Autism Treatment | HBOT Autism | Autism in children by To-Treat-Autism.com

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) should be diagnosed by a medical professional with support from physical, occupational and speech therapists. Ideally, everyone involved with a diagnosis should have significant experience with ASDs, their diagnosis and proper autism treatment.

What does it mean to have an ASD?

The new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV) which defines all known medical disorders for the purposes of diagnosis, describes six characteristics of ASDs in order to treat autism. To qualify for a diagnosis, a person must have a total of six or more items from (1), (2), and (3), with at least two from (1) and one each from (2) and (3):

1. Qualitative impairment in social interaction, manifest by at least two of the following:

• A. Marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors, such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures and gestures, to regulate social interaction
• B. Failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to developmental level
• C. Lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (e.g., by lack of showing, bringing, or pointing out objects of interest)
• D. Lack of social or emotional reciprocity

2. Qualitative impairment in communication, as manifest by at least one of the following:

• A. Delay in, or total lack of, the development of spoken language (not accompanied by an attempt to compensate through alternative modes of communication such as gesture or mime)
• B. In individuals with adequate speech, marked impairment in the ability to initiate or sustain a conversation with others
• C. Stereotyped and repetitive use of language, or idiosyncratic language
• D. Lack of varied, spontaneous make-believe, or social imitative play appropriate to developmental level

3. Restrictive repetitive and stereotypic patterns of behavior, interests, and activities, as manifested by at least one of the following:

• A. Encompassing preoccupation with one or more stereotyped and restricted patterns of interest that is abnormal either in intensity or focus
• B. Apparently inflexible adherence to specific nonfunctional routines or rituals
• C. Stereotyped and repetitive motor mannerisms (e.g., hand or finger flapping or twisting, or complex whole-body movements)
• D. Persistent preoccupation with parts of objects.

Delays or abnormal functioning in at least one of the following areas, with onset prior to age 3 years:

• 1. Social interaction
• 2. Language as used in social communication
• 3. Symbolic or imaginative play

The disturbance is not better accounted for by Retts Disorder or childhood disintegrative disorder.

_{Sources: National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) 2004.}

Tags: autism symptoms, Autism Treatment, treat autism

There are a number of initial symptoms that parents and teachers can look for. These may be evident even in a child as young as one year old — or may not become evident until age three or older. Some signs to look for in autistic children include:

• unresponsiveness to people, and/or intent focus on one item to the exclusion of others for long periods;
• lack of response to their name;
• lack of eye contact;
• difficulty interpreting what others are thinking or feeling;
• delay in gaining speech and/or odd speech patterns;
• repetitive movements such as rocking or twirling, or self-abusive behavior such as head-banging;
• speaking in a flat or sing-song voice;
• unusually low or high sensitivity to pain, noise, light or crowds.

Early signs of autistic symptoms :

As many as six in 1,000 children may be autistic. Many parents are worried, in part because to treat autism is so much in the headlines these days. It’s a good idea to keep a weather eye on your young child, because even very young children can be diagnosed. And research shows that the earlier the diagnosis and treatment, the better the prognosis for good outcomes.

Possible Indicators of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Autistic Children

• Does not babble, point, or make meaningful gestures by 1 year of age
• Does not speak one word by 16 months
• Does not combine two words by 2 years
• Does not respond to name
• Loses language or social skills
• Poor eye contact
• Doesn’t seem to know how to play with toys
• Excessively lines up toys or other objects
• Is attached to one particular toy or object
• Doesn’t smile
• At times seems to be hearing impaired

Source – Science Daily.

Tags: autism symptoms, signs of autism

Although autism is the result of a neurologic abnormality, the cause of these problems with the nervous system is unknown in most cases. Research findings indicate a strong genetic component. Most likely, environmental, immunologic, and metabolic factors also influence the development of the disorder.

• There is probably no single gene or genetic defect that is responsible for autism. Researchers suspect that there are a number of different genes that, when combined together, increase the risk of getting autism. In families with one child with autism, the risk of having another child with autism is 3-8%. The concordance of autism in monozygotic twins is 30%. A number of studies have found that first-degree relatives of children with autism also have an increased risk of autism spectrum disorders.
• In some children, autism is linked to an underlying medical condition. Examples include metabolic disorders (untreated phenylketonuria [PKU]), congenital infections (rubella, cytomegalovirus [CMV], toxoplasmosis), genetic disorders (fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis), developmental brain abnormalities (microcephaly, macrocephaly, cerebral dysgenesis), and neurologic disorders acquired after birth ( lead encephalopathy, bacterial meningitis). These medical disorders alone do not cause autism as most children with these conditions do not have autism.
• Environmental factors and exposures may interact with genetic factors to cause an increased risk of autism in some families.

Over time, many different theories have been proposed about what causes autism. Some of these theories are no longer accepted, however.

• Emotional trauma: Some believed that emotional trauma at an early age, especially bad parenting, was to blame. This theory has been rejected.
• Vaccines: Although the mercury preservative used in some vaccines is known to be neurotoxic, the most recent research on this subject does not suggest a specific link between vaccines and autism.

Source : e-medicine health online magazine

Tags: autism symptoms, Autism Treatment, treat autism

Autism is classified by the American Psychiatric Association as one of a group of disorders known as the pervasive development disorders (PDD). In addition to autistic disorder, the pervasive developmental disorders include Asperger’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Rett disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD NOS).

• All of these disorders are characterized by varying degrees of problems with communication, social interaction, and atypical, repetitive behaviors. This group of disorders is sometimes called the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
• There is a wide range of symptoms, severity, and other manifestations of these disorders. The expression of autism spectrum disorders varies widely from person to person. A child with significant impairment in all 3 of the core functioning areas (socialization, communication, and atypical, repetitive behaviors) may have autism, while a child with similar problems but without delays in language development may have Asperger’s syndrome.
• Some people are affected fairly mildly; many of these individuals learn to live independent lives. Others are more severely affected and require lifelong care and supervision.

Autism is a common developmental disorder.

• About 1 in every 1000 people in the United States has autism, and the number of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders appears to be increasing. Although there is a concern that the actual number of children with autism spectrum disorders is increasing, several factors, such as improvements in diagnostic methods and the view of autism spectrum disorders as being on a continuum, can account for the increase.
• As many as 1.5 million people in this country may have some form of autism.
• Autism affects all races, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic levels.
• Boys are 3-4 times more likely than girls to have autism.

There is no cure for autism. There is good news, however.

• A generation ago, most children with autism were institutionalized. This is no longer the case and most children live with their families.
• Our improving understanding of autism has shown that, regardless of the severity of the condition, appropriate autism treatment and education can eventually help many children with autism to be integrated into their community.
• Early diagnosis is essential for implementing appropriate treatment and education at an early age, when they can do the most good.

Source : e-medicine health online magazine

Tags: autism symptoms, Autism Treatment, treat autism

Autism is a complex disorder of the central nervous system that has the following 3 defining core features:

• Problems with social interactions
• Impaired verbal and nonverbal communication
• A pattern of repetitive behavior with narrow, restricted interests

A number of other associated symptoms frequently coexist with autism. Most children with autism have problems using language, forming relationships, and appropriately interpreting and responding to the external world around them.

Autism is a behaviorally defined neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in early childhood. Although the diagnosis of autism may not be made until a child reaches preschool or school age, the signs and symptoms of autism may be apparent by the time the child is aged 12-18 months, and the behavioral characteristics of autism are almost always evident by the time the child is aged 3 years.

Language delay in the preschool years (younger than 5 years) is typically the presenting problem for more severely affected children with autism. Higher functioning children with autism are generally identified with behavioral problems when they are aged approximately 4-5 years or with social problems later in childhood. Autism persists throughout the person’s lifetime, although many people are able to learn to control and modify their behavior to some extent.

Tags: autism symptoms, Autism Treatment, treat autism

Although musical therapy is a new practice to treat autism, but still one should seriously consider giving it a shot. Research is showing that when children with autism are given musical therapy they often show remarkable improvements in temperament and learning skills.

Why does music seem to work so well in autism treatment?

Music connects to the nonverbal part of our brains making it the perfect therapy for autism patients who have trouble communicating.

The reason musical therapy is so successful is because it can be used in conjunction with learning new social skills. You have to understand that music is a very nonthreatening medium for children with autism. Many different games can be played with the aid of music to help both behavior and social skills at the same time. Using musical instruments that need to be close to the face will help break social barriers.

By far the number one way music helps children with autism is with the development of speech. Music links together the verbal and nonverbal parts of the brain so they have an easier time working together. Autistic patients have many different ways they communicate with us. Some can only grunt or hum while others simply cry or say nonsensical phrases that have no meaning. No matter how well the individual speaks they can always participate in musical therapy by clapping or humming.

People with autism are often found to be very talented at music. Some can play an instrument with little or no formal teaching while others have a perfect pitch. One may be surprised to know that a person who is normally hard to deal with has music abilities above and beyond that of any of his or her other skills.

If you take the time to explore the endless possibilities that music can provide to treat autism you will be pleasantly surprised. Music can actually work wonders never experienced before. People who are trained in this type of therapy can use music to teach autistic individuals how to communicate in nonverbal ways. Please do yourself the justice to explore this new and exciting form of therapy for autistic patients. I know that you will be blown away with the results you’ll experience.

Source: Autism Treatment Therapies – Ezine Article Directory.

Tags: autism symptoms, Autism Treatment, treat autism

In order to treat autism, one must be fully aware of the various autism symptoms and problems.

Sensory problems. Many children with autism are highly attuned or even painfully sensitive to certain sounds, textures, tastes, and smells. Some children find the feel of clothes touching their skin almost unbearable. Some sounds—a vacuum cleaner, a ringing telephone, a sudden storm, even the sound of waves lapping the shoreline—will cause these children to cover their ears and scream.

In ASD, the brain seems unable to balance the senses appropriately. Some ASD children are oblivious to extreme cold or pain. An ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) child may fall and break an arm, yet never cry. Another may bash his head against a wall and not wince, but a light touch may make the child scream with alarm.

Mental retardation. Many children with ASD have some degree of mental impairment. When tested, some areas of ability may be normal, while others may be especially weak. For example, a child with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders)  may do well on the parts of the test that measure visual skills but earn low scores on the language subtests.

Seizures. One in four children with ASD develops seizures, an autism symptom, often starting either in early childhood or adolescence.  Seizures, caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain, can produce a temporary loss of consciousness (a “blackout”), a body convulsion, unusual movements, or staring spells. Sometimes a contributing factor is a lack of sleep or a high fever. An EEG (electroencephalogram—recording of the electric currents developed in the brain by means of electrodes applied to the scalp) can help confirm the seizure’s presence.

In most cases, seizures can be controlled by a number of medicines called “anticonvulsants.” The dosage of the medication is adjusted carefully so that the least possible amount of medication will be used to be effective.

Source – To Treat Autism Spectrum Disorders; www.nimh.nih.gov, Health Publication

Tags: autism symptoms, Autism Treatment, treat autism

Parents should be on the look out for various signs and symptoms that may need immediate autism treatment steps. One such symptom is repetitive behavior often see in children with autism.

Although children with autism or ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) usually appear physically normal and have good muscle control, odd repetitive motions may set them off from other children. These behaviors might be extreme and highly apparent or more subtle. Some children and older individuals spend a lot of time repeatedly flapping their arms or walking on their toes. Some suddenly freeze in position.

As children, they might spend hours lining up their cars and trains in a certain way, rather than using them for pretend play. If someone accidentally moves one of the toys, the child may be tremendously upset. ASD children need, and demand, absolute consistency in their environment. A slight change in any routine—in mealtimes, dressing, taking a bath, going to school at a certain time and by the same route—can be extremely disturbing. Perhaps order and sameness lend some stability in a world of confusion.

Repetitive behavior seen in children with autism sometimes takes the form of a persistent, intense preoccupation. For example, the child might be obsessed with learning all about vacuum cleaners, train schedules, or lighthouses. Often there is great interest in numbers, symbols, or science topics.

Tags: autism symptoms, Autism Treatment, treat autism

What is usually observed among normal children is that by age 3, such children have passed predictable milestones on the path to learning language; one of the earliest is babbling. By the first birthday, a typical toddler says words, turns when he hears his name, points when he wants a toy, and when offered something distasteful, makes it clear that the answer is “no.”

Children with autism

Some children diagnosed with autism or ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) remain mute throughout their lives. Some infants who later show signs of ASD coo and babble during the first few months of life, but they soon stop. Others may be delayed, developing language as late as age 5 to 9. Some children may learn to use communication systems such as pictures or sign language.

Those children with autism, who do speak, often use language in unusual ways. They seem unable to combine words into meaningful sentences. Some speak only single words, while others repeat the same phrase over and over. Some ASD children parrot what they hear, a condition called echolalia. Although many children with no ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) go through a stage where they repeat what they hear, it normally passes by the time they are 3.

Some children only mildly affected may exhibit slight delays in language, or even seem to have precocious language and unusually large vocabularies, but have great difficulty in sustaining a conversation. The “give and take” of normal conversation is hard for them, although they often carry on a monologue on a favorite subject, giving no one else an opportunity to comment. Another difficulty is often the inability to understand body language, tone of voice, or “phrases of speech.” They might interpret a sarcastic expression such as “Oh, that’s just great” as meaning it really IS great.

While it can be hard to understand what ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) children are saying, their body language is also difficult to understand. Facial expressions, movements, and gestures rarely match what they are saying. Also, their tone of voice fails to reflect their feelings. A high-pitched, sing-song, or flat, robot-like voice is common. Some autistic children with relatively good language skills speak like little adults, failing to pick up on the “kid-speak” that is common in their peers.

Without meaningful gestures or the language to ask for things, people with ASD are at a loss to let others know what they need. As a result, they may simply scream or grab what they want. Until they are taught better ways to express their needs, ASD children do whatever they can to get through to others. As people with ASD grow up, they can become increasingly aware of their difficulties in understanding others and in being understood. As a result they may become anxious or depressed.

Source – To Treat Autism Spectrum Disorders; www.nimh.nih.gov, Health Publication

Tags: autism symptoms, Autism Treatment, treat autism

From the start, typically developing infants are social beings. Early in life, they gaze at people, turn toward voices, grasp a finger, and even smile.

In contrast, most children with autism seem to have tremendous difficulty learning to engage in the give-and-take of everyday human interaction.

Some social symptoms are enumerated below:

1. Often in the first few months of life, children with autism do not interact and they avoid eye contact.

2. They seem indifferent to other people, and often seem to prefer being alone.

3. They may resist attention or passively accept hugs and cuddling. Later, they seldom seek comfort or respond to parents’ displays of anger or affection in a typical way.

4. Research has suggested that although children with autism are attached to their parents, their expression of this attachment is unusual and difficult to “read.” To parents, it may seem as if their child is not attached at all. Parents who looked forward to the joys of cuddling, teaching, and playing with their child may feel crushed by this lack of the expected and typical attachment behavior.

5. Children with autism also are slower in learning to interpret what others are thinking and feeling. Subtle social cues—whether a smile, a wink, or a grimace—may have little meaning.

To a child who misses these cues, “Come here” always means the same thing, whether the speaker is smiling and extending her arms for a hug or frowning and planting her fists on her hips! Such symptoms call for immediate autism treatment.

Without the ability to interpret gestures and facial expressions, the social world may seem bewildering. To compound the problem, children with autism have difficulty seeing things from another person’s perspective. Most 5-year-olds understand that other people have different information, feelings, and goals than they have. A child with autism may lack such understanding. This inability leaves them unable to predict or understand other people’s actions.

Although not universal, it is common for children with autism also to have difficulty regulating their emotions. This can take the form of “immature” behavior such as crying in class or verbal outbursts that seem inappropriate to those around them. The individual with ASD might also be disruptive and physically aggressive at times, making social relationships still more difficult. They have a tendency to “lose control,” particularly when they’re in a strange or overwhelming environment, or when angry and frustrated. They may at times break things, attack others, or hurt themselves. In their frustration, some bang their heads, pull their hair, or bite their arms.

Excerpt – http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/autism/what-are-the-autism-spectrum-disorders.shtml

Tags: autism symptoms, Autism Treatment, treat autism