Starting in my work with the schools, I have developed an expertise in identifying and treating children, adolescents and adults with high functioning Autism and Aspergers Disorders.

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These are seen as neurobiological disorders that affect the individuals ability to relate with others appropriately and successfully. Such individuals misperceive social cues, and can easily become overwhelmed by schools, certain noisy work environments, and loud noise in general, or crowded public situations. The also tend to display clumsiness, gross and certain specific fine motor deficits and may have difficulties with e.g. their handwriting. Many individuals experience anxiety and compensate with self soothing behaviors which can become problematic, e.g. biting fingers, nails, shirt sleeves, or having certain vocal ticks or stereotyped movement like rocking, hand flapping etc. Because the severity can vary, the disorder may not cause the same form of impairment between different individuals and they may have different problem area.

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The most consistent area of difficulties involves social relations and the ability to self regulate anxiety and other unpleasant affect, and to deal with unpredictability and other life's inconsistencies. Some individuals may have a concurring ADD/ADHD, Depression and/or anxiety, which may require other forms of treatment and additional medications. Family/ spousal involvement may be necessary so that other family members understand the nature of the disorder and work on learning strategies to not escalate the affected individual. Individual therapy can help the individual to develop an awareness of their difficulties and learn coping social/interpersonal strategies and ones for emotional self-regulation.

Medications do not treat PDD/Aspergers Disorders; rather they help reduce the more difficult symptoms. Because my focus is treating the disorder, I do not do formal evaluations, but screenings and interviews, which can help to identify the specific problem areas, which we can later address with the behavioral aspect of treatment.