source of graphics: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/images/pubs/brain-structures-autism.gif
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Autistic children may have more health problems
1 in 152 school aged children are now being diagnosed with autism. This does not include those with less intense, yet still related disorders such as ADD, ADHD, PDD or Asperger's Syndrome.
Children with autism are very sick and in pain. They suffer from a number of digestive problems, chemical toxicity, metal toxicity, viral, bacterial and parasitic overloads, auto-immune problems, etc.
Many studies have implicated the role of vaccines in general, and certain vaccines such as the MMR, in particular as contributors to autism. Additionally, there has been a great deal of evidence that environmental toxins may be contributing in a large way to some children's autism.
Autism truly is a multi-factorial problem, not a mental disease. Dr. Andrew Wakefield, MD, described autism as "a primary gut disorder with secondary brain symptoms." This has been consistent with what we see as we have focused on many of the problems of the digestive tract with "our" kids. In other words, what happens in their gut affects their behaviors in many ways. Natural health and healing modalities have long focused on the health of the colon as paramount to good health.
Autism is a complex biomedical condition, not a psychiatric, psychological or developmental flaw. Homeopathy Center of Houston's homeopaths have combined many different homeopathic approaches to address the many physical and emotional issues behind autism and autistic spectrum disorders. We work with homeopathic remedies, and a very small number of herbal remedies, instead of drugs, for detoxification and healing of the symptoms of and causes behind autism. Our results are speaking for themselves.
Literally. Our children detoxify, eliminate, release, one layer at a time, as we work backward through their individual histories.
How to recognise an autistic child?
How to recognise an autistic child?
What are the signs/symptoms of an autistic child?
1. Inappropriate laughing or giggling.
2. No real fear for danger.
3. Apparent insensitivity to pain.
4. May not want cuddling.
5. Sustained unusual or repetitive play; Uneven physical or verbal skills.
6. May avoid eye contact.
7. May prefer to be alone.
8. Difficulty in expressing needs; May use gesture.
9. Inappropriate attachment to objects.
10. Insistence on sameness.
11. Echoes on words or phrases.
12. Inappropriate response or no response to sound.
12. Spins objects; Spins himself/herself.
13. Difficulty in interacting with others.
If the child display more than 6 of the above symptom, he/she should be brought to the pediatrician for diagnosis and check.
What are the signs/symptoms of an autistic child?
1. Inappropriate laughing or giggling.
2. No real fear for danger.
3. Apparent insensitivity to pain.
4. May not want cuddling.
5. Sustained unusual or repetitive play; Uneven physical or verbal skills.
6. May avoid eye contact.
7. May prefer to be alone.
8. Difficulty in expressing needs; May use gesture.
9. Inappropriate attachment to objects.
10. Insistence on sameness.
11. Echoes on words or phrases.
12. Inappropriate response or no response to sound.
12. Spins objects; Spins himself/herself.
13. Difficulty in interacting with others.
If the child display more than 6 of the above symptom, he/she should be brought to the pediatrician for diagnosis and check.
source of graphics: www.helsinki.fi/~pjojala/autism%202.gif
Signs and Symptoms of Autism
There are three distinctive behaviors that characterize autism.
Autistic children have:
(1) difficulties with social interaction,
(2) problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and
(3) repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests.
These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling.
The hallmark feature of autism is impaired social interaction. Parents are usually the first to notice symptoms of autism in their child. As early as infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. A child with autism may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement.
Children with autism may fail to respond to their name and often avoid eye contact with other people. They have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they can’t understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and don’t watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior. They lack empathy.
Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging. They also tend to start speaking later than other children and may refer to themselves by name instead of “I” or “me.” Children with autism don’t know how to play interactively with other children. Some speak in a sing-song voice about a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking.
Many children with autism have a reduced sensitivity to pain, but are abnormally sensitive to sound, touch, or other sensory stimulation. These unusual reactions may contribute to behavioral symptoms such as a resistance to being cuddled or hugged.
Children with autism appear to have a higher than normal risk for certain co-existing conditions, including fragile X syndrome (which causes mental retardation), tuberous sclerosis (in which tumors grow on the brain), epileptic seizures, Tourette syndrome, learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorder.
For reasons that are still unclear, about 20 to 30 percent of children with autism develop epilepsy by the time they reach adulthood. While people with schizophrenia may show some autistic-like behavior, their symptoms usually do not appear until the late teens or early adulthood. Most people with schizophrenia also have hallucinations and delusions, which are not found in autism.
source: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm
Autistic children have:
(1) difficulties with social interaction,
(2) problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and
(3) repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests.
These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling.
The hallmark feature of autism is impaired social interaction. Parents are usually the first to notice symptoms of autism in their child. As early as infancy, a baby with autism may be unresponsive to people or focus intently on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods of time. A child with autism may appear to develop normally and then withdraw and become indifferent to social engagement.
Children with autism may fail to respond to their name and often avoid eye contact with other people. They have difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling because they can’t understand social cues, such as tone of voice or facial expressions, and don’t watch other people’s faces for clues about appropriate behavior. They lack empathy.
Many children with autism engage in repetitive movements such as rocking and twirling, or in self-abusive behavior such as biting or head-banging. They also tend to start speaking later than other children and may refer to themselves by name instead of “I” or “me.” Children with autism don’t know how to play interactively with other children. Some speak in a sing-song voice about a narrow range of favorite topics, with little regard for the interests of the person to whom they are speaking.
Many children with autism have a reduced sensitivity to pain, but are abnormally sensitive to sound, touch, or other sensory stimulation. These unusual reactions may contribute to behavioral symptoms such as a resistance to being cuddled or hugged.
Children with autism appear to have a higher than normal risk for certain co-existing conditions, including fragile X syndrome (which causes mental retardation), tuberous sclerosis (in which tumors grow on the brain), epileptic seizures, Tourette syndrome, learning disabilities, and attention deficit disorder.
For reasons that are still unclear, about 20 to 30 percent of children with autism develop epilepsy by the time they reach adulthood. While people with schizophrenia may show some autistic-like behavior, their symptoms usually do not appear until the late teens or early adulthood. Most people with schizophrenia also have hallucinations and delusions, which are not found in autism.
source: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm
Autism; Treatment and Prognosis of Autistic Children
What is Autism?
Autism (sometimes called “classical autism”) is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
Autism is characterized by three distinctive behaviors. Autistic children have difficulties with social interaction, display problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and exhibit repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling. Autism varies widely in its severity and symptoms and may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children or when more debilitating handicaps mask it. Scientists aren’t certain what causes autism, but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role.
Is there any treatment?
There is no cure for autism. Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms of autism: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests. Most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.
What is the prognosis?
For many children, autism symptoms improve with treatment and with age. Some children with autism grow up to lead normal or near-normal lives. Children whose language skills regress early in life, usually before the age of 3, appear to be at risk of developing epilepsy or seizure-like brain activity. During adolescence, some children with autism may become depressed or experience behavioral problems. Parents of these children should be ready to adjust treatment for their child as needed.
source: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/autism.htm
Autism (sometimes called “classical autism”) is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
Autism is characterized by three distinctive behaviors. Autistic children have difficulties with social interaction, display problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and exhibit repetitive behaviors or narrow, obsessive interests. These behaviors can range in impact from mild to disabling. Autism varies widely in its severity and symptoms and may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children or when more debilitating handicaps mask it. Scientists aren’t certain what causes autism, but it’s likely that both genetics and environment play a role.
Is there any treatment?
There is no cure for autism. Therapies and behavioral interventions are designed to remedy specific symptoms and can bring about substantial improvement. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that target the core symptoms of autism: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and obsessive or repetitive routines and interests. Most professionals agree that the earlier the intervention, the better.
What is the prognosis?
For many children, autism symptoms improve with treatment and with age. Some children with autism grow up to lead normal or near-normal lives. Children whose language skills regress early in life, usually before the age of 3, appear to be at risk of developing epilepsy or seizure-like brain activity. During adolescence, some children with autism may become depressed or experience behavioral problems. Parents of these children should be ready to adjust treatment for their child as needed.
source: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/autism.htm
Increasing incidence of autism
Genetics played an important role in causing autism! No doubt genetics do play an important role in some cases of autism. Neither is there any doubt, despite the strange skepticism of Leventhal and many others, that the prevalence of autism is increasing at an alarming rate in the U.S., the U.K. and elsewhere in the world (see graph).
The only open question is the role vaccines may play as a potential causal agent in the autism epidemic. There is no plausible alternative to vaccines as the most likely cause. I have never heard of a genetic epidemic disease.
Rising rates of autism in California (long curve) and in U.K. (short curve). Start of MMR vaccination shown by arrows (CA, 1978; U.K., 1988).
That said, let us look more closely at the vaccine issue, which has been presented to the public in a grossly distorted fashion. First note that the billion-dollar medical establishment, including the huge drug companies, powerful governmental agencies and medical schools, and most physicians, want us to believe that the vaccines are both perfectly safe and highly effective.
Those, like me, who question vaccine safety are said to be wild-eyed radicals who want to abolish vaccinations. Not true! What I believe is that:
Vaccines are by and large effective, although not nearly as effective as their proponents would have us believe. (ARRI, 12/1).
Vaccines are by and large effective, although not nearly as effective as their proponents would have us believe. (ARRI, 12/1).
Because vaccines probably do more good than harm, vaccinations should not be abandoned.
Vaccines, as they are presently manufactured and used, do cause a great deal of underreported harm, including many cases of autism and other disabilities. Therefore, the production and use of vaccines should be conducted much more cautiously and rationally.
The link between vaccines and autism is far stronger than the medical establishment is willing to admit, and very careful and well-reasoned research is an urgent priority.
Extracted from: http://www.autism.com/ari/editorials/ed_explosion.htm
Extracted from: Autism Research Review International, 1999, Vol. 13, No. 2, page 3
Possible Causes of Autism
Autism is a complex disorder with many contributing factors.
While there are many theories as to the cause of the increase, ARI (Autism Research Institute) believes environmental factors—including unprecedented exposure to toxic substances and over-vaccination of infants and young children—are the key factors triggering this devastating epidemic. Emerging research supports this fact, making it clear that autism is a whole-body illness triggering a biological brain disorder and ARI continues investigating various possible causal factors.
While we don't have all the answers yet, you can decrease the risk to younger siblings and future pregnancies by protecting your family from known dangers like environmental toxins.
source: http://www.autism.com/triggers/index.htm
While there are many theories as to the cause of the increase, ARI (Autism Research Institute) believes environmental factors—including unprecedented exposure to toxic substances and over-vaccination of infants and young children—are the key factors triggering this devastating epidemic. Emerging research supports this fact, making it clear that autism is a whole-body illness triggering a biological brain disorder and ARI continues investigating various possible causal factors.
While we don't have all the answers yet, you can decrease the risk to younger siblings and future pregnancies by protecting your family from known dangers like environmental toxins.
source: http://www.autism.com/triggers/index.htm
Definition & Symptoms of Autism
The word ‘autism’ comes from the Greek words – ‘aut’, which means ‘self’ and ‘ism’, which implies ‘orientation or state’. Autism is then the condition of somebody who is unusually absorbed in himself or herself. It is a life-long disability seemingly affecting areas of the brain that control understanding, emotion, speech and gesticulation, and the general ability to interact socially.
The signs or symptoms of autism generally appear during early childhood. Autistic children, if unattended, can become so withdrawn that they have difficulty in developing normal social and emotional relationships with the people around them, and in comprehending and being fully aware of their environment as a result of their mental deficiencies. Normal development of communication is inhibited and speech is delayed or developed abnormally.
As a result of this failure to cope with people and situations, the child is slow in play and social interaction. When the development of social skills is retarded, the autistic child appears to be odd in the areas of self-growth, family orientation and interaction in society.
source: http://lionsreach.net/autism.htm
The signs or symptoms of autism generally appear during early childhood. Autistic children, if unattended, can become so withdrawn that they have difficulty in developing normal social and emotional relationships with the people around them, and in comprehending and being fully aware of their environment as a result of their mental deficiencies. Normal development of communication is inhibited and speech is delayed or developed abnormally.
As a result of this failure to cope with people and situations, the child is slow in play and social interaction. When the development of social skills is retarded, the autistic child appears to be odd in the areas of self-growth, family orientation and interaction in society.
source: http://lionsreach.net/autism.htm
7 Facts about Autism
1 Features of autism usually appear during the first three years of life.
2 Autism affects 10 to 15 of every 10,000 births of all racial, ethnic and social backgrounds.
3 Autism is four to five times more common in males than females.
4 Approximately 75% of autistic children are mentally retarded.
5 Females with autism exhibit more severe mental retardation.
6 About a third of all individuals with autism develop seizures – it can also occur with other conditions such as deafness, Down Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome.
7 People with autism vary widely in abilities, intelligence levels and behavioural characteristics.
source: http://lionsreach.net/autism.htm
2 Autism affects 10 to 15 of every 10,000 births of all racial, ethnic and social backgrounds.
3 Autism is four to five times more common in males than females.
4 Approximately 75% of autistic children are mentally retarded.
5 Females with autism exhibit more severe mental retardation.
6 About a third of all individuals with autism develop seizures – it can also occur with other conditions such as deafness, Down Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome.
7 People with autism vary widely in abilities, intelligence levels and behavioural characteristics.
source: http://lionsreach.net/autism.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)