Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Management and Resources
At home
It is important for family members living with someone who has ASD to recognize their role in the treatment. A new sense of understanding from parents can be present after an ASD diagnosis is made in their adult children. Often, the distress of ASD makes the individual seek reassurance and comfort, as when the person feels uncomfortable or stressed out. Parents may also be a helpful part of treatment as adults living at home with ASD may work to be more independent.
It’s also a great idea to stay healthy by getting exercise every day. Exercise generates endorphins, which are natural mood-elevating biochemicals that make people feel better. It’s still possible to have ASD symptoms with exercise, but exercising helps to distract the mind.
Last, make certain to get enough sleep every night. Many people are seriously sleep-deprived, particularly adults with ASD, and insufficient sleep increases the risk for increased ASD symptoms as well as symptoms of other issues such as depression and anxiety. Make sure one's bedroom is a place used primarily for sleep. When an individual perceives their bedroom as a relaxing place, this is far more conducive to helping one obtain the sleep they need.
At work and school
Adults with ASD may find it difficult to communicate effectively and interpret feedback from others while at school and/or at work. Many people with ASD exhibit perfectionistic tendencies which are amplified when a boss or teacher passes judgment on performance. The school and work settings tend to be conducive to rituals including checking, deleting or erasing, correcting, rechecking. Individuals with ASD may pay attention to minor details, which may slow down completion of tasks and contribute to missing deadlines. A person with ASD may spend an inordinate amount of time on work-related tasks compared to their peers. Not only can these rituals affect quality of life and ability to devote energy to more pleasurable pursuits, but they can also affect academic achievement and career advancement.
Many adults with ASD also struggle with executive functioning skills. This refers to an individual’s ability to process information and includes difficulties with focus and attention, trouble with organization, and poor planning. Self-regulating big emotions and controlling urges or impulses (such as deciding what is appropriate or not to say in certain situations) can also be difficult for the individual with ASD. Executive functioning difficulties can cause issues at school and work and is another important area to focus on with a trained therapist.
Receiving ADA accommodations can also help the adult with ASD be most successful at school and/or at work. Accommodations may be considered in areas such as attention/concentration, executive functioning, social skills, and emotion regulation. Such accommodations may include the use of technology to help with task management or organization, using a job coach/mentor to support on the job learning and social skills, frequent communication with instructors/professors or supervisors and/or a quiet work space.
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Organizations & resources for ASD
There are private and governmental organizations that can provide information and support on ASD, which may be very helpful to the individual with the disorder as well as family members who are concerned.