Recently, I was drawn to the news of an eleven year old girl diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome who was found after being lost in the Florida wilderness for over four days. Nadia Bloom was reported missing by her parents in Winter Springs, Florida after failing to check in from a bike ride. She was rescued by James King; a local man who explained that he knew where to find Nadia because “the lord told him where to look.” Nadia, who is home now recovering with her family has been described as a creative girl who often thinks out of the box and who may have gotten the idea to wander off from a book she was reading. Her safe recovery appears to be nothing less than a miracle and a testament to the young girl’s resilience and courage.
The CDC (Center for Disease Control) defines Aspergers Syndrome as a milder form of Autism. It recommends that parents take immediate action if they suspect their child may be displaying traits linked to either Autism Spectrum Disorders. According to the CDC website, those with ASD may exhibit any of the following signs and symptoms:
- Not respond to their name by 12 months
- Not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over) by 14 months
- Not play “pretend” games (pretend to “feed” a doll) by 18 months
- Avoid eye contact and want to be alone
- Have trouble understanding other people’s feelings or talking about their own feelings
- Have delayed speech and language skills
- Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
- Give unrelated answers to questions
- Get upset by minor changes
- Have obsessive interests
- Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles
- Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel
If you have a concern for a child in your life it is important to have your child evaluated by a specialist. For more information on ASD, please visit the CDC website http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/index.html . The Vision Therapy Group and Sensory Learning Center will be offering a free seminar on sensory processing disorders such as Asperger’s Syndrome on May 11, 2010. Please call to reserve your seat 810-736-6673.
