My best friend’s daughter is five, and appears to have many traits of an autistic child. When I try to talk to her about her daughter having autistic tendencies she freezes up and changes the subject. What should I do?
Timing is everything. There are many of us that are unable to face the possibility of our child being different and having a developmental disability such as autism. If your friend’s not ready to hear what you have to say at this time you must let it go for now. Another option is to talk to a family member such as your friend’s, mother or grandmother. They may be more receptive.

Where do I go to find out if my little boy has autism?
You have many choices. However, I would start with First Signs they have a wonderful website dedicated to the early identification and intervention of children with developmental delays and disorders at www.FirstSigns.org. Visit my resources page for more options.

What is Asperger Syndrome?
Individuals with AS can exhibit a variety of characteristics and the disorder can range from mild to severe. Persons with AS show marked deficiencies in social skills, have difficulties with transitions or changes and prefer sameness. They often have obsessive routines and may be preoccupied with a particular subject of interest. They have a great deal of difficulty reading nonverbal cues (body language) and very often the individual with AS has difficulty determining proper body space. Often overly sensitive to sounds, tastes, smells, and sights. Some professionals feel that AS is the same as High Functioning Autism, while others feel that it is better described as a Nonverbal Learning Disability.

What are Developmental Disabilities?
Developmental disabilities are a diverse group of severe chronic conditions that are due to mental and/or physical impairments. People with developmental disabilities have problems with major life activities such as language, mobility, learning, self-help, and independent living. Developmental disabilities begin anytime during development up to 22 years of age and usually last throughout a person’s lifetime.

My daughter has autistic characteristics and I have taken her to two doctors to see if she has autism. They both said she doesn’t have autism. What should I do now?
Trust your instincts. Ask other parents who have children with autism and see the professionals they recommend. Sometimes it is very tough to get the right diagnosis, but trust yourself. Go on websites such as the Autism Society of America.

I've heard there are people with epilepsy whose medication doesn't stop their seizures. Is that true?
That is true. My son, Brandon, has been on many different types of seizure medications, and his neurologist told us that the seizure medications would not stop his seizures. There are between 25-35% of people with epilepsy that fall into this category. They call it intractable epilepsy.

How can we help our children get over the stigma of having epilepsy?
My son has had to deal with that all his life, and he still does. It comes down to educating, and informing the public about epilepsy and seizures. I wrote about stigmas in my book, Raising Brandon, and in my presentations I often include information about stigmas as well. The more people we can educate the better treatment and respect our children/adults will receive.

In school my son is having a hard time with math and spelling. Would that be considered a learning disability?
It is hard to know. However, I suggest you visit the website Learning Disabilities Association of America where they address such questions. LDA is a great place to get information and has been around since 1963.

What is educational therapy?
Educational Therapy offers children and adults with learning disabilities and other learning challenges a wide range of individualized interventions designed to eliminate or improve learning problems.

How do you find a good physician who specializes in children with autism and special needs?
One way is to talk to other parents who are happy with their physicians. Once you find a physician it would be up to you to make sure the doctor is a good match for both you and your child. Remember you are interviewing the doctor. The doctor is not interviewing you. It’s important you don’t settle. I wrote all about this in my book, Raising Brandon. The right physician can make a huge difference in your child’s life.

Is there something I can do to get the best services for my child?
I have a hard time being nice in meetings. This is so important that I wrote about it in my book, Raising Brandon, because the people in the meeting are often taking their cues from you, not you child. Be kind, even if you don’t feel like it. Come from a place of strength by leaving any negative emotion such as anger, irritation or frustration outside the door. I know this may not be easy, but it is a necessity if you want to get the best services for your child.

What is Epilepsy?
Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. It’s also called a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy. A seizure happens when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain.

What is the difference between a grand mal seizure and tonic-clonic seizures?
Tonic-clonic seizures are a type of generalized seizure affecting the entire brain. Formerly known as grand mal seizures or gran mal seizures, these terms are now discouraged and rarely used in a clinical setting. Tonic-clonic seizures are the seizure type most commonly associated with epilepsy and seizures in general, though it is a misconception that they are the only type.