Is there a connection with eating disorders, such as anorexia and ASD?
Click here for a Webinar by Dori Zener, M.S.W., R.S.W., is an Individual, Couple and Family Therapist at The Redpath Centre. She has been working with families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), learning disabilities and intellectual disabilities for over ten years.
This topic has been coming up over and over again lately for all of us who work with teens and adults with high functioning autism, especially our females on the spectrum. I was recently sitting in a meeting about a young girl that Chris and I are both working with who is struggling with illegal drug use, an eating disorder, and all the sensory, social and communication challenges that go along with autism. The biggest question on the table was which one do we tackle first? Isn't the best approach to recognize the autism first and foremost and approach the other two utilizing ASD based strategies? As we begin to plan a program that focuses on helping this teen become a more confident and healthy adult, autism will need to always be intertwined within our discussions.
I felt it was important to share some of the information that I have been reading in the hopes that it will help others who are struggling with similar issues.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Sabra Evans
Below are links to just a few great articles on the research being done on the genetic link between autism and anorexia and what many are now calling "the female ASD".
Click above for a great webinar that focuses on woman with hfASD, how they present differently than males on the spectrum and how their symptoms are misdiagnosed often as anorexia opposed to autism.
http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/06/what-its-like-to-have-anorexia-and-autism.html
http://nedic.ca/blog/eating-disorders-asd-reflections-world-autism-awareness-day
http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/is-anorexia-the-female-aspergers/5518/laurel-joss/
https://spectrumnews.org/features/deep-dive/the-invisible-link-between-autism-and-anorexia/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264666.php
I felt it was important to share some of the information that I have been reading in the hopes that it will help others who are struggling with similar issues.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Sabra Evans
Below are links to just a few great articles on the research being done on the genetic link between autism and anorexia and what many are now calling "the female ASD".
Click above for a great webinar that focuses on woman with hfASD, how they present differently than males on the spectrum and how their symptoms are misdiagnosed often as anorexia opposed to autism.
http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2014/06/what-its-like-to-have-anorexia-and-autism.html
http://nedic.ca/blog/eating-disorders-asd-reflections-world-autism-awareness-day
http://www.autismdailynewscast.com/is-anorexia-the-female-aspergers/5518/laurel-joss/
https://spectrumnews.org/features/deep-dive/the-invisible-link-between-autism-and-anorexia/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/264666.php