interaction and a fixation on one
subject or activity.
In a world where socialisation is
key, children with AS find themselves
a misunderstood minority. They
are slow to interpret what others
are thinking and feeling, and miss
facial cues like a grimace or a smile.
A statement like “sit down” always
means the same thing, whether
the speaker is smiling or frowning
with fists on her hips. Failed social
encounters in early childhood chip
away at a child’s self-esteem, fuelling
their frustration and anxiety.
A parent’s role
This past spring, ESF hosted the
inaugural Hong Kong ASD (Autism
Spectrum Disorder) Conference,
featuring renowned speakers, Dr Tony
Attwood and Dr Isabelle Hénault.
The aim of the event was to educate
professionals, teachers and families
on how to support ASD individuals
from childhood through to adulthood,
as well as to encourage Hong Kong’s
education system and support
associations to network more closely.
As I sat down to chat with Dr
Attwood during the conference,
one of the first things he remarked
on was how overwhelming Hong
Kong’s flashing fluorescent lights
and relentless traffic noise could be
for a child with AS, explaining how
auditory sensitivity makes it hard for
them to filter out background noise.
Understanding different perspectives
about the basics of daily life like this is
important for parents of children with
AS.
“The views and perspectives of an
AS child and a neuro-typical (NT)
child are like two different cultures.
The overarching role of a parent is to
be a translator who bridges these two
worlds,” says Dr Attwood. “Neither
of these two cultures is superior,
just different.” If your child has
been diagnosed with Asperger’s, Dr
Attwood suggests trying these simple
strategies at home:
• Find a peer group for your child
and a champion within that peer
group. Recruit cousins, older siblings
or a child who can empathise with
your child. Dr Attwood adds, “The
peer group will make them or break
them. I cannot emphasise this enough.
Surround your child with empathetic
children who won’t bully him or
misunderstand his intentions. They
will become your eyes and ears in your
absence.”
• Explain your child’s sensitivities
to siblings who may complain about
his ruining or disrupting their games.
Help them understand how his mind is
