Top Tips to File in Your SLP Bag from Timothy P. Kowalski, MA, CCC
This blog is based on the following presentation from the 2011
ASHA Convention:
Are You in The Zone? Social
Awareness for Asperger's Syndrome and Managing the Emotional Roller Coaster
Through Social Pragmatic Communication
Professional Communication
Services, Inc.
1401-A Edgewater Dr. •
Orlando, FL 328
mrtim@socialpragmatics.com
Guess who is who!
Tim Kowalski is an author with three books
about what he calls "The Zone." I attended both of Tim Kowalski's sessions at
the 2011 ASHA Convention and he is one humorous presenter on Asperger's
syndrome. I watched the attendees; all were enjoying, laughing and nodding
their heads in affirmation of Tim's practical statements about pragmatics and
ASD. Tim and I will both be presenting at the Florida FLASHA State Conference
in May, 2012.
Mr. Kowalski stated that emotions are perhaps one of the most
difficult features of Asperger's syndrome. Few SLPs know how to handle the
chaos created by the emotional roller coaster often seen in Asperger's
syndrome. In addition, Tim spoke about ‘The Zone,' a technique
to enhance perspective-talking, thereby creating positive change in
social-pragmatic communication and enhancing overall social awareness to those
diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome.
Seminar Highlights:
In Tim's private practice in Orlando, FL, he works with children
and adults with Asperger's. He is blunt about their needs and how families and
the person with Asperger's should respond through their "aspie eyes."
- It
doesn't matter what you think about yourself, it matters what others think
about you
- Be
honest and tell parents and clients how they look to others
- Develop
a healthy balance in activities (not just playing video games)
- Social
connections are the hallmark of working and employment
- Formal
tests, developed to assess Asperger's, do not show the results of
functionality
- Most
school districts are not assisting with social/pragmatic functions because
the children can accomplish the academics
All SLPs should know these facts about your Asperger's syndrome
clients:
- They
are consumed by fear
- 65
percent have a mood disorder
- They
are anxious, depressed, PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder)
- OCD
(about things being out of order)
- They
are often paranoid
- Increase
in bipolar is common
- They
use prescription or street drugs for calming (not for getting high)
- They anger
easily
- Don't
identify that they are doing anything wrong
- They
are empathetic, but have no way to express it
- There
are 42 facial muscles; "Aspies" use very few of them
High anxiety causes less verbalness -- Temple Grandin uses Thinking
in Pictures. Tim has an excellent thirty-one question checklist
on his website.
Asperger Syndrome Checklist
I think I'm going to try The Zone with my own grown son, Doug, who
does very well, but he still has his Aspie moments or days. I know this is
simplifying Mr. Kowalski's concept but The Zone is made up of a big circle and
a little circle.
- When
the little circle sits inside the big circle, the Aspie is thinking about
what society is thinking about him/her.
- When
the little circle sits outside the big circle, the Aspie is thinking only
about himself. I would say, "They are ‘Aspie-ing' around," unaware that
others are even looking at them.
- Tim
suggests using a camera to assist awareness that others are thinking about
them.
Be sure to go to Tim Kowalski's website for oodles of great
information on Asperger's syndrome.
"Speech
pathologists make good things happen."