Autism-Articles

Another characteristic of autism is that children affected by this disorder will become fixated on certain repeated activities or behaviors, getting "stuck" on a particular object or activity. Autistic children also have difficulty adjusting to a change in routine. Because autism affects the way a child's brain processes sensory input, their fixation on repeated activities interferes with imaginative play. Physical Manifestations of Obsessive Behavior Repeated motions, called stereotypies or self-stimulation, set children with autism apart from other children. Some children with autism may spend hours flapping their arms or flicking their fingers, or rocking back and forth. Some may suddenly freeze in one position, while others repeat certain actions over and over - turning lights on and off, or touching or arranging a set of objects over and over. Still other children may become fixated on specific objects, developing a fascination with particular...

While parents and educators of autistic children often realize the benefits of education and routine, quite often the benefits of physical activity and sports are overlooked. Some parents might think that their child is simply not capable for participating in a sports program. Or they might just feel too busy and overwhelmed with the daily routine of taking care of an autistic child, and think the time spent on sport is not as valuable as other programs. However, physical exercise has been shown to greatly improve the lives of autistic children and to improve their behaviour as well. Autistic children, like all children with a disability are more prone to avoid sports and thus run the risk of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. Perhaps the greatest risk however, is simply not having the opportunity to reap the benefits that regular physical exercise can provide, such as improved endurance, a chance to develop fine and gross motor skills and a self-confid...

Does the old fashion medicine man or witch doctor still exist? Remember the stories of the charlatan selling snake oil by the side of the road? Have you been told about someone who can 'cure' your child with Autism? Have you been contacted by someone claiming they can reverse the progression of your child's disorder? Have you found a website that promises new and exciting treatments that will "fix" your child's condition? As a parent of a child on the Autism spectrum, all of these assertions may sound enticing and something you desperately want to believe in. It is bad enough when we are personally affected with an illness or a disability of our own but when it affects our most prized possession, our child, we are apt to do just about anything to eliminate the disorder and the challenges it brings. Accepting a diagnosis of autism for your child is a difficult pill to swallow and finding a cure, or at least the best treatment option, bec...

Autism music therapy has been the topic of great recent interest due to its surprising yet positive effects on autistic children. For autistic toddlers and young children between the ages of 3 to 6, music therapy seems to help connect the dots in terms of emotional and physical behavior and learning. Abbey Monroe, age 4, is a shining example of what happens when music therapy is introduced to a child with autism. Abbey's mother Sarah Monroe, often sings to her and chants short rhythmic phrases to get Abbey to comply and play along while she moves throughout her day from one activity to the next; activities ranging from changing her clothes, to eating a meal, to taking a bath. Autism Music Therapy at Work in the Classroom Abbey, who previously lacked verbal skills due to severe autism, is now able to talk and communicate much more effectively after being enrolled in Crenshaw Elementary School where she gets special attention from a highly specialized staff of ...

Autism Spectrum Disorders Autism Range Disorders (ASD) refers to a group of neurodevelopment disorders that are characterized by disabled social interaction, repetitious body movements (such as rocking, wringing of the hands, and banging of the head) and communication issues. Children and persons diagnosed with Autism Range Disorders will process information and facts in his or her human brain differently than others without autism. Persons having ASD could react to several social situations and stimulations in different ways. Children having Autism Range Dysfunction may behave, learn and react abnormally compared to other babies with out Autism Range Dysfunction. The affects of ASD are usually special to every individual with the disorder. The signs and symptoms of theRange disorders can range from mild to extreme. Autism Range Disorders Statistics and Data The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 1 in 110 kids have got some form of autism. Accordin...

According to statistics, there are about 400,000 autistic children in the united states! Early diagnosis of autistic children can aide in the increased development of their social skills and the ability to better take care of themselves on a daily basis. Though autistic children are generally highly intelligent, autism impairs them by affective their communication and interaction with others, and the way they respond to external stimuli. Autistic children can often be identified by their difficulty in expressing themselves, or understanding others Autism is more commonly known in the medical community as "autism spectrum disorder". It was not until the middle of the 1900's that science able to put a lable on something that was affecting so many people, especially children. Although autism is present at birth, signs of this disorder can be difficult to identify during infancy. Because there is no medical cure for autism, parents of autism children r...

When you talk about autism treatment for children, one name will keep coming up again and again. Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA, is probably the most common treatment for autistic children, as well as being the most scientifically backed. Of course, the decision of what kind of autism treatment to pursue for your children is always a difficult one. There are so many different kinds, and trying to separate what therapies are safe and effective and which are snake oil can be difficult. You also have to consider how much money you have to spend on the therapies that won't be covered by insurance, and how much time you have to spend managing and directing the therapies. Autism is not curable, but it can be improved. Different kids, however, are going to improve at different rates and to different levels. ABA Breaks Tasks Down Into Simple Steps ABA is often a good starting point for the treatment of autism in children. It was developed by Ivar Lovaas, and is...

Frequently Dr. Neubrander is asked what diet is the best or in what order the diets should be added. The following article was written by Dr. Neubrander to address this issue. Please note that diets are an individualized thing and there is no simple answer. A few general rules that will apply to most patients the majority of the time (with major exceptions, of course!) are as follows: Begin with the GFCF diet first and observe for clinical benefits. The next diet is usually the SCD followed by the diets that eliminate special foods (elimination and rotation), food chemicals, e.g. phenolics, salicylates, glutamates, excitotoxins, etc. This can be followed by a "limited" low oxalate diet (not yet strict), the Body Ecology diet or the GAPS diet (Gut and Psychology Syndrome diet). The last diet many parents move to is a very "strict" low oxalate diet. NOTE THAT THERE IS NO 'PERFECT ORDER' AND DIFFERENT CHILDREN WOULD DO BETTER TO SWITCH T...

Children with autism not only have trouble communicating socially, but may also have problems behaving. The goal of speech therapy is to improve all aspects of communication. For example, sometimes children with autism have trouble understanding when it is acceptable to use bossy or polite requests. Speech therapy can help children to learn what sort of tone they should use when speaking. Speech therapy sessions will vary greatly depending upon the therapist and the child. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) is one type of speech therapy that is used for children who do not imitate the sounds of others. For these children, several speech therapy methods may help them learn to speak. AAC is often the first strategy to help them learn enough communication to be able to have some social interactions. There are five other methods that may also help these children: 1) avoid pressuring children to speak, and using puppets and play as encouragement instead;...

Those concerned with autism treatment often want to know how early you can legitimately diagnose a child or infant with autism. Now, opinions are certainly split, and there is no definitive answer, but some do say that there are some signs to watch for in your infant. Autism is hard to diagnose before 2 years of age, but babies can start showing symptoms between 12 and 18 months of age. Mostly, you want to be aware of what the developmental milestones for each age are, and pay attention to make sure they attain them. Missing milestones is a good clue to potential problems. If your infant does not respond to cuddling, and seems to stiffen in your arms and try to get away from you, that could be a possible sign (or you could just have a finicky baby). If your infant doesn't look at you when being fed, or reach out to be held, these are also signs. Other Possible Warning Signs of Autism In Infants Here are some other early signs of autism in babies and toddlers:...

Autism is a brain development disorder which causes problems in social interaction, communication and the general behavior of the affected child. The early autism signs in infants start to appear as early as six months but typically infants are diagnosed only upon reaching 3 years old. It is important for parents to be aware of the early autism signs in infants. Early identification is important so that interventions can be implemented and parents can also seek advice and help from experts and from autism organizations. Babies suspected to have the disorder should be observed further and must be checked by pediatricians or autism experts. Early intervention is important to the success of the different treatments for children with autism. This is the reason why it is best for parents to know the early autism signs in infants. Here are the 4 early autism signs in infants every parent must know: Unusual interaction with others This is the most common of all the ear...

Schedules are an important part of every child's life. This is especially true when dealing with a child of special needs like Autism. Having a schedule will help the Autistic child feel a sense of structure. Children with Autism often have anxiety issue they are dealing with. Having a schedule helps the levels of anxiety to drop. They know what to expect on a daily basis. They know at a certain time of the day what they will be doing. If there is no schedule or structure in an Autistic child's daily life things will be very hectic. They have lots of doctors and therapist appointments. Sometimes there will be more than one appointment a day. Keeping a schedule can help you and your child to make sure they do not miss any appointments. Some Autistic children have trouble with reading. You can use a visual schedule. Have pictures for all the daily activities. This allows them to see what is coming next. Having a schedule for your child will help avoid s...

So, you find out from the doctor the dreaded diagnosis that your child has Autism, Aspergers, or one of the similar related to autism. You want to know, what does it mean to be autistic? You are very overwhelmed, very lost, and ask the question what is autism? Where do I start? Where do I find information on how to help my child get better? This is dedicated to help parents of children with autism to find some answers. We have a daughter with autism and have been in your shoes as parents. Over the last 6 years we have tried a lot of different approaches and treatments to helping her improve. Many have heard the word autism in the news over the last few years, but many are unfamiliar with what autism really is. Autism affects how cells and the brain communicate, and how information is organized. How this happens and what really goes wrong in people with autism is still a mystery, as there is not a pill or cure-all for autism. Autism is a range of disorders on th...

Is your child with autism over responsive to sensation which shows by withdrawing from touch, or getting upset by loud noises? Or is your child under responsive to sensations which shows by hyperactivity, unawareness of touch or pain, and likes loud sounds? Your child may have sensory integration dysfunction, which could be affecting their education and life. This article will discuss what sensory integration disorder is, and also about diagnosis. Sensory integration refers to our ability to take in information through our senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing), interpret that information, and respond to it. Sensory Integration Dysfunction (SID) is the inability of the brain, to correctly process information brought in by the senses. People with SID may misinterpret everyday sensory information such as touch, sound and movement. Below are a few symptoms of SID: 1. Loves to spin, swing, jump-this may calm them down, 2.Complains that some cloth...

Socialization skills are a challenge for autistic children. In addition, what about recognizing new faces? Are autistic children considered to be shy if they do not recognize a face, or do they find it a struggle to know who the faces are? If this is true, why? Learning from my years of experiencing various autistic children with their levels of developmental functions, have indicated to me, autistic children seem less likely to feel comfortable around unfamiliar faces. My brother, was a perfect example of this kind of behavior, who was autistic. Individuals, whether they are adults or children who do not have autism, memorize faces and features without realizing it. An average face is what we think and feel and it tends to make a picture in our mind of what people look like. What about new faces, that are not familiar to autistic people? These faces could be a struggle for them, because they are not able to identify the variations of the unique features new faces h...

Low blood glucose levels on blood tests is something I have seen from time to time in children on the Autism spectrum. Glucose is a fuel source, in the form of simple sugar, that our body and brain need to function appropriately. And while most test results come back in the normal range, which is between 80 and 100, occasionally they do come back higher, 105 to 110, and periodically I do see them in the 60's. Hypoglycemia or low blood glucose, can be a temporary issue or it can be an ongoing, debilitating issue. Of course people with diabetes have the situation where their blood sugar goes very high and then goes very low when they have imbalances in insulin. Low blood sugar can impact many things in an individual including cognition, attention, focusing, it can even affect behavior and mood. If you see that your child gets moody throughout the day when they don't eat frequently, they may have reactive hypoglycemia or low blood sugar issues. Now there ar...

Children with ADD, ADHD, autism, learning disabilities and other special needs often have difficulty with the social or academic aspects of school and they can be reluctant to return to the demands of the educational environment. Parents who build in support with routines established and maintained during the summer help their child feel safe and secure as they venture back to the world of school and friendships. Begin the transition process early At least a month in advance, show your child on the calendar when school will start. Include a little drawing of something that symbolizes fun to your child, such as a kickball or an artist's palette-something that he connects with school. Back plan from that date, writing into the calendar times to go shopping for clothes, school supplies, and a cool new book bag. Also plan ahead for end of summer fun experiences such as a day at the beach or a barbeque with friends. Be sure your child knows these great events are ...

I want to cover the issue of regression, and particularly since the holidays are over, the issue of regression after the holidays. There are several children that I see in my practice who have been very impacted by regression and it is very disturbing for their families. When you have a child who is progressing, has good eye contact, language and socialization and suddenly regresses, losing eye contact, language and is now engaged in more self stimulatory and sensory seeking behaviors, you must ask what is going on? With the holidays there are always special concerns to address regarding regression, the first is dietary infractions. Maybe over the holidays a child has gluten or dairy that they are not used to eating and that is contributing to regression. Another dietary issue over the holidays is increased sugar and artificial ingredients intake and that can also contribute to regression. Between school parties, parties at friends house, etc, there are more op...

Most parents look forward to the end of August because it is back to school time. Back to school time for parents with children who have special needs can be a mixed blessing. Transitions and change are difficult for all children, but particularly children with autism. Here are some tips for parents to help make back to school time more pleasant for you and your child with autism. Begin getting into the school routine early. Make a picture schedule of the morning routine and start following it. Start getting up a little bit earlier each day and going to bed earlier at night. This will make thing easier instead of waiting until the night before school starts and saying, "School is tomorrow. You need to go to bed at 8:00" when your child has been staying up until 10:00. Think twice before purchasing new school clothes. In my experience children with autism do not generally like the feeling of new clothes. To send a child to school with all new scratchy clot...

It's that time of year again; time to go back to school. While many children are excited about returning to school, children with autism often experience a great deal of stress and anxiety during this time of year. Even if your child is going to the same school building they attended the previous year, this still means change for your child as there will most likely be new children, there may be a new teacher, and possibly a new classroom. Because these things can cause children with autism to have some major melt downs at the beginning of the school year, this article will outline five tips to help make this transition go more smoothly for you and your child. 1. Get Prepared A few weeks before school starts, talk to your child about the coming end to the summer routine. Start talking about how things will change when they go back to school. Talk about what things will change for them such as will they have a new babysitter, will they ride the bus etc. Try t...

Autism is affecting more children today and doctors still do not know exactly what might be causing this disorder. Some of the symptoms of Autism can vary and may resemble other types of disorders out there and this could possibly lead to misdiagnoses. Learning the symptoms now will help you better understand how Autism works. Every person diagnosed with Autism doesn't have all the same symptoms. That is why it is difficult to sometimes diagnose. Every person acts differently. You may see one person who is bright, seems controlled, and can carry on with every day tasks. Others may be withdrawn, doesn't like to talk to others, and prefers to be on his or her own instead. The main symptom that every person diagnosed with Autism does share is the disabilities, delays, or challenges that involve socialization. Diagnosing Autism As mentioned before, Autism is not easy to diagnose. That is why doctors follow a certain type of manual that helps them to diagnose...