Help With Autism

When your child is diagnosed with autism, don’t fret. It’s normal that you may not know what to do or where to turn to find help and answers. You may have questions like: Will my child need to see a specialist? Are there any medications available to help? What may have caused this condition?

One of the first things you should do to help your autistic child is to sign them up for Applied Behavior Analysis, which is a common form of autism therapy. This will allow doctors to study your child’s social, motor and verbal behaviors as well as reasoning skills. While children without autism learn these skills and behaviors naturally through their own environment, children with autism need guidance in learning them. Once you are familiar with the ABA method, you can practice it at home with your child.

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.

There was good news this past week in the world of autism research. White Castle System Inc. CEO Bill Ingram and his wife Marci announced a $10 million pledge for autism research to be conducted through The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Ohio State said it would be one of the largest funds dedicated to studying autism spectrum disorder.

This year $1 million in grants will be made available to researchers. The Ingram’s have included part of the pledge in their wills. The Ingram’s have a son with autism so they know first hand the need for funding for autism research. The Ohio State University has ongoing studies that include animal studies of pollutant exposure during pregnancy, genetic research, and clinical trials testing a method of parent-and-child training to reduce irritable behavior.

Claims have been made, though not scientifically proven, that vitamin and mineral supplement therapy can help people with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Many children and adults with ASD struggle with proper nutrition. Some studies have shown that intestinal disorders and chronic gastrointestinal inflammation reduces the absorption of essential nutrients, causing disruption to the immune system and general metabolic functions.

Some children with ASD have low levels of vitamins A, B1, B3, and B5. A study which involved giving vitamin B supplements to ASD patients resulted in almost half of the individuals showing improvement. Vitamin B plays an important role in creating enzymes needed by the brain. Vitamin and mineral therapy is only one type of treatment for autism. As with any treatment, you should consult with your doctor before and during any new regimen.

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 autistic spectrum disorders continuing their sharp rise it’s become clear that autism is a significant problem in the mental and physical health of everyone. It doesn’t just affect the poor or the wealthy or any certain race or creed. Everyone is as susceptible as everyone else and the Michigan State Legislature has taken notice. Democrats in the Michigan House are pushing to expand behavioral therapies and better coverage for autistic children.

Breaking from the debate about causes of autism legislators aim to help autistic families and the communities they live in become healthier and happier. The Republican-led Senate has failed to vote on the legislation so it’s difficult to predict the outcome. No matter what happens, though, it’s clear that autism is become an ever-present part of our society and awareness is at an al-time high.

No matter where you look these days you can find a litany of autism treatments and methods for helping autistic people cope with their day to day lives. One aspect, gaining in popularity and research shows that candida albicans may exacerbate some of the behaviors associated with autism. Some people believe that by eliminating or decreasing exposure to candida can go a long way in helping those with autism on a day to day basis. But what is candida and how do you fight it?

Candida is a form of yeast and its emergence as a medical issue can be attributed to long-term use of antibiotics to fight common ailments. Some studies have shown that children diagnosed as young as 18-24 months showed they had been treated almost continuously with antibiotics. So the first step is to find an alternative method of staving off common ailments. Candida can cause toxins to be released into the body. These toxins can then cause many behaviors to worsen, making life harder on the sufferer and their family.