Wednesday 30 April 2008

Possible Treatments Available For Autism

Some people understand that they need to live with autism & tend
to delve some knowledge on this disease in literature & find out
possible treatments. Once they start off with their process of
finding treatments, they will come to know that there is a
plethora of autism treatments available. However, if you visit a
professional, you will come to know that every child has
different needs.

Here are some of the common treatments prescribed by the
professionals for autism:

Some people understand that they need to live with autism & tend
to delve some knowledge on this disease in literature & find out
possible treatments. Once they start off with their process of
finding treatments, they will come to know that there is a
plethora of autism treatments available. However, if you visit a
professional, you will come to know that every child has
different needs.

Here are some of the common treatments prescribed by the
professionals for autism:

a) Speech therapy:

People suffering with autism suffer from inability to speak or
converse in a particular language. Some people use poor speech
while the others are unable to apply grammar. Speech therapy
helps people come over this inability.

b) Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA):

This therapy is the oldest existing treatment for autism. This
is also the most fully researched treatment that's specifically
developed for Autism. It is an intensive system of reward based
training. It emphasizes on providing certain specific skills.

c) Occupational therapy:

This therapy for autism emphasizes on developing skills for
daily living. Most people with autism face delays in motor
skills. This therapy can prove to be quite helpful. Some of the
occupational therapists believe in providing training in sensory
integration therapy. It is a type of technique that may help
people with autism to manage hypersensitivity to light, touch &
sound.

d) Physical therapy:

Autism can be defined as a pervasive developmental delay. Most
people experience gross motor delays & some have low muscle
tone. Physical therapy can actually work towards building up
basic sports skills, strength & coordination.

e) Social skills therapy:

The main problem one faces due to autism is inability to
communicate. Most children require assistance for developing
skills to hold a conversation. Most children benefit from social
skill therapy when it comes to develop peer-based social
interaction.

f) Play therapy:

The therapy may sound strange. However, children with autism
require special help in learning to play. Playing can serve as a
tool for developing social, communication & speech skills.

g) Developmental therapies:

Developmental treatments include RDI or floor time, sun-rise &
Relationship Development Intervention. This indicates that they
start with a child's own interest & individual strengths. This
therapy is used to teach specific skills like shoe tying, tooth
brushing etc.

h) Behavior therapy:

Children with autism often feel frustrated. Behavior therapists
often figure out the exact reason behind negative behaviors &
try to improve their behavior.

i) Biomedical therapies:

These therapies include pharmaceuticals. Doctor providing these
therapies prescribe special diets, alternative treatments &
supplements.

j) Visually-Based therapies:

Most people with autism are thought to be visual thinkers. Some
tend to do really well with picture-based communication system
while others enjoy video games, video modeling & communication
systems.

Apart from the above-mentioned therapies, some doctors &
therapists use medications to treat autism symptoms such as
severe tantrums, aggression & self injurious behavior.

However, one requires to practice patience. It would not be wise
to expect overnight miracles. Living with autism is definitely
not easy. Hence, it would be better to believe in the therapies
provided & do exactly as directed by the professional.

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Thursday 17 April 2008

How we talk to children with autism?

I'd like to discuss how we talk to children with autism. One of the things that strikes me is the wide range of what is considered acceptable. I'm not talking about teaching methods. Specifically, I'm talking about the tone and volume in which we speak to these children. I know that they're often difficult to reach and may require multiple attempts to get them to attend or to understand what is being said to them. I also understand that this can be frustrating and confusing at times, but it's everyone's job to stay calm and talk to them in a reasonable manner.

There are many teachers and therapists in special education that would never speak harshly to any child. However, I've heard many speak to children with autism in ways that no regular education program would tolerate, and it seems that this practice is still widespread. My theory is that this habit of loud, cruel voices has been accepted for so long that no one questions it. It's left over from the days when persons with autism were yelled at, slapped and cattle-prodded to get them to comply.

I'd like to discuss how we talk to children with autism. One of the things that strikes me is the wide range of what is considered acceptable. I'm not talking about teaching methods. Specifically, I'm talking about the tone and volume in which we speak to these children. I know that they're often difficult to reach and may require multiple attempts to get them to attend or to understand what is being said to them. I also understand that this can be frustrating and confusing at times, but it's everyone's job to stay calm and talk to them in a reasonable manner.

There are many teachers and therapists in special education that would never speak harshly to any child. However, I've heard many speak to children with autism in ways that no regular education program would tolerate, and it seems that this practice is still widespread. My theory is that this habit of loud, cruel voices has been accepted for so long that no one questions it. It's left over from the days when persons with autism were yelled at, slapped and cattle-prodded to get them to comply.

Everyone knows that being spoken to harshly and punitively can break a person's heart, spirit and self-esteem over time. Our children are no different. They need to feel loved, accepted and cared for. Cruel and abusive tones alone can be harmful, even without negative words attached.
My suggestion is that we ask our teachers to speak to our children with kindness and respect. At times when firmness is called for, everyone can still speak kindly while staying firm. It's all in the choice of tone and language.

We want our children to grow into their full potential. It can't happen if they're feeling anxious or depressed or if their self-esteem has been damaged. We need to lay the foundation first- love, trust, respect, acceptance and kindness. Then we can build instruction over that foundation, taking care not to displace it. If you think about it, it's all relatively common sense. We all learn and become our best in this kind of supportive and accepting atmosphere. Our children do too.

by Sandra Sinclair


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Understanding Autism by Roger Wakefield

Autism, which is sometimes also referred to Childhood Autism, Early Infantile Autism, or Kanner's Autism, is caused by some neurological malfunction that causes marked delays in the development in the areas of communication and social interaction. Autism is a developmental disability that often occurs during the first three years of a child’s life. Autism, generally, affects the perception, attention, and thought of a person, though, it normally occurs at a younger age.
Autism isn’t an easy disorder to diagnose. Diagnosing autism is a very subjective process, though the DSM IV lists specific criteria that must be met for a formal diagnosis of autism. Autism has been known as one of the most severe neurological disorders affecting children for about fifty years, but until recently, it was considered to be fairly rare, affecting less than one in 1000 people.

Autism, which is sometimes also referred to Childhood Autism, Early Infantile Autism, or Kanner's Autism, is caused by some neurological malfunction that causes marked delays in the development in the areas of communication and social interaction. Autism is a developmental disability that often occurs during the first three years of a child’s life. Autism, generally, affects the perception, attention, and thought of a person, though, it normally occurs at a younger age.
Autism isn’t an easy disorder to diagnose. Diagnosing autism is a very subjective process, though the DSM IV lists specific criteria that must be met for a formal diagnosis of autism. Autism has been known as one of the most severe neurological disorders affecting children for about fifty years, but until recently, it was considered to be fairly rare, affecting less than one in 1000 people.
According to figures published by the Department of Education, the incidence of autism and diagnoses of autism have risen a staggering 800% since 1993. It would be easy if there was a standard treatment for all children with autism spectrum disorder, but unlike disorders like diabetes, there is no ‘best’ treatment for ASD. Since the mid-90s, there have been numerous anecdotal reports that treatment with secretin results in amazing and immediate improvements in many autistic children and adults. Amongst the commonly used treatments are behavioral interventions, medication, and lifestyle and dietary changes.
What causes autism? Autism is a brain disorder the etiology of which is not yet understood, which means, in basic langauge, the cause is not yet understood. There are lots of theories, and a lot of debate about the reasons for autism, and much of it is involved in the controversy surrounding exactly how common autism is, and whether or not there’s been a noticeable rise in actual cases of autism in recent times. For mothers and fathers, one of the most crucial pieces of information is that autism is not a psychological illness. Specialists quite specifically dismissed the worrying theory that autism is brought on by the absence of a nurturing mother, but the belief still exists in some circles.
If your child suffers from autism, don't worry, it is not due to the fact that you were a inadequate parent The gene connection There is a great deal of research that implies a gene-related cause for autism. For example, the rates of autism in the public is approximately 1.5 in 1000, but families with one autistic child have a 5 percent chance of having another autistic child. In fact, the majority of autism experts think that autism is the most likely to be inherited of all the neurobiological disorders.
The most persuasive evidence is the studies completed involving twins. Studying twins can help to identify a genetic link for a condition by analyzing the differencein frequency rates of the complaint in identical (monozygotic) and fraternal (dizygotic) twins. If a disorder is genetic in origin, the frequency rate will be significantly elevated in monozygotic (identical) twins, since they share the very same chromosomes. In the majority of such studies researching autism, the frequency of autism is as much as 90% higher in monozygotic (identical) twins than in fraternal (dizygotic).
On the other hand, the studies raise other questions. The fact that not one of the studies showed 100% concordance in monozygotic twins suggests that there are other factors at play in the causes of autism, for instance. And other familial studies have noted common characteristics, for instance, that autism is more common in families of physicists and engineers, giving rise to the term ‘the geek syndrome’ to identify autism.
Lifestyle factors A number of doctors suspect that there could be an environmental factor in the progression of autism. Dr. Bernard Rimland, for instance, proposed in 1967 that autism may be a result of mercury and heavy metal toxicity to which a few youngsters have a genetic sensitivity. His treatment of autistic kids with a gluten-free, casein-free diet and mercury chelation therapy (removal of mercury from the system) has shown many success with most children.
Other lifestyle factors that have been suggested to play roles are viral or bacterial infections, vaccines and thalidomide. The Supermale Brain Theory One particularly interesting recent theory about the etiology of autism is that it’s brought on by high levels of testosterone during progression. A study in England measured the testosterone level of the amniotic fluid in mothers, then followed up with testing of youngsters after birth and at four years.
It was found that the babies with the highest levels of testosterone pre-birth had a smaller vocabulary and made eye contact less usually at a year old, and were less socially developed at age four. The theory holds that elevated testosterone levels in the brain support the indicence of ‘male skills’ such as analysis of systems and seeing patterns, but repress the progression of ‘female skills’ such as communication and empathy.

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What is Autism ?

Autism is a developmental disorder of the brain that first shows signs during infancy or childhood and continues without any remission or relapse. It is very heritable, although the genetics are complex and it is not known exactly which genes cause it. The disorder is characterized by a group of symptoms rather than a single symptom and the needs of those who have it vary greatly. It is identified by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal/nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests.

Autism is a developmental disorder of the brain that first shows signs during infancy or childhood and continues without any remission or relapse. It is very heritable, although the genetics are complex and it is not known exactly which genes cause it. The disorder is characterized by a group of symptoms rather than a single symptom and the needs of those who have it vary greatly. It is identified by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal/nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests.
Symptoms often include problems with using and understanding language; difficulty relating to people, objects, and events; unusual play with toys and other objects; difficulty with changes in routine or familiar surroundings, and repetitive body movements or behavior patterns. They can range from mild to very severe.
Parents often become aware of autistic symptoms in their child around the time of a routine vaccination. Parental concern about vaccines has led to a decreasing rate of childhood immunizations and an increasing likelihood of measles outbreaks; However there is overwhelming scientific evidence showing no causal association between the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and autism, and there is no scientific evidence that the vaccine preservative thiomersal helps or causes the behavior.
The increasing popularity of drug treatment options and the expansion of benefits has given health providers incentives to diagnose ASD, resulting in some over diagnosis of children with uncertain symptoms. A person with ASD may respond atypically to medications and the medications can have adverse side effects. There is no known medication that relieves autism's core symptoms of social and communication impairments.
Researchers have located several brain abnormalities in individuals with autism; however, the reasons for these abnormalities is not known nor is the influence that they might have on behavior. Research has shown that parents are usually correct about noticing developmental problems, although they may not realize the specific nature or degree of the problem. Environmental factors that have been claimed to contribute to or exacerbate the condition, or may be important in future research, include certain foods, infectious disease, heavy metals, solvents, diesel exhaust, PCBs, phthalates and phenols used in plastic products, pesticides, brominated flame retardants, alcohol, smoking, illicit drugs, and vaccines.
Treatments include behavior and communication therapies, medicines to control symptoms and is most successful when geared toward the child's particular needs. The main goals are to lessen associated deficits and family distress, and to increase quality of life and functional independence.
Over the years, families have tried various types of traditional and non-traditional means to reduce autistic behaviors and to increase normal behaviors. The two which have received the most empirical support are Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA; behavior modification) and the use of vitamin B6 with magnesium supplements.For many children, symptoms improve with treatment and with age. Parents should be ready to adjust treatment for their child as needed.
The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms of autism: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests. Parents should use caution before adopting any of these treatments.
Conclusion-Autism is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, and causes restricted and repetitive behavior, all starting before a child is three years old. It is three times more likely to affect males than females. The disorder varies widely in its severity and symptoms and may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children or when it is masked by more debilitating handicaps. Autism is not treated with surgery or medicine (although some may be given medicine to improve certain symptoms, like aggressive behavior or attention problems). It remains a challenging condition for individuals and their families, but the outlook today is much better than it was a generation ago.

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