and the needs of all the family members contained within it, while incorporating simple changes for family members with autism. The whole goal should be about improving the quality of life for everyone involved. Use these tips for sensory-friendly and safe environments as a baseline to make your home the perfect one for you and your family.

Lexington Services provides care, education, and therapy services for people with autism and other disabilities. If you are looking for services or autism education in Arizona, or if you have questions about what Lexington provides, please contact us here today.

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Transitioning To Adults Living With ASD: Prepare Children Through Community

Written by Hgrant on September 25, 2018. Posted in Parenting.

Focus On Community

Children with autism, especially those who dislike social interaction, often tend to try to seclude themselves. As a result, their parents may find it easier not to involve them in any public events. However, interaction with the community is a vital part of every child’s growth, including those with autism. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, there is one in 45 adults living with ASD. Autism was not tracked until about 20 years ago and, as a result, many adults are facing difficulties unique to autism because no one knew how to prepare them.

Today, things are different. We know with good preparation, adults living with ASD can go on to live independent and fulfilled lives. As a parent, you want to begin preparing your children for adult life early by encouraging and helping them become active members of a community.

Why Parents Should Begin Early

Dealing with the social, sensory and other daily issues that often accompany ASD is not easy. Rather than see their child upset, angry or frustrated, parents may find it easier to allow their child to seclude themselves instead of pushing them to interact. While this may feel beneficial, it’s only a short-term solution to avoid immediate discomfort or anxiety.

In the long-term growing up in isolation is not healthy or safe for the child. As a parent of a child with ASD, you’ll want to take action early, here’s why:

Heighten safety: You want your child to get to know people, learn how to communicate and become skilled at knowing when and how to ask for help. Additionally, others will know how to help if the time ever arises. This is especially important down the road because at some point an adult living with autism will want to be more independent. What would happen if a difficult or harmful situation were to arise?
Build awareness: The more active children with ASD are in the community, the more society will come to understand the challenges people with autism face. Instead of ASD being an unknown or diagnosis that people shy away from, awareness will increase.
Rest for the parent: With other people involved to interact and help, parents have an opportunity to take some well-deserved breaks. Being able to take care of yourself is important and you’ll need the respite so you can take better care of your child, yourself and other family members.
Eventual independence: Children don’t stay young forever. The more comfortable children become in their community, the easier it is for them to transition to independence. They’ll join other adults living with ASD, going on to live happy lives with the highest level of independence they can handle.

While your child is in school, their IEP, 504, and support team are a great safety net. However, once school is finished, it’s not so easy. As a parent, you’ll probably find yourself doing most of the work. By placing effort to get your child to be more community-oriented when they are younger, you can avoid bearing the burden since you’ll still have support teams to help you.

Ways To Get Children With ASD To Be More Social

To get your child more comfortable being in the community, you can take it in steps or through whatever method is most comfortable with to start. Ways you can get your child to be more social include:

Facebook/social media: Studies suggest most people with autism want to connect with others in meaningful ways. Social media is one outlet they often find comfort. Since many children with ASD are very comfortable using technology, this may be an appealing way to begin to connect with the outside world.
Church/community center: By joining a local church and/or community center, both you and your child can connect with caring people who support one another. In addition to receiving support, your family can also offer it to others in need. Additionally, your child gains the opportunity to learn how to help others through being active in these group settings.
A literal center: Literal centers can teach the skills needed to live and work as an independent adult. For instance, in Dallas, one couple launched the visionary idea to create a “transition” community to help young adults learn how to become independent.
Local autism society: Connecting with a local group who understands the daily challenges people with autism face. Learn many ways to support your child and help transition to adulthood.
Lexington Services: Our programs are uniquely tailored to help people with autism and their families with the individualized support they need. Adults living with ASD face challenges other people may not understand. We can help in a variety of ways.

You may find convincing your child to be more engaged is pretty challenging. It probably won’t be easy getting started. Your child may give you much resistance. If and when this happens, positive reinforcement may help you to get your child on track to increase comfort levels and become more community-minded.

The more you commit to building community, the better off your child will be in the long-term.

How To Get Your Child To Be More Engaged With Others

As a parent, you’ll want your children to gain new experiences to enrich their lives and create happiness. By actively encouraging your child to engage with others, they’ll eventually become more comfortable with socialization. You can get them started on this path by:

Deciding which communities your child would do well to participate in.
Figuring out any possible difficulties they’ll face interacting in those communities.
Helping your child understand those difficulties and showing how they can be mitigated.
Getting them out into the community!

Without external support in the community, many adults living with ASD find increased difficulties. Getting your child engaged and comfortable in community-oriented settings early on will help them better prepare for eventual adulthood.

As you know, living with ASD has its rough days. You don’t have to prepare for the future alone, we can help. At Lexington Services, we have the knowledge, skills and resources to help guide you. Our staff is equipped and committed to providing both children and adults the services they need to live happy and productive lives.

For a similar topic, check out the latest blog.

Understanding Speech And Occupational Therapy

Written by Hgrant on September 21, 2018. Posted in Educational.

The Need For Therapy

The effort to improve the lives of individuals through therapy is driven by the desire to expand the quality of life that people can enjoy. Professionals are focused on providing their services as a path to allow people the ability to access their full potential. As the collective understanding of developmental disabilities and autism has expanded, therapies have become a staple in many early development programs to provide children and young people with the best experience possible. Some of the most popular therapy programs that benefit people with special needs are speech therapy and occupational therapy. Therapists in these fields work with patients in order to expand their functions in speech, movement, and everyday activities that contribute to a meaningful daily outlook. With professional help, people have been able to greatly expand their quality of life and to foster their own independence.

Overview: Speech And Occupational Therapy

In order to understand the necessity for these services for individuals with special needs, it’s important to know how they work and what they do to benefit those involved. While there are many variants and experimental versions of each program, based upon individual needs as well as the professional philosophy of the therapist, each of these therapies boil down to one thing at their center: improved quality of life.

Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy isn’t necessarily involved with the development of work skills, despite the name connotation with employment, although it is possible that therapists may work with individuals on work skills. Occupational therapy (OT) is concerned with the development and strengthening of fine motor skills and Activities for Daily Living (ADL). The range of conditions that an occupational therapist might help with is vast, with a very diverse patient list and very different working venues. “Occupations” are activities that humans are concerned with for a meaningful life.

For an adult, these motor skills might be more work-related or skill-related, whereas a child’s “occupation” would center more on play and school work. In children, OT professionals work to sharpen skills involved in these occupations and on strengthening the developments in formative growth. Occupational therapists are seen as creative problem solvers, adapting ideas to strengthen skills in children and adults that incorporate science, compassion, and empathy into programs that each individual will benefit from. An occupational therapist might customize a program for a child with autism that incorporates sensory activities that improve motor skills while simulating play in order to improve.

Speech Therapy

Speech Therapy might be easier than OT to understand contextually, but the program can be very complex. Speech therapy specifically deals with communication disorders like speech disorder, where individuals have difficulty producing words and sounds, or language disorder, where patients might have difficulty understanding words and putting together sentences to communicate. Speech therapists might also help with feeding conditions such as dysphagia which is a condition where individuals have difficulty swallowing.

Speech therapists are similar to occupational therapists in that both professions need patience and empathy for individual needs and both professions need to find creative ways to help individuals develop their skills. Where an occupational therapist might simulate motor activities to help their patients develop, a speech therapist is an expert on replicating communication scenarios to help their patients grow. Speech therapy can be critical for children with ASD whose communication skills can improve greatly with therapeutic intervention.

Both of these programs require a special person with the creative aptitude to apply scientific practices to create a unique therapy program for their patients. For patients, the skills that they struggle with can be very frustrating and the deep impact of these therapies is the expansion of understanding and physical execution necessary for everyday activities.

What Can Therapy Do?

Therapy programs, particularly speech and occupational therapy, are designed to develop, nurture and maintain some normalcy in people’s lives so they can thrive. OT professionals might help an individual who had a stroke to return function to their extremities and perform tasks that they currently have difficulty with, while they might help a different individual with autism to expand their motor functions and social skills. Speech therapy could help that same stroke patient deal with speech issues, while helping a different patient to expand their communication skills to formulate and understand sentences. Because the focus is on the individual and because both professionals have to tailor creative solutions to manage improvement, the outcomes are highly individualized.

One thing that’s certain about speech therapy and particularly occupational therapy is that early intervention is key, especially for kids with developmental disorders and specific conditions like autism. The goal of these programs for children is to enhance their development to avoid delay, working on these skills early in life for an optimal outcome as they mature into adulthood. The things that an individual with special needs might learn in a therapy program could make a huge difference in how they perform academically and in future employment.

Seeking Therapy Services

Seeking therapy can be one of the most difficult decisions that someone has to make for themselves or for someone else. There are a lot of things to consider, including the expertise of different therapists, the cost out-of-pocket, and how to make therapy work for a specific schedule. However, taking a “wait and see” approach to therapeutic intervention might actually cause more problems in the long run, particularly when it comes to children.

When choosing a professional therapist, make sure that you are aware of their personal philosophy and what conditions they typically work with. Some OT professionals are very effective when working with people who are trying to regain movement skills after an accident or stroke, but they might not be the best choice possible for individuals with special needs.

Lexington has a skilled staff of therapists that serve Phoenix and the surrounding area. Our clinic-based programs offer both Speech and Occupational therapy solutions for individuals with special needs. Our therapists have a lot of experience and compassion for the members we serve.

In our occupational therapy program, parents can expect our pediatric occupational therapists to help children develop skills needed for independence while increasing fine motor skills, sensory-motor skills, and visual-motor skills.

Our pediatric speech therapy program treats communication disorders, both in expressive and receptive language, that cause children to have difficulties with verbal communication. Speech therapy through Lexington also helps with articulation, auditory processing, and social skills.

If you are considering therapy options in the Phoenix area, our staff can help and you can contact us here today.

For a similar topic, read the previous blog post.

Sleep Solutions For Children With Autism

Written by Hgrant on September 18, 2018. Posted in Educational.

Sleep Solutions For Children With Autism

Parents know that there are few things more exhausting than a sleep-deprived child. Recent research estimates that up to 78 percent of children with autism have difficulty sleeping. While scientists do not fully understand why that number is so high, routines and treatments have been developed to help your child get a restful night’s sleep. In this article, we will explore the connection between autism and insomnia, and discuss some simple steps that parents can take to help.

Why Many Children With Autism Have Trouble Sleeping

Researchers found that parents report a 50 to 80 percent rate of sleep problems in children with autism. This is much higher than 1 to 16 percent incidence observed in children who have not been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers also found that the frequency of reported sleep problems is higher for children with ASD than for children with other developmental disabilities.

Children and adults with autism are more likely to suffer from several different types of sleep issues. Autism researchers have discovered that individuals with ASD often experience difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep. They are more likely to have erratic sleep patterns, waking in the middle of the night or becoming excessively sleepy during the day. Studies have also found that children with autism experience higher rates of common sleep disturbances, such as nightmares and bedwetting. Many individuals also struggle with insomnia.

While it is difficult to pinpoint why any specific individual experiences sleep problems, researchers have identified several possible causes that are thought to be directly or indirectly related to autism. Many people with autism experience erratic sleep-wake cycles, which may be caused by an irregular circadian rhythm. We all have an internal biological clock that governs our sleep patterns, and those natural cycles are influenced in part by environmental factors like light and temperature. Scientists believe that the brains of people with autism process these signals differently which may result in irregular circadian rhythms.

Other possible causes of sleep disorders have connections to health conditions that people with ASD often experience. Children with autism are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression, which often contributes to sleep issues. Up to half of all children with ASD also display symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a condition that can cause children to be abnormally active at bedtime. Conditions such as epilepsy, gastrointestinal disorders and acid reflux, which often impact people with ASD, are known to impact sleep quality negatively.

You may discover the underlying cause in your medicine cabinet. If your child takes medication to manage the symptoms of autism, side effects could be interfering with their sleep. Prescriptions like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can cause excitement around bedtime. In contrast, antipsychotics have been known to cause excessive drowsiness, which often leads to problems falling asleep and staying asleep.

Symptoms of autism, such as difficulty expressing emotions, can also worsen sleep problems. For example, if your child struggles to communicate that she is having nightmares, you may not be aware of the issue and, thus, would be unable to help her address her feelings. Poor sleep often creates a cycle of irritability and daytime drowsiness that makes it more difficult to sleep the next night.

What You Can Do To Promote Healthy Sleep

If your child has insomnia or other sleep issues, there are several ways you can help. Your first step should be to discuss your observations with your child’s primary care provider. A healthcare professional can objectively evaluate your child’s symptoms and investigate whether a medication or another health condition may be responsible.

Your doctor can recommend treatment options to address your child’s sleep issues. For many children with autism, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has successfully alleviated the symptoms of insomnia and other sleep disorders. CBT educates patients about how their habits impact sleep and works with them to develop good sleep hygiene.

Regardless of whether your child has a diagnosed sleep disorder, environmental factors influence your child’s ability to get a full night’s rest. You can apply common CBT treatments to make small changes in your child’s surroundings and routines that will promote healthy sleep.

Look for ways to create a relaxing atmosphere at bedtime. People sleep best in bedrooms that are quiet, dark and cool. Since children with autism tend to be very sensitive to stimuli like light and sound, eliminating environmental factors that might disturb your child will help them fall asleep and stay asleep. Parents can encourage a regular bedtime by creating a soothing nightly routine that eases the transition to sleep.

Children with ASD thrive on consistency and predictability. To fulfill those needs, establish a regular bedtime routine that includes relaxing activities. Your child could take a bath, read a favorite book or listen to some quiet music. Try to keep the time and activities consistent each day. Maintaining a regular sleep schedule has been shown to improve sleep quality.

To make bedtime easier, you can also try some small modifications in your child’s daytime routines. Wake your child up at the same time every day. If waking up is a challenge, exposure to bright light in the morning, a treatment known as light therapy, has been found to make children feel more alert. Getting enough physical activity during the day helps children feel tired and sleep more soundly at night.

Restrict activities and foods that will keep your child up at night. While naps are beneficial for young or very tired children, discourage your child from napping too late in the day. Ensure your child avoids foods and beverages that contain caffeine in the evening. Do not allow your child to use electronics in the hour before bedtime. Devices such as phones, tablets, TVs and laptops emit blue light that our bodies interpret as a wakefulness cue. Exercise also promotes alertness, so discourage your child from being physically active late in the evening.

If environmental and behavioral interventions aren’t effective, there are pharmacological treatment options that you can discuss with your child’s doctor. Over-the-counter supplements may be able to help regulate your child’s sleep cycle. Melatonin supplements are widely available and promote a healthy circadian rhythm. Dietary supplements including kava, iron and valerian root may also help your child fall asleep when taken regularly. While there are few adverse side effects, you should consult with a physician before starting your child on any supplements.

Your doctor may also consider prescription sleep aids if other treatments fail to alleviate your child’s symptoms. While sedatives are often used for adults, doctors typically prescribe different medications for children with autism. Clonidine, a prescription used to treat a variety of conditions from high blood pressure to anxiety, has been found to induce sleepiness and reduce nighttime waking in children with ASD. Typically prescribed to alleviate ASD-related anxiety, the antidepressant Mirtazapine can minimize insomnia symptoms in children and young adults. However, both of these medications have known risks, so it is essential to discuss your child’s full health history when considering these treatments.

How A Good Night’s Rest Will Benefit Your Child

The main aim for all of these interventions is to improve your child’s quality of life. When children are well-rested, they behave more appropriately and do better in school. Sleep plays a vital role in your child’s cognitive development. Since our brains process thoughts and repair neural connections while we sleep, getting a good night’s rest helps your child feel more alert and has been shown to enhance long-term memory.

Being well-rested prepares your child to take on their day. An alert, relaxed child handles mental, physical and emotional challenges much better than a tired, stressed one. In children with autism, high quality, uninterrupted sleep actually reduces the risk of hospitalization.

Parents and other family members also benefit from these sleep interventions. When your child with autism sleeps better, everyone in your household is more likely to enjoy a good night’s rest. Try some of these strategies today to help your child sleep more soundly tonight.

Lexington Services offers a variety of services to help children and teens with ASD reach their full potential. If you are interested in helpful strategies and insights for parents of children with autism, follow our site for more resources.

For a similar topic, read the previous blog post.