Autism is neurological brain disorder which develops in infancy and continues till adulthood. The sings of autism are obvious by the age of three leading to poor communication skills and also poor social interactivity. Some autistic children have high functioning autism while some have low functioning autism. Depending on the functioning level the parents can chose therapies and educational program to modify the behavior of the child.
Medications
There has been no permanent cure for autism till date but there are some medicines available which can improve the behavior problem of the autistic child.
Serotonin helps to treat patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression and also anxiety. Many autistic people use this medicine as per research. Some medicines like Lenox, Prozac and Anafranil have the ability to reverse behavior problem like repetitive behavior, irritability and aggressiveness. Studies also say that these medicines improve the eye to eye contact and also enhance social interaction. The doctor for the other signs of the autistic child prescribes another drug Ritalin. As the autistic children are highly sensitive to medicines the dosages very from person to person and any side effects noticed should be immediately reported to the doctor.
Vitamins
Different types of vitamins improve the different aspects of the autistic child. Studies say that Vitamin C helps to reduce the acuteness of the signs and symptoms whereas Vitamin B and magnesium improves the eye contact and also helps the child to pay attention. Experts feel that improper absorption of the nutrients play an important role in the severity of the autistic condition of the child. The childs doctor can determine the exact vitamin needed for your child after evaluation.
Diet
Autistic persons have sensitivity to certain foods. Weaning of those foods brings a clear change in their behavior. Studies say that some autistic people have problem in breaking the amino acids of food which have gluten and casein found in diary products. Some have sensitivity to oats, wheat and rye. Avoiding such foods shows decrease in autistic symptoms.
Behavior
Applied Behavior Analysis helps to treat the behavior problem in autism. This helps in treating the variety of autistic behavior like the communication skills and other behavior problems with a variety of therapies. The aim of this theory is rewarding the good behavior and punishing the bad one.
The entire behavior modification program depends on the learning ability of the autistic child. A visually inclined childs program is designed in such a way that the child benefits the maximum from it.
The above mentioned are a few treatments and therapies available to treat autism. As every autistic child is unique so choose a program that suits the child according to his/her learning ability. A program benefiting one autistic child need not benefit another. So take the help of you doctor before choosing the program. He can assess the child and advise the right therapy or program to improve the behavior problem of the autistic child.
There is a variety of response from the society for autistic people just like the people with mental and physical disability. Some give full assistance while others totally ignore them. Even the caregivers, co-workers, family members who encourage and help the autistic are not fully aware of the autism in detail. So their way of handling becomes typecast which results in disgusted and other miserable conditions, Thus it is better to gain complete knowledge about autism so that handling autistic children will be easier and you can also help the other in the society.
Each and every autistic person is unique. There are sets of patterns for other types of diseases and impairments. But autism is an intricate brain disorder which has different response from different persons. There are two types of functioning levels in autism the high functioning people and the low functioning people. The high functioning people can grow up as individuals and can also pursue jobs whereas low functioning autistic people need support throughout their life. The signs of autism like impairment of speech and communication skills and other behavioral problems are present in low functioning people while high functioning people have control over their behavior through behavior modification therapies and sometimes never look like autistic people at all.
There can never an overall opinion about autism as every autistic person is unique. But the most common is the impairment in the communication skill. Although they cannot communicate they have a strong sense of feeling. Some autistic people fall in love and also get married. These relationships are very tough to be made but can be achieved with time and training.
Some autistic people exhibit exceptional qualities and function unusually. They excel in music, arts and also in math. Films portray autistic people as talented heroes but in real life such things do not happen. So it is better not expect too much from an autistic person. They behave according to their functioning level.
Never confuse autism with mental retardation but some autistic children turn out also as mentally retarded. So treat autistic people according to their disability.
Finally studies on autism say that patience and open-mindedness are the most vital message imparted to us. When one gains complete knowledge on the subject of autism his awareness on autism is better making them to handle an autistic person with more patience and skill. Take one more step to extend the knowledge to the community and society who can have a better approach to autism.
Autism is a complicated brain disorder which results in impairment of communication, social and cognitive skills. An Austrian psychiatrist created many debatable outlooks about autism in the 40s. Autistic people cannot be determined with the regular symptoms and signs. The signs vary from person to person depending on the levels and severity of the condition.
The method of analysis started by a scientist called Rutter and many other scientists are adequate to detect different types of autism. Some children have only some traits of autism and otherwise appear normal. So the debate is on whether to classify these children as autistic or not and thus came the borderline concept of autism. The patients of borderline autism indicate only some signs of Kanners syndrome through their abnormality. In olden days such borderline cases were identified as patients of psychosis or schizophrenia
The Aspergers syndrome and the Kanners syndrome show the same characteristics of autism. Persons who do not have the clear traits of autism but have certain abnormalities of autism come under the Aspergers syndrome. There is a controversy between the researchers that mild form of autism is determined as Aspegers syndrome whereas some deny it. People who do not fir under the clear features of autism where labeled borderline autism as per Asperger. It was very difficult to draw the line between the autistic people and the border line due to some common features.
When Aspergers theories were accepted children with mild autism came under Aspergers syndrome. Children considered suffering from Aspergers syndrome responded to external stimulus and also had high functioning level with good IQ and good communication skills. In contrast to the autistic children who hardly develop skills, the children under Aspergers syndrome when intervened show great progress in the early childhood itself. Proper medical treatments and behavior modifications can enhance the behavior and communication skills in the children with Aspergers syndrome.
With the progress in medical science patients detected with Aspergers syndrome are efficiently with therapies making them live their life on their own and become a part of the society. They are also very responsible and socially alert and do not show any signs of the neurological disorder.
When the parents have doubt about the behavior of their child being abnormal then they should cautious and probe into the matter and find out if their child is autistic. The indications are very obvious by the time the child is 12 months and early detection helps intervention which can modify the behavior of the child to a great extent. At times the symptoms of autism are very clear at the time of birth as the child does not respond to any action by their mother or caregiver.
Autism impairs the social and communication skills so it is better to intervene at the earliest. Autistic children have delayed milestones when compared to normal children. Autism also makes the child weak and they are prone to illness like insufficient respiratory, allergies and also digestive problems.
The abilities, behavior and the skills are unusual when compared to normal children. The development of their personality depends on the circumstances. An infant shows very little traits of autism as they are very faint but the parents can spot some abnormal behavior or the other as the child grows.
Parents are mostly unaware of the problem and can never make out what their child abnormal from other children. But it is better to be cautious and an early intervention always helps the autistic to respond better through therapies like behavior modifications.
One of the types of autism is the regressive autism. In this the children appear normal till a certain period of childhood and the symptoms of autism appear all of a sudden. They withdraw from the social interaction and also at the communicative level.
Symptoms of autism seen in early childhood are:
1. They do not respond to their name when called and choosy reaction to sounds of same decibel
2. Lack of concentration and do not follow the moves of the parents or caregiver.
3. Lack of replication when smiled or hands waved or making faces by the parents.
4. They cannot relate to people and also cannot understand their feelings as their skills are not clear or definite.
5. Lack of imagination or creativity like normal children and do not show interest in games with children.
Thus it is very important that parents make a note of all these abnormal behavior at the earliest. When autism is spotted in the child the parents should take the necessary steps immediately and modify the behavior problem helping the child to improve in communicative and social skills.
With the increase of autistic children the treatments and educational therapies have also increased manifold. Parents should involve their children according to the learning skill of the child. As there is a lot of awareness in the parents of autistic children they have more scope and idea to choose from. But the task of finding out and deciding the right treatment and education for the child is a big duty on the part of the parents.
When the parents find out that their child is autistic many questions probe into their mind as how the child can be educated. Every autistic child is unique, so each child should be treated and educated according to their learning ability
Autism has a variety of disorders like repetitive behaviors, poor communication and social interaction. Autistic children also have poor sensory stimulus, poor imagination and creativity, difficulty in forming relationships and most of them prefer to stay aloof.
An early intervention help the autistic to get the behavior problem modified with the help of speech therapists, occupational therapists, social skill training, adapted physical education and other applied behavior. Although most of the therapies are available in the local school, parents choose private therapists for their children.
Federal law allows children aged three years of age to join the special education classes. The facility is available for both general education and special education classes. Some parents enroll their children in general education and provide support for their special requirements whereas autistic children are usually educated in special education classes. A special education teacher instructs these special education classes, specially planned to suit the disabled children. The other services available for the autistic children are speech therapists, school nurses, school psychologists, physical and occupational therapists and also behavior modification therapists. Summer school for special day students and also community based training for older children are also available. The selection of the service depends on the ability of the child. An autistic child who has problem in speech and communication need to concentrate on speech and language development. An autistic child with Aspergers disability can also avail the services according to the level of his /her intelligence.
The services keep changing according to the priod of time and need. It is the responsibility of the parent to look in to the matter at the earliest and provide the necessary service for the child according to its learning ability. Studies say that one out of every 166 children is autistic and awareness in the society can provide a ray of hope for these children.
It is extremely distressing to find that your child is an autistic person and time is the essence. As a parent you are totally unaware of why and how autism has affected your child. You can only think of what to do next. The only consideration is that you are not alone and that you are sailing on the same boat as other autistic persons. By researching the disorder you can help your child while coping with your emotional response.
Contact the National Autism Society of America and join the support group for parents with autism. You can find local branches offering support groups for parents and families with an autistic child. Interaction with other parents in similar situation will make you feel less alone and give you myriad of resources.
The support group will direct you to the best of doctors, invention programs, and work shops for both the child and the family. Many parents must remember that there are others who should learn to live and communicate with an autistic child. A support group for other children helps them from acting out or acting against the autistic child by touching them about the illness. Create a supportive environment for the whole family to manage the child’s illness properly.
If married, go for marriage counseling as an autistic child is a serious strain on marriage and escalates arguments. It leads to the neglect of each other and blaming for the situation. Marriage counseling helps the couple through this rough transition and helps build a supportive environment for your children. Marriage should not be a disaster and end in divorce or separation because of the autistic child. Sadly, this is the case among many couples. One another must be used for support.
Try to become an expert. The so called pediatricians and psychiatrists are not experts on autism. Their diagnosis may be improper and incorrect in treatment options. Know everything about autism, and be a great resource as a parent. This organization offers training and work shops. The news letter of ASA offers a variety of information from diagnosing to treatment. The support group of parents with autistic children supplies books and research on the reality of the situation. Educate yourself and others to offer the best and beneficial things for you child – love and guidance.
Sounds being a part and parcel of our day to day life, we should learn to control it especially in a learning environment while dealing with an autistic child with sensory problems. Sound can be both a blessing and bane for an autistic child. As every autistic child is different from the other, you should keenly observe what type of reactions are produced by each individual under auditory sensory stimulation.
Frightening and loud sounds of our routine daily activities hurt the growth process and are the most difficult type of sensory stimulation in an autistic child. You can never teach an autistic child by threatening or frightening. Even during toilet training the child may be scared by the sound of toilet flushing which can be over powering. You can try a potty seat a little away from the actual toilet till they are accustomed to it. Another illustration is the local and crunchy foods.
Find out if the autistic child is a picky eater and observe specifically which food he or she blatantly refuses to eat. Loud sounds of food in the mouth while crunching can hurt the ears of the autistic child. The remedy for your autistic child will be to give alternative soft foods in the place of crunchy carrots, apples or potato chips. The loud sound of the vacuum cleaner can also hurt the ears of the autistic child. If necessary carry out these activities while the child is not in the room or provide ear plugs for the use of the child when the surroundings grow too loud.
Sounds can also cause fixation. A few children always hum and appear fixated on the sights and sounds of lawn mowers. You can use this fixation for their benefit by reading stories of lawn mowers and using the humming along with a song. Music teaches the autistic child in a great way as sound is a form of nonverbal communication. Parents and teachers should definitely use this tool in a learning environment. See particularly that sound works for you and your child. You can surely and beneficially help the child by catering to his specific requirements since autism is a difficult disorder to cope with. You can thus enable the autistic child learn to manage the sounds of every day existence.
Hopeful parents are under the illusion that autism can be cued or controlled if only its origin is traced. But unfortunately, in spite of their best efforts, scientist, have not discovered a single reason for autism in children. It is quite likely that in distant future autism may be linked to a specific gene abnormality. The source for autism is not a single fact or but many in a child’s world. As autism never be cured or prevented we can at best help autistic children and adults by understanding them properly and compromise to make the world comfortable for them and ourselves.
There are a few things that do not cause autism like bad parenting. Such thoughts are only a myth. Mothers also were blamed, in the past, for traumatizing their children with cold parenting methods which was thought to lead to autism. This is also a myth and false. Malnutrition is also not a cause for autism though food allergies occur in many autistic children. A few of them derive benefit by taking daily vitamins.
Autism and brain interlinked and in autistic children the brain is larger and “wired” different by than a typical brain. Differences take place in many parts of the brain and we cannot target one specific malfunction but rather a general brain malfunction. Autistic children exhibit immune deficiency also. Though evidence for this is weak, research is on.
Many autistic persons have problems due to immune deficiency which may be genetic. Autism is not the fault of the parent but was found some where on the family tree and parent had to raise more than one autistic child. Autism is also linked to vaccinations but the link is under study. The benefits of vaccination more than compensate the risk of autism. Don’t deprive the child of vaccination out of fear. Take the advice of the doctor.
The cause of autism is steeped in mystery. As we cannot cure or prevent it we can best treat these people with tolerance and understanding. More and more knowledge about autism will help. The more you know the better you can help the autistic person. Autism is a very complex problem and better options will be available for treatment as researcher develops new knowledge of how it affects the body. Let us hope that on some day we can cure this complex and complicated disorder.
Of the many symptoms the autistic child experiences the most frustrating and incomprehensible one is the latest theory of mind. It is still a mystery even after a few decades of intense discussion and studies. These theories of mind problems make social interactions more strenuous for autistic persons.
Social behavior difficulties are mainly because of theory of mind from play groups as children to the social world as adults. According to the theory of mind autistic people do not recognize that other people in the world have different point of view. Though not egocentric the autistic person inherently assumes that all others think, feel and know the very things that he feels, thinks and knows. Most autistic people cannot lie which though a good quality is unnatural. They don’t consider lying as an option as they assume that everyone knows the truth as they know it.
Since these people do not lie they assume that all others also do not speak untruth. It is rude shocks to them find people speak untruth and be bad. In the business world, especially this is unnerving when first experienced, and many autistic people cannot cope with it. They cannot put themselves in other’s shoes. Though this can be taught, unfortunately it is a very difficult process for the autistic persons to remember to do.
Theory of mind makes it difficult for children even to play games with other children who require keeping a secret. They should be asked to share and release aggression in harmless ways. Frustration of some autistic person may arise because he is unable to understand why there is no “correct” reaction. They also do not understand why people don’t know certain facts. If they know it every one should know it – that is their feelings.
Theory of mind should still be studies for better understanding and treatment of autism. At present continuous social inter action is the best method along with role playing and othr games to enable autistic children to se things in many angles. Before finding a better answer to theory of mind problems it is best to be patient with autistic persons and be ready to explain your thought process to them.
It is with a sense of great shock and disbelief that you hear of autism affecting your child. You are even ready to seek a second, third or fourth opinion as autism is so different in every child and a tricky disorder to diagnose. There are, however, a few key ways to diagnose autism efficiently and identify it in children. If the infant or toddler is showing any symptoms of autism, consult the pediatrician immediately to express your anxiety.
Occurring at a young age, rather than during the adult period, autism is detected before the age of three or many times much earlier. Delays or egression in speech communication constitute the first signs of autism. Another early symptom is abnormal behavior in group play and other social situations. Autism is diagnosed first through physical examination and a review of family history by a specialist. Though the regular pediatrician can spot unusual behavior, the child should be examined by a specialist in autism and other similar disorders for proper and correct diagnosis.
Hearing test is the second next test as language and social skill delays may be due to inadequate auditory sensations. One type of auditory test records he tones the child can hear. The other test needs sedation and measures the brains response to certain tones. The first test is preferred to the second as it does not require sedation. Soon after auditory testing the doctor may subject your child to test for fragile X syndrome which goes hand in hand with autism. Evaluation of metabolism may be necessary. For this the doctor requires the child’s blood or urine samples to analyze DNA.
An MRI or CAT scan can help diagnosis of autism. Work with trusted doctors. Take second opinion for help. Once the child is diagnosed for autism, stick to the same doctor for uniform treatment, and familiarity with the person. Autism is difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to treat. So you should learn as much as possible about the disease as soon as the doctor identifies the disease. Detection of autism quite early gives your child a better chance at transforming itself into a high functional individual with many more opportunities in life.
