Uploaded August 2020 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Ever get stuck on something? Can't handle switching tasks? Don't like it when rules change? All of these could be signs that you have trouble with cognitive flexibility, also commonly referred to as flexible thinking. We're learning about this very important executive function in this video!
References/Further Reading:
sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/cognitive-flexibility#:~:text=Cognitive%20flexibility%20is%20a%20critical,to%20changes%20in%20the%20environment.
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012804036200011X
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128012383001586
understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/executive-functioning-issues/flexible-thinking-what-you-need-to-know
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4885021
verywellmind.com/ways-to-increase-your-mental-flexibility-2337481#:~:text=The%20good%20news%20is%20that,can%20help%20improve%20cognitive%20flexibility.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5388755
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Ever get stuck on something? Can't handle switching tasks? Don't like it when rules change? All of these could be signs that you have trouble with cognitive flexibility, also commonly referred to as flexible thinking. We're learning about this very important executive function in this video!
References/Further Reading:
sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/cognitive-flexibility#:~:text=Cognitive%20flexibility%20is%20a%20critical,to%20changes%20in%20the%20environment.
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012804036200011X
sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128012383001586
understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/executive-functioning-issues/flexible-thinking-what-you-need-to-know
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4885021
verywellmind.com/ways-to-increase-your-mental-flexibility-2337481#:~:text=The%20good%20news%20is%20that,can%20help%20improve%20cognitive%20flexibility.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5388755
MERCH: teespring.com/stores/stephanie-bethany
NEW: Become a channel member!: youtube.com/channel/UCpSxFn3gz2xMbof_EDumN3A/join
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![Autistic Masking in Females: My Experience
I wanted to share some about autistic masking in females and share some of my personal experience with it. I originally was going to make this solely about the behavior modeling aspect of it, but realized it fell under masking and decided to start here.
I hope this helps you understand a bit more about it and maybe relate if you are also a female on the spectrum. Hope you enjoyed!
This video is also shared on my website here: https://www.stephaniebethany.com/blog/autistic-masking-in-females-my-experience to help those who process better with a text format. Regardless, this is my original content and my own personal experiences and examples.
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Sensory Tiles:
https://cobyandbam.com/?ref=stephanie [be sure to use code stephanie783 at checkout for 20% off!]
-Please note that if you do buy through the link and use my code, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel!- Autistic Masking in Females: My Experience](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PNjfWYabkEc/mqdefault.jpg)





![Autism Criteria Checklist and Further Guidance (More Examples!)
I thought Id sit down and go over this document with you all, which is further guidance for professionals regarding diagnosing autism spectrum disorder in accordance with the DSM-V. I think this will be helpful for a stricter adherence to the actual criteria for diagnosis while giving more examples and explanations. This was published on the University of Washingtons server, so it is not officially a piece from the DSM-V, but I am comfortable with this as a reputable assistance for professionals in how to interpret the DSM-V criteria for patients. I think this will also be helpful for those looking into possible diagnosis to see if they should proceed in pursuit of diagnosis or perhaps aid in compiling their traits with life examples to bring to practitioners as to why they feel they fit the criteria for being on the autism spectrum.
This is a screening tool.
Melt Like Icecream book
Request autographed by Sarah version: https://www.facebook.com/theautisticOT/posts/3092877360840005
Not autographed, just through Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Melt-Cream-Sarah-Selvaggi-Hernandez/dp/0995307091/
[this is NOT sponsored in any way, just wanted to share ;)]
Guidelines: https://depts.washington.edu/dbpeds/Screening%20Tools/DSM-5%28ASD.Guidelines%29Feb2013.pdf
Videos I mentioned I would link:
DSM-5 Criteria: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiXTEDguAe0
Flat Affect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7rCU8VfWQI
Eye Contact: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWMuQ7MODvk
Theory of Mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQfIisooqDc
Echolalia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTBAkxcVdZ8
Stimming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ2u72D1bmw
Autism Levels on IndieAndys channel: https://youtu.be/DYf6-lEh2fI
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![Does Infant Therapy Prevent Autism? | Reviewing New Research
News outlets like The Telegraph, BBC News, and more shared recently about a pre-diagnosis intervention therapy that supposedly prevents autism or lowers the risk by 2/3rds. I decided to look into this research to help bring understanding to what is actually being shown in the study and push past sensationalized headlines.
IndieAndy: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCR-fiMOz0Ot2x3bwA mS0A
Sez Francis: https://www.youtube.com/c/SezFrancis1
References
Bowler, J. (2021, September 21). A Landmark Autism Intervention Study Has Shown Dramatically Reduced Diagnosis Rates. ScienceAlert. Retrieved September 21, 2021, from https://www.sciencealert.com/landmark-autism-study-on-intervention-for-babies-reduces-clinical-diagnosis-by-two-thirds
Roxby, P. (2021, September 20). Early baby therapy could reduce autism diagnoses. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/health-58626945
Sher-Censor, E., Dolev, S., Said, M., Baransi, N., & Amara, K. (2017). Coherence of Representations Regarding the Child, Resolution of the Child’s Diagnosis and Emotional Availability: A Study of Arab-Israeli Mothers of Children with ASD. Journal of Autism & Developmental Disorders, 47(10), 3139–3149. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3228-8
van ’t Hof, M., Tisseur, C., van Berckelear-Onnes, I., van Nieuwenhuyzen, A., Daniels, A. M., Deen, M., Hoek, H. W., & Ester, W. A. (2021). Age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2012 to 2019. Autism, 25(4), 862–873. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361320971107
Video-feedback intervention to promote positive parenting and sensitive discipline (VIPP-SD). (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2021, from https://tavistockandportman.nhs.uk/care-and-treatment/treatments/video-feedback-intervention-promote-positive-parenting-vipp/
Whitehouse, A. J. O., Varcin, K. J., Pillar, S., Billingham, W., Alvares, G. A., Barbaro, J., Bent, C. A., Blenkley, D., Boutrus, M., Chee, A., Chetcuti, L., Clark, A., Davidson, E., Dimov, S., Dissanayake, C., Doyle, J., Grant, M., Green, C. C., Harrap, M., … Hudry, K. (2021). Effect of Preemptive Intervention on Developmental Outcomes Among Infants Showing Early Signs of Autism: A Randomized Clinical Trial of Outcomes to Diagnosis. JAMA Pediatrics, e213298. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.3298
MERCH: https://stephanie-bethany.creator-spring.com/
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Sensory Tiles:
https://cobyandbam.com/?ref=stephanie [be sure to use code stephanie783 at checkout for 20% off!]
-Please note that if you do buy through the link and use my code, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel!- Does Infant Therapy Prevent Autism? | Reviewing New Research](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Sa17e3nQ0kw/mqdefault.jpg)
![In Defense of Autism Moms
This video is an adaptation of an ethnographic essay I did for school. There are some minor adjustments, but most of it is verbatim. This means you may hear a very introductory explanation of parts of autism, person-first language, etc. Furthermore, this looks into what makes an autism mom, and makes an argument that isnt exactly popular in the current autistic community online. I also want to clarify that this is more in regard to the mothers of autistic children who have higher support needs, as, for example, my upbringing wouldnt require autism to be so closely associated with my mothers existence.
If you honestly want to try to understand the perspective of autism moms or care about the future of the autistic community, I encourage you to watch. Lets build bridges instead of burn them.
What Makes An Autism Mom: Understanding the Invisible Bond and Its Importance to the Future of the Autistic Community
*Editing note: YES I KNOW, there are some editing mistakes. I fought with my editing software and the production of this video for literal days and it stressed me out and Im over it, so lets pretend the mistakes arent there and VOILA, we can all be happy :)
Works Cited: https://pastebin.pl/view/7908ba51
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My website: https://www.stephaniebethany.com/
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Or give once at https://ko-fi.com/stephaniebethany
Sensory Tiles:
https://cobyandbam.com/?ref=stephanie [be sure to use code stephanie783 at checkout for 20% off!]
-Please note that if you do buy through the link and use my code, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel!- In Defense of Autism Moms](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/T9gqx66eStI/mqdefault.jpg)
