Autism

Few people are aware that April is Autism Awareness Month. This month I have decided to take the time and learn a little bit more about this disorder that affects 1 in 150 children.

A couple of months ago I received a twenty minute video about a 17 year old guy named Jack. Jack has asperger syndrom, which is one of the autism spectrum disorders. The video is twenty minutes of a 17 year old spiking through a range of emotions, swearing at him mother when asked is he ate and then laughing hysterically. The most interesting thing in the video is Jack’s observations on seemingly irrelevant things, which is a symptom of asberger. For instance, in the video Jack mentions that the word “Pie” actually sounds like a pie or a fattening food. He also has a fascination with socks.

This video opened my eyes to the everyday dealing of person with autism and autism related disorders and how their families cope with the illness.I found a great article on The New York Times website that explains autism, symptoms and treatment. I pasted the article in this blog because after I read this article I felt I had a better understanding of what autism is. Also, I can’t say it better than the NY Times.

Autism is a physical condition linked to abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain. The exact causes of these abnormalities remain unknown, but this is a very active area of research. There are probably a combination of factors that lead to autism.

Genetic factors seem to be important. For example, identical twins are much more likely than fraternal twins or siblings to both have autism. Similarly, language abnormalities are more common in relatives of autistic children. Chromosomal abnormalities and other neurological problems are also more common in families with autism.

A number of other possible causes have been suspected, but not proven. They involve digestive tract changes, diet, mercury poisoning, vaccine sensitivity, and the body’s inefficient use of vitamins and minerals.

The exact number of children with autism is not known. A report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that autism and related disorders are more common than previously thought, although it is unclear if this is due to an increasing rate of the illness or an increased ability to diagnose the illness.

Autism affects boys 3 to 4 times more often than girls. Family income, education, and lifestyle do not seem to affect the risk of autism.

Some parents have heard that the MMR vaccine that children receive may cause autism. This theory was based, in part, on two facts. First, the incidence of autism has increased steadily since around the same time the MMR vaccine was introduced. Second, children with the regressive form of autism (a type of autism that develops after a period of normal development) tend to start to show symptoms around the time the MMR vaccine is given. This is likely a coincidence due to the age of children at the time they receive this vaccine.

Several major studies have found NO connection between the vaccine and autism, however. The American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention report that there is no proven link between autism and the MMR vaccine.

Some doctors attribute the increased incidence in autism to newer definitions of autism. The term “autism” now includes a wider spectrum of children. For example, a child who is diagnosed with high-functioning autism today may have been thought to simply be odd or strange 30 years ago.

Symptoms

Most parents of autistic children suspect that something is wrong by the time the child is 18 months old and seek help by the time the child is 2. Children with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, social interactions, and pretend play. In some, aggression — toward others or self — may be present.

Some children with autism appear normal before age 1 or 2 and then suddenly “regress” and lose language or social skills they had previously gained. This is called the regressive type of autism.

People with autism may perform repeated body movements, show unusual attachments to objects or have unusual distress when routines are changed. Individuals may also experience sensitivities in the senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste. Such children, for example, will refuse to wear “itchy” clothes and become unduly distressed if forced because of the sensitivity of their skin. Some combination of the following areas may be affected in varying degrees.

Communication:

* Lack of pointing to direct others’ attention to objects (occurs in the first 14 months of life)
* Does not adjust gaze to look at objects that others are looking at
* Cannot start or sustain a social conversation
* Develops language slowly or not at all
* Repeats words or memorized passages, such as commercials
* Does not refer to self correctly (for example, says “you want water” when the child means “I want water”)
* Uses nonsense rhyming
* Communicates with gestures instead of words

Social interaction:

* Shows a lack of empathy
* Does not make friends
* Is withdrawn
* Prefers to spend time alone, rather than with others
* May not respond to eye contact or smiles
* May actually avoid eye contact
* May treat others as if they are objects
* Does not play interactive games

Response to sensory information:

* Has heightened or low senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, or taste
* Seems to have a heightened or low response to pain
* May withdraw from physical contact because it is over-stimulating or overwhelming
* Does not startle at loud noises
* May find normal noises painful and hold hands over ears
* Rubs surfaces, mouths or licks objects

Play:

* Shows little pretend or imaginative play
* Doesn’t imitate the actions of others
* Prefers solitary or ritualistic play

Behaviors:

* Has a short attention span
* Uses repetitive body movements
* Shows a strong need for sameness
* “Acts up” with intense tantrums
* Has very narrow interests
* Demonstrates perseveration (gets stuck on a single topic or task)
* Shows aggression to others or self
* Is overactive or very passive

Back to TopSigns and Tests

All children should have routine developmental exams by their pediatrician. Further testing may be needed if there is concern on the part of the clinician or the parents. This is particularly true whenever a child fails to meet any of the following language milestones:

* Babbling by 12 months
* Gesturing (pointing, waving bye-bye) by 12 months
* Single words by 16 months
* Two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months (not just echoing)
* Loss of any language or social skills at any age.

These children might receive a hearing evaluation, a blood lead test, and a screening test for autism (such as the Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) or the Autism Screening Questionnaire).

A health care provider experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of autism is usually necessary for the actual diagnosis. Because there is no biological test for autism, the diagnosis will often be based on very specific criteria laid out in a book called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV.

The other pervasive developmental disorders include:

* Asperger syndrome (like autism, but with normal language development)
* Rett syndrome (very different from autism, and only occurs in females)
* Childhood disintegrative disorder (rare condition where a child acquires skills, then loses them by age 10)
* Pervasive developmental disorder – not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), also called atypical autism.

An evaluation of autism will often include a complete physical and neurologic examination. It may also include a specific diagnostic screening tool, such as:

* Autism Diagnostic Interview – Revised (ADI-R)
* Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS)
* Childhood Autism rating Scale (CARS)
* Gilliam Autism Rating Scale
* Pervasive Developmental Disorders Screening Test-Stage 3

Children with known or suspected autism will often have genetic testing (looking for chromosome abnormalities) and perhaps metabolic testing.

Autism encompasses a broad spectrum of symptoms. Therefore, a single, brief evaluation cannot predict a child’s true abilities. Ideally, a team of different specialists will evaluate the child. They might evaluate speech, language, communication, thinking abilities, motor skills, success at school, and other factors.

Sometimes people are reluctant to have a child diagnosed because of concerns about labeling the child. However, failure to make a diagnosis can lead to failure to get the treatment and services the child needs.
Back to TopTreatment

An early, intensive, appropriate treatment program will greatly improve the outlook for most young children with autism. Most programs will build on the interests of the child in a highly structured schedule of constructive activities. Visual aids are often helpful.

Treatment is most successful when geared toward the child’s particular needs. An experienced specialist or team should design the individualized program. A variety of effective therapies are available, including applied behavior analysis (ABA), speech-language therapy, medications, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Sensory integration and vision therapy are also common, but there is little research supporting their effectiveness. The best treatment plan may use a combination of techniques.

APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS (ABA)

This program is for younger children with an autism spectrum disorder. It highly effective in many cases. ABA uses a one-on-one teaching approach that relies on reinforced practice of various skills. The goal is to get the child close to typical developmental functioning.

ABA programs are usually conducted within a child’s home, under the supervision of a behavioral psychologist. Unfortunately, these programs can be very expensive and have not been widely adopted by school systems. Parents often must seek funding and staffing from other sources, which can be hard to find in many communities.

TEACCH

Another program is called the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH). TEACCH, developed as a statewide program in North Carolina, uses picture schedules and other visual cues. These help the child work independently and to organize and structure their environments. Though TEACCH tries to enhance a child’s adaptation and skills, there is also an acceptance of the deficits associated with autism spectrum disorders. In contrast to ABA programs, TEACCH programs do not anticipate that children will achieve typical developmental progress in response to the treatment.

MEDICINE

Medicines are often used to treat behavior or emotional problems that people with autism may have. These include hyperactivity, impulsiveness, attention problems, irritability, mood swings, outbursts, tantrums, aggression, extreme compulsions that the child finds it impossible to suppress, sleep difficulty, and anxiety. Currently, only risperidone is approved for treatment of children ages 5-16 with irritability and aggression associated with autism.

DIET

Some children with autism appear to respond to a gluten-free or a casein-free diet. Gluten is found in foods containing wheat, rye, and barley. Casein is found in milk, cheese, and other dairy products. Not all experts agree that dietary changes will make a difference, and not all reports studying this method have shown positive results.

If considering these or other dietary changes, seek guidance from both a gastroenterologist (doctor who specializes in the digestive system) and a registered dietitian. You want to be sure that the child is still receiving adequate calories, nutrients, and a balanced diet.

OTHER APPROACHES

Beware that there are widely publicized treatments for autism that do not have scientific support, and reports of “miracle cures” that do not live up to expectations. If your child has autism, it may be helpful to talk with other parents of children with autism, talk with autism specialists, and follow the progress of research in this area, which is rapidly developing.

At one time, there was enormous excitement about using secretin infusions. Now, after many studies have been conducted in many laboratories, it’s possible that secretin is not effective after all, but research is ongoing.
Back to TopSupport Groups

For organizations that can provide additional information and help on autism, see autism resources.
Back to TopExpectations (prognosis)

Autism remains a challenging condition for individuals and their families, but the outlook today is much better than it was a generation ago. At that time, most people with autism were placed in institutions. Today, with appropriate therapy, many of the symptoms of autism can be improved, though most people will have some symptoms throughout their lives. Most people with autism are able to live with their families or in the community.

The outlook depends on the severity of the autism and the level of therapy the individual receives.
Complications

Autism can be associated with other disorders that affect the brain, such as tuberous sclerosis, mental retardation, or fragile X syndrome. Some people with autism will develop seizures.

The stresses of dealing with autism can lead to social and emotional complications for family and caregivers, as well as the person with autism.

Clean Water

When it comes to water the hardest thing we have to do is decide between Smart or Fiji, sparkling or still. A bottle with a sports top or twist top. We have no idea what it would be like to go thirsty or die of dehydration.

This is not the reality for 1.1 billion people in the World today. People have to walk miles to collect water for their families, the water is dirty and full of disease. It is the sad reality of many developing countries.

Luckily, for some of those 1.1 billion people Scott Harris founded charity:water. A charity devoted to bring clean water to third countries around the World. The organization sells twenty dollar bottles of water, with all the proceeds going to a fund that build wells in developing countries.  Clean water improves health, hygiene and overall quality of life. Having water accessible saves families time allowing mothers to work and children to get an education.  

Check out charity:water’s new video starring Jennifer Connelly  and directed by Terry George (director of Hotel Rwanda).

The video is great because it takes a situation happening in African villages everyday and brings it home. It shows what we would have to go through each day, what our children would drink if we didn’t have clean water in our taps, fridges and shelves. 

This year the World Health Organization dedicated World Health Day to “Protecting Health from Climate Changes”. As the climate changes due to an increase in greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere our water supply is affected. While most developed countries don’t notice, the countries who get their water from rivers and streams do notice. Flooding, sporadic rainfall and drought all affect the water supply and the spread of water born viruses.

Water is a necessity of life, H2O is used in nearly all of humans cellular functions. It’s great to see an organization be so successful in bringing water to those who need it most. You go charity : water!

 

 

 

Ad Council

The Ad Council is known for their ground breaking advertising for non profit organizations and good causes. Recently, I came across their campaign to encourage “Life Long Literacy“. The television ads are visually stunning and among the best television commercials I have seen in a long time.

This one is my favorite videos called “OZ”

Volunteer Trips

Spring break is a popular ritual for college students around the country. Students flock to places like Mexico, Florida and Lake Havasu to get away from books, homework and professors. Spring break is often associated with parties, drinking and crazy college antics. However, more and more college students are opting for a very different kind of spring break.

Alternative Spring Break Trips are vacations for students who want to do service work. The trips are set up by non profit organizations, colleges, universities, charities and religious organizations. Students either work in large or small groups do anything from tutor children, build schools or help the homeless.

Choice Humanitarian is a non profit organization that sets up trips for students and families all over the world. Check out a video about Choice Humanitarian’s work in an African village on GoodTube. The volunteers dig ditches, build schools and play with African school children. All in all the trip is a win win situation for all involved.

Ascend is another organization that connects volunteers with humanitarian vacations. Ascend’s primary focus is helping impoverished people ascend from poverty. Volunteers travel to the poorest regions in the world to help people learn skills to be self sufficient.

The following are tips from of an article from Suit 101.com entitled “Alternative Spring Break Tips” by Naomi Rockler-Gladen. It is helpful for students or parents who are interested in finding out more about Alternative Spring Breaks.

” Where do I find out about Alternative Spring Break Trips? Many colleges and universities now organize Alternative Spring Breaks for their students. Contact your school’s Office of Community Service (or similarly named office). You may also look into Alternative Spring Break programs at nearby colleges. Many colleges and universities organize trips with the help of Break Away, an organization that has been very active in the Alternative Spring Break movement since 1991. Check out their website to see if your school is affiliated with Break Away, and to see if there’s a link on their site to your school’s Alternative Spring Break Program.

What kinds of activities do students participate in? All kinds of things. Some of the volunteer work involves manual labor, such as building houses and schools and clearing away debris from storm-torn areas. Habitat for Humanity, an organization that builds homes for families, offers a Collegiate Challenge for groups of five or more students to get involved. Other work involves tutoring children, working with the elderly and hospital patients, teaching English to immigrants, or registering voters in rural areas. Do some research to find an activity that you find meaningful and feel comfortable with.

Do these trips cost money? Most of these trips do come with fees, which vary greatly. Does it sound odd that you’re expected to pay to help people? Maybe. But charitable organizations don’t have the money to pay for the expenses of thousands of volunteers, so the fees are necessary. If money’s tight, do some research for inexpensive volunteer opportunities, and some organizations may be willing to waive your fee if necessary. Suffice to say, none of these volunteer efforts will cost as much as it would to spend a week in Cancun.

Can anyone participate? Many Alternative Spring Break trips require students to apply for participation. In some cases the application process is simple and almost everyone who applies can participate, but some opportunities are more competitive. Again, do some research to find trips that suit you best.

How far in advance do I need to plan an Alternative Spring Break trip? As far as possible. This trips are complicated to organize, and many have deadlines to apply for participation.

Is there still a need for students to volunteer to help Katrina victims in New Orleans and the Gulf Region? Absolutely. In 2006 and 2007, thousands of students spent their Spring Break rebuilding homes, parks, and schools throughout the Gulf Region, and help is very much still needed. Campus Crusade for Christ, an organization responsible for organizing the participation of thousands of students in Katrina relief efforts last year, is organizing four-day long relief trips to the Gulf Region for students. Many local affiliates of Hillel, the largest campus Jewish organization, also are organizing trips. In conjunction with thinkMTV, The United Way also is organizing an Alternative Spring Break effort in the Gulf Region.

Are there international Alternative Spring Breaks? Absolutely. These trips are considerably more expensive than domestic trips, but your experiences will be unforgettable. If you’re interested in international volunteer work trips, you may want to wait until summer or winter break and take a longer trip. One organization to contact is United Planet, which organizes volunteers to help people in need worldwide. i-to-i, a similar organization that focuses largely on environmental volunteerism, is organizing Spring Break trips to Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

These trips aren’t just for students, many organizations set up trips for anyone who is interested. National Geographic lists volunteer trips for people interested in doing research. Here are a couple of examples from an online exclusive from nationalgeographic.com.

1. Carry Chimps in Uganda
Supported by the Jane Goodall Institute, the Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary (www.ngambaisland.org) in Uganda is at the front line of primate research. You’ll hike through the forest, recording observations in a diary as juvenile chimps swing from tree to tree alongside you. “Some of them want to be carried,” says Liz Roodt, a staff member. Bring an extra camera battery. Year-round, one-week stays start at $1,500.

2. Explore Jurassic Park, USA
Roughly 140 million years ago, a 6,000-foot-high (1,829-meter-high) plateau in Red Lodge, Montana, was a stegosaurus watering hole. During a dig with the Cincinnati Museum Center (www.cincymuseum.org) you can lay trowel to the site, now chock-full of fossils. The week-long trip in July 2006 costs $1,200. The Wyoming Dinosaur Center (www.wyodino.org) in Thermopolis, Wyoming, offers a similar, day-long program for $125. Both sites are two hours from Yellowstone National Park.