Help With Autism

Many parents remain unaware of the prevalence of autism in young children these days. In fact, the Center of Disease Control reports that 1 out of 110 children is diagnosed with autism, which makes this condition much more common than childhood cancers, multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis combined.

As a parent it’s important to learn about autism before having children so you’ll know what to expect or look for incase your child turns out to be autistic. The sooner your child is diagnosed and receives analysis by a physician specializing in autism, the more can be done to help your child lead a normal life. Autism education is an important lesson for us all; the more we spread the word the more support we’ll have to fuel our cause.

Last Wednesday, the Virginia House passed legislation that would change history as we know it. The 11-year struggle to impose autism-related treatment coverage under certain healthcare plans has finally seen its victory day. With a 74-24 vote, the bill presented a landslide win, causing parents of children with autism to rejoice statewide.

Now, families can bask in the comfort of knowing that their children would now receive adequate care and coverage for autism-related treatments at an affordable price. The new autism information mandate will require companies that employ more than 50 people to provide such care to their employees. Annual benefits for behavioral analysis cover up to $35,000 for these families. Finally, parents of children with autism will receive a much-deserved financial break.

When your child is diagnosed with autism, it’s only natural to wonder if it is because of something you did. But please don’t worry and certainly don’t blame yourself. The truth remains, unfortunately, that most of the time parents will never know why their child developed or what may have caused this condition. Therefore, if you put the blame on yourself, you’re only in for a guilt-ridden life of pain and worry.

The causes of autism are an area of interest for parents and for medical practitioners worldwide. Two theories that are vaccination related continue to exist in the chatter of parents of autistic children. The first vaccination theory states that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccination has led to the development of autism in certain children while other people believe that the mercury contained in other vaccinations for perseveration has led to autism in children. And while medical authorities continue to refute both theories, parents are constantly left in uncertainty.

Your child’s pediatrician will look for developmental problems at regular check-ups. If he or she notices autism symptoms, you’ll likely be referred to a pediatric neurologist or developmental pediatrician. When you go to the appointment, make sure you have notes and questions to discuss with the doctor.

You’ll want to make note of:
- Behavioral changes you have noticed in your child. Even small daily changes can be important to know.
- Medications, vitamins, herbs, OTC medicines that your child is or has taken. Knowing your child’s vaccination history is also important, although there has been no solid link proven between autism and vaccines.
- Know the history of your other children as a means of comparing their developmental differences.
- Observations of others, including siblings and adult caregivers.

Ask:
- Why do you think my child does/doesn’t have autism?
- How will a diagnosis be confirmed?
- Is there a way to tell the severity of autism?
- What changes should I anticipate in my child?
- What sort of care can I provide? What sort of outside care should I look for?
- What kind of therapies do you recommend?
- How should I approach my child’s regular medical care?
- What support is available for families of children with autism?
- How can I learn more about autism?

Remember, there is no such thing as being overly prepared or having too many questions. When it comes to your child’s well-being you are their number one advocate.

Parents with special needs children face daily challenges. When a child is school age the state is required to educate and work with your child. What happens when a special needs child ages out of the system? This can be a scary prospect for many parents who have concerns about where their child will continue to get help and what will happen when parents are no longer able to take care of their special needs child.

I found an article on St. Louis Today’s website that was particularly uplifting. The article put a spotlight on the Midwest Adult Autism Project which focuses on helping clients reach tailor-made goals. The Project focuses on the autism spectrum from those with Asperger’s syndrome to those who are severely autistic. The two boys featured in the article have made great strides in behavior management. Though only one of the boys featured can hope to one day live independently, both have a better future for having taken part in the program. I would encourage all parents of autistic children to look for these inspirational articles on autism, to give hope during stressful times.

With the wealth of information available online it’s difficult to imagine those bygone days when we had to go to the library to research a given topic. Nowadays it’s as simple as point & click and you’re done. The amount of useful information online can be overwhelming, but there’s the qualifier. Not many people want useless information. It’s important to filter out what we can use to benefit ourselves or loved ones or we can fall into the trap of being inundated with useless information.

As with most other topics there’s a tremendous amount of information online about autism and autism spectrum disorders. Some of it is quite useful, some of it not so much. When it comes to autism education it’s a good idea to find a reliable source. This is especially the case in your local community. Many local community organizations have websites, even if they aren’t national or international. Find out what’s happening around you, and augment that knowledge and information with information from larger, respected and credible resources.

A new, large-scale study out of Denmark has found that children who had jaundice at birth were more likely to experience autism. Although the researchers found a correlation between the two conditions, they have yet to discover have are related and to what degree. It is not uncommon for babies to experience mild cases of jaundice at birth, but it generally clears up quickly and it generally harmless.

More severe cases of jaundice can lead to brain damages, but they are quite rare. It’s not clear whether there is some for of causation between jaundice and autism, or if there is a common genetic predisposition for the conditions. This story highlights how the curriculum for autism education is constantly changing, so it’s important to stay current with the latest news and research.

No matter what you hear, the truth is that there still is no definitive answer. Although evidence indicates certain factors that are likely to contribute to the disorder, there is no consensus amongst medical professionals. Because people develop the disease at different times in their lives and the symptoms are so varied, it’s likely that autism can be caused by myriad factors. Here are a few of the believed causes of autism:

~Genetics: recent studies have isolated specific genes which are believed to be directly correlated to many cases of autism. There is also strong evidence that suggests the disorder is passed from generation to generation.

~Unusual Brain Development: in some cases, autistic individuals have bigger brains and appear to process information differently.

~Vaccines?: it was long believed that vaccines with thimerosal caused autism, but the leading proponent of the theory, Dr. Wakefield, was recently discredited as was much of the research supporting the claims.

With several questions still unanswered as to the causes and treatments for autism, there are constantly new studies and findings that help to illuminate some of the disease’s mysteries. As such, it is important for people to make a concerted effort to continue their autism education so that we can better understand the disease. A recent study by the Kennedy Krieger Institute has provided a new hypothesis for how the long-term effects of the disease may be determined.

In the study, researchers found that children who show signs of autism early might be more likely to overcome the adverse effects of the disease than those who show a plateau or regression later on. The children in the study who experienced some form of developmental regression were much more likely to show sever autism symptoms and require additional teaching supports. Those who showed autism signs early, however, typically developed in a more linear fashion and were able to overcome many of the symptoms commonly associated with autism.

As most parents of an autistic child would readily attest, the disorder makes kids very particular and oftentimes compulsive about the smallest organizational details. In the mind of an autistic child, order and predictability are very important. Even slight deviations from the norm can be upsetting, and they can set behavioral patterns back as well. That’s why decorating an autistic child’s bedroom is such a delicate process.

Pamela Downing of the Brownsville Herald suggests a few tips for attempting the task. The idea, according to Downing, is to keep the room’s organization simple and well defined. Depending on the child’s age, a play center and work area should be set apart and even labeled if necessary. The play center will be the area where the child plays with his favorite toys, and the work center should be used for completing homework assignments, using a computer and so on.

It’s crucial for parents to seek out as much autism education as possible in order to learn about how to cope with the disorder. Making special accommodations – like the setup of a bedroom – isn’t the half of it, however. Parents should explore treatment options even outside the realm of traditional medicine, always searching for a treatment that’s effective for their child. Remember that the earlier autism is diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated and its effects reversed.