What Are Autism And Autism Spectrum Disorders?
An Outline to Help Understand - Part One
Autism is a developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life. The result of a neurological disorder that affects functioning of the brain, autism and its associated behaviors has been estimated to occur in as many as 1 in 500 individuals. Autism is 4 times more prevalent in boys and knows no racial, ethnic or social boundaries. Family income, lifestyle and education do not affect the chance of autism. Autism impacts the normal development of the brain in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Children and adults with autism typically have difficulties in verbal and non-vernal communication, social interactions and leisure or play activities. The disorder makes it hard for them to communicate and relate to the outside world. They may exhibit repeated body movements (hand flapping, rocking), unusual responses to people or attachments to objects and resist any changes in routines.
In some cases, aggressive and/or self-injurious behavior may be present
Over one half million people in the
Is there More than One Type of Autism?
Autism is often referred to as a spectrum disorder, meaning that the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations, from mild to severe. Although autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors, children and adults can exhibit any combination of the behaviors in any degree of severity. Two children, both with a diagnosis of autism, can act very differently from one another.
What Causes Autism?
Researchers are exploring different explanations for the various forms of autism. Although one specific cause of autism is not known, current research links autism to biological or neurological differences in the brain. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) and PET (Positron Emission Tomography) scans show abnormalities in brain structure, with significant differences within the cerebellum, including the size and number of Purkinje cells. In some families there appears to be a pattern of autism or related disabilities, which suggests there may be a genetic basis.
Several older theories about the cause of autism have been now proven false. Autism is not a mental illness. Children with autism are not unruly kids, who choose not to behave. Autism is not caused by bad parenting. Furthermore, no known psychological factors in the development of the child have been shown to cause autism.
How is Autism Diagnosed?
There are no medical tests for diagnosing autism. An accurate diagnosis must be based on observations of the child's communication, behavior and developmental levels. However, because many of the behaviors associated with autism are shared by other disorders, a doctor may complete various medical tests to rule out other possible causes
Diagnosis is difficult for a practitioner with limited training or exposure to autism, since the characteristics of the disorder vary so much. Locating a medical specialist or a diagnostician who has experience with autism is most important A child should be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team which may include a neurologist, psychologist, developmental pediatrician, speech/language therapist, learning consultant or other professionals knowledgeable about autism.
What are the Symptoms? What are People with Autism like?
Children with autism often appear relatively normal in their development until the age of 24-30 months, when parents may notice delays in language, play or social interaction. The following areas are among those which may be affected by autism:
• Communication: Languages develops slowly or not at all; use of words without attaching the usual meaning to them; communicates with gestures instead of words; short attention spans.
• Social Interaction: spends time alone rather than with others; shows little interest in making friends; less responsible to social cues such as eye contact or smiles.
• Sensory Impairment unusual reactions to physical sensations such as being overly sensitive to touch or under-responsive to pain; sight, hearing, touch, pain, smell, taste may be affected to a lesser or greater degree.
• Play: lack of spontaneous or imaginative play; does not imitate others actions; doesn't initiate pretend games.
• Behaviors: may be overactive or very passive; throw frequent tantrums for no apparent reason; may perseverate on a single item, idea or person; apparent lack of common sense; may show aggressive or violent behavior or injure self.
Addressing a cure, prevention, and the needs of people with autism on the next page.
Cures, Treatments, and Understanding - Part Two
There are great differences among people with autism. Some individuals mildly affected may exhibit only slight delays in language and greater challenges with social interactions. They may have average or above average verbal, memory or spatial skills but find it difficult to be imaginative or join in a game of softball with their friends. Others more severely affected may need greater assistance in handling day to day activities like crossing the street or making a purchase.
Contrary to popular understanding, many children and adults with autism make eye contact, show affection, smile and laugh, and show a variety of other emotions, but in varying degrees. Like other children, they respond to their environment in positive and negative ways. The autism may. Affect their range of responses and make it more difficult to control how their body and mind react.
Is there a Cure for Autism?
Our understanding of autism has grown tremendously since it was first described in 1943. Some of the earlier searches for "cures" now seem unrealistic in terms of today's understanding of brain-based disorders. To cure means:
"To restore to health, soundness, or normality" In the medical sense, there is no cure for the differences in the brain which result in autism.
However, we're finding better ways to understand the disorder and help people cope with the. Various symptoms of the disability. Some of these symptoms may lessen as the child ages; others may disappear altogether. With appropriate intervention, many of the autism behaviors can be positively changed, even to the point that the child or adult may appear to the untrained person to no longer have autism. The majority of children and adults will, however, continue to exhibit some symptoms of autism to some degree throughout their entire lives.
What are the Most Effective Approaches to Autism?
Because of the spectrum nature of autism and the many behavior combinations which can occur, no one approach is effective in alleviating symptoms of autism in all cases. Various types of therapies are available, including behavior modification, speech/language therapy, sensory integration, vision therapy, music therapy, auditory training, medications and dietary interventions, among others.
Experience has shown that individuals with autism respond well to a highly structured, specialized education and behavior modification program, tailored to the individual needs of the person. A well designed intervention approach will include some level of communication therapy, social skill development, sensory impairment therapy and behavior modification at a minimum, delivered by autism trained professionals in a consistent, comprehensive and coordinated manner.
The more severe challenges of some children with autism may be best addressed by a structured education and behavior program which contains a 1: 1 teacher to student ratio or small group environment.
Students with autism should have training in vocational skills and community living skills at the earliest possible age. Learning to cross a street safely, to make a simple purchase or to ask assistance when needed are critical skills, and may be difficult, even for those with average intelligence levels. Tasks that enhance the person's independence, give more opportunity for personal choice or allow more freedom in the community are important.
To be effective, any approach should be flexible in nature, rely on positive reinforcement, be reevaluated on a regular basis and provide a smooth transition from home to school to community environments. A good program will also incorporate training and support systems for the caregivers as well. Rarely can a family, classroom teacher or other caregiver provide effective habilitation for a person with autism unless offered consultation or in-service training by a specialist knowledgeable about the disability.
A generation ago, 90% of the people with autism were eventually placed in institutions. Today, as a result of appropriate and individualized services and programs, even the more severely disabled can be taught skills to allow them to develop to their fullest potential.
This data and information has been provided by the Autism 50dety of
Autism Society of
MD 20814-3015
Tel: (800)-3AUTISM
(301 )-657 -0881
Fax: (301)-657-0869 http://www. autism-society. orq
Transfer Factor - Immunotherapy for Autism
From Adelle Jameson Tilton,
Recently a new alternative medical treatment has come into the~ spotlight and offers many potential benefits for the Autistic child according to its proponents. Unfortunately, it also offers the opportunity fraud and deception by those who are only interested in exploiting the desperation of parents who are searching for a ray of hope that their child 'will be cured of Autism. This treatment, Autism Transfer Factor, is based in the science of biochemistry and in limited research studies has shown great promise.
There are many Transfer Factors found naturally in the body, and while some are general in nature, others appear to transfer immunity to a specific disease or condition. This treatment is grounded in the hypothesis that Autism and many other conditions are primarily immune system dysfunctions and may be treatable or even reversible.
By definition, "Transfer Factors are protein immunomodulators that transfer the ability to express cell-mediated immunity from an immune-sufficient donor to an immune deficient recipient or from an immunized donor to non immune recipient." In short, in the case of Autism, they transfer an immunity to Autism to the person receiving the treatment.
There are currently two sources of Transfer Factor available today. The most common one utilizes colostrums from cows that have been exposed to high concentrations of pathogens and viruses that researchers have linked to Autism. Colostrums, the substance that precedes milk in mammals, serve a natural role in protecting the newborn from illness by transferring the mother's immunity to the child. In the case of Transfer Factor, the immunity that the cow developed is transferred to the human infant, and thus protects it from an illness. Due to the processes needed to manufacture this form of Transfer Factor, it is a very expensive treatment, and being experimental is usually not covered by health insurance.
The second source is from human blood cells, either leukocytes or lymphocytes, and appears to work best if those cells are from close family members. They work in exactly the same way as the colostrums based treatment, except that they transfer a much more genetically natural immunity due to the common characteristics between the donor and recipient. They are also more pure and free from contaminants. This treatment is much more limited in use, due to the availability of donors and therefore more expensive to receive than the colostrums based treatment. It also involves a higher degree of risk, due to the blood born disease issue.
In a landmark study, Dr. H. Hugh Fudenberg, M.D. found that of 22 Autistic children, 21 improved significantly and 10 were considered to be recovered and mainstreamed in their schools following Transfer Factor treatment. After the treatment was discontinued, some showed regression, but none returned to their prior baseline levels. Dr. Fudenberg used the lymphocyte based Transfer Factor in his treatment, and while these results have been replicated using that treatment protocol, they have not been replicated using the colostrums based treatment.
While much promise is offered by these treatments, there are sites on the internet which offer "Transfer Factor" treatments that actually are nothing but scams, in Dr. Fudenberg's expert opinion He offers eight indications of a fraudulent Transfer Factor treatment offer on the internet. Following his guidelines can save money as well as disappointment, and in some cases it can even save your life. Read each of his eight points carefully, they contain a multitude of information that will make you a more informed consumer As always consult your physician before beginning any treatment program for you or your child.
Transfer Factor Study with Autistic Children
9 children
Ages: 2.9-9.9 average age: 5.07
These children were given three capsules of Transfer Factor, three times daily, for three months. Each patient was assessed prior to the treatment, six weeks into the study, and at the completion of the three-month study. Dr. Bock used the Gilliam Autism Rating Scale for evaluation purposes. This method applies different scores based on: stereotyped "autistic" behaviors, communication, social interaction and developmental markers. These scores are then added together to determine an autism quotient. The higher the autism quotient is, the higher the degree of autism in the patient. At the end of the three-month study, seven out of the nine autistic children had at least some improvement. Specifically, these improvements included:
• More attentive
• Eye contact improved
• Eczema improved
• Decreased incidence of illness
• Improved language skills
• Resolution of diarrhea
• Improved toileting skills
Although this study was small, Dr. Bock believes its results are very promising. He has included Transfer Factor as part of his treatment protocol and is excited about its possibilities for boosting the immune system in patients with autism as well as many other conditions he encounters on a daily basis.
0 comments:
Catat Ulasan