Herman & Associates: Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
Herman & Associates has developed an expertise in working with clients who are on the Autistic Spectrum. We have over 20 years of experience in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals who have an Autistic Spectrum disorder. We understand the complexities of these disorders. The pages that are linked to this page are designed to share a few of the insights we have regarding Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
We have assessment protocols specifically designed to identify autistic spectrum disorders. We have completed the Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale (the "gold standard" in the field) traning and are experts in assessing for Asperger's Syndrome and High Functioning Autism.
Every ASD evaluation includes a classroom observation, attention, cognitive (e.g., WISC-IV), educational and social-emotional testing. We also may include the ADOS, the Autism Diagnostic Interview - Revised (ADI-R), the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ), and various parent/teacher/self rating scales (e.g., BRIEF series, Conners series). Our ASD assessments are comprehensive.
Over the years some individuals with ASDs have valuable insights into their behavior. They are typically in conflict regarding emotional connections with others. They want to have friends, but are commonly overwhelmed by the emotions that come with friendships. They experience the emotional attachment with neurotypicals as overly intense. One adult with AS recently came up with this insight:
"I intentionally try to throw off a conversation with neurotypicals by giving them a comment that is slightly off the mark. It's like I have a shield in front of me and my shield has a hole in the middle. Neurotypicals take aim at the hole and try to steer conversations into that hole. When they hit the hole it raises feelings in me that can be intense and overwhelming. So, while neurotypicals are trying to connect with me on an emotional level, my counter-strategy is to move my shield so their efforts either glance off the side and miss the hole, or to throw back comments that miss their holes. That way we never really connect in the conversation and I don't have to deal with them."
This client was able to accurately describe his social strategy and how he works to keep others at some emotional distance from himself. Nearly everyone with ASD has to deal with the balance of avoiding deeply felt feelings of loneliness vs. feeling overwhelmed by social interactions.
See the following pages for more information:
ASD: Cognitive Style
ASD: Diagnosis
ASD: Emotional Development
ASD: Family Relationships
ASD: Self-Maintenance Behavior
ASD: Language Development
ASD: Medication Management
ASD: Motor Development
ASD: Sensory Sensitivity
ASD: Social Behavior
