AUTISM AWARENESS

The Terrible Teens - Dealing with Autistic Teenagers

2009-02-15T23:20:00.000-08:00

One of the scariest side effects of changes in an autistic person’s body is the onset of seizures. Many autistic individuals experience seizures from birth to adulthood, but even if your child does not suffer from these episodes, he or she may begin to experience seizures during puberty and afterwards, due to the new levels of hormones in the body. Strange as it may sound, violent shaking seizures are not necessarily a bad thing. Almost a quarter of autistic children experience seizures, but many go undetected because they are not textbook versions of seizures.

If you recognize that your child is experiencing a seizure, you can do something about it, and doctors will be able to better treat your child. However, if the seizures are subconsciously happening, you and your child may not realize it. The result of these small hidden seizures can be a loss in function, which can be devastating, especially if you child was improving before puberty. Regular check-ups during puberty, therefore, are extremely important.

The changes might not necessarily be a bad thing. New hormone levels in the body and the other changes associated with puberty might help your autistic child grow and succeed in areas in which he or she normally had no skill or interest. Many parents report that their child’s behavior improved, and that learning in social settings was easier.

The important thing about puberty is to learn to monitor the changes in your child very carefully and to ask your doctor lots of questions. Remember that puberty is a difficult experience for any young adult, and so it will be even more difficult for someone with autism. Try to practice patience and understanding with your teen, and be careful to regulate his or her autism so that the transition from child to adult will go more smoothly.

Dietary Concerns : Glutton and Casein

2009-02-05T21:24:00.000-08:00

Glutton is a substance found in many common food products, with wheat, rye, and oaks being the main culprits. Casein is found in dairy products, such as milk. If you or your child with autism eats many foods with these products in them, such as breads or cheeses, you may be able to better control autistic behavior by decreasing consumption of such foods.

The difficulty in digesting both glutton and casein comes from an inability to digestively handle the peptides in these substances. Since they are not broken down as in a normal body, these extra peptides are absorbed into the blood stream. Elevated levels of peptides disrupt major brain functions, contributing to the effects of autism. By cutting foods containing glutton and casein out of you or your child’s diet, you can help the body with the process of breaking down the peptides present in the body. To see if you or your child has a high absorption rate of these peptides, your doctor can administer a simple urine test.

Speak to a nutritionist or doctor before making any major changes in your diet. When you decide to cut glutton and casein from your diet, do not attempt to do this all at once. Cutting anything from your diet suddenly is unhealthy, and your body could go into withdrawal. Instead, slowly begin reducing the amounts of breads, grains, and milk products until you are eating none. You doctor can provide you with a complete list of all the foods containing glutton and casein if you truly want to cut them all from your diet.

However, it may be necessary to get the nutrients that you find in glutton and casein products in another way, such as with dietary supplements. Again, your doctor can help in this decision. Overall, maintaining a balanced diet is the healthiest thing to do. Leaving glutton and casein products out of your or your child’s diet may help control autistic behavior, so it is an option that should be considered, but eating a healthy diet altogether is the best way to keep you and your family healthy.

Autistic Children and the Strain on Marriage

2009-02-03T02:48:00.001-08:00

Why did you marry your husband or wife? By asking yourself this question often, you can focus on the good things in your marriage. Raising a child with autism is stressful, and if you are stressed, you have a tendency to snap at another person for the smallest missteps. Instead of focusing on these bad qualities, take some time to enjoy one another the way you did at the beginning of the relationship. This may include spending some time apart from your children. When you find out that your child is autistic, it is beneficial to make sure that you and your spouse are not the only two people with whom your child will respond. A grandparent, aunt or uncle, mature sibling, or nanny are good people to have in your child’s life in the most intimate way possible. This way, alone time with your spouse is possible.

Work together with your spouse to help you child, instead of fighting with one another. It is very likely that you will have different ideas about what to do in certain situations, so be prepared to compromise and always seek professional consultations before making any medical decisions for your child. By working together, remember that you are giving your child the best opportunities. Try to set apart time every week to spend together as a family, especially if one parent or the other is the primary caregiver.

Lastly, seek help when you need it. Part of any successful marriage is spending some time apart to focus on individual needs, and it is no different when you have an autistic child. However, if you find that you and your spouse are not happy unless you are spending time alone, it is time to reevaluate the situation. A family or marriage counselor can help you and your spouse get back on the right track to a happy life together. It might also be beneficial to meet other couples raising autistic children. You are not alone, and it is never easy. By making an effort to keep your marriage happy, even when you are stressed with the task of raising an autistic child, you and your spouse can ensure that your marriage does not end in a messy divorce.

A Gift of Sight : Visual Perception Treatment for Autistic Children

2009-02-02T19:57:00.001-08:00

Autistic children mainly have problems with sensory overload and distortion. These are some of the same problems many people not suffering from the disorder develop, and so many treatment options have become available. Individuals with autism often find, however, that the sensory overload of the world due to light, colors, contrast, shapes, and patterns, is too much to handle, causing them to act out or shut down in general. This is sometimes a genetic condition that is simply enhanced by the autism, so if the child’s parents have trouble with reading or have been otherwise treated for visual perceptive problems, there is a good chance that the child needs help as well.

The Irene Method is one effective way to treat visual perception disorders. This method uses color to create a more harmonized world. You may have heard of these methods if anyone has ever suggested using a color filter over the page when reading to be able to read better and more quickly. This method is proven to work, and if your autistic child is at the maturity level of reading, you may want to try these color filters to see if there is a difference in speed and comprehension. However, it is more likely that your autistic child will benefit from color filters during the entire day, not just when reading. Special glasses have been made using colored lenses to conquer this problem. Not every child responds the same way to every color, so it is a process of trial and error to find out which color is the one blocking the harmful light. You can also choose to use colored light bulbs in your home to help autistic individuals with their visual perception problems.

This method mainly helps children in 4 areas: depth perception, social interaction, learning, and physical well being. The colors help the child determine how far he or she is from an object, and the world becomes more three-dimensional, helping depth perception. Social interaction also improves because the child feels as though he or she is in a calmer world and can more clearly see and interpret facial expressions. The colors make it possible to learn, especially when reading, and overall, the child will feel better, because it helps reduce headaches and dizziness. By testing this technique and others to help visual perception problems, you can help your child better cope with the world and his or her autism.

Dealing with Asperger Syndrome

2009-02-01T23:37:00.001-08:00

Many famous and successful people were diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Historians even suggest that Einstein and Mozart each suffered from this disorder. It is important to note that no form of autism is a form of mental retardation. In fact, most people with Asperger Syndrome are very intelligent. Asperger Syndrome does not dictate mental ability, but rather makes it difficult for people to communicate in social settings, much in the same way a typical autistic child has trouble with behavior in groups.

When this disorder goes undiagnosed, children do not get the help they need, leading to problems in school such as bullying. Most children are relieved to find out they have Asperger Syndrome instead of just thinking they are less of a person. By getting diagnosed, not only can you or your child put a name to the problems, but it is then also possible to get treated to improve your overall situation.

Some symptoms to watch out for if you suspect Asperger Syndrome are some of the same symptoms that people with full-blown autism experience. This includes social confusion, first and foremost. Many people with Asperger Syndrome find it very difficult to deal with transition or change, wanting everything to stay the same.

A quickly changing environment is especially confusing. People with Asperger Syndrome also may say rude or inappropriate things when they don’t mean to do so, and may not be able to understand others’ thought processes. Another common trait they share with autistic individuals is fixation, although people with Asperger Syndrome usually have more control over their fixations, which take the form of highly focused interests.

If you suspect yourself or a loved one of this disorder, these are just a few of the signs for which you should be watching. You doctor should be able to answer further questions and provide both reading material and treatment for this disorder.

My Child is Autistic—and I don’t Know what to Do…

2009-01-29T04:24:00.001-08:00

Join a support group for parents with autism. You can find these by contacting the national Autism Society of America. From there you can find local branches, many of which offer support groups for parents and families with an autistic child. Being in contact with other parents in a similar situation can not only help you feel less alone, but it can provide you with a myriad of resources. A parent support group will also help point you in the direction of the best doctors, intervention programs, and workshops for both your child and your family. Find a support group for any other children you have as well. Many parents forget that they are not the only ones who must learn to live and communicate with an autistic child. By locating a support group for your other children, you can help them from acting out or acting against the autistic child by teaching them about the illness. As a parent, you must create a supportive environment for the entire family in order to properly manage your child’s illness.

Consider marriage counseling if you are married. An autistic child can put serious strain on a marriage, leading to escalating arguments, neglect of each other, and even perhaps blaming each other for the situation. Marriage counseling from the very beginning can help a couple through this discovery and rough transition, and help build a better supportive environment for your children. Your marriage should not end as a result of having an autistic child, but the sad fact is that many of them do. Prevent this by using one another for support and by understanding that you may need help to deal with one another now and in the future.

Most importantly, start on the path to becoming an expert. Many times pediatricians or psychiatrists are not experts on autism, which can lead to improper diagnoses or incorrect treatment options. As your child’s best advocate, you must know everything you can about autism. Parents of Autistic Children can be a great resource; this organization offers training and workshops. The ASA has a newsletter and also offers a variety of information, from diagnosing to treating. As always, remember that a support group of parents with autistic children can always provide you with books and research that focus on the reality of the situation. Educate yourself and those around you to provide the most beneficial things for your child—love and guidance.

Did You Know These Facts About Autism?

2008-10-28T00:09:00.000-07:00

There have been many conditions thought history that have been mistaken for something else, and before the human mind was understood, many with mental disabilities were placed in jail. They were deemed a threat and were then heavily medicated. Today, we have a greater understanding of what some people go through, and although different from everyone else, we know there is an underlying reason for it. We know do our best to help people like this instead of persecuting them. When looking back through the history of autism, it is obvious that though it was given a name in the early part of the 1900s, it was largely misunderstood by people for a long time.

Some believe that autism was first noticed as a condition around 1911, but it wasn’t really anything other than a theory at that time. A Swiss psychiatrist by the name of Eugen Bleuler is thought to be the first to use the term. The word ‘autism’ meant ‘an escape from reality’ and was based on behaviors he observed in adults and it was attributed to schizophrenia. Though that was false and misleading, it was a step closer to putting a name to a condition that was largely misunderstood.

New information was found from one of the earliest recorded studies of children with autism. From 1938 to the year 1943, a doctor by the name of Leo Kanner studied the behaviors of eleven autistic children. The children he chose to study were ones that seem to withdraw from interaction with others as early as age one. The type of autism that he recorded and named was what would be considered ‘classic autism’ and is often referred to as Kanner’s Syndrome.

These children were thought to have different characteristics than those classified as mentally retarded. However, at this time it was still largely misunderstood. Some believed parents were to blame, and these children were often removed from the home and placed with others to see if they would ‘recover.’

It wasn’t until the 1960s when the disorder was finally being studied and understood for what it really is and the impacts it has on a person. The finger pointing at parents of autistic children reduced as understanding grew, but there was and still is in some cases a lot of misinformation about autism, and many parents feel the need to defend themselves, as if they’ve ‘done something’ to their child.

Higher functioning autistic children and adults are often said to have Asperger’s. This condition was documented by Hans Asperger in 1944, but was not something that gained wider awareness until later in the 1980s. He described this condition as ‘autistic psychopaths’ and some of the blame was put on the mothers of these children, claiming that they were cold and heartless. Though we know today that this is not true, it was widely accepted at the time.

Since then, PDD (pervasive development disorder) has been studied and is now more understood. PDD is a blanket term for the spectrum of autistic disorders that are now known today.

The history of autism is a rough one, but that can be said about many of the conditions that affect the mind and the personality. Though more understanding exists today, there is much that is still misunderstood.

Perhaps the most important thing is that parents are no longer blamed for the conditions of autism, and that more treatments are available to help a child with this condition. Recently thinking suggests Autism is an auto-immune condition, and that it can be genetic. There is no cure, but there are programs that can increase communication and socialization skills in some children and adults.

Hopefully by understanding the history of autism we can take steps to progress treatment programs further.

Submitted By: Rachel Evans

Autism Diagnosis

2008-10-26T00:08:00.000-07:00

Autism is a condition that can be treated, this is the prime reason why in suspected autism cases it is best that the diagnose be made earlier than later, it must be pointed out however that autistic behavior is not a frequent thing among health communities and families, so this should not be a major concern for parents. Nevertheless it is always recommended to use experts to establish some kind of diagnosis as regards to behavioral abnormalities.

One of the many essential features concerned with children of autistic disorder is their tendency to create odd interests and poor attention and focus. Additionally, they also deficit in social interaction. Most authorities in this subject affirm that these features clearly indicate autistic factors yet they admit that these are not enough to diagnose autism among children younger than 3 years old.

Moreover, the inconsistency of symptom manifestation often hampers the proper diagnosis of autism more than the abnormality itself. There are virtually lots of factors affecting this inconsistency.

Autism can also be correlated with other conditions such as mental retardation, childhood psychoses, Asperger disorder and a couple of other neurological disorders.

Often, diagnosis begins through these three determining factors. Keep in mind though that evaluation of these three stages would not suffice the data so as to conclude that a child truly has autistic features.

Physical and neurological examinations
Examination of medical history including those that manifest through relatives. This also consists of birth history and developmental conditions, and
Medical tests to help rule out other diseases

Diagnostic criteria are used to formally determine if a child is truly subjected to autistic features. Comprehensive diagnosis can be done through routine developmental screening which concerns mostly all developmental features that are absent or deficient with autistic children.

After the recognition of these factors, the child may be given audiologic evaluation, screening test for autism and blood lead test.

During evaluation it is vital that the children are diagnosed by an experienced clinician. He must be well-learned with concerns pertaining to psychology and pediatrics.

For an initial evaluation, you as a parent can do the following:

Observation on social impairment which manifests through the following:
a. impairment of non-verbal interaction
b. weak ability to build peer relationship as observed during different developmental stages
c. lack of emotional and social reciprocity which is prone to isolation

Observation on communicational impairment which manifests through the following:
a.delay or lack of development in language facilities, more specifically the spoken language
b.lack of social plays suitable for each developmental stage
c.inability to maintain social conversation
d.idiosyncratic language or marked repetitive use of words

Noticeable patterns of activities, behaviors and interests manifested through the following:
a.continuous preoccupation with specific parts of an object
b.motor mannerism
c.limited patterns of interests
d.observance of rituals or non-functional habits

Due of course to the difficulty of diagnosing autistic features, it is best to subject the child to professional evaluation. It is not as easy though as with other diseases so be patient with findings means for efficient and effective diagnosis.

Submitted By: Jonathan Mayheart

Autism Statistics

2008-10-24T00:07:00.000-07:00

It is quite well known that at this point in time there is no actual cure for autism, yet an earlier diagnosis of the disorder will help in selecting a treatment that will help the individual better cope with day to day life. Therapy may be in two different forms, depending on the degree of autism exhibited by the patient. In examining the autism statistics, the earlier the therapy is started, the more positive will be the results. in general terms it appears that treatment administered to a child between two to three years old, has the most chance of success. Waiting until the later ages can decrease this result by as much as 36 percent.

Steady Rise Over Two Decades

According to the latest autism statistics, the number of children diagnosed with autism is rising steadily. It appears that since the 80's the number of people afflicted with this condition has increase by 600%. These children can only hope that their therapy will start before they are three years old and even then the chance of a total recovery is less then 40%. Doctors say that the autistic child’s nervous system is not set up properly and that therapy will prevent further damage and partially repair the problem. Every year that delays the therapy appears to allow the nervous system to solidify and stabilize its condition making it harder and harder to effect proper repairs.

The most unfortunate thing is that less than 10 percent of the diagnosed children are recommended for therapy, and only 3%-4% actually do receive treatment. the reason for this is that the therapy is expensive and costs more then most people can afford. The autism statistics clearly indicate that a minimum of 25 hours of therapy per week is necessary for any hope of improvement. The costs are prohibitive and the government does not have sufficient funds or the priority to help. Many parents, will try and undertake special training themselves so that they can administer the required therapy and help their autistic child. In the absence of a better solution this will have to do for now. The real solution is for the government to recognize the need to step in and provide help. Only then will this problem even begin to be resolved.

Submitted By: Kerry Ng

Autism And Society

2008-10-22T00:06:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone knows something about Autism, heard the name or read something about its symptoms, but the true fact if the matter is that autism is not known and that it is kept only for the friends and families of those how are and have been affected by this condition.

In the widest and most general description Autism is a mental condition, mainly effecting the ability to communicate and focus attention on what sometimes seems like an inability to show affection and feeling towards others. One of the most popular ways of defining autism is that the autistic person is detached from the environment, it is like having a glass wall between you and the autistic who you are trying to communicate

Autism has been the cause for many studies and a lot of experimentation, it has many scientists and psychologists working all their lives to try and understand this mystery better, to try and ease the suffering of the families and relatives of autistics everywhere, in getting this wall down, improving the communication and help improve that life quality of autistics.

There are different levels of autism, usually even before diagnosing the seriousness of the condition you can have several indications of the severity of the condition, many parents confirm that they already had an idea of some kind of neurological problem or a mental condition in their mind a few months after the baby was born. When a baby is diagnosed as suffering from autism the next step is to find a second opinion, not because the doctor might be wrong, but to reconfirm the diagnosis and to learn more about autism, as well as averaging the level of autism the person has.

The lake of social interaction abilities and the other symptoms of autism do not mean that autism equals retardation, as some autistics are highly skilled and many are in fact geniuses in many different areas, some autistic have phenomenal mathematical skills, it has been clearly proven that some autistic have a superior overall ability in math, as well as outstanding memory skills.

One of the recognizable and very unpleasant physical expressions of autism is that the autistic person has repetitive movements, even repeating a word or sentence, these movements and convulsions are one of the signs needed to define autism behavior, on top of the repetitive movements there are, sometimes catatonic behavior which is misinterpret by many who are not aware of autistic behavior.

The most important things the public has to learn is that with recent findings, autism has been found to be much more complex and that some experiments have resulted in communicating with people of different levels of autism, we should know and remember that they are not retarded and sometimes even gifted, that they are oversensitive to information and store it immediately, they are curious and intelligent and deserve attention just like any other person, it has also been found that although they are incapable of showing affection that certainly have deep and strong feelings.

Submitted By: Jonathan Mayheart

Autism And Supplementation

2008-10-20T00:05:00.000-07:00

Supplements have become an important part of the health industry. There are literally thousands of products on the market that can give your body the added nutrients it needs. People with autism are especially prone to nutritional difficulties and it is important that they take supplements to achieve a balanced nutritional state.

The first step toward addressing autism and supplementation is to adopt a gluten and casein free diet. These proteins have been found to potentially worsen the symptoms of autism. In fact, gluten and casein, in many autistic children, have been found to help the brain produce natural opiates, making foods that contain them practically addictive!

Another important step is the implementation of a balanced and healthy diet. Remember, autistic children are influenced by routines, so if a healthy diet is instituted early and followed, autistic children will likely adhere to it.

It is also important to have the input of a doctor to determine if your autistic child is absorbing the proper amount of nutrients. Simple blood tests can determine nutrient levels and from this data a diet can be successfully adjusted to address any shortfalls. Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) medical professionals are a good place to start because they have been especially trained to understand the challenges facing autistic children.

There is a list of common supplements that autistic children are often lacking or simply do not have at optimum levels. Selenium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, folinic acids, vitamins C and E, essential fatty acid, cod liver oil, taurine, and various amino acids.

When beginning a regiment of supplements, it is important to work them in slowly. It is equally important to document changes in behavior. Pay close attention to the effects of supplements on your child. Note any differences and prepare to discuss them with your doctor or nutritionist.

In terms of positive and negative effects that can result from the use of supplements, and a change in diet – they will not be easy to miss. Positive changes can include a reduction in the severity of behaviors. Many autistic children can show improvement in managing behaviors and social interaction. It is equally important to note regressions in behavior. If negative behaviors are observed, the supplement added should be reduced or eliminated. For the most part, negotiating the diet and supplementation of an autistic child is a trial and error undertaking. It is recommended that when first purchasing supplements you start with small packages. Buying in bulk can save you money in the long run, but if you buy a ton of a supplement that produces undesired results, you are stuck with useless product.

Should you chose to add supplements to your child’s diet, you will need to d so in a controlled manner. Don’t just dole out supplements on an experimental basis. Work with a doctor or a nutritionist to come up with a specific plan that is geared toward your child’s success. This regiment should include frequent tests for metal toxicity, stool analysis, and tests for various amino acids and peptides.

There is a lot to consider when choosing supplements for your child. This process is very important and can improve the overall quality of their life. Do not rush into the process and make sure you cover all the bases before proceeding. Give supplements time to work. Oftentimes, it takes time for the body to accurately process nutrients and for you to see any changes in behavior.

Submitted By: Rachel Evans

Cure For Autism

2008-10-18T00:03:00.000-07:00

There are many methods and therapies that have been shown to improve the symptoms of autism. However, at this point in time there is no single method that has been medically proven that will cure autism.

Unfortunately there are many techniques that claim to cure autism and that claim to have medical proof. Possibly the worst are those that claim they have developed antidotes creating the belief that a single potion will cure autism.

The route for producing an actual cure must start with a concept. The concept is then tested and after a certain amount of medical research, there has to be a medical report or publication that is published for review by the medical community. Once the medical papers have been published the medical community support or reject the medical data presented.

After a certain degree of acceptance by the community and by an established medical society or institution, preferably a government organisation, can a cure actually be known as a cure.

False treatments and medicines that have been labelled as a cure are either not supported by any medical research or by recognised institutions.

Finding an autism cure is a minefield for parents because on the internet there are many websites and sales pages that try to convince people that they have a cure. The products or techniques that are offered may actually work, and they may even be supported by research but until the research is published and accepted - it’s not a proven cure.

The main reason for this is because medical research can be easily distorted and misrepresented to show numbers and figures that make it look like the research is an absolute certainty. This is why it has to be subject to, what are often called, medical pier reviews.

Other doctors and clinicians will weed out the speculative data and false research. This is basically what happened with one Doctor that claimed the MMR vaccine was a cause of autism. The medical research came under speculation and has been rejected by government medical bodies.

Although there is no known cure, there are many therapies that are shown and proven to help improve the symptoms such as music therapy or occupational therapy. These are non-intrusive therapies that seek to improve skills such as moto-neurological skills and improve the central nervous system.

These help autistic people gain more control over their sensory processing or body. However these help autistic people manage and overcome their autistic symptoms which may lead to what could be considered a cure, but they do not remove them as a cure would.

So don’t be fooled by claims and hype about cures and potions for autism and be cautious about spending money on techniques and therapies until you have a good idea what the therapy does and how it can help.

Submitted By: Ben Sidman

Autism And Communication

2008-10-16T00:02:00.000-07:00

It was the great American Financer, Bernard Baruch that said “Feelings are 55% body language, 38% tone and 7% words” in other words, its not just what you say but the way that you say it. On the other hand, only the words are required for actual communication and the body language and tone are the social aspects that help people to understand a great deal more about what the words mean.

One of the issues with Autism or Asperger Syndrome is that there are distinct difficulties in communication that can occur on all three of these levels. It is well known that people have described communicating with autistic people as difficult thinking that they are ‘nerdy’ or ‘weird’.

If you look at communication as purely words and that the body language and tone are social aspects then quite often it is not the communication that is a problem.

Autistic people often have difficulties with social understanding and as children become older the shift towards the social part of communication becomes greater. When communication does becomes 93% social then if they are not understood they often feel more comfortable to avoid communication all together because it becomes too difficult. Hans Asperger himself was described by others as 'remote' in that he distanced himself away from others.

For autistic people that cannot produce the words there are a number of therapies or treatments such as music therapy or the controversial facilitated communication. These treatments (not cures) help people to communicate through a different medium.

Other autistic children may communicate with words but lack understanding or the ability to recognise the social side of communication (body language and tone). But also they themselves may not be communicating with their body and tone. Their body language can be awkward or uncomfortable, with eye gaze and an apparent lack of engagement.

The speech can be monotone or non-emotional and the volume may be loud or not fitting to the situation. But also the word structure may not be clear, the language can be literal, there may be interruptions and the subject may become confused which is likely to be a reflection of how confusing certain things are to them.

There are other therapies that help them understand concepts such as recognising emotions. Picture or art therapy is useful to help give visual guides to things they will see in communications. Music therapy is sometimes used to help understand the back and forth of conversation.

And speech therapy is a commonly used therapy to help develop the muscles in the mouth to help with pronunciation and articulation.

So while communication may conventionally be on these three levels of body language, tone and words, there are many other ways to communicate and many people will tell you that communicating with autistic children on their level is very rewarding because they are all geniuses in their own right that have a lot to talk about.

Submitted By: Ben Sidman

Awareness Of Autism

2008-10-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Promoting awareness can help people understand what autism is, how it affects people and appreciate that this is a condition that many people have. If everyone knew the symptoms, the behaviors and the way it affects others then autistic people would be treated according to who they are and how they think.

As long as there are people that don’t understand autism, there are still people that stare at autistic people as if they are strange or don’t understand why parents are taking care of their children in a certain way.

But awareness is not just about teaching the public about what autism is, it is also for people that don’t recognise symptom behaviors in their children. It is for people that have autistic children but don’t know all the facts or techniques available. It is for governments to be reminded there is a large population who have needs that should be respected. It is for schools and teachers to understand how autistic people think and feel so that they can talk to them and teach them in a way they can understand.

And Remember...

The more people are reminded that autism is around then we will see more things like child friendly places where autistic children are welcome, special foods that are sold on the supermarket shelves for autistic children that are on special diets or schools that have special needs teachers.

How to Promote Awareness - There are many ways to promote autism awareness in which you can help spread understanding without it seemingly as if you are preaching.

Display your support - Currently there are several products that you can buy that let you show your support. These are things like wristbands, and autism pins or ribbons.

Events - The autistic groups and societies are the best places to go to see the local events that are happening in your area.

Donate to your national society - The national autistic societies in your country are on the front line of medical research, government legislation and so on. Their role is to represent the entire population of autistic people. For this reason, donating to your national society groups goes a long way to advancing research and development and making sure the governments and all the small government organisations keep autistic people in mind.

Donate to your local support group - You can donate to your local group or your national society. Donating to your local group is a great way to give to the local autism community. It helps them with raising funds to organise forums, meetings and events. Helping these groups grow provides a local community of people that all understand what other parents and carers are going through.

Talk to people - Also, you can simply talk to people and ask them what they know and tell them what you know. The community works in a similar way to many other minority groups, the more people that are supporting the drive for awareness and recognition, the more people will take notice and accept their views.

Submitted By: Ben Sidman

Autism : A Brief Overview

2008-10-13T00:59:00.001-07:00

Autism has affected more than 1.5 children in the USA. It is a lifelong condition for which there is no cure.

What is Autism?
Autism is a disorder caused in children during the first three years of their life. Autism is essentially a brain disorder. It affects the normal functioning of the brain. Autism is characterized by a disability in a child's verbal and non-verbal communication. A child with autism suffers from mental retardation, stereotyped activities and impaired learning. The child also suffers from restrained social interactions and pursuits of individualistic interests and hobbies.

What causes Autism?
Despite the fact that autism is such a life impairing disorder, researchers have not detected its common cause. Several studies indicate that it is caused due to abnormalities in the brain's structure and working. This fact has been supported by various brain scan comparisons. The comparisons showed that an autistic child's brain shape and structure differs from that of a normal child.

Genes are also considered as a cause of autism. Genetics play an important role in a person's lifestyle and behavior. A child can suffer from autism if he has a family history of autism or other disabilities. 1 out of every 500 children is believed to develop autism on a genetic basis. Even if one child in the family suffers from autism, the chances of autism increase in the other children up to 20 percent.

Prenatal infection with viruses such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella can also result in the development of autism in a child. If the pregnant mother has not built up immunity against this virus, it can cause autism in the new-born child.

Autism can also develop in individuals suffering from medical conditions like Fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis and undiagnosed phenylketonuria (PKU). Developmental brain abnormalities like macrocephaly, cerebral dysgenesis and microcephaly can also cause autism. Neurological disorders like bacterial meningitis and lead encephalopathy which are acquired after the birth can also lead to autism.

Features of a child suffering from autism
Autism is known to affect three prime areas of a child's life- verbal and non-verbal communication, creative mind play and social interaction. A child's ability in these three areas is impaired. The severity varies from individual to individual.

One of the prime symptoms of autism is impaired social interaction. A child suffering from autism fails to respond to his name. The child avoids looking at other people and their activities. A child would remain passive to various tones of voice. He would remain blank about facial expressions and would not react to emotions of people. He is completely oblivious of what others feel for him, and what impact he is leaving on people.

A child suffering from autism tends to engage himself in repetitive activities like biting, rocking, hair twirling and even head banging. Autistic children refer to themselves by their names instead of 'I' or 'me'. They also tend to speak quite late compared to other children.

An autistic child shows unusual responses towards touch, sound or any other sensory stimulation. He might show decreased reaction and sensitivity towards injury or pain. He might react against being cuddled and other activities.

A child suffering from autism shows impaired learning. He finds it difficult to adjust himself to a daily give and take routine. He would avoid making eye contact with almost everyone. He spends his time in solitude and offers resistance to being kissed and hugged. He doesn't even react in the absence of parents. He tends to takes longer time in interpreting and understanding things.

As they grow, autistic children can become aggressive and show a tendency to harm others. They become increasingly frustrated and may even harm themselves. Children might also develop a condition known as echolalia. In this condition they only learn things by parroting what they hear.

A child suffering from autism also suffers from a lack of creativity. He might simply gaze at a new object or toy, or hold it. He would not play or experiment with it, like normal children.

Treatment
There is no specific medication that can be given in the treatment of autism. Treatment differs according to the severity of the impairment in a child. If you feel your child displays signs of autism a specialist should be consulted immediately for diagnosis and also to suggest what treatment can be given.

Submitted By: Taximan

Autism : The Mystery

2008-10-11T00:58:00.000-07:00

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by abnormal social interaction, communication ability, interest patterns, and behavior patterns. Autism is found to occur due to the vulnerability to environmental triggers displayed by the human genes. Seven major genes have been identified to be related to autism. One child in every thousand in the Untied States is found to suffer from this disorder.

Autism results from the abnormal bilogical and neurochemical developmant of the brain. Any treatment of to the disorder must involve neurological evaluation. Autism is generally diagnosed on the basis of certain psychiatric criteria or physical tests. The ymptoms of autism begin to appear before the age of three in a child. Autistic children exhibit delays in interacting with people through conversation or imaginative action.

There are a large number of cases where autistic chidren have improved their social skills and integrated into the normal world, attending school and taking part in social events. However, there is also the worry that autism is incurable. That’s because autism is caused by certain aspects of the brain structure that’s determined early in brain development. Only committed effort on the part of teachers and parents in training autistic children can help them to live normal lives.

Autism cure or, more effectively autism prevention, depends to some extent in an autism diet. Autism diet is generally a gluten-free, casein-free diet. Both gluten and casein are proteins. Gluten is found in wheat, rye, barley, and most oat products; casein is found in milk products. Some children cannot properly digest these proteins. When gluten and casein foods are consumed, these protein factions get attached to the autistic child’s opiate receptors in the brain. They then interfere with the developing brain of some children and cause autistic behaviors. This happens because these children lack the ability to break down proteins.

Autism walk is a committed effort by parents and volunteers to promote the cause of autism research and treatment. Various autism walks have been organized around the world with parents, children, volunteers, therapists, and group leaders taking part.It is a novel way to spread awareness of the disorder as increasing number of children are being affected by it. From 1970, where one in 10,000 children had autistic disorders, the number of children affected by autism in America has grown to one in 169. It is high time autism is taken seriously. An important step in that direction would be to educate parents in identifying autistic tendencies in the early stages of the child’s growth.

The autism awareness bracelet is another means to promote autism research and awareness. Following in the lines of ace cyslist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong’s yellow cancer awareness bracelet and the pink breast cancer awareness bracelet, autism awareness bracelets are also now gaining popularity. The proceeds from the sale of these bracelets go for autism research and cure.

With so many methods and so much attention being given to autism, autism cure is bound to improve in the coming years. Hardwork and commitment on our part to this cause will certainly benefit the future generations.

Submitted By: Lisa Hyde

Autism : What Causes It, And Can It Be Cured?

2008-10-09T00:56:00.000-07:00

Autism is a disorder that is affecting more and more children. But many autistic children have been able to lead normal lives.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by abnormal social interaction, communication ability, interest patterns, and behavior patterns. Autism is found to occur due to the vulnerability to environmental triggers displayed by the human genes. Seven major genes have been identified to be related to autism. One child in every thousand in the Untied States is found to suffer from this disorder.

Autism

2008-10-08T00:55:00.000-07:00

Autism is the neurodevelopment mess which manifests itself in obvious abnormal communal interface, pattern of interest, communication ability and pattern of presentation. The precise etiology of autism is unidentified; researchers believe that autism is the consequences of genetically mediate vulnerabilities to the ecological triggers. There is deviation about the nature of mechanism and magnitude for such ecological factor; researchers have recognized out seven genes that are common among those diagnosed as autistic.

Diagnosis is mostly based on the list of psychiatric criterion, and a chain of standardized health check tests might also be used. Entire bodily and neurological assessment will typically be the constituent of diagnosing autism. It has been speculated that autism is not a lone condition but a group of numerous distinct situation which manifest it in related ways.

It has been estimated that autism occurs inside one in every 1000 child world wide. For the family that formerly has one autistic child had the higher danger of having next autistic child in the family. Well Autism is found 2 to 4 times extra familiar in boys; the Girls suffering from this mess lean to have cruel symptoms and superior cognitive mutilation.

Autism treatment is normally diagnosed in the minor cases; Autism diagnosis is usually done using “ICD-10, DSM-IV “or other protocols base clarification of activities, and not regularly followed up with a complete neuropsychiatry, neurobiological assessment. Such treatments are fairly involved and can be beyond the capital of numerous parents.

The professional they work with may select only positive portion which develops depending on their clarification of the child and his history.

Following the account, more than one treatment could be found out to be suitable for the patient.
If metabolic disorders are suspected, DAN (Defeat Autism Now!) protocol could be used to locate it. Tests for possible metabolic deficits are Organic Acids, Urinary Peptides, Gluten Sensitivity, Liver detoxification, Stool Analysis, Minerals, Amino Acid Analysis, Food Allergies, Minerals, Genetic Tests, and Immunological Tests

There are a number of ethical challenges to the treatment of the autism but parents are responding well to the moral treatment, claiming the recompense of their children which is established from these treatments is too significant. In addition, these parents don't consider these treatments as destructive as people say they are. Autism is the most severe form of disorder therefore; its cure is very essential and should be done prior to it becomes much of problem.

Submitted By: Vishal Boro

Maybe It's Not Autism?

2008-10-07T00:54:00.000-07:00

Most would agree that public awareness and access to medical information is critical to public health. Destigmatizing mental illness and focusing attention on under-diagnosed problems has been a particularly important stride of the past 30 years. Yet sometimes, publicity leads to anxiety. As an acquaintance said, “if the disease-of-the-week doesn’t kill me, the worry will.”

Recently, a parent contacted me with concerns about his 7 year-old son, who was quiet, introverted, and highly focused on a few hobbies. "Could he be autistic?," he asked. While the boy did not meet the diagnostic criteria for autism, or an autism- spectrum disorder, his father was voicing a concern psychologists and pediatricians are hearing more commonly these days. News of the nation's autism epidemic is everywhere. On a recent drive, I noted almost as many “Autism-Awareness” auto decals as those saying, “Support Our Troops.”

Don’t get me wrong—I’m glad that there is increased public awareness about autism and there is indeed cause for concern. In some states, there are several times more children being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders than just a decade ago. Asperger's Syndrome (sometimes known as high-functioning autism) seems to be particularly prevalent, with estimates of its occurrence ranging from 1 in every 166 to 500 births. Although there are several theories as to why we are seeing such an epidemic, as of yet, no single theory has achieved scientific consensus among researchers.

Lack of social communication skills is a core trait of all types of autism. However, I wonder if we are too quick to assign communication problems such serious diagnostic labels. A brief checklist of the communication problems common to boys included on my website and in my recent book Boys of Few Words: Raising Our Sons to Communicate and Connect may help you decide if your son is simply struggling with the kinds of expressive challenges found among many different types of boys.

By all means have your child professionally evaluated if you have serious concerns. But make sure the professional you visit understands the psychology of boys, and can tell the difference between a syndrome like high-functioning autism and something more manageable, like a nonverbal learning disability. More than once, I have encountered a child who seemed locked in his own thoughts, unwilling or unable to join the social world around him. But not every case was an autism-spectrum disorder--a thorough evaluation can reveal a wide range of potential causes for lack of social interest and communication skills.

The good news is that with time, relationship, and strategic encouragement, the great majority of kids can learn to connect with others, and even enjoy it! Finding the key that unlocks a child's mind and heart requires patience and a steadfast belief in the power of your own love and concern. And of course, one practical expression of that concern is to strive to get an accurate assessment of the challenges your child faces, so your interventions will help.

I believe the autism epidemic is real and deserves the analysis of the country's best medical minds. Children who have autism or a related problem benefit from early professional diagnosis and intensive intervention. Yet I also believe that the constant buzz about autism has led to many of us being hypersensitized about whether our child "has it." Just as an energetic 5 year-old may be misconstrued as hyperactive, a stoic 7 year-old may be thought of as having some variant of autism. Yet stoic boys are no more a new phenomenon than energetic pre-schoolers.

As our world changes, so do our expectations of children. The problem is people take longer to change and evolve than society. That difference in tempo should not be the reason for a neurological diagnosis. It's a little like getting mad at a computer that doesn't run fast enough to operate new software. The computer is running as fast as it can – as fast as it was made to do – yet software is evolving too quickly for the computer's capabilities.

For more information about autism and Asperger's syndrome, you might want to contact The Autism Society of America, The National Institute of Mental Health, or check my website's Resources section for links to these and other organizations that can provide more information about Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and other child development concerns. If you have questions about a child, please seek qualified professional advice. Help begins with accurate diagnosis and early intervention.

Submitted By: Adam Cox

What Is Autism?

2008-10-05T20:53:00.001-07:00

There seems to be a lot of confusion as to what autism and autism spectrum disorders actually are. It's understandable, because persons on the autism spectrum can be so individually different. Some cannot talk. Some talk early. Some are highly intelligent, others have some degree of mental retardation. Some have extreme sensory issues and some don't. Some have motor planning problems, and some are very athletic. And the list goes on.

So with all of these differences between individuals, what do these people have in common?

Regardless of diagnosis - Asperger's Syndrome, PDD, PDD-NOS, Autism or any other autism spectrum disorder, what all persons with autism spectrum disorders seem to have in common is their core deficit.

Autism spectrum disorders arise from a neurological condition; a weakened area that seems to be located somewhere along the pathway that runs from the prefrontal cortex to the hippocampus of the brain. No one yet knows definitively what causes this condition. Individuals on the autism spectrum seem to have this weakened pathway, which results in the following core
deficits:

Deficits in: comparative thought and interpretation, flexibility and adaptability to change, creative thought, decision-making, judgment, and memory of past positive feelings about events.

In typical individuals, this pathway creates a hierarchy of comparison, and interprets everything we see, hear, do and feel. It compares one thing to another, compares past to present situations, compares how we felt before to now, separates important from the unimportant, and then uses all of that information to judge situations and come up with with unique solutions.

Typical people spend most of the day using this part of their brain effortlessly, sailing through thousands of little moment-to-moment decisions with ease. But for a person on the autism spectrum, all of those tiny moment to moment decisions can be quite difficult and often scary.

Because of the weakened brain pathway, individuals on the autism spectrum have a limited ability to compare, interpret and solve new situations. As a result, they remain tied to using solutions they already know, and have limited ability to deal with new or changing situations.

Decision-making and judgment abilites that most of us take for granted, such deciding which way to go to the store today, interpreting and understanding the actions of other people, or even figuring out how near or far to walk next to someone often cause confusion and fear in a person with an autism spectrum disorder.

As a result, the world often seems chaotic and scary to individuals on the spectrum, and other people seem to act in abrupt and unexpected ways that are just impossible for them to understand.

To try to control some of this chaos and keep things predictable, autistic individuals tend to rely heavily on formulas and repetitive sequences to get through their day.

These sequences and formulas rely on a different part of the brain that usually functions quite well in persons on the autism spectrum. It's the area of the brain that runs our "red = stop, green = go", "2+2=4" type thinking - very formulaic, very predictable , and very absolute thought. Unfortunately, this area of the brain is unable to compare, interpret, adapt, or see possiblities.

Of course when faced with new or changing situations, when most formulas won't work, persons on the spectrum often fall apart, out of fear of the unknown. Most of the tantrums, escape, or aggressive behaviors that we see at these times are usually "fight or flight" responses, motivated out of fear, not from being stubborn, manipulative or "bad".

One of the reasons Relationship Development Intervention is effective is because it addresses this pathway directly, by using different activities to exercise and strengthen it, much like what we do for other persons with weak or damaged brain pathways, such as persons with stroke or head injury, etc.

You can find out more about Dr Gutstein and Sheely's work via rdiconnect.

Until recently, trying to understand autism has been very confusing - it's only been explained as a series of seeminly unrelated symptoms. But once one understands the core deficit - the brain pathway that ties all those seeminly scattered symptoms together into one cohesive piece, autism becomes much easier to understand, and as a result more easily targeted and treated.

Copyright 2006, Sandra Sinclair

Autism - Living With Autism

2008-09-30T00:34:00.000-07:00

Do you know children affected with autism find it difficult to communicate and to become socialized? There are two notions about the existence of autism. One thought is that autism is due to a bio-chemical imbalance, and the other notion is it is a psychological disorder. The autism-affected children seldom communicate with others except to fulfill their needs.

Autism spectrum disorders can be called an umbrella term since it covers classic autism, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and Asperger’s syndrome. Autism can be termed a spectrum disorder as the intensity and the number of the symptoms of autism differs from person to person. Autism causes impairments in the people in three areas: social relationships, communication, and restricted patterns of behavior. The spectrum of autism can be classified as severely affected, less able, and dependent on others. This also includes persons with above-average intelligence and independence, but lacking social skills.

Autism sufferers lack a proper response to social and environmental stimulations. The affected child would be in a separate world. The child’s communication will be very minimal and he will not be able to communicate his emotions and feelings properly.

Malabsorption is the most common problem noticed in autism. Autism sufferers experience structural compromise and chronic gastric inflammation in the digestive tract. The intestinal absorption is delayed due to intestinal inflammation. The specific symptoms of autism are restricted behaviors and interests and this is even seen towards the food choices. Self-limited and restricted diets are highly noticed in the autism condition, which may cause deficiency in one or more essential nutrients.

The commonly occurring deficiencies in the children suffering from autism are Vitamin-A, Sulfate deficiency, calcium deficiency, B12 deficiency, High copper: zinc ratio, etc.

There are numerous treatments available to cure the autism condition in children. Initially, nutritional supplements are offered to the child suffering from autism. This might be followed by behavioral training. In general Vitamin B12 is given as a supplement. The behavioral change noticed in autism can be improved by giving suitable educational therapies, where the child is motivated to give good response to the environmental and social changes promptly.

Although it is easy to say that educational therapy is good for autism patients, the children found difficult in learning the task, and they will intercept the process and show aggressive behavior to other people to avoid learning any new task.

In order to improve the autism behaviors, Magnesium in the form of injections are given to the autism sufferers. Within 2-4 weeks of administration of Vitamin-B12, autism behaviors can be reduced within 2 to 4 weeks. It can take more than 3 months for some children to respond with Vitamin-B12. The autism child with speech problems can be treated with Dimethylglycine (DMG) for better results. DMG will improve the immune system of one’s own body. Moreover, this improves frustration tolerance and eye contact.

For negative attention-seeking behaviors of autism, it is advisable to eliminate the behavior by giving attention to desired behavior rather than the negative behavior.

Submitted By: Rachel Evans

Adult Autism: Growing Old With Autism

2008-09-29T00:33:00.000-07:00

This Disorder is Not a Curse

There many people who do not see adult autism as a curse. In fact, there are many people who actually enjoy being autistic. They considered being autistic a part of who they are and wouldn't have it any other way. They don't want to be cured; they just want to be accepted by everyone. Yes, they too have strengths and weaknesses like everyone else, but most of all, they are people and have every right to enjoy life just like you and me.

Generally speaking, autism starts in infancy. What this means is that this person has been living with this disorder for some time now. Autistic adults see the world differently from others. Their five senses work normally, however their brains just process the information differently. The way information is processed and stored and interpreted are slightly different from that of a normal person. Some experts believe that this may cause some of the more detrimental effects of autism, such as fits and tantrums. Reacting to the world normally would be extremely difficult for someone that already has a lot of stress and anxiety.

Heightened Senses

With some individuals, they have heightened senses or uncontrollable senses. What this basically means is that very often they can't decide if they're hungry or stuffed, hot or cold. Some autistics can't stand bad, strong odors or loud noises; and most do not like being touched or any other forms of contact from other people. Often times, they will reject hugs and kisses or any other acts of affection. Some people will see this as weird or unusual.

Trying to socialize with others can be a real challenge for people with adult autism. That is why it is a good idea to get them involved in programs and activities that encourage human contact and teach them how to socialize with others. And just as important, we must educate those around us about this disorder, so that we can assist autistic adults in their struggle to fit in. By teaching others about this disorder, we can hopefully develop into a more understanding and accepting society.

Submitted By: Kerry Ng

Autism Spectrum Disorder: What Exactly Is Autism?

2008-09-28T00:31:00.000-07:00

Autism is actually a classification of PDD. And what is PDD? Well PDD stands for pervasive developmental disorder and it's considered to be a behavioral disorder. Children with PDD have difficulty in areas of development in social interaction, impairment in functional skills such as language and communication and repetitive type compulsive behavior.

There can be a great variation in symptoms among people with PDD and also in the severity of these symptoms. There are 5 types of disorders that fall under this category (including Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, Childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett's Syndrome, PDD NOS (pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified).

Here is a quick review of the various PDD's

The five types of PDD's.

1. Autism
2. Asperger's syndrome
3. Childhood disintegrative disorder
4. Rett's disease
5. PDD NOS or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified

1. Autism
Symptoms of Autism usuallly always starts to show up before 36 months of age, and approximately 18 months of age many toddlers can experience regression in their speech and social interaction. Some of symptoms that parents often report is that their child has poor eye contact, is non-verbal, and seems to be "in a world of their own."

2. Asperger's syndrome
Children with Asperger's syndrome seem to have more problems with social interaction than in the speech department. Many of these children do rather well academically, and they tend to have exceptional memories for "insignificant" details, such as football or historical trivia. They can talk repetitively on a specific theme without realizing that they maybe boring other people with their repetitive talking. Alot of individuals with this disorder remain undiagnosed since they exhibit such excellent academic abilities and exceptional memories, however they are often looked upon by others as being odd or eccentric.

3. Childhood disintegrative disorder
This disorder affects children usually after they have done quite abit of developing, these children usually grow and develop normally for the first 3 years of life. Then they begin to regress and acquire some autistic characteristics which at times can be quite severe. These children can sometimes develop seizures which affect speech so it is important to have them evaluated by a physician.

4. Rett's disease
This disorder is only diagnosed in girls. These girls usually develop normally until about 6 months of age and the regression begins. The head of these little girls appear to stop developing around 6 months of age and regression is noticeable at that time.

5. PDD NOS
PDD NOS symptoms are quite similar to autism, but the impairment seems to be less severe. These children tend to experience some level of verbal or non-verbal communication, however they still exhibit autistic characteristics such as severe impairment in communication and social skills, they can also display repetitive stereotype behavior. Children are only diagnosed with PDD NOS when they are showing severe impairments but does not specifically qualify for the diagnosis of autism.

Submitted By: Nancy Clyne

Autism Symptoms - Look For The Warning Signs Of Autism

2008-09-27T00:26:00.000-07:00

Autism is a type of bio neurological disorder that tends to affect the ability of a person to interact socially & communicate in an effective manner.

There are several symptoms that would suggest you a child with Autism. Remember that the severity of symptoms varies from one individual to the other. However, there is a common connection between the core symptoms in the following areas:

a) Relationships & Social interaction:
• Facing trouble in developing non-verbal communication skills including body posture, facial expressions & eye contact.
• Inability to develop friendships with children of similar age group.
• No interest in sharing interests, enjoyment and/or achievements with other people.
• Lack of empathy. Children with autism may face trouble in understanding feeling of other people including sorrow or pain.

b) Verbal & Non-Verbal Communication:
• Taking too much time to talk. It is proved that about 50 percent of people with autism can never speak.
• Facing difficulty in cracking a conversation. People with autism often develop problems in holding on to a conversation once it has been started.
• Repetitive use of language. People with autism usually repeat a particular phrase again & again that they have heard before.
• Unable to understand listeners' perspective. For instance, a child with autism will never understand that someone is cracking a joke or using a slang. They take every word literally & usually fail to understand the real meaning of the conversation.

c) Restricted interest in activities or play:
• Children with autism develop a unique & unusual concentration on pieces. They concentrate on a particular part of toy such as wheels on a car rather than enjoying the activity with the entire toy.
• Children with autism tend to preoccupy their minds with certain topics. For instance, older children & adults get easily fascinated by train scheduler license plates or weather patterns.
• Children with autism often crave for sameness & routines. For instance, the child will always want to eat bread just before salad. He may also want to drive on the same route to school daily.
• They exhibit stereotyped behaviors. These behaviors include hand flapping & body rocking.

Once you observe above-mentioned symptoms in a child, you should know that the child has developed autism. You need to seek emergency medical attention if you observe the following symptoms:

• An infant or a child does not respond to people around him.
• An infant or a child resists cuddling.
• If a child is not pointing to objects, engaging in simple interactions or bringing items to you.
• A child does not use any words or tries to communicate by the age of eighteen months.
• The child exhibits self injurious behavior such as banging his head or shows aggression frequently.
• The child shows repetitive behavior such as spinning wheels, turning a toy car upside down etc.
• The child avoids eye contact or wants to be left alone.
• The child does not play 'pretend' games.
• The child finds it difficult to relate to others.

In case your doctor feels that there could be a problem, it would be good to look for a referral in order to visit a developmental pediatrician or a specialist. You may even contact your local early intervention agency for a child under three years of age or a public school for children above three.

Submitted By: Bertil Hjert

Diagnosing Autism - What Should You Do If You Suspect Autism In Your Child?

2008-09-26T00:23:00.000-07:00

Autistic children are often diagnosed with their condition by or around age three. Though there may be times when a parent is aware that there is something going on when the child is at a young age, higher functioning forms of autism are often harder to spot. Symptoms vary from child to child. There are some signs that all children with autism will have, however, and when these are present, a trip to the doctor for help might be warranted. Some cases can be caught very early. No matter how severe or how subtle the signs are a doctor diagnosing autism will look for every known issue.

The parents are normally the first to pick up on the signs of autism as they notice a lack in normal development, but there are times when a physician might bring up the possibility first.

There can be signs in some children when they reach one years of age. These children are often slow with communication, and may not be using words when other children are building their vocabulary.

Odd reactions to noises and other environmental stimulus might also be a clue. Children with autism tend to prefer solo play, and they may do things over and over again in a manner that a parent might question.

Autistic children are also be prone to tantrums, and these are usually over things most children tolerate well, such as a small shift in daily routine.

Socialization issues like eye contact and interaction with peers might be missing as well. Some autistic children are also motor impaired.

Doctors will often begin by eliminating medical reasons for the behaviors. One of the first things they may check for is a hearing impairment. Loss of or lack of hearing can explain some behaviors that might otherwise be associated with autism.

Hearing loss or impairment often explains delayed speech or other speech issues. It also explains why a child might not startle when confronted with a loud noise. There may be some genetic testing done too, to rule out developmental delays for other reasons, and the child might also be tested for seizure activity.

When medical testing comes up with nothing, this is when a doctor will turn to diagnosing autism. Though there are no medical tests that can confirm this condition, there are behaviors that are classic to those with this condition.

The doctor will question the parents about the child’s activities and how each day might go for them, and they may study the child on their own. There are three main themes a doctor will look for when determining if a child might have autism. These are socialization problems, communication level (or lack of), and behaviors.

When parents think there might be a problem, they should see someone about diagnosing autism as soon as possible. If medical testing finds nothing, and autism is suspected, it is good to know as early as possible.

When autism is diagnosed at a young age, things will be better in the long run. There are many great tools parents can use to help their autistic children integrate with the world. Early diagnosis is something that helps higher functioning children more, but even classic autism can be helped to some degree.

There is as yet no cure, but diagnosing autism early and getting the help needed with communicating and socialization can help a child out. Though there is no parent who hopes for this diagnosis, the earlier it can be found the better the child and family can cope.

Submitted By: Kathryn Whittaker

How To Live With Autism - Some Great Measures To Cope Up With Autism

2008-09-25T00:20:00.000-07:00

Autism can be defined as a brain development disorder. The disorder tends to impair social interaction & communication of the individual. It also causes restricted & repetitive behavior. Unfortunately, the disorder traits starts even before the child is three years old. The disease can be categorized in to two parts namely Autism & Asperger syndrome (milder spectrum disorder). Experts feel that Autism is transmitted as a hereditary disease.

Here are some of the most common problems faced by children with Autism.

a) Difficulty in using a language socially
Children with Autism find it really difficult to use a language socially. They take everything literally & cannot deal with slang & jokes.

b) Trouble in social understanding
A child suffering from classical autism is unable to grasp any kind of social interaction & often try to stay aloof. They also suffer from withdrawal symptoms. The child tries his best to understand. However, most of the time, their "social naiveté" results in some misunderstandings & they tend to become unpopular among their peers.

c) Difficulty in creating imaginations
Everywhere tries to see the world through imagination. Children with autism find it really difficult to imagine. They struggle hard to make out what can happen next. They are also unable to cope with novel situations by considering their experiences in the past. They are dependant on routines that may get elevated to rituals & requires to be followed with smallest detail.

Living with Autism can involve a lot of stress for the individual as well as the family members. There is no cure for this disorder. The treatment provided varies from one person to another. One requires to practice a lot of patience & consistency in order to live with autism & enjoy life.

You would require a professional & well trained health care team that includes either a psychiatrist or a developmental pediatrician & a school implemented Individualized Education Program (IEP) & ITP (Individualized Transition Plan) to live with Autism.

Here are some important steps to follow when living with Autism.

Step 1: You need to address the stress that can most probably occur when providing care for a child with Autism. Make sure that you share responsibility & let everyone in the house gets time for themselves.

Step 2: Explore and exploit all resources that can help you to provide care to an autistic individual. Visit a professional, hit websites & talk to people who have been dealing with this disorder.

Step 3: Pay a good amount of attention to keep safety in & around the home. You need to take some extra precautions if you have toddlers at home. Put childproof locks on doors & cabinets, place gates in front of staircases & cover electric outlets.

Step 4: Teach the siblings not to feel frustrated or embarrassed about their autistic sibling.

Step 5: It is important to plan for the future of the child with autism. You need to enroll him in an IEP. This program will help him receive behavioral & occupation therapy that will prepare him for his future. Thereafter you would require to put him through an ITP.

It is easy to live with Autism if you understand the disorder & cope up with the child. You may also keep a daily journal to reduce stress.

Submitted By: Bertil Hjert

Autism And Disability - Why Little Things Can Mean A Lot

2008-09-24T01:12:00.000-07:00

I have a son who developed autism just after his first birthday and I wouldn't describe my life since as being easy. However, today I was reminded just how lucky I am. Through various non invasive interventions, endless patience and persistence, my son has developed into a nice young man who I can now take most places without wishing the ground would open up and swallow me.

My son is eighteen, physically very capable with a great sense of balance and hand/eye co-ordination. He's now easy to look after and despite using limited language to communicate, he tries very hard in other ways to let people know what he wants and needs.

Another boy I know also tries very hard to communicate. However, he's not quite so physically able, infact he's in a wheelchair. Now eight, he's become a very frustrated little individual who likes to assert himself whenever possible. Unfortunately it is making it increasingly difficult for his mother to look after him and take him out alone. Not only is he getting bigger and heavier, but where once he was happy to be pushed along wherever his mother chose, he now grabs on to anything he can get his hands on to prevent the wheelchair moving, especially if it means leaving somewhere he enjoys.

Railings, gates, lamp posts are all becoming hazardous and he's now mastered the art of the wheel chair equivalent of an emergency stop by putting on the brake when the chair is in motion.

The last time he did it his mother had taken him to a play park and he'd been reluctant to leave. Needless to say he'd entwined his little fingers around every thing he could manage on the route back to the car. His mother anticipated further problems once they reached the vehicle so as soon as they got in range she got her keys out to open the car by remote control.

The plan was to make the transition from chair to car as quick as possible but her son had other ideas. He pulled on the brake, the chair tipped up and in her haste to keep it upright she dropped the keys down the drain. The mother just sat down on the kerb and laughed. She had to, if not she would have cried and I know from experience that once you start it can take a long time to stop.

Hearing that story made me once more appreciate just how lucky I am.

One thing which would have made a considerable difference to the lady in question would have been a companion to help her - a friend - another pair of hands. Over the years I have come to know one thing with certainty and that is the people who require the help the most are the ones least likely to ask for it.

I'd like you to bear that in mind the next time you think about your friend, relation or neighbour and imagine walking a day in their shoes.Sometimes, even the smallest, simplest thing can mean so much and the difference between being able to cope or not.Think about the person who is housebound and has no visitors. How about the elderly couple who have difficulty getting the newspaper which you collect for yourself every day? What about the young mother who is desperate for sleep but can't leave her baby?

I am fortunate in that I have a Circle of Friends for my son. They are people who have his best interests at heart and do fun things with him. It gives him the opportunity to enjoy a variety of activities, and gives me a break from having to be completely responsible all the time. All are volunteers and help because they want to. They derive as much pleasure from the association as my son does and we all benefit from the relationship.

My Circle also enables me to give quality time to other family members. Often disabilities split families in two and I know of several couples who always do different activities so their "normal" children don't lose out. Some even take separate holidays.

Being a parent is never an easy task but when you have a child with a disability the family unit is frequently under strain. Many couples can't take it and there are more than a few mothers (and fathers) left to cope alone. I know we all live in a busy world but most of us could, if we wanted, spare a few hours a month to help someone in need.

Believe me, it can make a huge difference.

By : encanthis

Vitamins For Your Autistic Child

2008-09-23T01:10:00.000-07:00

Vitamins can be added to the special diet of your autistic child to boost his brain function. You may have already started him on a casein and gluten free diet. Adding certain vitamins known to help stimulate mental faculties can help reduce autistic symptoms. You would probably be aware that in general, a deficiency in specific vitamins can bring about a body or brain malfunction.

Scientific studies show that out of all types of vitamins, B6 is probably the most useful. Since 1965, there have been 18 major studies on the uses of vitamin B6 to fight autism. In 8 of those studies, children with abnormalities in their urine, after taking B6 and magnesium, had normal urine.

Also, B6 and other B vitamins, have been shown to help autistic children with better mental focus and more social awareness. It may sound a little unbelievable but it is reported that some children, after taking vitamins and supplements, even spoke for the first time. Hence, if you have a child who is experiencing some speech delay, then this news can be pretty hopeful. However, if you want to give your autistic child vitamin B6, be sure to also include magnesium
supplements. This is because vitamin B6 causes a magnesium deficiency in the body.

Vitamin C is another vitamin for your consideration to give to your autistic child. In fact, studies show that a lack of Vitamin C can result in confusion and disorientation, for just about anyone. Although there have been relatively few studies on how vitamin C has an effect on autistic symptoms, the few that there have been have been successful. Most of the children tested showed similar result conclusions to the B6. After a period of consuming Vitamin C supplements, these children started showing fewer autistic signs.

There are also a number of other herbs, vitamins and supplements that you can include. These include folic acid, St. John's wort and Ginko Biloba. While no single item has a major positive effect on its own, studies do show that several vitamins taken together can produce great results.

Ask the paedrician of your child about adding vitamins to his diet. Find out which particular combination would be best for your child. In addition, you may want to make a note to monitor your child's progress just to ensure that he did benefit from these vitamins after taking them. It is also important that you let the teachers in school or any child care involved know about the special diet that your child is on. Ask for help so that everyone can chip in to see if there is any improvement in your autistic child.

By : skleong

Autism - Why You Need A Circle Of Friends

2008-09-22T02:08:00.000-07:00

When my eldest son was eighteen we bought him a second hand car. When my youngest son reached the same age we bought him two second hand videos from e-bay.

Why? Well, my youngest son has autism and that was all he wanted.

He did, however, have a party for about 100 people which was something I'd never dreamed possible.

The day my youngest son was diagnosed with autism back in 1993 was unquestionably the worst day of my life. I'd already lost the cheerful, loving sociable bundle of joy I'd known prior to his MMR vaccine but getting the diagnosis made it so final.

Autism is a life long disability and to date there is no cure. Back then there was little hope offered for significant improvement either. Thankfully things have changed!

At the time little was known of autism and it was still quite rare. Affecting four times as many boys as girls the statistics then were 4 or 5 in every 10,000. Now depending on which report you read it hovers around the 1 in every 100 mark.

The 'experts' told me if my son didn't speak by the time he was five years old he probably never would. They also told me by the time he was a teenager I would most likely have to have him placed in a home because I would be unable to look after him.

Already he was using me as a punch bag to vent his frustration. Most people with autism are incredibly strong and they told me I probably wouldn't be able to cope.

Their parting words of "Good Luck!" filled me with despair.

Over the years we have tried several non invasive interventions which have unquestionably helped Jodi and he has improved considerably.

However, people with autism tend to live a normal life cycle so whilst I fully expected my son to reach eighteen I never imagined in my wildest dreams he would celebrate it with a party.

Loud music and flashing lights would have been impossible a few years ago and so would crowds of noisy, happy people.

But these weren't just any people. These were Jodi's FRIENDS!

Over the years I have come to accept my son will never have a girlfriend, get married or give me grandchildren. However, by far the hardest thing for me to come to terms with was that he might never have "friends".

Certainly when he was a frustrated little individual with no means of communicating he was the type of child only a mother could love. Friends were out of the question.

The very nature of autism means that people with the disability find social situations difficult and even now my son doesn't actively seek out company although he no longer shuns it. However, he does like to be involved when it's something he enjoys.

We have therefore tried to offer him as many opportunities as possible. He has joined youth clubs and dance groups where he has been welcomed and accepted.

The knock on effect of that has been that certain people have chosen to become his special friends and spend time with him outside of the groups. They take him places and do things with him I never would (or possible could).

Just Because I Don't Speak Doesn't Mean I Have Nothing To Say

My autistic son doesn't speak, at least not in the way we understand as language. However he communicates really well if you know what to look for.

He is able to convey his thoughts to his wonderful 'friends' in ways I sometimes find surprising and through them I am continually discovering things about him I didn't know.

As his mother and main carer I thought I knew everything about my autistic son, how he felt and what he wanted. His friends have helped me realise what I thought he wanted and what he actually wanted were not necessarily the same.

After all, I'm 34 years older than him so how could I possibly know?

Often we did things together because it was what I wanted to do but if he had been a "normal" teenager I'm sure upon reflection there would have been many sighs of discontent!

Jodi behaves differently depending on where he is and whom he is with. He therefore has to face and overcome various challenges without the security blanket I have always provided.

He copes really well with the support of his friends. It's such a weight off my mind not to have to be fully responsible all the time. With them he is able to make connections, develop relationships and have fun.

At first, I was reluctant to let go. I wasn't that I didn't want help - I just didn't like to ask for it.

I felt if I asked someone to spend time with my son to enable him to have a better quality of life they might feel obliged to say "Yes".

It also made me feel guilty because I wasn't offering to pay for their time. They would be volunteers, and of course, I was worried that they wouldn't be able to understand or cope with him. Autism can be pretty complicated.

However, there's a saying that "in order to get things you've never had you have to do things you've never done" so I tentatively made my requests and you know what? - No-one refused. Infact they said they were honoured to help and thought I'd never ask.

We have set up a Circle of Friends for my son and get together once every four to six weeks to discuss what Jodi would like to do and where he would like to go.

It's a very friendly social occasion and the volunteers then offer to do at least one thing with him before the next meeting.

As they are all fun things everyone benefits.

* Jodi benefits because he gets to do all the things he likes.
* The volunteers benefit because they get to do things they enjoy but might not necessarily do on their own
* I benefit because I get a break from the responsibility secure in the knowledge that Jodi is safe and happy.

I would recommend a Circle of Friends to anyone who has a child with special needs - not just autism. It may start off small but it is surprising how quickly it can escalate.

Anyone who truly cares about the well-being and future of an individual can really help empower that person to have a "voice", to build friendships, strengthen social networks and realise their dreams and ambitions.

Now eighteen my autistic son can officially gamble, drink and vote. Of course he does neither but he has grown up and matured into a fine young man who was able to thoroughly enjoy the party with his wonderful friends - the one I thought he'd never have.

It was a very emotional evening I can tell you and when I made a speech recounting my earlier fears about the friendship issue there were many who needed a tissue.

The Circle has made a huge difference to me. Jodi's friends have become mine and within the circle itself new friendships have been formed between people who would not normally come together.

None of Jodi's friends would consider themselves "special" but we do. Individually they are all wonderful but put them together in a Circle and the result is pretty amazing.

Try it and see. Everyone needs friends!

By : encanthis

Autism, Probiotics And The Lowly Sandwich

2008-09-21T01:07:00.000-07:00

My son has autism and like many autistic individuals his diet had been a major issue.
It is getting better though.

Until he developed autism after his MMR vaccine my son would eat anything. He was a delight to feed.

However, things changed and for years he literally lived on Hoola Hoops. They are small round potato rings with very little nutritional value what so ever.

They come in packs and are ideal for transportation as they don't crush like packets of crisps. I should know as I have often carried suitcases full of them when we have travelled. The only consolation for that is they are light!

Hoola Hoops are convenience foods and ideal to put as an extra in a lunch box. They are better than crisps because they contain less salt, colourings and flavourings than most brands and now, according to the packet, contain 55% less saturated fat than they did in 2006!

Since they were the only things my son would eat he used to take four packets to school with him every day. As desert he would have a packet of Polos. These are round mints with holes in them.

Notice the similarities? Clue - both round with holes in them.

He would eat the same at home, so his staple diet was Hoola Hoops and Polos washed down with fruit juice, never water. We gave him various vitamins and minerals to supplement .

Not any more!

Over the years we have tried all sorts of things with him but by far the most important intervention was to de-tox him for mercury. From then on his diet improved and since we introduced an amazing probiotic he now eats sandwiches, amongst other things which make life a whole lot easier.

I am so grateful to John Montagu.

I'm not sure if you realised but it's 245 years since the sandwich was first conceived, and it's thanks to good old John who was the 4th Earl of Sandwich, hence the name.

John was a bit of a gambler and the sandwich was developed in order to allow him to eat his meal whilst still holding his cards. He requested his servants to place cooked meats between two slices of bread so things haven't changed much since 1762 have they?

Of course in Victorian times people used to cut off the crusts, at least high society did. The poorer working class were just glad of the crusts and that is where the expression "I'd be grateful for the crusts" originates.

I wonder whether my autistic son has ideas of grandeur as he won't eat the crusts either which is really strange as he will eat crusty rolls and baguettes. What do you think? Have I given birth to an aspiring aristocrat?

The idea of the perfect sandwich differs for everyone and certainly in Western life they are an everyday feature. As a snack their popularity is only matched by crisps.

Apparently chicken sandwiches come top of the list with the British and that is certainly one of my son's favourites. He also likes ham, pork and beef so he's a bit like John Montagu really.

However, unlike the late Earl he insists on taking the meat out and eating that first before eating the bread. He examines every bit before putting it in his mouth and this appears to be quite a common trait for people with autism.

It has been explained to me that it is because autistics do not like different textures in their mouths at the same time. That would explain why my son will always eat his things separately and won't eat things like fruit buns.

Sausages are also a nightmare because he will eat the outer skin and then examine every single bit of the inside before he'll eat them although I suspect that has more to do with the fact at some stage he may well have experienced a bit of gristle in his mouth and is playing safe!

He also squeezes chips before he'll eat them. That's fries to my friends across the water and I suspect that's also because occasionally potatoes can be a bit hard in places. Who knows?

Anyway, thanks to John Montagu and probiotics my autistic son has a much better
diet, so long live the sandwich, that's what I say!

By : encanthis

MMR, Autism, And Who Should Really Be On Trial

2008-09-20T01:05:00.000-07:00

Unless you have been living on a different planet for the past ten years or so you will have heard of autism and the possible connection with the MMR vaccine. It's a debate, which won't go away.

Thousands of parents, myself included, are convinced our children were fine until given the triple measles, mumps and rubella injection.

Whilst we all agree it doesn't affect everyone, we all know deep down it was the reason our normally developing children took a totally devastating and irreversible path. The problem is proving it. Within the health authorities there appears to be a gagging order in place.

Autism was described on the news the other day as a "living nightmare" and certainly it does affect everyone concerned, twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, fifty two weeks a year until eternity.

Not surprisingly, therefore, we would like to ensure other families don't have to suffer in the same way.

Another person who felt the same concern was Doctor Andrew Wakefield who first highlighted the possible connection back in 1998 when he published an article in the Lancet. It was based on the research he and his fellow researchers Professors John Walker-Smith and Simon Murch had carried out at the Royal Free Hospital in London and suggested a link between the MMR, autism and bowel disease.

However, far from being pleased the reason for the autism pandemic (which has shot up from 1:2500 in 1993 to 1:100 in 2007) might have been discovered, the powers that be took umbrage and not only discredited and belittled his findings but hounded him out of UK.

So why were they so annoyed?

The establishment does not like anyone who stands up against them and dares to suggest their policies do not suit everyone. As a consequence of the Lancet report the uptake of the MMR vaccine plummeted.

Since you can no longer get single jabs in most areas parents were not having their children vaccinated. However, when I was a child they didn't exist anyway and it was an accepted part of life that at some stage we would catch measles, mumps and chickenpox .

No-one I've ever heard of caught all three at the same time.

Vaccines have been developed to eradicate preventable, communicable diseases and the single jabs for measles, mumps and rubella had worked perfectly well up until 1988 when the triple was introduced.

However, someone somewhere decided rather than ask parents to take their young children for three different injections they would just combine the three live viruses and save time, money and stress.

The problem is the safety of the triple was never properly tested and several senior clinicians felt the decision to license it was premature. Just because they worked well separately did not mean combining the three live viruses would be a wise move.

Even if the safety data tests for the MMR were carried out for up to 63 days as we are led to believe that is still not long enough to establish autism, as often the symptoms form part of a gradual process.

The few people involved in the trials were asked to report "significant illness". Since autism is a multi-factorial disorder it affects each unique individual differently and we know it doesn't affect everyone. Also, back then autism was quite rare so people would not have been looking for the same symptoms which are so common today.

The safety trials were flawed and the whole thing smacks a bit of not what you know but who you know. An article in the Sunday Times in 2001 revealed one third of the government committee advising on the safety of the MMR had financial interests in the drug companies making the vaccine so it's not surprising the MMR was licensed.

Since then the autism rate has rocketed and now Dr. Andrew Wakefield is on trial by the General Medical Council. He may be struck off if found guilty.

And what is he guilty of exactly?

Well, it's not for challenging the health authorities to get their heads out of the sand and admit the possibility there could be a connection between MMR and autism for some children. Instead it's for being "irresponsible and unethical"in the way he carried out his research.

It seems to me the case for being "irresponsible and unethical" is being targeted at the wrong person although I don't suppose the 1988 British Committee on Safety of Medicines would agree, do you?

By : encanthis

Autism - It May Not Be A Living Nightmare But Is A Reason To Worry

2008-09-19T01:04:00.000-07:00

If you've read my previous articles you will know the other day on breakfast television, autism was described as a "living nightmare". That really made my day as my son is autistic.

Certainly autism is a lifelong disability and for parents it's a real worry.

My son is eighteen and autistic. He bears no resemblance now to the "child from hell" whom I wrote about in my first book.

I make that statement just incase anyone reading this has just had their child diagnosed with autism and is filled with despair. Take it from someone who's been there, done that and got the tee-shirt - it can get better.

However, the problems don't go away. They just change.

Whilst I am no expert, my best advice would be to accept the autism diagnosis and do whatever you can, as quickly as you can to help your child be the best he or she can be.

The real "experts" and just about everyone involved with autism all agree the earlier the intervention, the better.

Still, the reality is autism is a lifelong disability and whilst your child can, and most probably will improve in many areas, he or she will always be vulnerable and most likely need some sort of support.

It's a worry.

My son will soon have to leave the security blanket afforded by the children's service and enter the world of the "adults". Unfortunately the help provided there is sparse and frequently inappropriate. Often it is centred on what the person can't do rather than what he or she can.

As I said my son has improved tremendously and with the right support is capable of all sorts of things.

He seldom speaks and academically is a very young child but when it comes to routine household and domestic chores I have more confidence in him than in my "normal" son who is almost two years older. (Sorry son, but you know it's true).

I have no qualms about him cooking, ironing, cleaning, decorating, gardening or any such tasks provided he is supervised. He is careful with tools and is very tidy, is observant, has an eye for detail and a great memory.

Most autistic individuals like routine so if you show them how to do something properly from the start then they are likely to do it that way forever.

You just have to make sure they don't get too rigid about routines. If I explain things to my son he's now happy to accept and make changes. It wasn't always so but the current happy state of affairs has evolved over the years.

It just takes endless patience and persistence.

However, there's one area I can't explain to him and that is emotions and empathy for other people. He is much better than he used to be but I'm sure he'll never understand the concept of love and that's a concern for me at the moment.

Why?

Well, it's really to do with a teenage girl he regularly comes into contact with. I think she has Asperger's Syndrome, or at least she is on the autistic spectrum somewhere and her hormones have kicked into overdrive.

She is sociable to say the least.

Having kissed most of the boys in the school and scared half of them (and their parents) by declaring she wants to have their babies, she now appears to have set her sights on my son.

Maybe she sees him as a challenge because he is so totally disinterested. That's the major difference between Asperger's and Autism. One desperately wants to fit in and be liked whilst the other doesn't care.

Anyway, they were apparently seen having a full kiss the other evening at the youth club and when questioned, this young temptress smiled and with a twinkle in her eye declared that since my son doesn't speak it was just his way of saying "Hello".

However, he doesn't greet anyone else in that manner so I suspect the lip lock wasn't instigated by my son.

It worries me.

You see whilst he doesn't express emotions he does have feelings. His brain may not function correctly but the rest of him certainly does. Since that kiss I've begun to wonder what will happen if he should decide he likes the feeling he gets when he kisses (or is kissed by) a girl.

My son learns by example and is vulnerable. Hopefully he'll never be left alone with a member of the opposite sex because although at the moment he prefers to watch Thomas the Tank Engine and Disney videos to Desperate Housewives, it could just be a matter of time before he is exposed to such programmes and what these days his more liberated peers consider "normal".

Remember he learns by example.

It would only take a few minutes with a learning disabled hormonal Lolita with little or no understanding of the consequences of unprotected sex and my son could find himself a father. He wouldn't even know how or why.

Autism is a lifelong disability and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. It may or may not be a "living nightmare" but it certainly is a worry.

What Is Behavioral Therapy For Autism

2008-09-18T01:02:00.000-07:00

Behavioral therapy for autism is popular as it reportedly has a high chance of success. In this type of therapy, your child quickly learns that only appropriate behavior is rewarded while inappropriate behavior is not encouraged and in fact, they will be ignored. The success rate of behavioral therapies increases if the sessions are started at an early age; that is before your child turns 3 years old.

You would probably find that your autistic child will often challenge your parenting skills by exhibiting extremes in behavior. Extremes of behavior would include such things as temper tantrums, self injurious behavior, aggression and agitation. Essentially, he is dictating to you what he wants and his preferences. If he does not get what he wants, you are made to suffer the consequences. Rather than giving in, you should in fact learn how to teach your child a more appropriate way in which to get what he wants.

This is where a consistent program of behavioral modification comes in. You can learn how to cope with the behavior of your child and also guide him to more socially appropriate behaviors. An autistic child usually has no sense of social awareness. Such a program must consist of 4 components: a structured daily routine; behavioral control; communication; and applied behavioral analysis.

You should design a structured daily routine as your autistic child can have an idea what to expect. It has been found that autistic children do not usually cope well with inconsistency or change. Therefore, sticking to a daily routine is important as much as possible.

The next thing that a parent must learn is how to control tantrums and other such behavioral issues. In doing so there are 3 factors to bear in mind:

1. Deal with those behaviors that are dangerous to the child or those around him first. You would need to stop these behaviors with firm words and actions. Try not to show your child any anger while doing this though.

2. You need to teach your autistic child how to sit down as it may not be easy for him to do so naturally. The best way in which to do this is to reward appropriate sitting behavior while either ignoring or giving a negative consequence for inappropriate sitting behavior.

3. Autistic children tend to have bizarre, stereotypical, repetitive behaviors. The most obvious of these are finger flapping and rocking. These can be very distracting and thus a firm command to stop is suggested for use. Next direct your child to another activity that will not allow him to continue these behaviors.

It is crucial that you talk to your child regularly. In your communication, be both simple and direct. You need to use short, clear sentences without going into explanations or using too many words. Shorten your instructions to manageable tasks. You want to avoid confusing him.

Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is a form of behavioral therapy that is well recognized for its success rate of 47 percent. ABA involves breaking down tasks into individual components. Then, whenever a child successfully completes each step of the task he should be rewarded. However, it is important to note that ABA is not the only behavioral approach to treating autism nor is it a cure for autism. Still, it is a good option to consider in terms of helping your autistic child.

By : skleong

What Comes Under Autism Disorder Spectrum?

2008-09-17T01:00:00.000-07:00

There is a difference between using the word autism and the term autism spectrum disorder. Autism itself describes any one of the 5 different types of pervasive developmental disorders. These pervasive developmental disorders essentially come under the autism disorder spectrum. There are conflicting theories about how the five disorders relate to one another.

While some researchers argue that they are all separate disorders with similar symptoms, others promote the theory that autism is really a spectrum. According to this theory, on one end of the autism disorder spectrum, there are the mild cases, with symptoms that are hardly noticeable. On the other end, cases can be so severe such that the person inflicted cannot cope with normal functioning and living independently.

Autism is a chronic brain disorder that manifests in developmental difficulties in the areas of social interaction, verbal skills and communication. It is usually detected after the child turns three years old. However, in certain cases, symptoms may also be detected when your child turns one.

If your child is autistic, he is likely to have repetitive and narrow interests. He will not be willing to try new things or food, preferring to always stick to the same ones that he is used to. Also, he finds it hard to cope with changes in schedules and environment. He can react violently when any change should occur or if there is a disruption to his normal schedule of activities. His behavior is odd and unpredictable. You may even think that he is being naughty, without realizing that he is actually having a brain disorder difficulty.

There are conflicting opinions about what causes autism. Some scientists and researchers believe that it is a genetic abnormality. Yet others think that it is caused by an injury to the brain or exposure to an environmental toxin. The latter view is supported by the fact that in some population areas, autism is at higher rates of incidence than it is elsewhere.

You may start observing some developmental problems of your child between the ages of 12 and 36 months old. It may be that your child is not hitting some milestones with underdeveloped or delay in speech and communication skills. You may also begin to notice that he tends to keep himself or if he has little awareness of social cues. His eye contact is poor and he cannot focus clearly. However, if your child only has mild autism, you may not be able to detect that anything is wrong until he goes to school. In some cases, your child may go undiagnosed until he is much older when social and communication skills are required.

If you have an autistic child, you may fear that his disorder may become worse over the years. However, there is no cause for concern apparently. Research shows that autism is non-progressive, meaning that it does not get worse in time.

Here is a breakdown of what comes under autism disorder spectrum or otherwise known as the 5 pervasive developmental disorders:

1. Autism. Symptoms can be recognized before a child turns 3-years-old. However, they may be more obvious much later than this. If your child is diagnosed with autism he will have difficulty making or maintaining eye contact, have impaired social functioning, can be overwhelmingly absorbed with himself and would seem like a loner.

2. Asperger Syndrome. Asperger Syndrome is similar to autism in that it tends to show up before your child turns 3 years old. However, your child will be able to function at a higher level than an autistic child. He can still have problems with social functioning, communication and speech. He will also have narrowly defined interests. But with some therapy and help, most asperger children are able to live independently when they get older.

3. Rex syndrome. Doctors cannot agree whether Rex syndrome is a type of autism or not. This syndrome almost exclusively afflicts girls. Usually your child will develop normally for 6 to 18 months and then all of a sudden, show a loss of skills in such areas as speech and lose the ability to control her hands and her feet. This syndrome can be tested for with an 80% accuracy rate.

4. Childhood disintegrative disorder (CDD). CDD takes place a little later. It happens anytime between the age of 2 to 4 years old. You would notice a marked degeneration in social, physical, mental and verbal skills. The long period of normal development below the age of 2 is the distinguishing factor between autism and CDD.

5. Pervasive developmental disorder. This disorder applies if your child is not within any of the above other 4 mentioned categories. He is diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder if he is found to have impairments in social interaction, stereotyped behavior and communication but with symptoms not otherwise defined.

By : skleong

Autism Awareness - Why You Can’t Make Judgements

2008-09-16T01:56:00.000-07:00

Apparently this week is autism awareness week. For those of us who have children with autism, every week is autism awareness week - every week, every day, every hour, every minute, every second. There's no escape, and for some the reality is very hard to take.

Some parents are so conscious of the unusual and unpredictable behaviour of their offspring; they refuse to take them out in public. Instead, they elect to hide away in the safety and seclusion of their own four walls, unable to face the stares, the whisperings and the downright rude remarks.

I know. I've been there, done that and worn the tee-shirt.

The big problem with autism, apart from the fact it is different for every one with the disability, is that it is invisible. There is usually nothing for the outside world to see. Our children look "normal".

When an autistic child misbehaves in public it is generally seen as a failure on the part of the parents to control him or her. The child is obviously very "naughty", spoiled rotten and clearly in need of a firm hand. At least that's the way it appears.

However, perception and reality are two different things.

Autistic children do everything for a reason. When my son was small he used to hit and kick me all the time. He would have terrible tantrums, throw himself on the floor screaming and I never knew why. I only knew he wasn't being deliberately naughty. He was just frustrated because he had no way of communicating.

Just imagine how you would feel if you suffered a stroke or some paralysing condition which left your brain functioning normally, but you couldn't speak, read or write. You were unable to point, look at the thing you actually wanted and don't know the difference between Yes and No, so even if someone did ask you an appropriately worded question to determine your wishes, you wouldn't be able to answer.

How would you feel? How would you communicate? How would you tell the world what you wanted? Don't you think you might be just a bit frustrated?

Perhaps you could think about that the next time you see some poor harassed parent with a seemingly spoiled and naughty child.

Don't judge.

Those poor people will be doing the best they can in a VERY difficult situation and the last thing they need is for people to stare and criticise.

Thankfully my son has learned to communicate and I am no longer his punch bag. Never once have I hit him but many people have told me I should have given him a good smack round the backside. "That will sort him out", they said.

One woman even offered to lend me her walking stick to beat him with when he was misbehaving in a shop, but children learn by example. What sort of example would a smack give? Anyway I knew he wasn't really being naughty.

Autism is a growing problem. It's not going away and at some point you will come some autistic children and some very worried and anxious parents. Please don't make their lives any harder by making rash judgments.

I've been there and know what it's like. I've often wished the ground would open up and swallow me, and have lost count of the times I've returned home in tears vowing never to venture outside my door again.

Autism is tough. It's autism awareness week so be aware. Things aren't always as they seem!

By : encanthis

What You Should Know Regarding Autism And Diet

2008-09-15T01:54:00.000-07:00

Most people don't know that autism is a physical condition as well as a mental one. For this reason alone, controlling your child's autism and diet go hand in hand. Studies have shown that over half of autistic children suffer from gastrointestinal issues including chrons disease and colitis. Some scientists believe that this disorder begins in the stomach. Their theory is that the gastrointestinal walls have been damaged, which allows toxins to seep into the bloodstream and affect the brain's activity.

This is the reason why an autistic child's parents need to monitor their child's eating habits as well as their behavior. Foods that contain casein (dairy products) and gluten (rye, wheat, and barley) are foods that someone suffering from autism should not be eating. It appears that their body can't properly digest them and this undigested protein becomes a poison that leaks into their circulatory system.

A GFCF diet (gluten-free, casein-free) is becoming increasingly popular with the parents of children suffering from autism. Some in the medical community are still skeptical, but other medical professionals and organizations completely support the GFCF diet. Defeat Autism Now (DAN) is one of those organizations. Many parents have found incredible improvements in their children after switching to this diet. They have noticed that their child has a longer attention span, makes better eye contact, and behaves less aggressively in general.

The hardest part for the parent is going to be implementing this diet. A major portion of many peoples diet includes dairy products as well as cereals. People that are allergic to gluten already know how difficult it is to find products that are gluten-free. When you add dairy to the list as well, the job becomes a lot harder. Making the job harder still, many children suffering from autism latch on to certain foods and simply refuse to eat other foods. With so many products containing casein or gluten, there is a pretty good chance that something your child likes will end up being a problem for you. Another thing to be aware of is that foods containing casein and gluten act as opiates, which will make your autistic child crave them even more.

It isn't going to be easy to wean your child off of these foods. Most parents find that it is easiest to start by eliminating dairy. Because many people are lactose intolerant, dairy makes up a smaller percentage of most individuals' diets than products containing gluten do. It is much easier to replace products containing casein with other foods. Unfortunately, this is not the case with gluten. Foods that don't even contain gluten can be contaminated by it, because many different foods can be processed at the same facility. Examine all of a foods ingredients carefully and if you are still in doubt, check directly with the products manufacturer.

Monitoring your child's autism and diet isn't going to be easy, because many parents believe their child won't eat if their favorite foods are taken away. You have to be firm as well as loving, and don't give in when your child misbehaves because their menu at home has been changed. In a few short weeks, you may very well notice a change in the behavior of your child, and you may also be pleasantly surprised at what they are now willing to eat that they wouldn't touch previously.

By : willco

Autism - One Reason I Wish Time Would Stand Still

2008-09-14T01:44:00.000-07:00

On the television the other morning someone described autism as a "living nightmare". I'm not sure I'd personally go that far yet but it certainly is a major concern - at least for the parents.

My son is autistic and is eighteen. Until now he has been very lucky. He has been able to access support via childrens' services, but I realise many people aren't as fortunate. I've heard numerous tales of parents who've had to really fight for what little help they've had and many get none at all.

I do, but that will soon change. Although my son can already legally drive, drink and vote, he is considered a child until he is nineteen and can remain at his special needs school and go to respite once a month until then. However, as soon as he hits that age he becomes an adult.

Whilst his needs will still be the same, the help to which he will be entitled will be reduced - considerably. Suddenly everything, which has become so familiar to him over the years, will stop.

I wish for his sake and mine time would stand still.

We are currently in the "transition" period where we are exploring the options available to him. They are limited to say the least but we are fortunate in as much as he is not physically disabled which must make things far more difficult.

However, nothing we have seen so far even comes close to what we aspire. The local options aren't really suitable and aren't conducive to his continued improvement. It's depressing and I often wish I could go to sleep and wake up to find the whole autism thing was just a bad dream.

Having said that I realise I am actually one of the lucky ones for my son has got options. Other autistic children/adults don't. It's no wonder parents despair and either accept anything offered, or send their children miles away to some form of residential unit simply because there is nothing appropriate closer to home.

The National Autistic Society now suggests 1 in 100 children suffer from some form of autistic spectrum disorder. In 1993 when my son was diagnosed it was 1 in 2500.

The problem is that all these autistic children will grow up to be autistic adults, and the big question is what will they do?

Apparently only 15% of adults with autism manage to hold down employment and 49% never leave home. That means in many cases elderly parents are effectively looking after their age 40 plus children and it's a worry. What happens if they get ill? Who then will look after their children and how will they adapt?

It's a frightening scenario and one that many parents currently face. Since autism is a problem that isn't going away there needs to be more co-ordinated planning and services put in place before it is too late.

Families need help to enable their adults with autism to be more independent otherwise the cost to the community will be immense. If there is no-where for the people with autism to work then their carers can't work either.

I once heard someone exclaim the world would be destroyed by the three A's - anger, avarice and autism. Maybe that's true.

We are already seeing wars and violence created by anger and greed. Now think about all the autistic children you know. They are the adults of the future.

Frightening isn't it?

Now you know one reason I wish time would stand still.

By : encanthis

Autism Spectrum Disorder : A Wide Range Of Disorders

2008-09-13T01:43:00.000-07:00

Autism spectrum disorder is basically a wide range of behavioral and developmental disorders that results from a combination of certain traits. The disorder will range from low functioning autism to high functioning autism to normal behavior and to possibly hyper socialization.

An autism spectrum disorder is considered to be a persuasive developmental disorder, which basically means that it interferes with a child's normal developmental abilities such as communication and speech. Autism spectrum disorders are not specific developmental disorders such as dyslexia. It is important to note that many people who have this disorder usually end up living in dire poverty.

The Affected Areas Of Functioning

This disorder is considered to be both a psychological and a developmental disorder that affects many areas of functioning. These areas will include language, motor coordination, self-help skills, communication and scholastic achievements. With some individuals, the symptoms may be it immediately noticeable, while in others; the symptoms may not be noticeable at all when first meeting that individual.

Surprisingly, many people that are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder lead very normal lives. In fact, many people with this disorder may lead a very normal life and are not noticed until later on in their adolescence or well into their adulthood lives. These disorders are usually diagnosed following a series of psychiatric tests.

Not Really Disabled After All

It is vital to let people know that people who were diagnosed with this disorder are not "disabled". What makes them different from every one else is their thought process. There are many different degrees of severity that no 2 people are really alike.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder may have a little challenge interacting with other normal children, as well as trend to keep up scholastically. In all depends on the severity. Some individuals with this disorder may not read as well or comprehend as fast Ward to as well on tests as other children. These same individuals may also have a challenge try to socialize successfully. The reason for this is due to the fact that their brains process and store information differently from normal children.

Learning is Key to Understanding

As parents and caregivers the best thing we can do is to educate ourselves about the various degrees of autism spectrum disorders. Other people in the individual's life such as teachers, siblings and friends should also become involved in the learning process too. Some individuals have shown that with intense therapy and practice, they are able to " fit in" and socialize normally with the outside world. By doing the best that we can to learn all that we can about this disorder, we become better equipped to help deal with those who have it. Admittedly, it does take a lot of patience as well as practice and guidance dealing with people with autism spectrum disorder. The good news is that some of these people can go on to live a normal and productive life and contribute to society.

By : Blog_King

Getting To Know What Autism Is

2008-09-12T01:42:00.000-07:00

Save if you have an autistic child yourself or know of one, many of you would probably get to know what autism is through watching the movie Rain Man. In the movie, Dustin Hoffman was brilliant as the autistic adult. The movie also highlighted many of the frustrations faced by families with dealing with an autistic child or adult. It sheds light on the daily realities that a high-functioning autistic person must face. Despite the movie, there are still many myths surrounding autism.

It is important to get to know what autism is as recent statistics show alarming figures indicating the prevalence of this condition. Autism is a brain disorder that affects an estimated 210,000 people in the United States. This comes up to approximately 1.5 per 1000 people. Many advocacy groups are alarmed that autism cases have risen exponentially since 1993, the first year that data for autism was submitted separately to the Department of Education. Their reactions are based on a staggering 800% increase of cases with autism in the last ten years. Despite this set of statistics, many are not convinced by the data. They believe that there has been a fundamental flaw in data collection. Reasons include the loosening of diagnostic criteria for autism as well as the fact that the figures were understated years ago as hardly anyone knew what autism was then.

Autism is an umbrella term that refers to a broad range of developmental delays and disorders. It is usually first noticed in a child when he or she is three years of age. Parents of autistic children will be saddened to find out that autism is a lifelong condition.

Many years ago, autism symptoms are often attributed to cold parenting or unloving parents. Medical doctors no longer believe that there is any psychological cause for autism. Despite numerous studies, there is no known cause for autism. There are many that say that environmental factors are major contributors.

The DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition) lays out a complex criteria for diagnosing autism in children and adults, but in general the symptoms of autism include:

- Delays (or the loss of) physical, social and language skills.
- Abnormal reactions to sensation
- Speech and language delays or abnormalities while associated thinking skills may be present
- Abnormal ways of relating to people, objects and events.

If you have just discovered that your child is autistic, you may find it challenging to deal with the amount of information and myths that are floating around. Additionally, there are plenty of social and emotional issues that you have to handle. For instance, you may even find that others have a bias towards you if they still believe in autism comes from bad parenting. You may also feel bewildered by the vast number of treatments that are available to autistic children and yet at the same time, bitterly disappointed by the lack of understanding shown by mainstream schools and medical facilities.

Personally, I did not have much support and help when my daughter first got diagnosed by a psychologist. The psychologist did not present me with any comforting thoughts nor recommend alternative therapies. I have been largely left to my own devices to search for appropriate treatments and therapies for my child. What I do find useful to share from my own experience is that early detection is of great importance. Knowing what autism is and what to look out for helps in early detection and identification of this condition.

Adult Autism : Growing Old With Autism

2008-09-11T01:41:00.000-07:00

For many people adult autism is just the way of life. They have to endure living with this disorder, which can be very difficult because they can't function as normal people can function. For some people, they have learned to accept this disorder and live with it, but what makes it really difficult for some, is how those around them treat them and by society in general. As a society, we should try our best to study and learn and understand what adult autism is and not just for those who were diagnosed with this disorder. By learning as much as we can as a society, we can better help those who have to live with this disorder for which there is no known cure for. After all, these are people too, just like the rest of us and are just as important as everyone else's.

This Disorder is Not a Curse

There many people who do not see adult autism as a curse. In fact, there are many people who actually enjoy being autistic. They considered being autistic a part of who they are and wouldn't have it any other way. They don't want to be cured; they just want to be accepted by everyone. Yes, they too have strengths and weaknesses like everyone else, but most of all, they are people and have every right to enjoy life just like you and me.

Generally speaking, autism starts in infancy. What this means is that this person has been living with this disorder for some time now. Autistic adults see the world differently from others. Their five senses work normally, however their brains just process the information differently. The way information is processed and stored and interpreted are slightly different from that of a normal person. Some experts believe that this may cause some of the more detrimental effects of autism, such as fits and tantrums. Reacting to the world normally would be extremely difficult for someone that already has a lot of stress and anxiety.

Heightened Senses

With some individuals, they have heightened senses or uncontrollable senses. What this basically means is that very often they can't decide if they're hungry or stuffed, hot or cold. Some autistics can't stand bad, strong odors or loud noises; and most do not like being touched or any other forms of contact from other people. Often times, they will reject hugs and kisses or any other acts of affection. Some people will see this as weird or unusual.

Trying to socialize with others can be a real challenge for people with adult autism. That is why it is a good idea to get them involved in programs and activities that encourage human contact and teach them how to socialize with others. And just as important, we must educate those around us about this disorder, so that we can assist autistic adults in their struggle to fit in. By teaching others about this disorder, we can hopefully develop into a more understanding and accepting society.

By : Blog_King

Autism Therapy Is a Lifetime of Work

2008-09-10T03:39:00.000-07:00

Currently, there is no known to cure for autism known to man. Little is known about why it affects some people. Diagnosing autism can be a challenge because initially the disorder is taken as "bad - behavior "another corrective measures are applied. Some people believe that if autism therapy it started early in a child's life, there is some hope for amelioration in some children. Still, for parents and caregivers of an autistic child, it can be a real challenge at the best of times.

Autism can be a Very Painful Predicament for Parents

It can be very challenging as well as very painful for some parents to learn that their child is affected by autism. What makes this even more painful is the fact that there it is no cure yet for this disease and there are no guarantees that the future will bring some change. Autism therapy basically involves a series of exercises to bring the child out of his or her world. However, many parents are disappointed when it seems that their child has a door that which they shut against the world and no one can seem the open it again regardless of what they do or say.

When autistic children shut the door and close themselves off from their environment, it can be very difficult to teach them because they stop observing and observation is an important tool for learning. What autism therapy involves is working around this obstacle through various approaches based on applied behavioral analysis. However, progress can be very slow in many cases, simply because the child doesn't react to their outside environment. Even with powerful reinforcement and encouragement - which in itself is a very powerful tool - does not apply in this case.

There Are Some Small Rays of Hope

There are cases of children with autism that have made a total transition. With these cases, the autism therapy started when the children were very young, usually between two to three years old. Such cases act as inspiration for both the parents and caregivers of the autistic child. Unfortunately, the educational facilities available for autistic children are very limited and extremely expensive. Obviously, this is very frustrating on the part of the parents with limited resources.

Most parents of these children opt for home schooling. In most cases, these parents find it easier to home school their autistic child, rather than fight the million and one obstacles they will encounter when they ask for state education facilities. Currently there is a shortage of specialist for autism therapy, which stacks the odds against these children.

However, not all is doom or gloom. There is a flicker of hope still. There are a number of cases showing that when autism therapy has been started at an early age, there has been a total turnaround where the child became almost normal. Though nobody knows exactly how or why these turnarounds happened, it still does hold a glimmer of hope and promise for both the parents and the autistic child that there might be a potential cure somewhere down road.

By : Blog_King

Grounds for Autism Development - Why and How to Cure

2008-09-09T03:37:00.000-07:00

Autism is a neurological disorder & needs special care for treatment. This disorder results from combinations of certain traits. This disorder ranges from low functioning autism to high function autism.

This disorder is considered to be a pervasive developmental disorder. This means that it interrupts with usual developmental abilities including speech & communication.

Autism has many effects on different parts of body.

Autism mainly affects the brain. A child is unable to excel is communication, social interactions & certain activities or interests.

A child with autism is unable to keep eye contact, indulge in facial expression & gestures. The child fails to establish friendship with people of his age. He or she does not enjoy or share interests & achievements with others. They are also unable to understand emotions.

Most children are unable to speak & don’t initiate or continue a conversation. They have a tendency to repeat a phrase over & over again that they have heard once before. Children with autism do not indulge in ‘pretend’ play. They focus on pieces rather than the whole object.

Most people don´t to know whether autism can be cured. Unfortunately, the answer is ‘no’. There is no cure for autism. In case, an advertisement, product or medication promises that it can cure autism, you are being misled.

You need to understand the fact that autism has no cure. However, the good news is that a lot of treatments are available to make people live with autism an easier task.

Autism can be treated with the following therapies:

a) Alternative treatments

These days, natural & alternative treatments for autism are very popular. These include the use of herbs in contrast to prescribed medications. Use of herbs does not have any side effects. Usually, vitamin & mineral supplements are found helpful in treating Autism.

You should inform the doctor about any of the natural products that you are using for your child. Some herbs can interact with prescription medication. Remember that herbs & vitamins are used to help with certain symptoms of autism.

b) Nutritional Methods

Some people prefer taking a special diet when treating Autism. They stay away from certain type of foods that may cause sensitivities. Gluten, dairy & artificial dyes are some of the foods that are eliminated from the diet. You can also ask your doctor for allergy testing. This will let you know whether your child has allergy from a certain type of food. This way, you can easily eliminate a food from his or her diet.

It is true that there is no cure for Autism. However, there are several treatments that can help the child overcome some symptoms. You need to understand that going for one treatment at a time will only help. You should not expect any miracle treatment.

You should not waste your money or time on products that claim to cure autism. You must continue helping your child by continuing the treatment for symptoms of Autism. This will definitely help you child enjoy a better life.

Don’t shirk away from asking a lot of questions to your doctor. Try to monitor your child’s progress on a regular basis.

Handle your child with lot of love, care, presence & appreciation.

By : samlord

What is Leaky Gut Syndrome?

2008-08-30T01:51:00.000-07:00

Leaky gut syndrome in conjunction with autism is still being researched; a number of studies and research are under way to better understand how the syndrome starts, why it can be prevalent in autistic children, and how to treat it. Simply, leaky guy syndrome is the inability of the intestinal wall to keep out large, unwanted molecules. This symptom of autism most often signifies that the intestinal wall has been altered to become permeable. Leaky gut syndrome in autistic children may occur because of increased sensitivity or allergies.

Leaky gut syndrome is problematic for one’s health because it allows molecules and substances (such as proteins) that are normally filtered out of the intestinal tract into the intestines. Because these molecules are not usually allowed inside the gut, the body misinterprets these non-harmful substances as a virus or infection and begins to produce antibodies to attack them.

In turn, this creates a process where one’s body recognizes certain foods, as well as any of the body’s regular molecules that are similar to these foods, as harmful, causing an auto-immune disease where the body attacks itself. These are merely two possible outcomes with leaky gut syndrome. Others include the transportation of bacteria normally found within the intestinal tract to move into the bloodstream and cause an infection anywhere in the body as well as a weakening of the liver, which causes more toxins to circulate throughout the body, leading to a number of medical problems.

What can cause leaky gut syndrome? Researchers are still working to more fully understand the causes, but current medical diagnoses suggest that a diet high in alcohol and caffeine intake, certain drugs like ibuprofen and antacids, or a diet high in carbohydrates can decrease the thickness of the intestinal wall as well as other possible reasons. These are just a few possible reasons, and ways to treat leaky gut syndrome are just as uncertain as the reasons.

Because of the sensitivity of the digestive system with leaky gut syndrome, many parents of autistic children find that putting their child on gluten- and casein-free diets can help. Both gluten and casein are proteins, and a diet with these proteins may irritate and inflame a leaky gut syndrome – though at the moment, researchers are still studying this. You may also treat leaky gut syndrome by avoiding alcohol, caffeine, ibuprofen, or spicy foods – all of which can cause irritation in the intestines.

Understanding leaky gut syndrome is an ongoing process, for parents with autistic children, doctors, and researchers, but this does not mean that there is nothing you can do to treat it. Simply being aware that your autistic child may have leaky gut syndrome will help you to better understand and improve his or her life.

The Power of Music - Musical Therapy to Treat Autism

2008-08-29T01:49:00.000-07:00

Musical therapy is a relatively new treatment method for autism patients, but one that should not be overlooking when discussing options. Patients who receive musical therapy often should great improvement in temperament and learning skills. Music connects to the non-verbal part of our brains, making it a perfect therapy for disorders in which the patient has trouble communicating, such as autism. Research this innovative treatment method if you are looking for some help with autism and haven’t had much luck in the past.

Musical therapy is effective because it can be used in conjunction with learning social skills. Music is a very non-threatening medium for patients, and many games can be played using music to help improve social and behavioral skills. By encouraging eye contact while singing or using instruments that need to get close to the face, musical therapy can help autistic individuals break social barriers.

The number one way that musical therapy can help children, as well as older autistic patients, is by helping with the development of speech skills. Music is a way to connect the verbal and non-verbal functions in the brain. Autistic individuals may have various forms of speech problems. Some can only hum, grunt, or make other non-word noises, while others babble nonsensical phrases or cries.

Still others gain the capability to put together phrases and sentences to communicate with the world, although these usually lack emotion. Autistic people are known for monotone voices. However, no matter how skilled the individual is with speech, he or she can participate in musical therapy by clapping rhythms, humming along, or doing simple echoing songs.

Autistic individuals are commonly found to be particularly good at music. Some, for instance, have perfect pitch. Others can play a particular instrument very well, with little instruction. Even if he or she shows no genius musical ability by normal standards, you may find that a particularly hard to deal with autistic person has abilities in music that exceed his or her other abilities. A musical therapist can use music as a way to link this kind of learning with other kinds of learning, not only as speech development and social behavioral development as previously discussed, but also as a way to communicate emotions and develop memory.

By using all of these techniques in conjunction with one another, musical therapy can work wonders with people who are autistic. Trained professionals can use music to teach children and others how to communicate in nonverbal ways, making it easier for patients to learn. Research the musical therapy option to provide you or your child with another choice when treating autism.

Sibling Rivalry : How Brothers and Sisters can Cope with Autistic Family Members

2008-08-28T01:47:00.000-07:00

When a family member is diagnosed with autism, there is a vast amount of information teaching parents how to cope with an autistic child, and there is also information for parents about dealing with an autistic child’s different behaviors. However, there are fewer learning tools for those who have an autistic sibling, even though this is a very stressful situation for brothers and sisters of an autistic child. The following tips can help children cope with an autistic sibling.

Sometimes parents are so involved in preparing themselves and their autistic child for the transition ahead that they forget that their other children must also deal with the new situation. Often, siblings of an autistic child may feel the new situation acutely. They may feel neglected by parents or jealous of the autistic child who is now receiving more attention. Also, they may find their peers constantly teasing them about having an autistic sibling, which can lead to more stress.

This may lead to behavioral issues, with the sibling acting out and becoming a “problem child” to receive attention. In some cases, the sibling may even try to hurt the autistic brother or sister in an attempt to remove him from the family environment.

However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, having an autistic sibling forces one to “grow up” and become responsible. There can be a strong emotional attachment to the autistic sibling and a keen desire to keep him or her safe in all situations. Furthermore, living with an autistic sibling can teach one to be more open about another person’s differences. In this way, having an autistic sibling is a life-enriching experience that pushes individuals to be emotionally and mentally stronger and to be more tolerant towards others in life

One tip for siblings to cope with their autistic brother or sister is to find a support group. There should be resources available at the local chapter of the Autism Society of America. This is especially important in helping siblings feel that they are not alone and isolated in this unfolding situation—others are dealing with the same sorts of problems. Also, try to increase family interaction. Schedule a regular family day or family night each week, where all children can spend time with parents or other family members and share their day or week experiences and any problems.

The best thing to remember is to be open about how you are feeling. If children feel that their parents are neglecting some aspect of their life, simply asking them for a moment of their time is often the best solution. It is important for parents to be understanding towards their children’s needs for attention, whether they are autistic or not. Communication is the key to helping the entire family run smoothly.

Eliminating the Source : What Causes Autism

2008-08-27T01:45:00.000-07:00

Many parents hope that in finding a source of autism, this disorder can be cured or prevented. Unfortunately, scientists have yet to find one single reason why children develop autism. It is possible that someday autism will be linked to a specific gene abnormality, but the more likely source is not one thing, but a number of factors in a child’s world. Autism cannot be prevented or cured, so the best we can do to help autistic children and adults is be understanding and willing to compromise to make the world comfortable for them and ourselves.

First off, there are certain things that do not cause autism, and these myths should be laid to rest immediately. Most importantly, bad parenting does not cause autism. In the past, mothers were blamed for traumatizing their children with cold parenting techniques, which was thought to lead to autism. This is simple not true. Autism is also not caused by malnutrition, although food allergies occur in my autistic children and some autistic children do benefit from taking daily vitamins.

There are many links between autism and the brain. Most people with autism have larger brains and they are “wired” differently than a typical brain. Differences occur in many parts of the brain, so it cannot be targeted to one specific brain malfunction overall, but rather a brain malfunction in general. Autistic children also show signs of an immune deficiency.

Evidence in this study is not yet strong, but research is still being done. Many autistic individuals have other health problems related to immune deficiencies. Overall, these things all seem to point to genetics. Although autism is not the parents’ fault, it is most likely that autism was found elsewhere on your family tree, and it is not uncommon for parents to raise more than one autistic child. Autism may also be linked to vaccinations, although this is still being highly studied.

The benefits of vaccinations greatly outweigh the risks of them causing autism, so you should not deprive your child simply because you are fearful. Talk to you doctor if you have concerns about vaccinations.

Nobody knows what causes autism. Therefore, we can do nothing to prevent and cure it, but rather we can simply treat the autistic people in our lives with the best of our ability. Becoming educated in autism is the key—the more you know about the disorder, the better you can help individuals who suffer from it. Autism is a complex problem, and as researchers develop new understandings of the way it affects the body, better treatment options will become available, with the hope that someday we will be able to cure this disease.

Dealing with Asperger Syndrome

2008-08-26T01:43:00.000-07:00

Asperger Syndrome is a relatively mild form of autism that effects people in different ways than regular autism. Because it usually does not affect language, many people with Asperger Syndrome go undiagnosed. This is the one form of autism that is usually not caught at an early age and is instead a disorder that develops later in life. Asperger Syndrome, however, can be a very difficult condition to have, so as soon as you suspect yourself or your child of having communication and social behavior problems, see your family doctor.

Many famous and successful people were diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome. Historians even suggest that Einstein and Mozart each suffered from this disorder. It is important to note that no form of autism is a form of mental retardation. In fact, most people with Asperger Syndrome are very intelligent. Asperger Syndrome does not dictate mental ability, but rather makes it difficult for people to communicate in social settings, much in the same way a typical autistic child has trouble with behavior in groups.

When this disorder goes undiagnosed, children do not get the help they need, leading to problems in school such as bullying. Most children are relieved to find out they have Asperger Syndrome instead of just thinking they are less of a person. By getting diagnosed, not only can you or your child put a name to the problems, but it is then also possible to get treated to improve your overall situation.

Some symptoms to watch out for if you suspect Asperger Syndrome are some of the same symptoms that people with full-blown autism experience. This includes social confusion, first and foremost. Many people with Asperger Syndrome find it very difficult to deal with transition or change, wanting everything to stay the same.

A quickly changing environment is especially confusing. People with Asperger Syndrome also may say rude or inappropriate things when they don’t mean to do so, and may not be able to understand others’ thought processes. Another common trait they share with autistic individuals is fixation, although people with Asperger Syndrome usually have more control over their fixations, which take the form of highly focused interests.

If you suspect yourself or a loved one of this disorder, these are just a few of the signs for which you should be watching. You doctor should be able to answer further questions and provide both reading material and treatment for this disorder.

Bad Apples on the Family Tree

2008-08-25T01:41:00.000-07:00

The news that a child in the family is autistic is most often met with a number of reactions. While all family members, even extended, would be supportive in an ideal world, the sad truth is that many are disgusted or disappointed. Does a family member scold the autistic child often? Does he or she look at your autistic child unfairly? Does this family member insist on treating your autistic child the same way he or she treats all the other children in your family, even when it is inappropriate? These are signs that this relative is not receptive to either your autistic child or the situation. This may often be the case when discovering a child is autistic, so as a parent, be aware and prepared for this to happen.

Often, unreceptive relatives simply do not understand what autism is or what it means for your child and your immediate family. Though many see autism as a mental retardation, many autistic children and adults are highly intelligent; they are just unable to communicate this in the same ways that others would. Try explaining what autism means to this family member, and have him or her spend some time with you and your autistic child. Allow them to see the effects of autism and the methods you can use to cope.

If the family member continues to be unsupportive or refuses your explanation, ask why this family member is so unreceptive to the situation. Are they scared of hurting the child? Are they worried about the added responsibility when spending time with the child? Perhaps they feel guilty or are embarrassed. If you can pinpoint why a family member is unreceptive, you can better address the issue and hopefully help him or her overcome their original perceptions.

Perhaps no amount of talking or spending time together will help this family member overcome their prejudice. If this person has stubbornly made up his or her mind, you will never be able to show him or her how beautiful your son or daughter is—autism and all. If this is the case, eliminating this person from your life may be difficult, but it will also rid you and your child of this family member’s negative energy and personality.

In this developing situation, you need the best positive support available. Remember that other family members have been supportive; that your children are adjusting well and are a source of strength for you. Strengthen your support network by participating in parent support groups for autistic children. And remember that you can surround yourself with those who do accept and love your child—family or not.

Are We There Yet? Family Vacations with Autistic Children

2008-08-24T01:39:00.000-07:00

Although planning a family vacation with children may make any parents pull out his or her hair, it can be a rewarding experience for everyone in the end. It is no different if you have an autistic child in the family. The important thing to remember is that you need to be prepared for whatever life throws your way. To an autistic child, vacations can be scary and confusing, or they can be a great learning experience, leaving behind wonderful memories the entire family can enjoy.

First, choose your location based on your autistic child’s needs. For example, if he or she is sensitive to sound, an amusement park is probably not the best idea. Quieter vacations are possible at small beaches and by going camping. Overall, you should be able to find a location that everyone in the family enjoys. Once there, plan out your days accordingly. For example, you may want to see attractions very early or late in the day to avoid crowds.

You also might want to consider taking your vacation during the off-season, if you children’s school work will not be disrupted. These gives your autistic child more comfort if he or she is nervous in crowded situations, and provides you with piece of mind. When choosing a location, also note how far it is from you home. How will you get there? If you have to deal with an airport, remember that security may have to touch your child and be prepared for this.

Choose a location and activities that everyone can enjoy, but also that provide learning and social interaction opportunities for your autistic child. For example, a child that does not like touch sensations may enjoy the soft sands of a beach, and the waves can provide a very different kind of feeling for him or her. Being outside, a beach is also a great place for your child to yell without disrupting others. Children who are normally non-responsive may benefit from a museum , where they can ask questions and you can ask questions of them.

Remember that most people on vacation at the location you choose will have never dealt with autism before. Try to be understanding of their ignorance—but also stick up for your child if he or she is being treated unfairly. Know your child’s constitutional laws, and also be willing to compromise.

For example, if a restaurant is reluctant to serve you after your child caused a scene there last night, explain the situation and ask if it would be possible to take your food to go, even if this is normally not done. Try not to be rude to people; staring often happens, but instead of snide comments or mean looks, ignore them as much as possible and focus on having a good time with your family

The Unfortunate Epidemic : Sexual Abuse in the Autistic World

2008-08-23T01:36:00.000-07:00

One of the most perverse problems in an autistic individual’s life is the threat of sexual abuse. This can come in the form of rape or simply be in an abusive relationship. Because autistic people spend much of their lives feeling different and left out, they often enjoy sexual experiences for one reason: it puts then on a playing field equal to others. It is very easy for this to become a controlling part of a relationship.

The most important thing to remember is that autistic people experience sexuality in much of the same way that others do, no matter how highly functioning they may be. Parents should teach their child about sexuality from an early age in order to prevent sexual abuse from happening.

The most valuable command that anyone can learn in relationship to sexuality is “No.” Teaching this to even children can be very useful. In this respect, treat your autistic child as no different than you would another child—teach him or her the parts of the body from a young age and be very clear, as the child matures, about what happens during puberty and what kinds of behaviors are appropriate and inappropriate.

Be sure that your child understands the differences between good touches and bad touches. This can be extremely difficult for autistic children who are sensitive to touch in general. It may be helpful to label “zones” on the body where no one should touch without permission.

Also make sure that as your autistic child grows into an adult, he or she understands what rape is and what to do if this happens. As many autistic children are hands-on learners, it may be best to role-play some potentially dangerous situations. If your child communicates non-verbally, teach him or her clear signs to show a person to stop what they are doing.

Autistic people can often not understand that others have their own thoughts and emotions—they believe that everyone thinks and feels what they do. Because of this, many are shocked to find that “bad” people in the world will take advantage of sexual situations. You may need to explain to an autistic individual what kinds of dress and conduct are appropriate in public so that he or she is not unknowingly attracting sexual attention.

You child should learn to respect his or her body and understand that others need to respect it as well. This is only possible if parents and educators teach autistic children about their bodies from a young age. By learning how to stop sexual abuse, you can keep you children, autistic or not, safe from predators.

Sounding Off : How Auditory Stimulation Helps an Hurts and Autistic Child

2008-08-22T01:34:00.000-07:00

Sounds are a part of our everyday life, and so when dealing with an autistic child who has sensory problems, sound is one of the first things you should learn to control, especially in a learning environment. Sound can both be hurtful and helpful for an autistic child. Because each autistic individual is different, you must closely observe him or her to find out what types of reactions you can expect from auditory sensory stimulation.

Loud or frightening sounds may be the most difficult type of sensory stimulation in an autistic child’s life. Many of our routine daily activities include such sounds, hurting the growth process. Autistic children can not and will not learn if they are frightened. For example, parents often find that they have a difficult time toilet training their autistic children.

This may be due to the scary sound of the toilet flushing; witch could be overpowering to and autistic child. Instead, try using a potty seat away from the actual toilet until they get used to the idea. Another example is loud or crunchy foods. If your autistic child is a picky eater, try to notice specifically which foods he or she blatantly refuses to eat. Sometimes, food simply sounds too loud when crunching in an autistic child’s mouth, and these loud noises can hurt his or her ears.

If this is the case with your child, provide alternative soft foods instead of crunchy carrots, apples, or potato chips. Other loud sounds, such as a vacuum cleaner, may hurt your child’s ears. Try to do these activities when he or she is not in the room, or consider providing your child with earplugs that he or she can use if the world gets too loud.

Sounds can also cause fixation. Some children, for example, constantly hum and seem fixated on the sights and sounds of lawn mowers. Use this fixation to be beneficial. For example, read stories about lawn mowers or use the humming in conjunction with a song. Music is a great way in which autistic individuals can learn, because sound is a form of nonverbal communication.

Teachers and parents should use this tool in learning environments. The key is to make sound work for you and your child. Autism is a difficult disorder to handle, so by being sensitive to your child’s specific needs, you can help him or her learn to deal with the sounds of everyday life.

Self-Injury : How to Stop this Dangerous Practice

2008-08-21T01:32:00.000-07:00

Many wonder why anyone would practice self-injury, as it is painful and dangerous. However, with autistic children, self-injury occurs more often than not. There are several theories as to why this practice can be prevalent in autistic children, and there are some methods you can use to help ease this distressing practice.

Because autistic children are unable to communicate through language the way that others can, they often feel frustrated at not being understood or at not getting what they need or want. Thus, autistic children may commit self-injury, by banging their heads or biting themselves (among other tactics), to release some of that frustration that cannot be communicated through words.

Also, self-injury is a way of getting attention. An autistic child’s frustration goes hand-in-hand with wanting attention. For instance, by scratching oneself until one bleeds, the autistic child will immediately get someone’s attention, and this person will work to understand what the child wants or needs.

This theory of frustration and attention has been the sole thinking for quite some time. Recently, however, studies have shown that self-injury can have a biochemical component that relieves some of the pain and frustration one feels by releasing endorphins, or “happy hormones,” into one’s system.

The endorphins also provide a release for the autistic child, allowing him or her to temporarily forget about his or her frustration and pain. Furthermore, it is believed that if one practices self-injury enough, the endorphins will begin to help mask any pain associated with such behavior, making it an addictive action.

While some professionals say that ignoring the autistic child’s self-injurious behavior is an acceptable method of treating such practice, this can obviously be very difficult. Others have suggested that communication therapy and drugs may help an autistic child by providing him or her with another method of communication.

There are drugs that will help stem the addictive behavior of releasing endorphins into the system, and thus help stop such behavior. There are also nutritional solutions available; vitamin B6 and calcium have been said to help many families with an autistic child.

For the family members involved, communication training to learn how to communicate with an autistic child is also extremely important. Because normal adults, and even children and teenagers, are so accustomed to communicating through easily recognizable words or body language, they have to learn that communicating with an autistic child requires a completely different process. By looking for solutions for both the family and the autistic child involved in self-injurious behavior, one may be able to overcome this distressing practice.

Know Your Rights : Laws and Autism

2008-08-20T01:29:00.000-07:00

If you or your child has autism, some of the most basic things you can study and learn are your rights. Every American citizen is protected under the constitution, and there are special laws that have been passed to help protect people with autism and other disabilities. By knowing the laws that protect you or your autistic loved ones, you can live in a world that provides better opportunities to everyone, regardless of not only disability, but also race, gender, and ethnicity. This is simply the first step to creating a more tolerant world in general.

The first law with which you should become acquainted is I.D.E.A., or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The I.D.E.A. covers children ages 3 to 21 and provides autistic children with the special educational programs they need. The I.D.E.A. gives parents the right to be involved with education decisions concerning their child made by the school.

Your child first needs to be assessed to qualify under the I.D.E.A., and this is best done by a private professional. In the end, your child has the right by law to receive a free public education that is appropriate for his or her skill level. If your public school has no such program, they are required to find one or create one at no cost to you.

Also become familiar with and knowledgeable about the American Disabilities Act. Under this act, discrimination due to disability is prohibited in the workforce, as well as with state and local government, public accommodations, the United States Congress, public transportation, and telecommunications. For example, if you are autistic, but have the skills to do a certain job, you cannot be refused the job because of your autism.

Other laws provide rights for people with autism so that they are constitutionally equal to others. One such law says that people with autism have the right to vote, and accommodations must be made so that this is possible. Another says that autistic individuals cannot be refused housing based on disability. Others provide equal rights in all other aspects of life, and these should especially be studied if your loved one with autism is in a health care institution.

By knowing the law and how it applies to yourself or others with autism, you can be sure that justice is upheld. If you have questions, local law officials should be ready and willing to answer you or provide you with material to answer your own questions. Remember that ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse for anyone, so be an advocate for yourself or others with autism to prevent mistreatment.

Busting the Autism Stereotypes

2008-08-19T01:57:00.000-07:00

As with anyone with a physical or mental disorder, autistic people deal with a wide range of reactions from others, from full support to uncaring ignorance. Unfortunately, even those who support autistic family members, co-workers, and friends may not understand autism very well. This leads to stereotypes, which can result in hatred, embarrassment, or other unhappy situations. By becoming educated about autism, you can help others in your community cope with this disorder.

It is most important to note that not all autistic people are the same. Other diseases and disorders have their own sets of rules, but autism is such a complex medical condition, that everyone reacts differently to it. Autistic people are usually rated on a functional scale, with high-functioning people being able to hold jobs and low-functioning people needing 24-hour-a-day care.

Symptoms include behavioral challenges, uncontrollable movements, speech and communication difficulties, and emotional inadequacies. Some show all symptoms, while other show few, and still others may have most under control to the point where you cannot tell they have autism at all.

Because every person is different, no one thing can be said about autism and be true overall. However, most autistic people have trouble communicating emotions. This does not mean that an autistic person does not feel. He or she simply cannot express this feeling. It also does not mean strong relationship bonds are not possible. On the contrary, many autistic people are happily married and in love. Forming relationships is more difficult for most, but can be accomplished over time.

Many people believe that being autistic coincides with being a genius in some aspect. While it is true that some autistic individuals have extraordinary math, music, and art skills, this number is nowhere near the majority—in fact, relatively few autistic people function outside of the normal range in any skill. This stereotype is perpetuated in the movies and on television, because the story of a talented person fighting disadvantages (such as autism) makes a good plot.

However, this is not the norm, so nothing more than the best they can personally do should be expected from an autistic person. However, it is important to note that autism is not a form of mental retardation. Some autistic people are mentally retarded as well, but most are not and should not be treated as such.

In the end, the most important lesson to take away from your studies on autism is one of tolerance. You will probably need to be patient when dealing with autistic people, but by understanding a little more about the disorder, perhaps this will be easier. Learn what you can and spread the knowledge to those you know to help create a more tolerant setting for autistic individuals in your community.

Autistic Forms of Teaching and Tolerance

2008-08-18T01:55:00.000-07:00

Understanding how autistic children learn is key to teaching them with the same intensity as you teach other children. This may seem like a straightforward idea, but autistic children learn so differently that understanding autism itself is a must when you teach autistic children. By becoming educated in the disorder, teachers can effectively learn to deal with autistic children and adults both in and out of the classroom, creating a more understanding world for everyone

Autistic children are often visual thinkers. Thus teaching by speaking will not be entirely effective. Teachers should combine pictures with words for the autistic child to fully comprehend the lesson. For instance, if you are teaching about the animals of the world, you should have a flash card with the word “mouse,” say the word aloud slowly and clearly, and show the child a picture of a mouse. Perhaps even bring a live mouse in for show and tell.

Nouns may be easier to teach autistic children since verbs require action and can be more difficult in illustrating. If you are teaching autistic children words such as “sit” or “stand,” you should complete these actions when you teach the word. Also, because of the tendency to be visual, autistic children are often unable to follow long sentences. They cannot decipher the sequence and become confused. Thus, writing instructions can be very helpful when proctoring tests or quizzes.

As visual thinkers, autistic children can often fixate on a particular object or picture. If this is the case, try incorporating that object or picture into lesson plans. If the child likes planes, try using planes for visuals wherever you can in the lesson. For example, when teaching math, create word problems about planes to interest the child. Autistic children also tend to be artistic or musical, producing highly original drawings and showing above average abilities with instruments or voice. Set aside time in the day for the arts and encourage activities that the children enjoy.

Autistic children may also have trouble writing because of the control over their hands and movement. This is frustrating for both the child and the teacher. To reduce frustration, allow the child to use a computer. If you can do this, make sure that the keyboard and monitor are close together as the child may have difficulty remembering what he or she has typed recently.

By being open to teaching an autistic child to the best of your ability, you are not only giving him or her the best opportunities in life, but you are also being a good role model to the other children in the class. Do not allow an autistic child to ruin the learning experience for others, but rather incorporate his or her oddities into your lessons as much as possible. Creating a more prejudice-free classroom is the best gift you can give this child.

Achieving Self - Control with Autism

2008-08-17T01:53:00.000-07:00

Self-discipline is a skill that most autistic children have trouble acquiring. This includes not only inappropriate outbursts, but also habits that can be potentially dangerous, such as being aggressive towards others or causing harm to themselves, such as banging their heads off walls. To prevent these and other behaviors, one technique parents and educators can use to control autistic tendencies is self-management. Giving the child power over him- or herself is often the key to keeping control over violent situations and may be a positive step towards learning other behaviors as well.

Self-management works because the child is no longer fully controlled by others. By teaching self-management during specific times of day, such as while the child is at school or therapy, the child will be more likely to continue to practicing self-control during all times of the day. The key is to implement a program in which he or she monitors his or her own behavior and activities. Begin with short amounts of time, and continue to monitor the child from a more passive standpoint. Every ten to fifteen minutes remind the child that he or she is in control and needs to monitor and be aware of good and bad behavior.

This monitoring is a form of self-evaluation. When a child is in control, he or she may think more closely about behavior in the past and present. Set clear goals with the child—for example, an afternoon with no aggression towards others or a day at school with no self-injury. Every fifteen minutes ask the child how he or she is doing. Is the goal being met? If the answer is no, perhaps the child is not ready for self-management, or perhaps the goals are too unattainable. You want to make sure that the goals are easy to reach at first, and then move the child towards more difficult goals in the future. When a child is successful at self-monitoring, he or she will have a more positive attitude towards the experience.

Of course, an important part of self-management is a rewards system. Have the child come up with his or her own reward, depending on interest. Reinforcement will make these good behavior goals more clearly marked in the child’s mind, and by choosing and rewarding him- or herself, the child will feel completely in control of the self-management system. Choose simple rewards to start, such as smiley faces for every goal met and sad faces for every goal not met, and work up to a larger goal, such as a special activity or new toy when a certain amount of smiley faces has been attained.

These types of programs do not develop overnight, so it is important that you and the child have enough time to devote to a self-management experience. By reinforcing good behavior with rewards, as determined by the child instead of by an adult, he or she will be more likely to carry this on even when not participating in the program. If your autistic child is mature enough, this could be a good treatment program to try.

When Lying isn’t a Problem : Theory of Mind Difficulties

2008-08-16T01:51:00.000-07:00

There are many symptoms that an individual with autism may experience; however, one of the most frustrating and hard to understand is what has recently been named Theory of Mind. Within the last few decades, this problem has been more thoroughly discussed and studied, but it is still largely a mystery. Because of Theory of Mind problems, social interactions are even more strenuous for autistic individuals.

Theory of Mind causes these social behavior difficulties in almost every aspect, from playgroups as children to the social world as adults. The concept behind Theory of Mind is that autistic people fail to recognize that other people in the world have different ways of looking at things. Although an autistic person may not be egocentric, he or she probably inherently assumes that everyone thinks, feels, and knows the same things he or she thinks, feels, and knows. Most autistic people have an inability to lie, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but is clearly unnatural. They don’t even consider lying an option because they assume everyone knows the truth as they know it.

Because autistic individuals have an inability to lie, they also do not realize that other people do so. In fact, it is a rude awakening for autistic people to find out that others lie or are bad in general. This is especially unnerving when first experienced in the business world, and many autistic individuals do not know how to cope with this. Because they believe that everyone sees the world as they do, it is difficult for them to put themselves in others’ shoes. Of course, this can be taught, but it is unfortunately a hard process that those with autism have to constantly remember to do.

Even children have trouble with Theory of Mind—they find it difficult to play games with other children that require keeping a secret. They also often must be reminded of sharing and releasing aggression in ways that are not harmful. Some of an autistic person’s frustration may stem from this inability to understand why another is not reacting in a situation in the “correct” way. Autistic children also have a hard time understanding why people don’t know certain facts—if they know it, so should everyone else.

Theory of Mind still needs to be studied in order to be able to better understand and treat this symptom of autism. Currently, the best teaching method is continuous social interaction, along with role-playing and other games that require autistic children to see things from many angles. Until modern medicine finds a better answer to Theory of Mind problems, the best thing to do is be patient with autistic individuals and be willing to explain your thought process to them.

The Terrible Teens - Dealing with Autistic Teenagers

2008-08-15T01:50:00.000-07:00

For most parents, one of the most trying times in their lives is during their child’s teenage years. When puberty hits, young adults go through serious changes in their bodies and minds, and parents have little or no control over many situations. In an autistic child, puberty is no different. Although your autistic child is not experiencing puberty in quite the same ways as others his or her age, major hormonal changes still occur in the body. This can lead to extreme results, and this can be either good or bad depending on how your child reacts to the new hormone levels.

One of the scariest side effects of changes in an autistic person’s body is the onset of seizures. Many autistic individuals experience seizures from birth to adulthood, but even if your child does not suffer from these episodes, he or she may begin to experience seizures during puberty and afterwards, due to the new levels of hormones in the body. Strange as it may sound, violent shaking seizures are not necessarily a bad thing. Almost a quarter of autistic children experience seizures, but many go undetected because they are not textbook versions of seizures.

If you recognize that your child is experiencing a seizure, you can do something about it, and doctors will be able to better treat your child. However, if the seizures are subconsciously happening, you and your child may not realize it. The result of these small hidden seizures can be a loss in function, which can be devastating, especially if you child was improving before puberty. Regular check-ups during puberty, therefore, are extremely important.

The changes might not necessarily be a bad thing. New hormone levels in the body and the other changes associated with puberty might help your autistic child grow and succeed in areas in which he or she normally had no skill or interest. Many parents report that their child’s behavior improved, and that learning in social settings was easier.

The important thing about puberty is to learn to monitor the changes in your child very carefully and to ask your doctor lots of questions. Remember that puberty is a difficult experience for any young adult, and so it will be even more difficult for someone with autism. Try to practice patience and understanding with your teen, and be careful to regulate his or her autism so that the transition from child to adult will go more smoothly.

Smooth Transitions : School to Work

2008-08-14T01:47:00.000-07:00

One of the most major transitions in any person’s life is that from school to work. In high school or college, many people lead a protected life and are still helped financially and otherwise by their parents. After school, these ties are often cut, leaving the recent graduate to fend for his- or herself. This transition is scary for anyone, but even more so for an individual with autism. Because school is a time to learn to live with peers in a controlled environment, the work force is a difficult concept for autistic people because one must often deal with new situations daily rather than have the comfort of a set living situation.

One of the main things autistic graduates need to learn is how to deal with people in a business world. This includes proper grooming, something that may not have been such a big deal in high school or college. Proper grooming, such as brushing your teeth, wearing appropriate clothing, using deodorant, and combing your hair probably comes natural for most people, but an autistic person needs help with these tasks—he or she may not realize that they are being inappropriate.

By this stage in life, many autistic individuals who have gone through schooling are at a maturity level where they can do the task assigned with no problem and avoid outbursts in most situations. In fact, it has been shown that some autistic individuals are highly skilled at tasks involving things such as math or music. Learning a new job in the work force is not the problem—relating to others in a social situation is.

These relationship problems also, unfortunately, help people take advantage of autistic individuals. Most people who suffer from autism believe that all people are like themselves, and inherently good. In business, it is sadly very common to come across companies and business people who do not practice ethically. This often shocks autistic individuals, who may have no idea how to handle this sort of situation.

Others in the work force may also not be skilled to deal with autism, leading to bad relationships among employees. By hiring an autistic individual, employers must not only teach them their new job, but also provide direction for others who have to work with him or her. Intolerance in the work force is common, and autistic individuals need to be prepared for this.

Overall, it is important for people with autism to realize that there will be a major change between life in high school or college and life in the work force. It is probably very beneficial for these individuals to seek help in the transition from therapists, family members, or mentors. Going from school to work is difficult, but with a little motivation and hard work anyone, autistic or not, can succeed.

Robotic Hugs : How a Hug Can Help Your Autistic Child

2008-08-13T01:45:00.000-07:00

Autistic children and adults often seek pressure in a variety of ways to calm themselves and cope with sensory overload. Oftentimes, hugs and squeezes from other people can cause more distress because autistic children or adults are often unable to communicate their needs by indicating a particular amount or length of pressure. This is both frustrating and ineffective for both the autistic person and whoever is hugging or squeezing them.

The hug machine was created to help relive this frustration, putting autistic individuals in control of their situation. Both children and adults who suffer from autism sometimes crave pressure to help calm anxiety. Because of this, one woman with autism developed the hug machine, also known as a hug box or a squeeze machine. The hug machine has two padded sideboards connected near the bottom of the boards to form a V-shape. A lever helps push the sideboards together to create pressure; the lever also allows the autistic child or adult the ability to control the amount and length of pressure.

Studies are still being conducted to find out why those with autism respond to pressure and how it can produce a calming effect. The hug machine may affect the heightened sensory perceptions of those with autism who often feels disruptive or distressing behavior. By applying pressure, perhaps the autistic child or adult moves his or her focus to a single feeling—the pressure—which in turn produces a calming effect. For many autistic children and adults, anxiety can be completely incapacitating. Not being able to function with the anxiety is frustrating, and so appropriate social behavior is even more difficult. Sometimes, the only release from such anxiety is through pressure. To this day, the hug machine is used by several programs and researchers studying autism as well as therapy programs.

Remember that hugging or squeezing an autistic child may not help him or her. You may, in fact, increase their senses and cause more anxiety. Though you may not be able to purchase a hug machine, you may be able to create a similar object. Try wrapping the autistic child or adult in a blanket, where they can control how much pressure to apply. You can also look into buying padded boards that more closely simulate the hug machine’s side-boards and perhaps tie or tape some heavy-duty yarn to each side to allow the autistic child or adult control over how much pressure to apply and for how long. Contact your child’s school to see if there has been any interest in purchasing a community hug-machine. This may not be a cure to all your child’s problems, but it works well to help many autistic individuals cope with the world.

Finding What Works : Dealing with Autism

2008-08-12T01:43:00.000-07:00

When dealing with autism, just as in most other disorders, you will be faced with a number of treatment options for yourself or your child. These include treatments that are educational, behavioral, biomedical, nutritional, and sensory. Unfortunately, for patients who are not affluent or who do not have good medical insurance, the cost of these treatments can be pricier than what they can afford.

One way to ensure that you or your child receives the best possible treatment for autism is to carefully monitor the effects a treatment has over time. By finding out which treatments work and which do not, you can stop paying for the ineffective methods and put more of your money into those which are creating a positive difference.

First, evaluate the abilities of the autistic individual before treatment begins. To do this, many services and organizations, including the Autism Research Institute, provide a checklist of evaluation points that focus on behavior and illnesses associated with autism. Autistic individuals tend to have increasing functionality as they mature, so remember that some of the positive effects in his or her life are simply due to the natural growth process. However, after two months fill out the checklist once again and compare it to the first. Are there any sharp positive increases in behavior characteristics? If so, this is more likely due to the treatment.

It is important to begin only one treatment method at a time. If you try everything at once instead, good and bad effects may cancel one another out, or even if the effect is totally positive, you will not know which treatment method is causing it and which are not doing anything. Of course, past studies can help you choose which methods to use, but because autism is an extremely complicated and individual disorder, these studies are not always helpful.

Also, some treatments are so new that the studies done are only on short-term effects, which is usually unhelpful. Instead, it is a process of trial and error. Two months is a good amount of time to study the differences within an autistic individual trying a new treatment. After two months, if you do not see positive improvement, you can discontinue your use of that particular method and better invest your money in treatment options that work.

Remember that you do not always have to wait two months to make choices about whether to continue or discontinue a treatment method. If the side effects of a medication, for example, are interfering with the patient’s life in an unbearable way, then you should discontinue the treatment. You can also make continual treatments based on immediate good reactions—just remember to continually monitor the various methods. Autistic individuals grow and mature just like everyone else, so treatments may stop working after time. Before trying anything new, consult your doctor to make sure you are being as safe and healthy as possible.

Dietary Concerns : Glutton and Casein

2008-08-11T01:41:00.000-07:00

Autism is a disorder that must be treated with a variety of methods since there is no effective way to completely cure it. One of the ways you can help keep the symptoms of autism under control is by studying diet. Parents of children with autism have reported that by controlling diet, they see a significant difference in their child’s behavior. Two of the main dietary concerns are glutton and casein.

Glutton is a substance found in many common food products, with wheat, rye, and oaks being the main culprits. Casein is found in dairy products, such as milk. If you or your child with autism eats many foods with these products in them, such as breads or cheeses, you may be able to better control autistic behavior by decreasing consumption of such foods.

The difficulty in digesting both glutton and casein comes from an inability to digestively handle the peptides in these substances. Since they are not broken down as in a normal body, these extra peptides are absorbed into the blood stream. Elevated levels of peptides disrupt major brain functions, contributing to the effects of autism. By cutting foods containing glutton and casein out of you or your child’s diet, you can help the body with the process of breaking down the peptides present in the body. To see if you or your child has a high absorption rate of these peptides, your doctor can administer a simple urine test.

Speak to a nutritionist or doctor before making any major changes in your diet. When you decide to cut glutton and casein from your diet, do not attempt to do this all at once. Cutting anything from your diet suddenly is unhealthy, and your body could go into withdrawal. Instead, slowly begin reducing the amounts of breads, grains, and milk products until you are eating none. You doctor can provide you with a complete list of all the foods containing glutton and casein if you truly want to cut them all from your diet.

However, it may be necessary to get the nutrients that you find in glutton and casein products in another way, such as with dietary supplements. Again, your doctor can help in this decision. Overall, maintaining a balanced diet is the healthiest thing to do. Leaving glutton and casein products out of your or your child’s diet may help control autistic behavior, so it is an option that should be considered, but eating a healthy diet altogether is the best way to keep you and your family healthy.

Bottles of Pills : Medication Options for Autistic Patients

2008-08-10T01:39:00.000-07:00

As with any illness, disease, or disorder, there are a number of medicine options available to help control these symptoms. It is important to remember that none of these medications will “cure” autism; they simply help control some of the effects of the disorder. There are advantages and disadvantages to each drug, as they all have side effects as well as benefits. When choosing medicines to effectively treat autism, your doctor can make recommendations, but since autism is a disorder which varies from person to person, you should use drugs very carefully, watching to see how the body reacts to the treatments.

First, consider the safety of the drug. Some cannot be used in children or in people under a certain weight. Make sure the dosage is easy to understand and before you choose one medicine or another find out how it is administered (pills, injections, liquid, etc). This is important if you are not comfortable with certain methods, such as injecting yourself or your child. Also find out how safe the drug is to individuals who do not suffer from autism. If you have small children in the house, you’ll want to be sure that the drug is not lethal if it gets into the wrong hands. Find out what to do in case this happens, just to be on the safe side.

Also consider the side effects of the drugs you are considering. While they may be very good at controlling aggression, responsiveness, hyperactivity, or other autistic tendencies, they may also cause sedation or other side effects such as nausea or dizziness. Weigh your options carefully before beginning one of these treatments, or you could find yourself with ten bottles of pills, each taken to counteract the side effects of another. Also remember that medications may have long-term effects. Will you or your child become dependent on the drug? Will you be tolerant? How else will it affect the body over time? These are all important questions to ask your doctor before beginning any medication.

You can research the many studies on these drugs at your local library or on the Internet. Publications such as journals and healthcare magazines are probably most current and most reliable, whereas you may get some altered information on the World Wide Web, so be careful about following advice you find without first consulting your doctor. He or she may also be able to provide you with literature about the medication options available for autistic patients. Do your researching on the many choices before making any decisions, and you’ll be able to better control your health.

Autistic Children and The Strain on Marriage

2008-08-09T01:34:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, in modern times, many marriages end in divorce or separation. This statistic rises even higher when you mix in an autistic child. No matter how loving and understanding you both may be towards your child, the truth is that autism is a very difficult matter, and strain on the marriage is not uncommon. By trying to stay positive about your situation, and by working to keep your marriage healthy, you and your spouse can avoid marital problems and hopefully survive the trying times of raising an autistic child.

Why did you marry your husband or wife? By asking yourself this question often, you can focus on the good things in your marriage. Raising a child with autism is stressful, and if you are stressed, you have a tendency to snap at another person for the smallest missteps. Instead of focusing on these bad qualities, take some time to enjoy one another the way you did at the beginning of the relationship. This may include spending some time apart from your children.

When you find out that your child is autistic, it is beneficial to make sure that you and your spouse are not the only two people with whom your child will respond. A grandparent, aunt or uncle, mature sibling, or nanny are good people to have in your child’s life in the most intimate way possible. This way, alone time with your spouse is possible.

Work together with your spouse to help you child, instead of fighting with one another. It is very likely that you will have different ideas about what to do in certain situations, so be prepared to compromise and always seek professional consultations before making any medical decisions for your child. By working together, remember that you are giving your child the best opportunities. Try to set apart time every week to spend together as a family, especially if one parent or the other is the primary caregiver.

Lastly, seek help when you need it. Part of any successful marriage is spending some time apart to focus on individual needs, and it is no different when you have an autistic child. However, if you find that you and your spouse are not happy unless you are spending time alone, it is time to reevaluate the situation. A family or marriage counselor can help you and your spouse get back on the right track to a happy life together. It might also be beneficial to meet other couples raising autistic children. You are not alone, and it is never easy. By making an effort to keep your marriage happy, even when you are stressed with the task of raising an autistic child, you and your spouse can ensure that your marriage does not end in a messy divorce.

A Gift of Sight : Visual Perception Treatment for Autistic Children

2008-08-08T01:32:00.000-07:00

Autism effects every child differently, so it is difficult to find the exact treatments your child needs to cope with his or her symptoms. One thing that effects some autistic children (though, not all) is problems with visual perception. By using some standardized methods to help improve visual perception, you can give your child the ability to see the world more clearly, making learning and comprehension easier and possibly curbing some behavior problems as well.

Autistic children mainly have problems with sensory overload and distortion. These are some of the same problems many people not suffering from the disorder develop, and so many treatment options have become available. Individuals with autism often find, however, that the sensory overload of the world due to light, colors, contrast, shapes, and patterns, is too much to handle, causing them to act out or shut down in general. This is sometimes a genetic condition that is simply enhanced by the autism, so if the child’s parents have trouble with reading or have been otherwise treated for visual perceptive problems, there is a good chance that the child needs help as well.

The Irene Method is one effective way to treat visual perception disorders. This method uses color to create a more harmonized world. You may have heard of these methods if anyone has ever suggested using a color filter over the page when reading to be able to read better and more quickly. This method is proven to work, and if your autistic child is at the maturity level of reading, you may want to try these color filters to see if there is a difference in speed and comprehension.

However, it is more likely that your autistic child will benefit from color filters during the entire day, not just when reading. Special glasses have been made using colored lenses to conquer this problem. Not every child responds the same way to every color, so it is a process of trial and error to find out which color is the one blocking the harmful light. You can also choose to use colored light bulbs in your home to help autistic individuals with their visual perception problems.

This method mainly helps children in 4 areas: depth perception, social interaction, learning, and physical well being. The colors help the child determine how far he or she is from an object, and the world becomes more three-dimensional, helping depth perception. Social interaction also improves because the child feels as though he or she is in a calmer world and can more clearly see and interpret facial expressions.

The colors make it possible to learn, especially when reading, and overall, the child will feel better, because it helps reduce headaches and dizziness. By testing this technique and others to help visual perception problems, you can help your child better cope with the world and his or her autism.

Doctors and Diagnosing Autism

2008-08-07T04:12:00.000-07:00

When a doctor first suggests that your child has autism, your immediate reaction might be disbelief and the urge to seek a second, third, or even fourth opinion. Because autism is so different in every child, it is a tricky disorder to diagnose. However, there are a few key ways in which doctors can efficiently identify autism in children, and if your infant or toddler is showing any of these signs of autism, you should visit your pediatrician immediately to express your concerns.

Autism occurs at a young age, rather than being a disorder an older child might develop. It is usually detected before the age of three, and many times much earlier. The first signs or autism are usually delays or regression in speech communication. Another early sign is abnormal behavior in group play situations and other social situations. The first step to diagnosing autism is a thorough physical examination as well as a review of family history by a specialist. Although your regular pediatrician will be able to spot unusual behavior, you’ll want your child to be examined by a professional who specializes in autism and other similar diseases to make sure your child is properly diagnosed.

The next step includes hearing tests. Sine language and social skill delays could be due to inadequate auditory sensations. There are two types of auditory tests, one of which records the tones a child can hear and the other of which requires sedation and measures the brain response to certain tones. Of course, the first method is preferred, since it does not require any use of a sedative. After auditory testing, your doctor may encourage testing your child for Fragile X syndrome, which often times goes hand in hand with autism. Metabolism can also be evaluated. To do this, your doctor will need a blood or urine sample to analyze DNA.

An MRI or CAT scan can also be helpful in diagnosing autism. The important thing is to work with doctors you trust. Second opinions can be very helpful, but when your child has been diagnosed, stick with one doctor so that treatment is uniform and so that your child will get used to this person. Autism is difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat, so remember that you should begin to learn as much as possible about the disorder as soon as your doctor identifies it. If you have yet to speak with your doctor about abnormal behavior in your child, do so immediately. By detecting autism early, you give your child a better chance at becoming a high-functioning individual with much more opportunities in life.

My Child is Autistic—and I don’t Know What to Do…

2008-08-06T04:03:00.000-07:00

Discovering your child has autism may be a distressing ordeal, and unfortunately, time is of the essence. As a parent, you do not have the time to consider why or how this happened, only what to do next. The most important thing to remember is that you are not alone in your struggle. By researching the disorder and finding others going through similar situations, you can help you child while still dealing with your own emotional response.

Join a support group for parents with autism. You can find these by contacting the national Autism Society of America. From there you can find local branches, many of which offer support groups for parents and families with an autistic child. Being in contact with other parents in a similar situation can not only help you feel less alone, but it can provide you with a myriad of resources. A parent support group will also help point you in the direction of the best doctors, intervention programs, and workshops for both your child and your family. Find a support group for any other children you have as well. Many parents forget that they are not the only ones who must learn to live and communicate with an autistic child. By locating a support group for your other children, you can help them from acting out or acting against the autistic child by teaching them about the illness. As a parent, you must create a supportive environment for the entire family in order to properly manage your child’s illness.

Consider marriage counseling if you are married. An autistic child can put serious strain on a marriage, leading to escalating arguments, neglect of each other, and even perhaps blaming each other for the situation. Marriage counseling from the very beginning can help a couple through this discovery and rough transition, and help build a better supportive environment for your children. Your marriage should not end as a result of having an autistic child, but the sad fact is that many of them do. Prevent this by using one another for support and by understanding that you may need help to deal with one another now and in the future.

2000-01-06T04:42:00.000-08:00

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