Autism-Articles

Current incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD is unbelievably 1 out of every 95 children. As compared with the number of children diagnosed with this disorder in 1980, the percentage of ASD has quadrupled. In 1980, autism was considered a rare disorder, with an estimated 2-5 per 10,000 people. Autism is generally diagnosed during a child's first 3 years of life, however new research is now identifies diagnostic indicators as early as 6 months. One may wonder what is happening to cause such a dramatic increase in this relatively new disability. Autistic children display difficulties in Sensory Integration Disorder (SID), comprehension problems, expressive language disorders, and a variety of social/pragmatic difficulties. A review of medical, professional, and research literature will result in an array of various explanations. An extensive review of the medical, professional, and autism interest group literature results in a wide diversity of opinion and ex...

Having a child diagnosed on the Autism spectrum is difficult and heart breaking for parents. There are so many unknowns with which to contend. How functional will the child be as an adult? How severe is their specific diagnosis? As a spectrum of developmental disorders, diagnoses can range from classic autism to high functioning autism, from Asperger's syndrome to Pervasive Developmental Delay. Each has different challenges and potential outcomes in terms of a child's development and later independence. Once the initial shock of the diagnosis wears off, however, there are additional challenges in terms of paying for treatments and therapies. For a young family without healthcare insurance, an autism diagnosis can be even more difficult to face. Treatment for autism includes occupational therapy, play/socialization therapy, behavior modification therapies, visits to developmental pediatricians, neurologists, psychologists, and even psychiatrists when needed. Chi...

Autism is a disorder that develops in young children. Some babies show symptoms as young as six months while others appear to be normal until age two or three before showing signs. In any case, the disorder shows up in three ways: communication impairment, social interaction issues, and repetitive behavior with restricted interests. People affected with the disorder will show their own unique combination of symptoms. To deal with the long-term medical issues related to the disorder, the family needs to have good health insurance in place and keep it there. That will insure the family has the resources necessary to deal with the disorder through the years. Many families are lucky enough to have health insurance in place when they first get a diagnosis of autism. However, life goes on. They might find themselves laid off or moving to a new area. In any case, they may have to get new health insurance in place. If you are in this situation, take action as soon as you know ...

"The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or heard-they must be felt with the heart." --Helen Keller That simple quotation reminds me of my former student' directive: "Open Your Heart and Join." This directive, I believe, meant to link consciousness together in a state of surrendering self to soul. In this state, language impairments based on a conscious selection of words become obsolete. A higher understanding based on subconscious knowing becomes apparent. Separation of ideas ceases to exist, as a mutual flow of blended communication comes to the fore. Unconditional love, trust, and expectation of competence open up this channel for subconscious blending. A sense of balance is created as we establish a rhythm and move in tandem. I am part of them and they are part of me. We are in communion. By linking souls with individuals with severe autism, I appear less alien to them and they appear less alien to me. I speculate that Annie Sulliv...

An article on the Discover web site and the publisher's print magazine revealed that the traditional views of autism as a genetic disorder originating in the brain are changing. New discoveries reveal that autism is possibly a neuroinflammatory disorder that is also linked to the immune system and "the gut". Autism, as you may have heard, is on the rise at an alarming rate. So are many other disorders, including those no one knows about until commercials for the wonder drugs that manage those disorders are aired on television. Is it a coincidence that we are plagued with so many diseases and disorders? No. As we continue to pollute our bodies (and the planet) with increasingly toxic food, air, water, politics, cultural habits, etc, I hardly see the great mystery behind our exploding health crisis. In a piece I posted some years ago on our country's Disorder Disorder - the disorder of having many disorders - I touched on the need for us to start addres...

For parents with autistic children, dealing with school systems can often be a nightmare. Simply put, many of today's schools are underfunded, and as a result, many teachers and guidance counselors are undereducated when it comes to understanding how to treat children with autism spectrum disorder. No matter where the cycle begins, however, placing blame on schools offers little benefit. Instead, it is up to parents and schools to work together to provide ABA therapy for students who have been diagnosed with ASD. Studies show that the earlier the treatment is started, the more successful it will be. Treating autism spectrum disorder using ABA therapy is shown to be the most effective method possible. There are more than three decades of studies that have been done on ABA, both through the government and through independent researchers. The one thing the studies have in common is that they show that ABA, especially when introduced early, can greatly improve a child...

While doing your research on vaccinations, keep the above questions in mind. THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW: The immune system is an individual's mechanism for recognizing and responding to a pathogen. Our immune system is something we have evolved over millions of years. People who are alive today have evolved to fend off most of the pathogens we are exposed to. THE IMMUNE SYSTEM The immune system is complex and made up of many components that work together to protect us from any harmful microorganisms that can get into our bodies to infect us and make us sick. SKIN Component: SKIN (impermeable), mucus membranes (semi-permeable): we need them to absorb food and oxygen from our environment to live, and excrete wastes. CELL-MEDIATED Component: CELL MEDIATED system involving INFLAMMATION and SPECIALIZED BLOOD CELLS. This involves chemicals that cause inflammation (definition, redness, pain - local or systemic - fever, malaise, Why fevers are seen as bad: Some fevers if left ...

On May 20, 2010, researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health presented their findings from a study exploring the possible relationship between the use of fertility drugs and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The scientists reported to attendees at the International Meeting for Autism Research in Philadelphia that women who used fertility drugs to get pregnant had almost double the risk of having a child with ASD verses nonusers. The drugs studied included Clomid (clomiphene citrate) and Pergonal (gonadotropin). This recent study is part of a growing body of research that strengthens the argument that Clomid and other similar drugs are a cause of ASD via their ability to deny cholesterol to a developing embryo shortly after conception. About 58% of ASD children have low total cholesterol Clomid has a long half-life and is present during the embryonic period (first 8 weeks) even when taken before conception. Studies have shown it to be biologically active for up...

Have you thought about exploding or have done it with your child who has autism because of his or her behavior? I have. I found it difficult to calm down and to cheer up. I felt like a person out of control, until I realized I do not have to display that kind of action. I learned how to calm down and cheer up. You can do the same. With my experience of viewing, being with children who have autism, their family members feel an explosion of stress that keeps them from calming down or finding a way to cheer up because they let the little things take control them. You and I were designed and created to bring forth a certain amount of mental, physical and emotional stress and strain day after day. There are days when your child with the disorder of autism spectrum, will bring you problems that arise when you allow yourself to come under more of a load than you are capable of handling. Your child can get you off guard from managing your time and being selective of your prior...

How can we help our children with autism fit in with other kids? As parents, it can break our hearts when we see our child with autism struggle with feeling different. Often children with autism may end up avoiding social situations altogether because of the challenges of decoding social signals. In addition, the noises, sounds, and smells of those around them may be too much for them from a sensory standpoint. Finally, they may have episodes of being bullied, and thus are afraid to deal with any more social situations. Deal With Your Own Thoughts and Feelings About Your Child With Autism Sometimes, we are unaware of the depth of thought and emotion we have with our child. We may be in denial of his/her differences. We may unconsciously be angry that they are not like neurotypical children, and we may be trying to make them be someone they aren't. We may be either overly focused on their weaknesses. Make sure, as a parent, that you take the time to read autobio...

Autism is a neurological disorder developed in young children usually before the age of three. Autism affects the information processing in the brain causing impaired social interaction, communication and restricted and repetitive behavior. Unfortunately autism is one of the disorders that we have not been able to figure that much about. Because autism affects the way that nerve cells connect to their synapses it is hard to determine where the mutation, genetic abnormality or association of other agents fit into this disease. Although we have come along way to discover how the body and its mechanisms work unfortunately in the case of autism we have yet to come up with how autism occurs. Parents usually start to notice signs of autism within the first two years of a child's life. Symptoms usually progress gradually over time however in rare cases children will develop normally and then regress backwards. Severity of symptoms varies from case to case. Some individual...

All children, but particularly those with sensory processing disorder, can benefit from movement activities in the classroom that provide input to the proprioceptive receptors in the joints and ligaments. In addition to providing exercise, these types of "heavy work" movements make it easier for the child to focus and attend. For the child with SPD, it's vital to get proprioceptive and deep pressure input throughout the course of the day as part of what's called a "sensory diet" of activities. It is not enough to get plenty of exercise and calming input before or after school, or during one session of OT. Most children with SPD need to be encouraged and guided to get the input they need throughout the course of the day. There are many ways to help kids get this input within an ordinary classroom and school building. The child who is a sensory seeker will likely eagerly participate and even find her own ways to get the input she senses her bo...