Help With Autism

In the last few weeks, we have been writing on the developments in the vaccination and autism study that was retracted by The Lancet. The study, which led countless parents to forego the MMR vaccine, was the main point of reference for a link between vaccination and autism. In the next couple of months, a new study will be released that further disproves the vaccination/autism causation.

That still leaves many parents feeling distraught and searching for reliable autism information and answers. Researchers at UC-Davis believe that they may have uncovered one of the contributing factors of the disease: parental age. Following an investigation of over 5 million Californian births in the 1990s, researchers have concluded that older mothers and fathers are more prone to giving birth to autistic children.

For over a decade MMR vaccinations—those preventing the measles, mumps and rubella—have been considered one of the possible causes of autism. This hypothesis was generated by Dr. Andrew Wakefield and two other researchers who were then employed at the Royal Free Hospital’s medical school in London. Since this finding, there was been significant controversy surrounding the validity of the study and the practices involved in garnering the research.

This week, the General Medical Council ruled that Wakefield was guilty of serious professional misconduct. Some of the allegations against Wakefield include dishonesty in the report and invasive testing methods. Wakefield runs the risk of being struck off of the medical register because of the ruling. In the years since his report, vaccination rates have fallen significantly, which has led to a rise in measles cases.

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.

Autistic kids truly are creatures of habit – to the extent that minor deviations from a set routine can trigger temper tantrums and full-on freakouts. Luckily the Autism Society has offered a series of tips for family members dealing with autistic kids during Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas. Kids with the disorder generally like to be kept aware of what is going on around them. It’s up to each parent’s discretion as to when to tell kids about the impending holiday plans.

Seemingly minor household changes – including the presence of visitors and decorations – can be troubling to a child with an autism spectrum disorder. Try involving them in the process of decorating the house or picking out a Christmas tree so that they won’t be shocked to discover a jarring difference in the way the home looks. Since autistic kids often become fixated on receiving particular gift items, it’s best to negotiate with them about the number of times it’s permissible to mention the gift.

Seeing distant relatives and acquaintances can be problematic for an autistic child as well. According to most articles on autism, you should prepare the child well before the visitors arrive. Bring out a photo album and reintroduce the family members to your child gradually and repeatedly. By the time they show up for the holidays, your child will be mentally and emotionally prepared for company.

We spend so much time highlighting the symptoms and potential treatment options for autism on this blog that the rest of the autism spectrum disorders occasionally go unacknowledged. The fact is that parents of children with Asperger syndrome can be equally distressed and frustrated as they try to diagnose the disorder and seek a cure.

Asperger’s is unlike autism in that a child’s linguistic and mental development continue unabated by the disorder. But as soon as the child is put into a social setting, the disorder makes its presence felt fast. Kids with Asperger’s tend to be loners as their disorder often prevents them from demonstrating empathy for others. They instead seem to lack any social graces that would come naturally to other children: making eye-contact, displaying an interest in others, appropriate facial expressions and so on.

As is the case with other disorders on the autism spectrum, some medical professionals have theorized a link between thimerosal – a mercury-based preservative used in some vaccines – and the onset of Asperger’s. The onus is on parents of afflicted children to seek out as much autism information as possible – both online and from trusted physicians – before seeking a remedy.

The birth of a child is supposed to be one of the highlights of a mother’s life. It offers her a chance to display a whole new side – that of caregiver and nurturer. Unfortunately, the joys of childbirth are occasionally tempered by disturbing circumstances. When children are found to have birth defects, parents immediately think of all of the special care and costs associated with the condition.

Although the precise cause of most birth defects is difficult to pinpoint, there are a number of well-known risk factors that have been shown to be contributors. For example, women with high rates of exposure to heavy metals during pregnancy put their unborn children at significant risk. The effects of birth defects mercury poisoning causes are lasting and far-reaching.

Luckily, the general awareness about mercury and its dangers to humans is more widespread these days than ever before. Mercury exposure is rare, but an overabundance of seafood – especially shark, swordfish, halibut, salmon and canned tuna – can cause harm to pregnant women. After childbirth, it’s crucial that parents pay close attention to the vaccines their kids receive. Mercury has been used as a vaccination preservative in the past, and parents can never be too careful.

Parents of autistic children are very familiar with the difficulties and frustrations that characterize everyday life, but through various support groups and treatment methods they learn to make the best of the situation. It’s not as easy for those parents who suspect their child has autism but are unable to get a satisfactory diagnosis. Bear in mind that not all family doctors are well-versed in developmental disorders. Getting a second opinion from a developmental pediatrician can make a world of difference.

There are a number of ways you can expedite the process of getting a diagnosis and moving on to the most important step: finding a treatment option that works for your child. First, bring in written and video evidence of the child’s struggles. If you can secure a letter from the child’s babysitter or teacher testifying as to his symptoms, it carries a lot of weight with a medical professional. The same is true of a video documenting the difficulties.

Articles on autism often recommend parental support groups. Seek out other parents who have gone through a similar experience. They will be more than willing to help navigate you through this difficult process, and they’ll be ready to listen as you vent about it. A huge network of support groups for autism already exists, but perhaps you’ll see an opportunity to start a whole new one in your area. Remember that the sooner your child receives a diagnosis, the sooner he or she will be on the way to treatment and a more normal life.

Every child is deserving of love! Unfortunately, many children’s needs are misunderstood or neglected, putting stress on the love within a family. Autism is a brain development disorder recognizable by impaired social interaction and communication and restricted by repetitive behavior. Don’t let your child’s needs go unnoticed; daily interaction with your children will keep you aware of potential warning signs.

Promoting autism education is an invaluable cause that will help parents recognize symptoms at an earlier age, ensuring that every autistic child receives the special care they need. If you’re already the parent of a diagnosed autistic child, you can continue to support autism awareness by voicing your knowledge and experiences to other parents. Together, we can promote gracious love and devotion to the children affected by autism.

It wasn’t until my son turned eight that a doctor diagnosed him with autism. My husband and I had been noticing the symptoms for years, of course, but we had no clue what to think. At first I suspected an acute form of obsessive compulsive disorder because of my son’s need for order. He organizes all of his personal belongings – toys, clothes, etc. – in an intricate system.

My son’s teachers told me he was bright but shy in school and that he didn’t communicate in the normal way for his age group. That was when I began my research, reading articles on autism with great interest. It all seemed to add up. I recognized that we would have to work together to fight this disorder. Still, I longed to know how this could have happened in the first place.

Our new family doctor posed a series of questions about vaccination. Had Tommy been given a diphtheria and tetanus vaccination at a young age? I looked at the medical records and discovered that he had in fact received this treatment. More research led me to conclude that the vaccine probably contained Thimerosol, a preservative that has been linked to the onset of mercury poisoning and eventual autism in young children. Although I’ve only just begun the process of looking for a cure, I feel confident that there’s a treatment option out there for my son.

Parents of autistic children are all too familiar with the day-to-day trials the disorder exerts on its sufferers. Autism impairs social functions and communication skills to the point where a child may not be able to express himself clearly. The child might demonstrate repetitive behavior that many people would associate with obsessive compulsive disorder. For instance, some autistic children react badly when even the slightest detail of their daily routine is augmented. Others display compulsions to follow seemingly arbitrary personal rules; in extreme cases, autism can cause self-destructive behavior.

The causes of autism remain ambiguous, which often frustrates those who deal with its effects every day. Research shows that there may be a pronounced genetic influence, but other possibilities exist as well. Studies show that mercury poisoning – which is highly treatable through detoxification – is linked to the onset of autism in young children.

The sooner we rid our society of the scourge called autism, the sooner our children can begin to live normal, healthy lives. New research is being conducted all the time, so conscientious parents should stay informed about new methods of treatment.