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Alternative Communication Training for Toddlers with ASD

By Dr. Donia Fahim Blog No Comments

In the last blog post, I talked about early intervention techniques which can help young children with ASD communicate, when speech and language are delayed. Most children with autism will develop spoken language, however they may experience a delay of a number of years. This causes frustration and emotional distress for both themselves and their caregivers, during the time when they are unable to communicate their wants and needs through language. As I mentioned previously, there is significant research to show that it is helpful to use alternative means for a child to communicate which not only facilitates communication, but …

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HELLO? Are you listening?

By Dr. Donia Fahim Blog, Podcast No Comments
autism-and-parenting

Let’s Talk About Super Special Kids & Cake Podcast [Episode 006 / Segment: Super Special Question]

A mother recently asked me the following question: “My son is 18 months old, but when I call my child’s name, he doesn’t respond. Shall I be worried?”

To anybody else having this concern, I would first point out that sometimes this can be difficult to judge, since even typically developing children less than 24 months will not always respond when to their name is called. Toddlers are only able to concentrate on one thing at a time and so if they are deeply …

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Importance of Playfulness Training for Toddlers with ASD

By Dr. Donia Fahim Blog, Parenting Tips One Comment

Hello, and welcome to my latest post, where I’m sharing expert advice around the importance of playfulness training.

I have been sharing posts about the importance of playfulness and using a theme inspired by, and rooted in, your child’s interests when playing with them.

What is systematic planning?

Systematic planning is a cornerstone in an early invention home-based programme and, as promised, over the next few months each newsletter will focus on an early childhood theme and ways to maximise your systematic planning.

This month, as we begin the summer holidays, I have chosen the theme ‘Under the Sea.’ If …

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It’s okay to not be okay!

By Dr. Donia Fahim Blog, Podcast No Comments
autism-and-parenting

 

Let’s Talk About Super Special Kids & Cake Podcast [Episode 005 / Segment: Arghh]

Many of my blog posts are based on questions or concerns that parents share with me about their children. But today, I want to focus on a subject that is just as important, but that’s often neglected: parents. The parents of children with special needs.

We get so caught up with asking “How is your child doing”, “How is your child developing?”, “How is your child feeling today”, that rarely have the time to stop and ask the mothers and fathers of special children …

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Why Are You So Sad?

By Dr. Donia Fahim Blog, Podcast No Comments
autism-and-parenting

Let’s Talk About Super Special Kids & Cake Podcast [Episode 005 / Segment: Special Q]

The other day a mum asked me “Why has my son become so upset at seeing an unfamiliar adult? What strategies can I use to combat this?”. This question isn’t uncommon and I think the suggestions below are really useful for parents whose children also suffer in this way.

Firstly, I would suggest something I’ve mentioned on my blog many times before: priming. Prime your child beforehand by explaining where you’re going. You could tell them the names of the family members they’re likely to …

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Communication Training for Toddlers with ASD

By Dr. Donia Fahim Blog, Parenting Tips No Comments

vocalization-in-toddlers-with-asdThere is a significant difference between talking and communication. As most of us know, the inability to use speech does not preclude the ability to be understood by others. Sign language, body language, pictures, all facilitate non-verbal communication and these can provide an opportunity to work towards increasing and encouraging vocalization in toddlers with ASD.

For children who struggle to develop speech, learning to communicate through other means also offers an opportunity for them to eventually learn to use language to communicate their needs and enjoy the social pleasures of communicating with others.

According to the National Institute on Deafness …

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White Noise

By Dr. Donia Fahim Blog, Podcast No Comments
autism-and-parenting

Let’s Talk About Super Special Kids & Cake Podcast [Episode 005 / Segment: Super Special Topic]

In the simplest of terms, speech is the way in which a person produces and pronounces language.

For some special children however, all this talking can just seem like a whole lot of noise that they cannot decipher. When parents ask me for tips on how to overcome this issue, one of the things I suggest is to introduce other things such as an image of an object or a photograph of a person or place that can be used to point to. You …

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Play, Rewind, Repeat

By Dr. Donia Fahim Blog, Parenting Tips, Podcast No Comments
autism-and-parenting

Let’s Talk About Super Special Kids & Cake Podcast [Episode 004 / Segment: Special Q]

Case study in autism and parenting: I worked with a family where the husband and their two boys were all autistic. All three of them really liked watching a particular video of a plane take off and land. The mother reported that they watched this video repeatedly and would not want to watch anything else. Consequently, the mother was afraid that this would be their only interest.

In this circumstance, what’s important to note that this sole interest can be the basis for further learning …

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Who are you? What do you do?

By Dr. Donia Fahim Blog, Parenting Tips, Podcast No Comments
support-for children-with-asd

Let’s Talk About Super Special Kids & Cake Podcast [Episode 004 / Segment: Super Special Topic]

If you have a child with ASD, you may find yourself overwhelmed with the number of different types of professionals and the work that they do. However, when it comes to intervention, remember that although a professional is an expert in their field, it is you that is the professional when it comes to your child. You know your child better than anyone and so I really encourage parents to build a positive relationship with the professionals that their child is working with; making …

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Tips for Therapists and Teachers – The Sacred Sound of Silence

By Dr. Donia Fahim Blog, Parenting Tips No Comments

It’s quite incredible what silence can offer. As therapists and teachers, we are trained to both listen and to speak with impeccability. We are taught to be aware of not just what we are saying but also how we are saying it and to be good role models for those we teach.

In my years of being a therapist and mentor, I am constantly learning from my students. My most recent, and perhaps one of the most profound lessons for me, came from a boy named AP, a little 4-year-old with Autism.

We have been working together now for over …

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