2012年1月31日 星期二

Effective Therapies to Provide Help For Autism in Children, Toddlers and Babies


Like any other disorders, the effects of autism on a child can be minimized by early detection. Intervention programs can then be applied to help improve the development of the child. This is one of the best ways to help for autism. Children with autism can benefit from therapies and have a better future.

There are five types of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and each one varies in effects and treatment. It is important to recognize which spectrum of condition your child belongs before he or she must be treated.

Autism affects the communication, social skills, and activities of a child. Therefore, these are the areas in which parents and caregivers must concentrate in providing help for autism. Children with the disorder must be taught how to speak, play with others, and behave properly as early as possible.

Here are the best therapies that would help for autism - children, toddlers, and babies:

Speech Therapy

Almost all children with autism will have difficulty in talking or communicating. Get your child started on speech therapy as early as possible. Speech Therapy includes the treatment of speech and communication disorders. This can be done in a private setting, in groups or teams, or in a clinic.

Sensory Integration Therapy

Autistic children are sensitive to bright lights, loud sounds, and touch. This therapy will help your child become less sensitive to these things and will greatly improve your child's behavior. It will also help the child use his or her body effectively within the environment.

Occupational Therapy

Most people with autism often lack some of the basic social and personal skills required to live independently. This therapy will help children with autism achieve independence in all aspects and develop skills necessary for self-sufficient and satisfying lives.

Always get updates about ASD

Everyday, new therapies and treatments are being tested to help child with ASD. New things are being discovered that can give help for autism. Children with the disorder must be given more priority to have a better life.




Autism should not be a reason to burden your family. Although there is still no cure for autism, early detection can really make a big difference. Visit HELP FOR AUTISM and learn more about its causes, symptoms, and how to handle it. Reviews on the top 3 books online about autism are also available.





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Alternative Remedies For Autism


Usually the first therapy mentioned for Autism is medicine. This is changing. More men and women are open to trying different remedies. Treatments might have terrible side effects, so more people are looking for natural products. Here are some alternative treatments used for Autism.

Nutritional

There are several diets that can be used when treating Autism. They range from eating Gluten free items to eliminating dairy from the diet plan. Some Autistic children have a sensitive reaction to certain ingredients in food. These ingredients will help with behavioral problems, or meltdowns when consumed.

Omega 3's

Omega 3 has been discovered to be of assistance in treating Autism, in addition to a few other disorders. People utilizing the Omega 3 have discovered better sleep patterns, social interaction, and over all health of their child. People needing to try this alternative treatment can add fish oil to their children's diet. Fish oil can be found in capsule for or fluid. Some kids have trouble swallowing the capsule. The fluid form can be located in a flavorless type that is mixed in a drink.

Music Therapy

A number of studies have discovered music therapy to be very beneficial to the Autistic child. Now and again an Autistic child will sing together with music while they won't speak. This is one means of working on the child's speech. The music may be relaxing to an Autistic child. It can settle them down enough to participate in an activity with others.

Sensory Integration

Kids with Autism can be very understanding of noises, tastes, textures, and smells. Sensory integration therapy helps their youngster to deal with whatever it is causing them problems. It can likewise be employed to calm a youngster with something like a certain smell or texture.

Speech Therapy

Speech therapy is a must for any child with Autism. Kids with Autism commonly misuse words. They often times have a difficult time comprehending the significance of words like few or many. Speech therapists can can assist in teaching gestures and correspondence skills to nonverbal children. They can help their child to quickly learn how to read other individuals body language.

Play Therapy

Play therapy can be be extremely helpful when treating an Autistic child. Play therapy allows their youngster to relax and center on things they like. A therapist working with an autistic child will play on the ground with the youngster. They will give the child various toys and see if the child takes a liking to one of them. If their child starts to play the therapist will then endeavor to interact with their child. After the therapist has created a relationship with the youngster they might bring some other child into play therapy. This can sometimes be a good way to have the Autistic child to play with other children. Usually a therapist does the play therapy, still the mum or dad can do the therapy after they have learned the techniques used.

These are just a a couple of the numerous alternative treatments obtainable for Autism. Medication does not need to be a first resort. These can also be mixed with medication for a better remedy plan.




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2012年1月30日 星期一

Sluggish Cognitive Tempo and It's Relationship to Inattentive ADHD


The diagnosis of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo is made in individuals who process information slowly. These individuals appear to be in a constantly under aroused state. They appear as though they are in a fog and are slow with both the input and the output of information. Individuals with SCT seem to lack energy and motivation.

There is currently no formal mental health diagnosis for Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT). SCT is currently a sub-category of the Inattentive type of ADHD (ADHD-PI) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) which is published by the American Psychiatric Association. The current version of the DSM-IV is due for revision and the new DSM-V is due to be published in 2012.

The American Psychiatric Association is reconsidering the current classification of SCT and it is likely that this mental health condition will likely have its own category separate from the Inattentive ADHD category in the 2012 DSM-V.

It is unknown how many individuals with ADHD-PI have symptoms of SCT. Some researchers have put the estimate at 30% and others at as high as 50%. What is clear, however, is that the majority of people with ADHD-PI do not also have SCT. This is important because many authorities in the field of ADHD have proposed that these two conditions are all part of one diagnosis.

Some psychiatrist, psychologist, and teachers fail to see a distinction between people with Inattentive ADHD and people with SCT. Teachers often expect a child who is primarily inattentive to have sluggish cognitive skills. This assumption can sometimes impair a child's ability to get the classroom accommodation that they need. Winnie the Pooh is used by some psychiatrist and psychologist to demonstrate the characteristics of Inattentive ADHD. Winnie the Pooh is a better characterization of SCT. Using Winnie the Pooh to describe ADHD-PI is unfortunate and misleading because often ADHD-PI occurs without symptoms of SCT.

The symptom of Sluggish Cognitive Tempo in combination with the diagnosis of Inattentive ADD is simply a combination of symptoms or an accompanying condition (a comorbidity) to the ADHD. This particular combination is not unlike the symptom of hyperactivity in a person with the diagnosis of combined type of ADHD (ADHD-C). People with ADHD-C have significant symptoms of Inattention and impulsiveness and they are hyperactive. People with Inattentive ADD and SCT have significant symptoms of Inattention and they have sluggish processing.

People with a diagnosis of ADHD Hyperactive/Impulsive have significant symptoms of hyperactivity and Impulsiveness without a significant amount of inattention. People with ADHD-PI have significant symptoms of Inattention without hyperactivity, sluggishness, or impulsiveness. There have not been many studies done on individuals with Sluggish Cognitive Tempo but anecdotal reports suggest that a person with SCT may also have symptoms of inattention and impulsiveness. This finding is interesting as individuals diagnosed with ADHD-PI do not have impulsiveness symptoms.

It is very common for people with the combined type of ADHD to also have a diagnosis of Oppositional Defiance Disorder or depression. Sensory integration problems such as auditory or visual processing issues are also very common in people with ADHD. It would appear that SCT is a comorbity of ADHD much like these other problems.

There would need to be many additional ADHD subtypes to adequately categorize all the possible combinations of ADHD symptoms. If we were to make a fourth subtype for individuals with ADHD-PI and Sluggish Cognitive Tempo the symptoms would break down as follows:

ADHD-HI: Symptoms of hyperactivity and Impulsiveness without a significant amount of inattention.

ADHD-C: Symptoms of Inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness.

ADHD-PI: Symptoms of Inattention without hyperactivity, sluggishness, or impulsiveness.

ADHD-PI/SCT: Symptoms of Inattention and slow processing without symptoms of impulsiveness

Sluggish Cognitive Tempo can is a condition where an individual, cognitively, is continually in an under aroused state. Not all individuals with Inattentive ADHD have symptoms of SCT. Currently SCT is classified as a subcategory of the Predominantly Inattentive subtype of ADHD. The American Psychiatric Association is reconsidering the current classification of SCT and it is likely that this mental health condition will likely have its own category separate from the Inattentive ADHD category in the 2012 DSM-V.




For more information on Primarily Inattentive ADHD please visit Tess Messer at http://www.primarilyinattentiveadd.com/2010/02/why-blog.html. There you will find information on ADHD symptoms, ADHD treatment, alternatives to medications, Information on ADHD vitamins and supplements and much more. Looking forward to meeting you there!





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Cerebral Palsy Therapy


There are many forms of physical Cerebral Palsy therapy that can help reduce the disabilities associated with this disorder. Each person with Cerebral Palsy will often need a specialized kind of therapy.

The Maribelle exercise assist system, otherwise known as the MEAS is one option that people with Cerebral Palsy may be interested in and has had very beneficial results.

The MEAS is an exerciser that is suspended from the ceiling with a body support. This allows people that have little or no use of their legs to actually be put in an upright position (supported standing), or a sitting position where they can move or move with assistance. For example, swinging.

The benefits of this are many, including much enjoyment for the user just from being in an upright position, or from the swinging and other possible movements. Remarkably, the movements in the MEAS result in LESS spasticity! 3 to 5 minutes of gentle bouncing, followed by swinging, invariably will relax tight elbow joints and clenched hands will open up. The Neurophysiological reasons for this change have been well documented in research studies about using rebounders.

Progressive treatment goals, which have been achieved in varying degrees by the regular use of the MEAS in an eight week or longer program include:

1. Eye contact, tracking, eye-hand coordination, focusing, dramatically improved vision.

2. Increased attention span, improved learning skills.

3. Social awareness, interaction with peers, self confidence

4. Vocalization, improved speech.

5. Independent purposeful movement, muscle development.

6. Head Control, trunk balance, independent righting.

7. Improved circulation, improved bowel function.

8. Reduction in flexon spasticity, relaxed open hands.

9. Reduction in extension spasticity, less startle reflex

10. Release of frustration, improved morale, enjoyment.

11. Easier to feed after exercise, better appetite

12. Self feeding, finger foods, spoon, fork.

13. Desensitization of skin areas, particularly the soles of the feet, starting by letting the user splash their feet in warm water, shaving foam etc.

14. Crawling, independent mobility, knee walking, running.

15. Reduction of Athetoid movements allowing the person to control their electric wheel chair independently after exercising in MEAS

Therapists have reported that clients who were fearful when they were placed in a hammock are much less afraid of doing Sensory Integration and Vestibular Stimulation techniques using MEAS.

Meas is used for

* Sensory integration

* Vestibular stimulation

* Gait training

* Desensitizing soles of feet

* Occupying a child while tube feeding to distract the child from yanking tubes

* Encouraging weight bearing in hypertonic children

* Allows wheelchair-bound adults to move in upright position.

* Early recovery periods after injuries

Besides Cerebral Palsy, the Maribelle exercise assist system will also be of benefit for people with

* Low muscle tone

* Poor balance

* Spastic cerebral palsy (CP)

* Impaired vision/blindness

* Fearfulness & insecurity

* Sensory deprivation

* Hemiplegia

* Athetoid cerebral palsy (CP)

* Congenital dislocated hips

* Leg length discrepancy

* Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS)

* Limited motor abilities

* Failure to thrive

* Poor head control

* Hyposensitive vestibular systems

* Cerebral cortical atrophy

* Hydrocephaly

* Agenisis of corpus collosum

* Microcephalic

* Developmental delay

* Intractable seizure condition

* Epilepsy

* CDH (congenital diaphragmatic hernia)

* Deafness

* Scoliosis.




Grace Hope writes for her website http://www.cerebralpalsytherapymeasexerciser.com

She owns and operates the website Merry Muscles Baby Bouncer





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2012年1月29日 星期日

An Overview on Neuroscience


Basically this is a branch of science but recently, this has become an interdisciplinary science which coordinates many other fields like physics, psychology, philosophy and many more. The range of neuroscience includes the study of many aspects such as molecular, cellular and evolutionary neuroscience and the development of neurons, functions and medicine. The technology in this field has developed enormously. Neuroscientists are adapting techniques from cellular studies to individual neuron sensory motor specification of the brain.

In olden days, when people suffer from some psychological illnesses, the doctors simply jump into conclusion that it is related to patients' past history. But now scientists are aware of the neurons and the ever-growing field of neuroscience. The PET (Positron Emission Technology) has enhanced this field to analyze psychological disorders of brain activities. The functional magnetic resonance imaging (FMRI) helps the scientists to learn brain activities in depth visually.

The scientific hypothesis of the nervous system has developed by the increase of the molecular biological studies. It becomes easier to understand the complex functions of neurons. A network of neurons produces complex cognitions and behavior which is yet to be analyzed. Neural science explains the functions and activates of the brain in terms of behavior. It is amazing to uncover the organization of millions of neurons in the brain.

The nervous system consists of a network of neurons. Neuroscience can be learned at many different levels like molecular level, cellular level, cognitive level, and system level.

At molecular level, the study addresses to molecular signal and how neurons respond to the signals. At cellular level, the study addresses to the processing of neurons physiologically and how electrical impulses are transmitted. At system level, it addresses how neural circuits are formed to produce reflexes, sensory integration, emotional responses, memory and motor coordination. The cognitive level deals with the questions of psychological functions in the neural circuits.




Chris is the writer of this article, you can visit us for more information on Neuroscience and Neuromarketing. Visit to read more detail.





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Autism and Educational Effects


Autism affects many aspects of a person's life. Education is one of the main areas that has to be modified in order for the child to learn what is necessary to lead a productive life. Autism and education isn't just about teaching academics, it includes various forms of therapy and approaches.

Learning Disabilities

Often, a child with autism suffers from other problems that affect the ability to understand important subjects such as reading or math. Dyslexia is often present in children with autism. This affects the ability to read, write, speak and even complete math problems.

Dysgraphia affects a child's ability to write correctly because it interferes with fine motor skills, as well as organizing thoughts well enough to put on paper. While not classified as a learning disorder, Sensory Integration Disorder directly affects a child's ability to learn information because the brain does not read and interpret information gathered from the senses correctly.

When a child with autism has learning disabilities, it makes teaching an even bigger challenge. Techniques that work for one disorder may not be affective for another. Receiving proper diagnoses is crucial in helping the school staff brainstorm ideas to work with all of the challenges the child faces. Therapy is beneficial to a child on the autism spectrum because it can reduce some of the symptoms, helping him understand his school work.

Therapy in School

Most schools offer some type of therapy to aide in the teaching process. These may include speech and language therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), sensory integration therapy and physical or occupational therapy. The types of therapy and the amount of time spent vary from one school district to another based on finances and availability of trained professionals.

Types of Classes Available

Another thing that may vary from district to district is how the school handles children with autism. Some schools keep these children in classrooms designed for those with special needs. There, they receive one on one attention and work on social skills as they interact with only a few children. This helps reduce the stress levels and possibility of too much sensory stimulation.

Other districts work to include the children in typical classes, removing them only for subjects they need extra help in. This often works well for children who are higher functioning, but may take extra time to include a child who is lower on the autism spectrum. Trying different therapies, teaching techniques and classroom situations are crucial when working with autism and education.




Maximum Potential specializes in online learning environments for ABA Therapy





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2012年1月28日 星期六

Seizure Meds - A Peaceful Existence Once Again


The anticonvulsant drug Topamax, known as the generic topiramate, is prescribed to treat mild attacks referred to as partial seizures and the severe tonic-clonic convulsions also known as grand mal seizures.

The Anticonvulsant Medication

Topamax is used to combat epilepsy in both adults and children and it has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to arrest migraine headaches too. It's important to understand that Topamax will not cure a headache that is in progress. This pharmacuetical has been researched for use in treatment of naturopathic pain, in the potential use for smoking cessation, Lennux-Gastaut syndrome, post traumatic stress disorder,obsessive-compulsive disorder, obesity and infantile spasm.

Pros

At this time it's the only "modern" anticonvulsant approved by the FDA that can be taken alone [no other drugs needed] to treat tonic-clonic complex partial seziures and simple partial seizures. By "modern" we mean "approved after 1995" You're more prone to lose weight than put it on (The best med on the market for temporal lobe dysfunctions. It really helps with the sensory integration problems in autism.

Clinical trials have shown that people having 60 or more seizures per month, about 40% adults with partial onset seizures taking 400-600mg of Topamax (topiramate) a day, along with another anticonvulsant, will experience a 50% or better reduction in their seizures.

Has lower potential for interaction with most other medicines

Has minimal interference with hormonal contraceptives, such as the pill

Can be taken with or without food

Offers treatment support

Refrain from using Topamax if you have:

asthma, emphysema, bronchitis,

kidney or liver disease, a history of kidney stones

glaucoma, or if you have undergone any recent surgery

The safety of this drug has not been verified in pregnant women and the drug is advised for use during pregnancy only if your doctor recommends you do so. It is unknown if it affects the nursing baby, but the drug can pass in to breast milk.

Is not associated with drug-induced weight gain

To avoid early side effects, the first dose of Topamax is needed to be low and increased in gradual steps - in the region of 25 to 50 mg daily in two single doses. Take medication as prescribed to avoid the potential for overdose. Some of Topamax overdose symptoms may include:

troubled thinking, loss of coordination, speech problems

fainting, convulsion, coma

excessive hunger

Pounding or irregular heartbeat.

bone pain

depression, agitation

inability to respond to things around you

upset stomach, stomach pain, vomiting

Medication has been available worldwide since 1995. Since that time, more than 4 million patients have been treated.

Proven safety profile

Has helped millions of people

Works well with other antiepileptic drugs

Is Also Used For Migrain Headache

Unlike medicine you take when you feel migraine headache pain coming on, TOPAMAX is a daily medication that helps keep migraines from starting in the first place so you can get fewer of them to think about.

Like many other migraine preventive medications, It was initially studied for another medical condition and was then approved in 2004 for use in reducing migraine frequency. Today, TOPAMAX is the #1 prescribed brand for migraine prevention in the U.S.44. IMS data. March 2006.




Warren has done extensive research on the most popular seizure medications. Get the unbiased reviews on these drugs. Pros and cons.

More Topamax Facts





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Hippotherapy As a Way of Fighting With Children Autism


Analyses show that about 8.7 of every 10,000 children are autistic and more than 1 in 300 children have some of the symptoms of autism. These statistics are not very pleasant to hear but they are showing the current situation.

Autism is defined as a disorder in the development that affects on the children from birth till the age of three. These children show difficulty in developing normal relationships with others in three areas of behaviour - social relationships and interactions; language and communication; and when it's about their activities and interests.

The cause of autism remains unknown but the parents and the experts are taking their best to figure it out. One of the hypotheses is that it's about some damage to the brain that has happened perhaps prenatally, though this has not been conclusively proved, but also maybe responsible some genetic or chromosomal abnormality, viral agents, metabolic disorders, immune intolerance or prenatal anoxia.

There are many methods for treating autism and they are all concentrated on finding a way to make the autistic individual communicate more effectively using social skills trainings. One of the methods that appear very effective for this disorder is the hippo therapy or horse therapy. It's a fact that the children love horses; they are impressed by their appearance, their strength, love to play with horse toys, play horse games. In this case their communication with them is based not only on playing, but on some type of bonding.

Hippo therapy is a term used to describe the movement of a horse as part of a treatment strategy, used by physical, occupational, and speech therapists. Psychiatrists found out that children with autism struggle to communicate but when they are with horses, they can achieve so much. It's not about teaching riding or horse care skills but the thing is that it's been clinically proven that just being in the vicinity of horses changes our brainwave patterns. Doctor Franklin Levinson declares that the horses have a calming effect which helps people stop becoming fixated on past or negative events.

It's been proven the children can often manage a horse more easily and more quickly than adults, developing an equal relationship rather than trying to control. A child who is given just a little insight into dealing with a horse can easily become the natural leader the horse is looking for. The horse feels safe and peaceful and for return will cooperate with what the child asks of him.

This way the child can improve his communication skills, his psychological, cognitive, and behavioural functioning, his motor skills and coordination, his sensory integration but also and his muscle tone, head and trunk control, postural control, his strength and cardiovascular conditioning.




For more information visit our site http://www.funhorsegames.net/links.php.

Graduated philologist in comparative literature, born in Skopje, Macedonia. I find writing as one of the most appropriate ways to express myself and I like when it appears useful for the others as well.





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2012年1月27日 星期五

Speech Therapy Concerns - Do's and Don'ts for Preschool Teachers


It seems there are more and more children in speech therapy before kindergarten each year. Parents are hyper-sensitive to how their children speak and how "well" they compare in speech issues as other children they know of the same age.

As teachers, we need to remind them that, as with other areas of development, each child progresses in their speech and language at different rates. It is very common to say "Otay" instead of "Okay" or "tefelone" instead of "telephone" in the preschool years. Many three year old children will say "Him goed to beach". It may progress to "Him go to beach" or "He goed to the beach." Correct use of pronouns (personal and proper) as well as verb tenses are part of their preschool speech and language growth and development. It is when a pattern of usage that it out of the developmental norm can be seen in their speech or language that a red flag goes should be raised by teachers.

As teachers, we are called on by parents to answer some questions that are not easily answered. When asked if we think their child has a speech problem or a language problem, we need to be very careful about how we answer. If we answer yes, we have just labeled that child and the parent assumes we are correct because we are, after all, the expert when it comes to children.

Now, don't lose it over my next statement, it is blunt but true: we need to remember that we are NOT the experts in speech and language (unless, of course, you have your degree in speech and language pathology!). We should NOT be telling parents that we feel their child has a speech problem or a language problem. Once we say that to a parent their child has been "diagnosed by an expert".

A speech problem refers to a problem with the production of sounds. A language disorder refers to having difficulty either understanding or putting words together to communicate thoughts or ideas.

The child's issue, many times, is not simply a speech or language disorder. A child may have one of many number of other things going on that are affecting them and the issues you see in their speech and language may actually be a symptom of this other issue.

A child with speech issues may have a hearing or inner ear problem that has not been detected yet. The child with language issues may have sensory/sensory integration issues or they may simply speak a different language at home and their "problem" is learning of a new language.

As preschool teachers, we have training and experience that lets us know when children do not appear to be developing within the typical stages. Our role is to know what the developmental norms are for speech and language acquisition (as well as other areas of growth and development ) for the ages of children that we care for.

The best and most appropriate steps we can take to be sure that we handle developmental concerns in a professional manner and within limits of are training are:

1. Stay current in growth and development training.

Contact a local speech/language pathologist to set up a basic training on what to look for as far as developmental norms and red flags.

2. Observe and record.....OFTEN!

Part of our day should be spent recording observations of children in our programs. If you or a parent are concerned about a child's speech or language development, record conversations. Write down EXACTLY what the child says. Do this over a period of time and then review your results. Are there common patterns (for example of sound replacements- the child replaces the "ch" sound with a "t" sound).

Once you have reviewed your observations, look at the developmental expectations of that age. Is what you are observing common for this age group?

3. When in doubt-ask an expert in the field. We are experts in typical child growth and development. Once you have determined that a speech or language pattern with a child seems to be outside the norm, ask an expert for their opinion on whether or not to refer this family for a professional evaluation.

4. When speaking with parents about concerns regarding their child's development, do not present yourself as an expert in that field (again, we are not speech therapist, occupational therapists, etc.).

Let the parents know that based on your training and experience, you feel it would be a good idea for them to get an opinion from their child's doctor or a specialist with regard to ________(fill in the blank: speech, motor control, etc.).

Remind parents that all children grow and develop at different rates and there can be a six to eight month window for each age group. Qualify your concern by letting them know what you, as a trained professional in child growth and development, would expect to see children of this age doing with regard to your area of concern. Offer them a written summary of your observations. (Not a copy of your observation reports from each day, but a typed summary "replaces "ch" sound with "t" sound consistently").




Cheryl Hatch has been working with preschool children and their families since 1995. She has over 16 years experience teaching and directing in preschool programs. For preschool themed activities and ideas, articles and information to help you in your preschool classroom or with your preschool children, you can visit her website at http://www.preschool-plan-it.com





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Nutrition and Your Autistic Child


It seems like common sense that a well nourished child is a happier child. Many parents have noticed moody or cranky behavior in their young children before meal time or after school when they arrive home hungry. For an Autistic child, however, who may not be able to accurately communicate his or her needs, this hunger may go unnoticed. Or they may not want to eat and may have many food aversions. For these reasons, integrating nutrition therapy into treatment for children with autism is critical.

In many cases, nutrition is not an integral part of overall therapy at diagnosis. Yet many parents who eventually seek out this information on their own, are getting nutrition information from questionable sources. Some parents may not take nutrition therapy into consideration at all.

Autism is complex and involves a spectrum of challenging behaviors, so it is natural for both parents and caregivers to initially focus directly on controlling those behaviors. In many cases, the health care team includes a physician, occupational therapist, speech therapist and behavior therapist; but does not include a registered dietitian to provide nutrition therapy. What is interesting is that almost all autistic children have nutritional deficiencies, food intolerance, or gastrointestinal disorders that often are not thoroughly addressed. While studies involving the significance of the effect nutrition status has in the management of autism are preliminary, there is good reason to consider filling this gap in treatment.

The goal of nutrition therapy in autism is to support the structure and function of the child's brain and body to perform at their optimal level and to maximize the child's brain function so that the response to other treatment is enhanced. Proper nutrition therapy should include a comprehensive nutrition assessment and also address feeding problems, any gastrointestinal problems, or need for vitamin and mineral supplementation.

Imagine a child who has difficulty communicating his or her needs, feeling uncomfortable every time he eats due to unknown food sensitivities or intolerance. This sends a negative message to avoid those foods or avoid eating all together. Children with food allergies are at higher risk for nutrition-related problems and decreased growth, but children with autism are more negatively affected due to their problems with sensory integration dysfunction.

Allergy symptoms may include hives, coughing, eczema, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, gastrointestinal reflux, watery eyes, nasal congestion or sneezing. To determine which foods are problematic, an "Elimination/Challenge Diet" is applied. Once problem foods are removed from the diet, the discomfort is resolved, and the child becomes more open to mealtime. A well-nourished child is a better-behaved child. In many cases, children who undergo nutrition assessment and treatment, have a formed bowel movement for the first time in his or her life. Imagine how eliminating this discomfort helps a child!

Many autistic children may also have a subclinical nutrition deficiency. This is a deficiency of a particular vitamin, mineral, or essential fatty acid that is not severe enough to produce a classic deficiency symptom, but rather has more global, subtle effects that result in loss of optimal health and impairment of body processes. These subclinical deficiencies can cause irritability, poor concentration, depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances or loss of appetite. While it is best to determine which vitamin or mineral the child may be deficient in, minimally a standard multi-vitamin and mineral supplement is recommended. Look for supplements that have the USP label on them, and those that are free of colors, allergens or artificial flavors to eliminate any possible food intolerance issues. Using liquid forms that can be mixed into favorite foods (such as applesauce, yogurt, juices, or sherbet) is one strategy for children who have difficulty chewing or swallowing vitamins. Asking a pharmacist to compound a multivitamin and mineral supplement that is age appropriate is another option.

In addition to the multivitamin/mineral, omego-3 fatty acids have been shown to be helpful as well. Numerous studies indicate that Omega-3 fatty acids are deficient in those who have ADHD, Dyslexia and Dyspraxia. Abnormalities in fatty acid metabolism may account for many features common in these conditions. There is some preliminary evidence that it is also deficient in children with autism. For children ages seven and older, 650 milligrams per day of an Omega-3 that provides both EPA and DHA is recommended. For children four to six years of age, 540 milligrams per day is recommended, and for children aged one to three, 390 milligrams per day is needed.

Much more research is needed in the area of nutrition and autism, but clearly nutrition is a key piece of the treatment puzzle that is often missing. Speak with your health care team about a thorough nutrition assessment for your autistic child.




Rosanne Rust, MS, RD, LDN
Registered Dietitian
Nutrition Consulting, Writing, Lectures
http://www.rustnutrition.com
Licensed Provider for Real Living Nutrition ServicesR

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2012年1月26日 星期四

Introduction to Autism - Factors Related to It


Introduction

Autism is a name given to a developmental disorder in children whereby their communication and interactions are impaired, and though many are able to stay in the mainstream of society, there are others who lead very restricted lives. Males are four times more likely to have autism than females, and out of every thousand children, at least 3-6 are likely to be autistic. Autism is limiting and restrictive, often preventing autistic children and their families from leading normal lives.

Autism can be by birth or manifest itself within the first two and a half years of a child's life. It is believed to be due to some prenatal abnormalities the causes of which have not yet been found. The physical appearance of the child is normal, but behavior is different and communication and interaction rather puzzling. Many are able to speak normally, and this makes recognition of other symptoms all the more difficult. The condition prevents most children from having normal educative learning though some can work towards joining mainstream educational activities.

Typically autistic children are self-absorbed, uncommunicative and cannot participate in creative activities. They are impaired in several areas of development. Autism is one of the 5 neurological disorders that fall under the category of Pervasive Developmental Disorders, and also the most common. There are no racial ethnic or economic boundaries for autism, the causes of which are yet unknown. It can afflict any child from any background, anywhere, and remains a lifelong problem.

Problems Created by Autistics

Autistic children do not misbehave intentionally as is often the case with normal children. Some external factors trigger specific actions.

- It is difficult for them to sit for long periods of time.

- They take everything literally;

- Matters that do not interest them will not hold their attention at all.

- They do not make eye contact and leave the other person wondering whether they have been heard and understood.

- They are aloof and unsocial.

- Many perform repetitive tasks, and strange actions like hand flapping, blinking, biting, head-banging, fiddling with things, and certain spontaneous movements.

- They sometimes lack the ability to understand emotions but can display anger and reveal their displeasure in violent ways. While many are able to express themselves with repetitive coaching, those who cannot talk resort to physical expression of their unhappiness.

- They are likely to develop some obsessive interests.

- Some are less sensitive to pain and can end up hurting themselves badly without realizing it.

- On the other hand they are hyper sensitive to touch, taste, hearing and smell.

These traits become difficult to handle especially for those who spend the maximum time with them. Parents find themselves constantly watching over them and trying to protect them outdoors. Caution cannot be forfeited at any cost with an autistic child. This can become a major encumbrance for the parent and attendant.

Causes of Autism

The exact cause or set of causes that lead to autism are unknown. It is a question that torments parents of autistic children who often tend to blame themselves for the neurological disorder that leads to this condition. Extensive research has led to multiple theories being presented about what leads to autism, though each has its set of critics trying to refute them.

- One set of scientists believes that certain vaccines given to the child especially, MMR (Mumps-Measles-Rubella) cause intestinal problems, which can lead to autism.

- Some believe the culprit to be thimersol contained in certain vaccines.

- The genetic cause of autism is widely accepted, as it is possible that autism has some genetic root, running in some families more than others. However, autism is not caused by a single gene, but is rather a consequence of several genetic differences as well as some form of environmental "insult".

- Some researchers are exploring the differences in a typical brain and autistic brain and are convinced that the autistic brain is wired in a different manner, besides being larger in size.

Research is continuing and it is clear that autism cannot be attributed to a single cause, but is perhaps the outcome of a combination of unfavorable factors like food allergies, environmental toxins leading to adverse reactions in the child's body, and immune deficiencies.

How To Identify Autism

Autistic children appear normal in appearance and the first signs can manifest themselves around twelve months, but they become very conspicuous by the time the child is three years old. Many seem to have impaired speech, never look in the eye, exhibit strange behavior and movements, not wish to play with others, seem engrossed in one particular thing or activity. It is not unusual for parents to shake off these early signs as those of an introvert or late learner. But pointers to an autistic condition include:

- The child does not point to things and objects at twelve months

- He child does not pick up even one word by 18 months

- He cannot make two word sentences at age two

- He does not respond to his own name

- He stays away from people and peers

- He does not make eye contact

- He may not laugh and smile and may not seem to hear

- He constantly flaps arms, bites, bangs his head

- He is unable to shift focus from one object to another

Parents are the first to notice some or most of these signs and must take immediate advice to be able to help the child and in case remedial measures can be taken in borderline cases, the sooner the better.

Educating an Autistic Child

The toughest part for parents is coming to terms with the autistic condition of their child. Once they are able to accept it, they become anxious to educate the child to make him acceptable in the mainstream of society. This is the toughest part as their symptoms manifest themselves all the time.

- They are different from other students, as they cannot relate to people and emotions, have some difficulty in comprehending what hey are being told.

- They are unable to identify differences in tone and speech, gauge facial expressions, or relate to reactions of peers.

- It becomes important for the teacher of autistic children to know about their condition.

- If the child is in a special school with others like himself, he will benefit from specially created learning modules, which include visual schedules that autistic children find easier to follow.

- Working in pairs is immensely beneficial as well.

- In case the child studies in a regular school, his teacher needs to know about his condition so that she can make the extra effort that may be required to explain certain things to him.

- In many schools an additional aide is provided to the teacher to help such children.

- Autistic children resent being forced to do certain things, and would rather make choices as it gives them a sense of control.

- It is better to encourage interests that they seem to prefer, for instance, many have a flair for cooking. This can become a vocation in later years.

Treatment for Autism

Treating autism is not easy as no prescribed, standardized line of treatment has yet been found, despite millions of dollars being spent on research in this field. The only generalization that can be made is linked to helpful therapies like:

- Applied Behavior Analysis

- Occupational Therapy

- Physical Therapy

- Speech Language Therapy

However, before the child can be started on any of these, the following steps need to be followed:

- An early diagnosis of autism an immediate intervention and treatment is imperative for the child. Parents must not ignore unusual behavioral traits that the child may exhibit in the second year of his life.

- The first step is to find good physicians and specialists who can guide parents about what is best for the child.

- Most treatment has to be behavioral and parents have to ensure that the child is not pressurized.

- This can be done by giving him clear instructions that are easy for him to follow.

- He must be prompted encouragingly to perform certain tasks, and praise and applause for actions well done.

- Parents must make a distinction between good and bad and gradually increase the complexity of instructions to encourage him to do better. Parents need instruction in behavioral techniques to accomplish this.

- Self help techniques have to be taught to the children so that they can eventually become independent.

- However, there are various types of autism, and each child has specific needs. His treatment also has to be custom made for his requirements.

Treatment with medication is only for symptoms like seizures, extreme mood swings; sleep difficulty, tantrums or injurious behavior patterns. One set of doctors fell that additional diet supplements like minerals and vitamins may be helpful, and also secretin infusion, but none of these treat the underlying condition.

At present, Risperidone is the only drug that has been approved for treating children in the 5-16 age group for aggression and irritability due to autism. Finally, the present treatment prescribed by medical specialists includes a gluten-free and casein-free diet. Gluten is contained in wheat, barley and rye, and casein in milk and dairy products.

Improving Autism Communication

Communication and social interaction are the biggest problems associated with autism. The autistic child struggles in the fields of language and being able to express him. Communication is crucial as it helps the child understand people around him, comprehend environment cues, follow directions and instructions, perform organizational tasks and also express himself. Communication is much more complicated than mere speech, requiring multiple skills like attention, absorbing information, interpreting that information and finally formulating an appropriate response.

A lot of research is being done in this field, and some drugs have been developed that improve communication behavior and increasing attention spans. Mineral and vitamin supplements, psychotherapy and medication related to it have all been tried, but there is no documented evidence of significant improvements.

Autistic children understand better when information is provided to them verbally as well as visually. Studies conducted on children who were instructed verbally and with sign language, revealed that they responded with greater vocalization, mastered signs and used them appropriately, and were able to communicate better with their peers. Visual tools include body movements, use of pictures, objects and environment cues. Step-by-step instructions are also important. Autistic children relate best to models, objects, signs and boards explaining the verbal communication.

While no standardized treatment has yet been developed to improve communication abilities of autistic children, some amount of success has been achieved by studying individual requirements. Treatments first necessitate an in-depth analysis of needs and then seeking therapy from speech-language pathologists, from occupational and physical therapists to modify unacceptable social behavior.

Another research reveals that participation of the father in teaching the child showed a marked improvement in the child's ability to communicate. This was especially true in verbal communications with the child's usage of vocabulary revealing a 50% increase.

Structured behavior modification programs like Applied Behavior Analysis are beneficial for some, while others benefit from informal coaching in a familiar home environment. Music therapy and sensory integration therapy attempt to enhance the child's ability to respond to information using his sense organs. Social stories narrated to children time and again have also helped many improve their social skills.

Yet another specialist has found that early intervention with peer directed interaction helps autistic children communicate better. Less adult directed communication and greater participation from trained peers in an informal, natural setting helped in maximizing the results of communication improvement.

The Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT) has been rated as one of the best innovative treatments for handling communication issues of autistic children. Based on 20 years of research by Robert and Lynn Koegel, this has helped advance children's communication abilities, foster friendships and social interactions and improves school performance besides controlling disruptive behavior. PRT works with every child's natural motivation promotes functional learning and helps him develop skills that can be used in the world outside. Rote learning is discouraged and the child's cognitive abilities are enhanced. Prompting him to respond gives him the impetus to do so.

Treatments have to be personalized but starting sooner will yield far better results than delays in taking action by the parents.

How to get Autistic Children accepted by other Children

Autistic children do have communication and behavioral issues which are often unacceptable to others. They are therefore the target of criticism, made fun of, teased, ignored and neglected. But all autistic children are not retarded and with help and support can become part of mainstream society. The role of the parent and the teacher becomes important in gaining social acceptance for their child. They need support not pity, sympathy and a bit of care. It is important for the school to reinforce its commitment to these children and explaining to others how they can reach out to these special children. They need to be told that autism does not explain the whole character of the child-it is only one aspect and the child in question is blessed with other far more acceptable traits. He can think too, get hurt and upset and he struggles with things he cannot do. Acute hearing, sight and smell compensate for his language limitations. Children can be made to see the good in the child, what he can do and with that focus, help him. Often if one child comes forward to help the special child, others follow suit and the result is that he gains friends from whom he is able to learn much more than parental training.

How do I help in Emotional Circumstances

Children with autism are often highly emotional, getting hurt and upset about small things. Unfortunately, it takes them longer to overcome them and it is challenging for parents to help him cope. In an emotional state, the child first needs to be calmed, and this can be accomplished by helping him take a few deep breaths. This must be practiced with him before and becomes useful during stressful times. It is best to remove him from the scene where he has got upset and talking gently in a manner that he comprehends, is helpful. The child needs encouragement, reinforcement of affection and loving reassurance. If the child can talk, hearing him out also helps. Many of them are overly sensitive to others' emotions, seeing another child cry, makes them cry as well. They need to be taught that another person's feelings must not be mixed up with their own.

A few steps that can help the child include, first understanding his emotional needs, speaking in a language that he understands, he must also get the facts correct, and not have any false notions. It is important to look for warning signs that reveal an emotionally disturbed state like facial expression, nervous tics, speech variations, sweating, avoidance and irritability. Social stories narrated to children may help them feel they are not alone in feeling in a particular manner, and others are like them too. The bottom line is keeping the child calm and secure.

The Child's Future

A child being diagnosed as autistic is one of the worst nightmares for any parent. The first thoughts after the why's and how's is the anxiety about his future. His future is largely determined by the type of autism he has, and his intelligence level, which may assist him to practice some vocation and even be gainfully occupied. Many are able to lead near normal lives and become responsible, independent individuals. Others with more serious problems may never be able to lead a normal life and be independent. In such cases the future of the child is largely determined by the parents, how they plan for times ahead. They need to make the child functional and ensure that adequate resources are put aside to sustain him. Researchers believe that parents need to be responsible for providing them with a social world in which they can build meaningful relationships. Those alone can sustain them, despite the fact that the child may never go to work, earn, and do other adult things. Special education can help him do better than lack of any education. It may suffice to have him occupied and happy rather than stressed and agitated, provided for and having someone.




With over 4 years in the field of content writing, I have written numerous articles covering various niches. Presently I am maintaining 2 blogs at COFFEE TABLE TALKS and WEIGHT LOSS TIPS.





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Native Remedies For Coping With Autism


Autism is a complicated illness which seems to be affecting a number of children nowadays. While there is no known cure for autism, parents who struggle to raise autistic child or children are finding ways to manage and cope with their situation.

As a parent, one of the hardest sentences to hear is "your child is autistic". It would be unrealistic to say that this is the end of the world but for some parents it can be as close as it gets. First of all, it would be good to note that autism has no known cause. Studies have shown that children who are autistic seem to a genetic disposition to autism; however this does not mean that genetics is the cause of the illness. Whether predisposition to autism is genetic or not, there are triggers which can precipitate the disorder. These can be complications during birth or pregnancy, viral infections, chemicals and pollutants in the environment and even allergies.

One of the hardest part about autism is that no two children with autism are alike and which makes it hard to see symptoms and give diagnoses to children who are autistic. For parents all of these can be confusing. There are doctors who recommend therapy, rehab, medicines and other methods. With all of this confusion, there are parents out there who are finding ways of coping with the disorder and are looking for native or natural remedies for autism.

While there are no known cures for autism, professionals agree that the earlier the treatment begins, the better the chance the child has to lead a normal life. Treatments include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, sensory integration, society integration, behavior modification and speech therapy. Of course not all children will need these treatments because symptoms and degree of severity differs from child to child.

Other natural or native remedies for autism include the diet. Nutritionists suggest that food supplements and vitamins be included in the diet. Supplements and vitamins help the brain develop and compensate for whatever vitamin or mineral the child lacks in a normal meal. And since autism affects the brain, it would follow that a proper and balanced diet together with some supplements can help with autism. There are also a number of studies which suggest that the use of vitamins and minerals in the treatment of autism have had significant effects on the children who took part in the trials. There are also suggestions that autistic symptoms can be caused as a result of mal absorption and intolerances to certain foodstuffs, especially dairy products and gluten contained in wheat and grain products. Some parents have reported remarkable changes after the elimination of these foodstuffs from the diets of their autistic children.

Herbal remedies are also effective when it comes to native remedies for autism. These types of treatment can be alternatives to the synthetic drugs doctors sometimes prescribe to help children and their parents cope with the disorder. Children or adults who suffer from mood swings, depression, repetitive behaviors, irritability and aggression can be given herbal supplements which assist in balancing serotonin levels and act as SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors) in much the same way as the synthetic SSRI's do.

There are a number of other natural herbal medicines and remedies available through Native Remedies. This company provides specially formulated natural remedies for a number of illnesses, disorders and diseases made from natural or native ingredients. These natural or herbal remedies are formulated by a team of professionals who specialize in natural or native treatments and are all manufactured in an FDA compliant process.




Are you looking for Native Remedies for Autism? Try out some of these products to better cope with Autism.





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2012年1月25日 星期三

Teaching Children With Autism Better Verbal Communication Skills


Children with autism commonly face problems with verbal communication. This is usually due to the frequent speech and language problems associated with the disorder. Though the actual reason that these problems are faced by autistic children is unknown, many experts believe that they are the result of several conditions occurring before, during, or after the child's birth that have had an impact on the development of the brain. The inability to properly communicate verbally can make interpretation and interaction with the child's world much more difficult.

The communication problems experienced vary from child to child, depending on the individual's social and intellectual development. While some may not be able to speak at all, others may maintain extensive vocabularies and can express themselves regarding complex topics. However, most children with autism experience some form of communication difficulty usually with the appropriate use of the language, for example difficulty with intonation, rhythm, and word and sentence meaning.

Autistic children who are able to speak may say things without true information, expression, or content. They are only words with no meaning to the situation. Others will use echolalia, where they simply repeat what they have heard, even if they have been asked a question. And yet other autistic children will use delayed echolalia, using the question previously posed in order to ask for what they want. For example, a child who had earlier been asked "are you hungry?" may say "are you hungry" at a later time to express his or her hunger.

Many autistic children will have a stock of phrases that they use in specific conditions. For example, a child may introduce him or herself at the beginning of every conversation. Some autistic children learn scripts from television shows, commercials, books, or other recorded dialogs.

Autistic children able to speak can frequently speak extensively about a topic without the ability to actually converse with others. They may also make up a voice to use other than their own such as a robot voice, a deep voice, a squeaky voice or another similar type of alteration.

It is possible to help an autistic child to better his or her verbal communication skills with improvements made through the use of appropriate treatments.

The first step is to consult a speech and language pathologist in order to have your child's communication skills evaluated. Specific treatments suitable for your child may be recommended during this evaluation.

No single method of communication treatment has been universally found to improve all autistic children, but starting early increases the chances of significant improvements. Try to target your child's specific communication strengths and weaknesses. Different forms of goal orientated therapy for useful communications are the most successful techniques, though not guaranteed to work for all children. Periodic in-depth evaluations from a specialist are recommended for perfecting and altering the therapy to best work for your child's unique needs.

Many parents find that consulting physical and occupational therapists can also be very helpful for helping to reduce unwanted behaviors during communication, which are common hindrances to the development of skills.

Find out what your child best responds to: a structured behavior modification program, an in-home therapy program, or another type of therapy that utilizes reality-based situations as a foundation for the therapy.

It may surprise you to discover that music therapy and sensory integration therapies may have a large impact on your child's ability to use verbal communication. This is because stimulation of the senses often helps to improve the child's ability to respond to sensory information, and therefore helps him or her recognize what he or she is hearing through verbal communication and seeing through non-verbal communication. The goal is to help improve the effectiveness of sensory understanding.

Medications may also improve an autistic child's attention span, which in turn can help to improve verbal communication in your child. However, with long-term medication use there is the possibility of undesirable side effects.

To be certain that your child is at his or her fullest potential, mineral and vitamin supplements, as well as a tailored diet, psychotherapy, and overcoming sleep challenges may greatly assist in focus and attention, which should help improve verbal communication.




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High Sensitivity is Everyone's Problem - Reduce Overstimulation and Increase Self-Respect


High Sensitivity (HS) in a nutshell has to do with the amount of information that a person has to process.

The highly sensitive individual has a cognitive style which permits more sensory information to enter and which also processes this influx of information in more detail. While HS is often related in the public's mind to sensitivity to sounds and smells and light, it also pertains to human interactions such as being aware of other people's emotional and physical responses and detailed processing of conversational or theoretical information as well.

For example, Highly Sensitive people (HSP'S) often feel that they have to work harder than others to participate in fast moving conversations. They might say that by the time they have thought to their satisfaction about what one person has said, two others have already added more ideas to the mix. It may sometimes feel impossible to keep up. For the highly sensitive, the world often seems to be moving very fast. Even a hundred years ago in the time of Model-T Fords and telegraph wires a very sensitive individual might have complained that the world was running incomprehensibly fast.

Environmental sensitivities and ADD... we are all becoming "too sensitive" But sometime in the last thirty years or so our technology and speed of life has surpassed the ability of even the non-sensitive among us to keep up. More and more as a culture we are becoming overwhelmed and over-stressed by the pace of life around us.

Workers in call centers are required to speed up the pace of their calls. Technology makes it unnecessary to spend even the few seconds needed to key in a phone number manually. High powered executives rise at 2 am to check the stock market opening in Europe or field calls from subsidiaries in Asia. More and more children and adults are suffering from environmental sensitivities and sensory integration difficulties as the world moves faster than any of us can process. In fact, neurologist and George Washington University professor Richard Restak suggests, "As a result of increasing demands on our attention and focus, our brains try to adapt by rapidly shifting attention from one activity to another--a strategy that is now almost a requirement for survival. As a consequence, attention deficit disorder is becoming epidemic in both children and adults." It might even be more accurate to propose that our attentional capacities are not "deficit" but instead overwhelmed.

Every week-end it seems the local news paper sends us a double message. "There are so many exciting, necessary or possible things to do in your life". At the same time the health pages teem with other articles reflecting on the damaging effects effects of fast paced life on the family and in the workplace. Articles appear about over-scheduled children and stress on pets. My neighbor is no longer just over the fence. I can Skype her in her hotel room in Bejing to ask her if I should water her garden.

When the speed of life increases unreasonably, our physical bodies suffer and we become aware of this. We may look for reasons in the environment for the way we are feeling and may try to eliminate the "environmental dangers" we feel we can control such as the chemicals in the photocopier, additives in our food and our neighbors perfume. While this may be a natural response we may sometimes be barking up the wrong tree if other relevant interpersonal, emotional and arousal-related pressures are not also addressed.

A personal experience...

In New York City I dined at a table for 16 in a room with 250 other diners. The noise level was incredible. We followed it up with a "leisurely" stroll through busy New York streets and ended up at 11 pm in Times Square, surrounded by flashing lights, story-high electronic billboards and thousands of people moving chaotically. The cumulative effect of that now "normal" stimulation was to leave me feeling overwhelmed, panicky and wishing to escape to my hotel room to digest the experience. I had reached my "subjective limit" of overstimulation and I wanted out!

The subjective experience of overstimulation is the same for everyone.

Highly sensitive or just ordinarily sensitive, we can all reach the point of being overstimulated and when we do the internal experience is exactly the same for all of us... aversion, irritation, blame of self or others and a panicky wish to escape.

As our social and physical environment becomes increasingly complex and fast-paced, more and more of us are reaching moments or levels of overstimulation which are hard to tolerate.

As the world speeds up around us, we are all beginning to respond as if we are "Highly Sensitive Persons" because we all live constantly too close our personal edge of overstimulation.

Whenever we reach our personal point of overstimulation, and when that experience becomes increasingly frequent, our choices become identical to those of the highly sensitive person. We can melt down and hope that others take care of us, we can behave badly and coercively in an attempt to change or control the situation, we can lash out in anger, flee, or isolate ourselves too rigidly.

Alternatively we can respond by acting consciously and responsibly to reduce our immediate level of stimulation or proactively by working to reduce the general level of stimulation to which we expose ourselves

The skills of the Highly Sensitive Person become relevant to all of us.

The idea that we might wish or need to set voluntary limits on ourselves... the wisdom to track our own responses, physical and emotional, the requirement to be be responsible for our own self-care, our willingness to accept that we may not be able to do everything, do it all the time or as fast or for as long as some other people do.... needs to be strengthened.

We need to become more attuned to our own natures and those of others around us. We need to learn to recognize the signs of overstimulation and stress in ourselves and in those we love. We need to become willing to control and reduce our level of stimulation and that of those around us.

Reduce overstimulation--increase self-respect.

Reducing the stress caused by overstimulation requires a special kind of discipline, an inner willingness to "buck the trend" and to enforce limits on ourselves. It may even mean having the personal strength to risk appearing "slow" compared to others at times. At the same time, being willing to respect one's own realistic limits is an act of great self respect.

As a result, taking a stand and asking others to respect your individual limits in terms of rstimulation increases feelings of control, efficacy and leads directly to increased feelings of self-esteem.

References:

Restak, R. (2003) The New Brain, How the Modern Age is Rewiring Your Mind, Emmaus, PA., pg 45




Susan Meindl, MA, is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Montreal Canada. She has a special interest in Jungian ideas and practices a Jungian approach to psychodynamic psychotherapy

http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/59983





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Asperger Syndrome


Asperger syndrome is a neurophysiologic disorder that was accepted in the psychiatric community in 1994. It was identified by Hans Asperger, an Austrian doctor, back in 1944. Asperger syndrome and autism are examples of pervasive developmental disorders, commonly referred to as PDD, or PDD or Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

The DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, published by the American Psychiatric Association) identifies PDD as "characterized by severe deficits and pervasive impairment in multiple areas of development, including impairment in reciprocal social interaction, impairment in communication, and the presence of stereotyped behavior, interests and activities."

Children diagnosed as Asperger's have marked social inadequacies, meaning they have difficulty understanding and reacting to others appropriately. They have difficulty picking up nonverbal social cues such as facial expression and body language. They often have trouble maintaining eye contact. Quite often they have difficulty judging personal space. Asperger's children may also have sensory integration issues, such as only wanting to eat certain foods or wear certain fabrics. They also have difficulty with change or transition. Aspergers children tend to have their own set of rules, which may not be our rules.

Children with Asperger's generally have average and above IQ scores. They want to be socially accepted, however, because they are socially naïve and take things literally, they frequently get teased or bullied in school. It is difficult for them to make or maintain friendships. Their speech is sometimes characterized by repetition or abnormal inflections. Physical awkwardness is also common in Asperger's syndrome.

There is no specific medication to treat Asperger's, however, medication may be used to treat accompanying symptoms, such as anxiety, attention deficit, and obsessive- compulsiveness.

Carol Bottstein




Carol Bottstein is a school psychologist with 25 years of experience in special education.Visit Long Island Educational Corner at http://www.carolbottstein.blogspot.com for interesting and informative articles regarding parenting, mental health, education, self-improvement and other relevant topics.





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2012年1月24日 星期二

Stop ADHD Behavior - Looking At New Strategies To Help Your Child Grow Up With More Self Control


Very often there is a biological explanation for the hyperactivity, restlessness and impulsivity in ADHD children. When looking at ways to stop ADHD behavior which was dangerous, researchers recently came up with some interesting insights on the startle reflex or the Moro reflex as it is sometimes called.

How is your startle reflex? If you are like me, you may jump out of your chair if someone walks up to you unexpectedly. I am therefore suffering from a high startle reflex. This is an inbuilt defence mechanism we have to protect us in time of danger. A baby will have it the moment he is born when he throws his arms in the air. It is a good sign and shows that his nervous system is working well.

If this reflex is not adjusted with time, it may cause an excess of adrenaline and this can lead to hyperactivity. This is why it is sometimes mentioned in the literature on how to stop ADHD behavior because in a recent poll on an ADHD forum, over 70% of members reported that they did indeed have a high startle reflex. With children who have ADHD and autism, this may also mean an exaggerated reaction and also clumsiness and even falling down. There are ways of reducing this rather startled reaction which I will mention below.

In a really interesting book called The Out Of Sync Child Has Fun the author Carol Stock Kranowitz outlines games and activities designed to help children with a high startle reflex and other sensory processing disorders.

One of these exercises is one which uses an exercise ball. This is designed to help to integrate the moro reflex which should over time gradually decline and lead to less hyperactivity and a better sensory integration system overall. One of the simplest exercises to stop ADHD behavior which is really over the top when the child is jumping off the walls, is the following.

The child can roll forward on the ball, then uses his hands to break his fall, looks up and says 'Good morning'. Then he can roll back and hug the ball and say 'Good night'. There are a whole series of exercises and games which can help the ADHD child.

Apart from these physical exercises and games which can all help to stop ADHD behavior, there are other ways to consider. One of these of course is to make sure that there is some kind of medication to keep the child relatively calm.

One of the best and safest ones I know is an ADHD homeopathic remedy which can soothe the nervous system and help the child restore his lost mind body balance. There are no risks and of course no long term health issues either which is a great relief for many parents.

Why not check this out? The costs are low, the risks are nil and the effects are noticeable within a short time. This could be the answer you were looking for.




Why not give YOUR child a better chance in life? Discover the facts about a more natural and safer approach to stop ADHD behavior. Experts now tell us that child behavior modification combined with a natural treatment for ADHD is by far the most effective ADHD treatment. Visit http://www.child-behavior-home.com to find out more about ADHD child behavior problems. Robert Locke has written extensively on ADHD and Mental Health for many years.





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Cerebral Palsy Training - Therapies and Surgery


Children with cerebral palsy suffer from many disorders that make their daily activities a challenging task. Since each child will suffer a different amount of disabilities, the treatment will be done accordingly. There are many treatments available for a child like speech and language therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, drug therapy, sensory integration therapy and many more. Since no two children will have the same severity, these therapies will be customized for every individual. However, most of the children will suffer from movement problems, hence developing motor skills will form an important part of any program that is designed for the child.

The treatment involves a team approach and includes the consulting doctor, nurse, caretaker and all the therapists who will work together to help your child overcome all these difficulties and train them to become independent eventually. The therapists play a vital role here since they will be spending maximum time with your child to train them in intensive programs that involves cerebral palsy exercises. These special exercises will primarily aim to develop the child's movement, balance and posture. Generally, it is considered better to take your child to a doctor once you see symptoms because this condition is irreversible and there is no permanent cure. Moreover, the condition of the child can either improve or worsen over time depending on the treatment. Hence, therapy should be started at an early age so that appropriate diagnosis can be done to treat the condition.

There are many benefits that the cerebral palsy therapies can offer. These include fewer movement limitations, better postures, better muscle development and better abilities in toileting, feeding and dressing themselves. Furthermore, these programs enhance the child's abilities to do things that would have otherwise seemed impossible. Besides, they add a lot of fun and hope in every child and give them an opportunity to see other children who are like them.

Sometimes, if therapies cannot do much help to the child, then surgery might be recommended. Surgery is done mostly to correct contractures, reduce spasticity in the legs and improve muscle development. If you are opting for a surgery, then it is necessary that you discuss with the doctor about issues like their long term effects, the risks involved and postoperative follow up. Besides, always take a second opinion on the same to avoid any miss-happenings. For conditions such as abnormal walking on toes that indicate a tight heel cord, then surgery may correct it by lengthening the tendon. By doing this, the child will improve his ability to walk, balance and prevent further deformity. Surgery can also be performed to relieve spasticity in the legs and hips of patients by identifying the sensory nerve fibers behind the spinal cord and selectively cutting it.

Many times surgeries are not recommended, but there are instances when it has to be used so that the child can achieve his optimal level of functioning. Hence, cerebral palsy training with the help of exercises and therapies should be included in the child's day to day activities to reduce the chances of opting for a surgery.








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2012年1月23日 星期一

Children With Autism - Recognizing the Signs


1. What is autism?

Autism is considered a spectrum disorder because symptoms and severity vary from individual to individual. Autistic children express differently from each other. Autism is characterized by failure of the child to develop communicative language or form proper social communication. But they show motor and other skills far beyond that of a mentally retarded child.

Autism is characterized by varying degrees of impairment to develop communicative language or form proper social communication. Some of them are obsessively pre occupied with inanimate objects such as lights, running water or spinning objects, and also by repetitive behaviors. Symptoms range from mild to severe. Some of them gradually develop extreme talents such as in mathematics and these are retained mostly throughout the life. Studies of people with autism have found abnormalities in several regions of the brain which suggest that autism results from a disruption of early fetal brain development

There is a milder form of the disorder known as Asperger's Syndrome. Other developmental disorders that fall under the Autism Spectrum Disorders are Rett's Syndrome, PDD-NOS (Pervasive Developmental Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified), and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. If you have concerns about your child's development, don't wait: speak to your doctor about getting your child screened for autism.

2. What is meant by "On the spectrum"?

Autism is considered a spectrum disorder because symptoms and severity vary from individual to individual. Though the Autistic children show similar traits they are individual and express differently from each other. one child may have not developed speech and have difficulty in learning how to read and write, where as another child can easily read and write and can be attending normal school. Some children may display hypersensitivity to touch noise and other may have no sensory issues at all.

3. How common is autism?

According to the survey by Centers for Disease Control, autism affects as many as 1 in every 100 children and it is rising by 10-15% every year. It is the most prevalent developmental disorder in today's time. Boys are more susceptible than girls to develop Autism but it is seen that girls manifest a more severe form of the disorder that the boys.

4. How do I know my child is Autistic?

No two children with autism are alike, each one managing a different set of symptoms. But there are some signs and symptoms that are common and may be recognized as early as the toddler years, or even sooner. They usually do not have or do not sustain eye contact and have trouble communicating with other people or they may communicate in ways that others cannot easily understand. They may hardly speak and even if they speak it's just babbling and not coherent. They're also prone to repetitive behaviors like flapping their hands constantly or uttering the same phrase over and over again. They may also be over sensitive to sights, sounds and touch.

Criteria for Autism

A total Of 6 or more items of the following with at least 2 from [1], and one each from [2] and [3] are satisfied by the patient:

[1] Qualitative impairment in social interaction:

Marked impairment in facial expression

Failure to develop peer relationships

A lack of spontaneity in sharing interests

Lack of social or emotional reciprocity

[2] Qualitative impairment in communication:

Marked inability to initiate or sustain conversation with others.

[3] Restricted, repetitive and stereotyped pattern of behavior

Encompassing preoccupation with one stereotyped and restricted pattern.

5. How did my child develop autism?

No one is yet able to point to a probable cause. Though a disorder as common as autism would have a known cause, in many ways it's still quite mysteriously not known. Recent studies have suggested a strong genetic basis for autism. There are about 20 sets of genes that may play a part in the development of autism. Genes are not the only one responsible for all the cases; there are other triggers which are yet not discovered.

6. Does vaccination cause autism?

Many studies have been conducted to determine if a link exists between vaccination and increased prevalence of autism, with particular attention to the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and those containing thimerosal. These studies have not found a link between vaccines and autism It remains possible that, in cases, immunization might trigger the onset of autism symptoms in a child with an underlying medical or genetic condition.

As this is a sensitive topic it is best to discuss it with your healthcare provider who will guide you and ensure the optimal well-being of the child. Establishing open communication and trust with a physician who understands each child and his or her family is the best strategy for keeping a child healthy.

7. What help my child needs if He/She is Autistic?

Do not Panic first understand and learn about Autism from the right source that can be your doctor. You will need a good team of doctors, therapists, psychologists and teachers who understand and have experience with autism and can respond to his needs appropriately. Your healthcare provider can guide you toward various intervention programs and suggest complementary therapies. It also helps to associate with the existing network of parents facing the same challenges as you.

8. How to I deal with the diagnosis of Autism?

It is difficult to come to terms with the diagnosis that your child is having Autism but there is always a brighter side to every adversity. As we know the Autistic children have some special capabilities which the normal kids may not process. For e.g. some of the children we saw one was having an extraordinary power to memorize things only after reading once, one of them was brilliant in drawing and another in playing musical instrument. So do not blame your self or feel sad or hopeless. Take the right steps understand the disorder and if take care from your healthcare provider who will guide you with the exact nature of the disorder and how to deal with it. Keep the faith.

9. What therapies do I need for my child with Autism?

There are various therapies that are useful some of them are -

• Speech Language Therapy (SLT)

• Occupational Therapy (OT)

• Sensory Integration

• Physical Therapy (PT)

• Social Skills

• Picture Exchange Communication system

• Auditory Integration Therapy

10. What role Homeopathy plays in Autism?

Homeopathy is a holistic treatment and it plays a vital role in treatment of Autistic children. With the Constitutional Homeopathic treatment we can achieve increased level of concentration, decrease in hyperactivity and channeling of the energy in a constructive method. Homeopathic remedies act at the level of the Psycho Neuro endocrinal axis. Homeopathic treatment is safe and without side effects.

11. Can Autistic children become independent?

Yes Autistic children can become independent with the right intervention programs, therapy and proper care from the early stages once the child is detected with Autism. A sustained effort is needed to achieve the desired outcome from therapy and treatment. As Autistic children are having special capabilities which when nurtured properly can be a great asset in making the individual independent.




Dr Santosh Joshi graduated from the University of Pune India in the year 1999-2000.
With a firm grounding in classical homeopathy and the experience achieved by working with senior Homeopaths. He was an active participant in the seminars organized in Pune during his college years. He has also given case presentation on Homeopathy.He practices Homeopathy in the city of Mumbai India and he treats his global patients via the Online treatment procedure.

You can call him on: +919819155780
Email: tosh116@gmail.com

For more details visit us at: http://www.homeopathyclassical.blogspot.com





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Autism Centers


Autism, which affects 1 out of 1000 individuals, is a neural development disorder. Females are 4 times less likely to have it than males. Symptoms typically include a lack of socialization, repetitive or compulsive behaviors, and inadequate communication skills. Information is processed between nerve cells and their synapses incorrectly. This leaves the individual with an emotional gap. Why it happens is unclear, but it is believed to be genetically linked. Learning, play, and work are all challenging for an autistic person. That's where autism centers come in, which specialize in giving kids with the disorder a way to overcome it.

The lives of the surrounding family are affected as well as the person with the disorder. As early as infancy the first signs show up, such as not smiling often, failing to make eye contact, and remaining unresponsive to their name. People with autism are usually intelligent, and certain skills, for example perception and memorization, are keener than the average person. They tend to lean towards introversion, which makes having relationships hard. The parents of children with autism have higher stress levels than other parents with ordinary children. In their childhood, siblings seem to fight less. But there is a greater disconnection between them in adulthood. A friendship is very difficult to keep.

Families rely on autism centers to help the autistic member live a regular life. The predictable schedule offered by these schools is a key in treatment, along with constantly reinforcing behavior and teaching steps simply. Therapy must not stop at the school. Involvement by the parents is critical to a child's success. The more they are engaged in helping and teaching the better. It's important to keep up the training at home.

Sometimes classes contain only students with the disorder or mix in students with no disabilities. To develop coordination, they usually start with some kind of physical activity. Then, activities or crafts that help with motor skills are performed. Using language properly, expressing feelings, and social interaction are all focuses during a typical day as well. Teachers and behavior therapists work together with the kids.

Programs practiced in the centers can differ. Treatment and Education of Autistic and Communication related handicapped Children (TEACCH) is based on evaluating behavior, supporting parents, socialization, counseling, and can seek employment when the student is grown. Sensory integration therapy has to do with behavior being affected by a person's environment. It helps stimulate the senses so autistic kids can get a better feel for what is going on around them while they work with a therapist. One of the most effective treatments is the Applied Behavior Analysis program, or ABA. It was designed to be a scientific process, not a specific autism treatment.

7 principles of behavior make up the ABA program. They can be applied to social behavior in order to improve it. How one thinks or feels helps make up behavior. Emotions are what autistic people struggle with, and that may be why they lash out. A behavior that needs changing is picked and an intervention on that behavior gets applied. This is the first principle, also detailing how the behavior may affect the individual and those surrounding them as it changes. The second principle focuses on making sure the behavior is changed permanently. The third principle analyzes the behavior when it has changed. An intervention may be stopped after any changes are documented just to see if the behavior will change back.

The technical approach is the fourth principle, where a complete notation of the study is recorded and could obtain the same results if repeated. The conceptually systematic approach is the fifth principle, stating that both the process and the how the results are interpreted must be definitively traced back to the initial intervention and behavior. The effective approach is the sixth principle, which verifies that all techniques used really do work. The general approach is the last principle, ensuring that the behavior will not change back after time, a different environment, or the cease of the intervention are applied.

Autism centers deserve a lot of credit in diminishing the effects of the disorder. They are places where the children that attend feel normal and can make friends with those struggling similarly. Parents receive special training and emotional support, being able to meet other people that understand with what they are dealing on a regular basis. They are places where people that care want nothing more than to see the children succeed. Patience and a helping hand make all the difference in these families lives.




Mark Bree writes articles The New Jersey Center For Autism, a NJ Autism resource that specializes in the ABA program. Their website is http://www.njautismcenter.org





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