Autism. Aspergers. What's The Difference?

by: Stephen Borgman
Asperger Syndrome is one of the autism spectrum disorders.

What are autism spectrum disorders? They are also called pervasive developmental disorders in the DSM-IV. These conditions are characterized by challenges/deficits of social interaction and communication.

Autism spectrum disorders begin in infancy or childhood. These conditions are not ‘cured’, as some might think. They are really just a different way of thinking and viewing the world. However, the challenges that arise in communication and social interaction should not be minimized, either.

According to Wikipedia,

ASD, in turn, is a subset of the broader autism phenotype (BAP), which describes individuals who may not have ASD but do have autistic-like traits, such as social deficits.[10] Of the other four ASD forms, autism is the most similar to AS in signs and likely causes but its diagnosis requires impaired communication and allows delay in cognitive development; Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder share several signs with autism but may have unrelated causes; and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) is diagnosed when the criteria for a more specific disorder are unmet.[11]

The Aspergers Autism Debate

Here is where the debate over the exact classification for Aspergers (AS) begins. The current classification of autism spectrum disorder, according to the researchers who are updating the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition (coming out in May 20130, does not entirely reflect the true nature of autism spectrum disorders.

The plan is to eliminate the name of Aspergers Disorder, and put it under the umbrella of Autism Spectrum Disorders. There will be a focus on levels of severity, versus on the exact name of Aspergers.

This is a very controversial move, and researchers and doctors working on the manual still have not decided whether to call it a disorder or a syndrome.

(Personally, I like syndrome a whole lot better. While we don’t want to minimize the challenges that come with the autism spectrum, it’s too easy to miss all of the positive characteristics of the autism spectrum by calling it a disorder instead of a spectrum).

I hope this overview of the similarities and differences between Autism and Asperers was helpful.

About The Author
Hi! I'm Steve Borgman. I am a therapist who specializes in working with clients with autism, Aspergers, and attention deficit conditions. I love my work. I hope you'll come by my site, Prospering With Aspergers. http://www.myaspergers.net
The author invites you to visit:
http://www.myaspergers.net

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Fat Burning Secrets - Your Weight is Not that Important

That's correct folks. Your weight is not that important. Your body fat percentage is. What is body fat percentage? This is part of the composition of your body. Your body is composed of muscle and bones etc which makes up your lean body mass. Your body then has fat. The percentage of your total mass which is pure fat is called your body fat percentage.

Most people when they start a fat burning weight loss regime tend to concentrate on a goal weight. They focus on getting to this weight and don't realise that body composition is much more important.

Your body fat percentage is a much better indicator of your health. There are different recommendations for body fat percentage levels, but the following come from the American Council on Exercise.

Body Fat Percentages

An example of how body fat percentage is a much better indicator of health rather than something like BMI would be "fat skinny" people.

Say I am a woman who weighs 70kg and I am 168cm tall. My BMI of 24.4 tells me that I am in a normal weight range. I then go and measure my body fat percentage and the percentage of my body which is pure fat is 33%. This shows I am actually at risk. I have too much fat compared with lean mass on my body and so I am actually at risk even though BMI tells me I am normal weight range.

The same can go the other way say I am a male body builder who is 193cm tall and weighs 115kg. Of course this weight is muscle! My BMI would tell me that I am obese and yet when I do my body fat percentage testing I have a percentage of 8%. This actually means I am in the athlete class and not at all obese.

Focusing on body fat percentage rather than total mass is a much better option when setting goals. It is a much better indication on where you are health wise. The other reason is that muscle weighs more than fat and so sometimes when you build more lean mass you will see a gain on the scales which is actually good because it means your body fat percentage has dropped and you are healthier and leaner. Your muscles just weigh more!

An example of how body fat percentage is a much better indicator of health rather than something like BMI would be "fat skinny" people.

Say I am a woman who weighs 70kg and I am 168cm tall. My BMI of 24.4 tells me that I am in a normal weight range. I then go and measure my body fat percentage and the percentage of my body which is pure fat is 33%. This shows I am actually at risk. I have too much fat compared with lean mass on my body and so I am actually at risk even though BMI tells me I am normal weight range.

The same can go the other way say I am a male body builder who is 193cm tall and weighs 115kg. Of course this weight is muscle! My BMI would tell me that I am obese and yet when I do my body fat percentage testing I have a percentage of 8%. This actually means I am in the athlete class and not at all obese.

Focusing on body fat percentage rather than total mass is a much better option when setting goals. It is a much better indication on where you are health wise. The other reason is that muscle weighs more than fat and so sometimes when you build more lean mass you will see a gain on the scales which is actually good because it means your body fat percentage has dropped and you are healthier and leaner. Your muscles just weigh more!

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The best Diet solutions to supplement weight loss

Everybody aspires for a healthy body but often, many of us fail to keep a check over our weight. Any physical fitness trainer will tell you about the importance of the natural diet solutions for attaining success at your weight loss goals. Without proper natural diet, regular exercises will make your body weak and susceptible to fatigue and that may cause negative effects of weight loss oriented workouts.

Natural diets offer a wide range of options for the users with different set of priorities. As for example, if you are a diabetic patient, you may choose for specific diet solution for weight loss such as glycemic index diet. Such natural diet includes fiber-rich vegetables, fruits, and nutritious food grains like basmati rice, oats, barley, chick peas, quinoa and a lot more.

The fat burning effect of proper natural diet can be seen within weeks as you will experience a definite improvement while you will not suffer any weakness and fatigue. Without proper dieting solution, it is impossible to control your weight irrespective of how hard you work in the gym.

Many of the dieticians also offer organic natural diet that includes fresh fruits and vegetables that are grown in the natural manner without the use of pesticides and inorganic fertilizers. Organic diet doesn't include any food that uses preservatives or sweeteners. The idea behind organic natural diets is that the artificial additives like chemical fertilizers, pesticides, preservatives etc ruins the natural ability of food to provide better health. Organic natural diets include free-range eggs, hormone free milk, beef and chicken used and prepared without using any preservative. Organic natural diet also disqualifies the food grains and vegetables that are genetically modified (such as BT crops).

A healthy diet is the pre-requisite for a healthy body. With proper natural diet solutions, you will be able to experience the best and fastest possible fat burning effect and that will help you to lose weight but to retain required energy.

In order to attain highly qualified information and proper tips and instructions about how to lose weight and maintain health, one may visit the official website for The Diet Solutions at http://shmyl.com/elvhton that offers every bit of information about natural diets and their fat burning effects in details.

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Plano Dentist – Dental Health Tips For A Brighter Smile

Society places great importance on the appearance of one's smile. Many people work hard to obtain whiter and brighter teeth. A person's smile is often the primary characteristic noticed in first impressions. Therefore, caring for your teeth and taking part in good dental health practices should be an essential part of personal hygiene. There are a variety of dental health tips that one can take to create a more beautiful smile.

Choosing a Toothbrush
Everyone is aware that they need to brush their teeth regularly. However, few people understand the importance of choosing a proper toothbrush. Many believe that as long as they brush, they will have healthy teeth. However, the brush that you choose has much to do with how effective your brushing will be. When looking for a toothbrush, choose one that has a head of around 1 inch in length and a rounded appearance. The bristles should be soft and not cause damage to the gums. Avoid brushes that feel abrasive and can irritate the mouth. The average adult needs a brush with four rows of bristles while those with smaller mouths and children need a brush with three rows of bristles.

If the correct toothbrush is not chosen, the gums can become irritated and sore. This leaves the gums more susceptible to being attacked by gum disease. People with sore gums are also less likely to care for their teeth through regular brushing and floss due to the pain.

Visit a Dentist
Good dental hygiene also includes regular visits to a dentist. Gum disease is a common occurrence in adults. The reduction of plaque on the teeth during check-ups will reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth. Thus, the likelihood of gum disease also lessens. During regular check-ups, the dentist can examine the mouth for any signs of potential problems and stop them before they occur or worsen.

Use Mouth Wash
Studies show that rinsing your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash can give you added protection when it comes to tooth decay. Using a fluoride rinse is especially critical for those living in areas where fluoride is not added into the water supply.

Floss Between Teeth
While people know that they need to floss, not many people actually do it. Brushing alone will not remove the food particles that are stuck between the teeth. If left, these particles will cause plaque and tooth decay. In addition to preventing cavities, flossing can also reduce the chance of developing periodontal disease, which often leads to tooth loss in adults. For a healthy mouth, you should floss at least once a day. Most people floss before bedtime after all foods has been consumed for the day.

Properly caring for your teeth and following good dental health tips are essential in having a bright and white smile. Good teeth and gum hygiene should be carried out on a daily basis. Bacteria can begin to cause plaque within 24 hours of remaining in the mouth. Without removing the bacteria, tooth decay, gum disease, and cavities begin to form. Rotten or poorly kept teeth are very unsightly when it comes to meeting and talking to others. Damaged teeth and gums can also be very painful and make eating and drinking near impossible. Dental visits to correct the effects of poor dental health are very costly. Therefore, caring for your teeth while they are healthy is the best, most affordable, and easiest option available.

If you live in the Plano, TX area and would like more information, please visit Dr. Barnett's website http://www.starranchdental.com. Dr. Barnett is a general dentist in Plano offering both general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry services.

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Benefits Of Reishi Mushroom

Some of the most marvelous advances in science are made with the help of things that have been around since the ancient times. Consider for instance, the Reishi mushroom or Ling Zhi as it is known in Chinese. This remarkable herb is known for its near miraculous properties in curing various diseases and has become widely accepted by most Western practitioners as well.

So, what is Reishi? It is an herbal mushroom typically found in East Asia. Reishi is found to be extremely useful in traditional Chinese medicine to cure and heal a number of ailments. Traditional Chinese medicine is a holistic form of medicine that relies on the concept of treating the patient in their entirety and not merely removing the immediate cause of their distress. In this, the Reishi mushroom has served to be invaluable and is found in many different herbal mixtures.

There have been numerous studies and research programs conducted with Reishi mushrooms, which have identified them as being safe and free from side effects. These studies orchestrated by Asian doctors, and carried out by their Western counterparts as well, have gone to prove the efficacy of Reishi mushrooms in healing and curing numerous diseases.

Components of the Reishi Mushroom

After plenty of research that has been conducted on Reishi mushrooms, it has been found that it contains water soluble polysaccharides which are known to reduce blood pressure and prevent the formation of tumors. It also has triterpenes, particularly ganoderic acids that are very effective when it comes to treating allergy related diseases and enhance the function of the liver.

Benefits of Reishi

Reishi, or Ling Zhi as it is commonly known is a very powerful herbal medicine that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine from time immemorial. Some people believe in taking Reishi every day because it strengthens the immune system and this is quite true. Meanwhile, here are some of the other benefits of Reishi and how they can help you lead a normal and healthy life.

* Consuming Reishi regularly can help you have better blood circulation, increasing your chances of living a healthy life.

* Reishi is known to help in the treatment of anxiety, blood pressure, hepatitis, asthma and insomnia.

* Specifically, Reishi is known to alleviate the symptoms of those who suffer from respiratory problems and studies have shown that those who have a persistent cough have found great relief from taking Reishi syrup.

* Reishi is also an antioxidant and helps prevent the formation of tumors and the accumulation of other cancerous cells. It also improves the efficacy of other antioxidants such as vitamins A, E and C, so that they become more powerful when taken with Reishi.

* While Reishi can help improve the quality of your physical life, it is also good for your mental health as it helps improve your mood and make you feel better.

* Reishi when combined with brain food like gingko, gotu kola and blueberry is fantastic for improving your memory and making your brain more sharp.

Side effects

Classic Chinese literature has demarcated Reishi as a superior herb. To make things more clear, it will be helpful to know that superior herbs in Chinese medicine are those that are not poisonous and that can be taken over a long period without any side effects. Nevertheless, studies even in the Western world have indicated that Reishi does not have any side effects. However, some people might experience the typical detoxification effects of skin rashes and stomach upset, which is a way of showing that indeed, the Reishi is doing its job and cleansing your body of toxins.

Harvesting and cultivating Reishi mushrooms

Typically, Reishi mushrooms are found growing on tree trunks in damp and warm areas. However, they are not easy to find and in China, they were mostly used by royalty as they were extremely expensive. Today however, Reishi mushrooms can be cultivated as well, and can be found in countries as diverse as the US along with most parts of Asia.

If you are harvesting wild Reishi from a tree, you need to hunt for a reddish orange fungus that has a smooth edge, sometimes having striations on the outer edge. It would be wise to venture out equipped with a picture for reference although Reishi mushrooms are known to curve out from the bark and back towards the tree where they curl deeply into themselves. The stem is long and tapered. Ensure that the Reishi is free from holes and or bruises and then loosen it from the bark by passing a knife under the stem so you can pop it out from the bark.

On the other hand, if you prefer to cultivate Reishi mushrooms at home, it's quite possible with some of the Reishi kits available in the market these days. Reishi kits come with comprehensive and step-by-step instructions that help remarkably when it comes to growing a Reishi crop.

Consumption

The triterpenes in Reishi make it a very bitter mushroom. Also, it is highly advisable not to take it raw because of the bacteria that can be present on it. Reishi is available as a tablet, capsule or syrup, which can be used as medicinal supplements.

Reishi is indeed an amazing herb and a wonder medicine, the benefits of which are only now being discovered by the Western world.

About The Author
It is an herbal mushroom typically found in East Asia.reishi mushroom is an herbal mushroom typically found in East Asia. Reishi is found to be extremely useful in traditional Chinese medicine to cure and heal a number of ailments.
The author invites you to visit:
http://www.bewellbuzz.com

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