Closing the Door on the Autism Epidemic - Early Prediction and Successful Intervention Now Possible

Closing the Door on the Autism Epidemic

In order to rid this nation and the world of autism we must first know the cause for these neurological disorders. With the cause understood, we can predict which individuals will be at the highest risk for developing the symptoms of autism. This test covers the entire age range as individuals have been known to incur these risk factors at any age. The prediction of autism is now possible by completing a simple survey. This survey is based upon fifteen environmental and dietary markers for autism that have been shown to be accurate more than 95% of the time in a study involving more than a thousand individuals. It is believed this test, with early intervention for those found to be at high risk, will allow us to close the door on the autism epidemic thus stopping the development of more children with autism.

Early Prediction
The recently developed screening test has been shown to identify the greatest risk factors for developing autism and it is now being implemented on a limited basis. The symptoms of autism are simply an expression of the various nutritional deficiencies associated with picky eaters or those who fail to eat an adequate diet for good health. The expressions of autism are many and include any or several of the following: toe walking, rocking, tantrums, meltdowns, repetitive speech, lack of eye contact, tics, speech impairment or non-verbal, etc. that pose social problems plus many other symptoms. Some individuals express amazing abilities in math, art, or music but the cause for these talents are not well understood.

The incidence of autism in the U.S. is about 1% of the population or 1 in 88 children and is reported to be increasing at the rate of 10-17% per year. This survey is appropriate in all cases to predict the risk of developing autism. The survey will identify if the individual is in a high risk category even though symptoms are not yet present.

Successful Intervention
Once the survey is completed and the level of risk has been identified, the type and extent of early intervention will depend upon the analysis of the survey results. The appropriate intervention will totally eliminate the risks identified in most cases and at a fraction of the cost associated with searching for a medical solution. The primary treatments generally employed by the medical professions for autism, are for the treatment of medical problems. Autism is not a medical problem but having autism can lead to numerous medical problems.

Dr. Rongey is a Food Scientist & Nutritionist. His niche is in identifying the cause of chronic disorders. The cause of chronic disorders has been researched for the past sixteen years and autism for almost five years. Several books concerning the cause of chronic disorders are available in ebook or paperback format. His recently developed screening test is being implemented on a limited basis so that the success of the various interventions can be more accurately confirmed. For more information on this research or the availability of the books on autism or healthy living, you can contact him as follows:
Harold Rongey, Ph.D. email: hrongey@gmail.com Phone: 858-740-7272 or his web site at http://www.whostolemyfood.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harold_Rongey,_Ph.d

Biomedical Autism Treatment - Intervention For Autistic Children

What is Biomedical Autism Treatment?

Biomedical autism treatment is the practice of treating the medical problems that can trigger autism and other disorders. Many children, teenagers and adults with an autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) have a true, underlying medical condition that includes genetic susceptibilities, detoxification imbalance, immune dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, dietary sensitivities, biochemical abnormalities and more as causative factors in their ASD condition. A biomedical autism treatment approach comes from the awareness that ASD for many individuals is NOT just a psychological condition with no hope for improvement or recovery, like some say. It is, instead, a medical condition that has the potential to be reversed. Biomedical autism treatment for someone with an Autism-Spectrum Disorder works! It should be considered essential for any comprehensive program you are implementing to improve the health and quality of your child's (and your) life.

Basic Overview of Biomedical Autism Treatment:

* It is more than just a neuro-developmental disorder. Autism and other autism-spectrum disorders are truly a medical condition.

* It is the knowledge that the majority of autism-spectrum children (as well as teenagers and adults) are dealing with an underlying biological (aka. medical) disorder.

* Biomedicine can help children with attention-deficit (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other neuro-developmental problems even if they are not diagnosed with autism.

* Heavy metals, food sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies, chronic infections, immune dysfunction and genetic susceptibilities are at the core of their health problems. When these health issues are identified and treated many children's autism condition either improves or goes away.

* Biological problems involving the brain, immune, digestive, hormone and biochemical systems are at the root for many children on the autism-spectrum. The key is to recognize that autism is reversible for many children.

* Some of the biomedical autism treatments include dietary intervention such as the gluten and casein-free diet, vitamin and mineral therapy, detoxification treatment including the removal of heavy metal toxins, digestive support therapy including bacterial and yeast eradication, hyperbaric oxygen therapy for ongoing neurological inflammation and poor oxygen circulation and more.

* It is totally false that there is no hope for recovery - Autism Is Treatable. Many children have the potential to improve and in some their autism can be reversed. Biomedical autism treatment can also improve the effectiveness of other therapies such as speech, occupation therapy and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). Many parents see a dramatic improvement in their child's response with these "traditional" autism interventions once they begin biomedical intervention.

Don't let ANYONE tell you there is nothing you can do to help your child. Autism really is treatable! Start your child down the road to recovery from autism. Biomedical Autism treatments and therapies have resulted in many, many children improving - even losing their autism-spectrum disorder diagnosis. For more information and a free ebook on biomedical autism treatment go to http://www.AutismActionPlan.org

Dr. Kurt Woeller is an autism biomedical specialist, with a private practice in Southern California for over 10 years. He has helped children recover from autism, ADD, ADHD, and other disorders, and has the information you need to help your child. Get his ebook, "7 Facts You Need To Know About Autism (But Probably Weren't Told)." You can download it right now for free at http://www.AutismActionPlan.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Kurt_Woeller

Why Applied Behavior Analysis is More Than Early Intervention

For families with a child who struggles with an autism spectrum disorder, the term early intervention is likely quite familiar. Applied Behavior Analysis, or ABA, is a common approach to early autism intervention and is well known and documented for its effectiveness in teaching social skills and helping children with autism to better function in societal scenarios from classrooms to public places. What many parents do not know, however, is that ABA is much more than early intervention and shows significant capabilities over the life span of people with ASD and developmental problems.

While it is true that early intervention, particularly treating children before the age of 5 and often much sooner, can provide the most benefit, ABA therapy can prove highly beneficial at any age. The principles of ABA apply to all people, as it is simply the science of behavior and learning to develop crucial skills. With ABA, any developmentally disabled person will be able to learn to the best of their ability, and even in cases where fully normal functioning is not possible, ABA is proven to have the ability to help them develop to their full potential.

Many parents find themselves being told by courts and insurers that their child is too old to benefit from Applied Behavior Analysis. Not only does this keep children from receiving the treatment they deserve, it often convinces parents that there is no hope when ABA could still be highly effective. For parents denied coverage or funding for ABA treatment or even those seeking a more hands on approach to their child's therapy, home ABA courses are available that contain all of the instruction, data, and tools necessary to offer intensive and successful training at home for parents willing to put forth the hard work and effort required.

One of the many benefits of Applied Behavior Analysis is that there is no age limit and no restriction on what child may benefit from the program. Children of all disability levels can see some benefit from the program and many can achieve normal functioning. While early intervention is always recommended, there are many scenarios where it is simply not possible, from misdiagnosis during the appropriate time period to the use of other treatments during the early intervention period. ABA is a therapy that can work at any point and a proven method of teaching even children with severe ASD. This should provide a comfort to all parents and offer some of the hope that may have seemed lost when the diagnosis was first made.

Garrett Butch is the father of a 6 year old with autism and the founder of Maximum Potential Group.

Maximum Potential has developed courses that train parents and school systems how to work with children with autism.

http://www.maximumpotentialkids.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Garrett_Butch

Biomedical Autism Intervention - Methyl B-12, Eye Contact and Headache

Methyl B-12 injection therapy is a very helpful biomedical treatment for children with Autism. It is something I prescribe frequently so when a mother came in with her young son with Autism it was not a surprise that she wanted to try it with him. He was facing attention issues, very typical in Autism, as well as a language delay. But what did surprise me was her desire to try methyl B-12 injections herself. She explained that she had faced attention issues for most of her life.

I prescribed methyl B-12 injections for both of them and had a follow up with them six weeks later. Her son's progress was going well. She wasn't seeing much in the way of increased attention by six weeks but she did report a reduction in head pain with eye contact. It turns out that she had head pain, in the back of her head, when she made eye contact for prolonged periods of time so she also had fleeting eye contact.

When you understand how visual stimuli is processed you know that it comes in through the eye and is transferred to the back of the head. Many adults and verbal children report a reduction in head pain once starting methyl B-12 injection therapy.

I even had one patient gesture when he needed more methyl B-12. He would pat his head as a signal that he needed his next dose. This type of information in very valuable in treating others, many non-verbal, who cannot express the relief that many of these biomedical treatments like methyl B-12 injections can provide to children with Autism.

When we start to understand the physical issues contributing to behaviors in Autism we can see how they make sense. If a child is suffering from pain from eye contact, it makes sense that they avoid it. And we understand how much of a connection we get with other through eye contact. The visual and expressive cues are so important for our human interaction. This gives us one more bit of information to help understand and help children with Autism. Autism really is treatable!

Biomedical Autism treatments and therapies have resulted in many, many children improving, or even even losing their autism-spectrum disorder diagnosis. For more free biomedical autism intervention information and videos from Dr. Woeller, go to http://www.AutismRecoveryTreatment.com. Dr. Kurt Woeller is an biomedical autism Intervention specialist, with a private practice in Southern California for over 10 years. He has helped children recover from autism, ADD, ADHD, and other disorders, and has the information you need to help your child. Download his free ebook at http://www.AutismActionPlan.org.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Kurt_Woeller

Create an Autism Intervention Action Plan

As soon as possible after your child is diagnosed with autism, you need to develop a plan for addressing your child's needs and coping with the impact autism will have on your family. Autism can present both difficulties and challenges, but it does not have to prevent your child from growing up to lead a productive, meaningful and fulfilling life...and it does not have to prevent you and your family from enjoying a wonderful life together. The key to conquering autism is to understand autism, to understand how autism affects your particular child and impacts your particular family life, and to create and implement an effective autism intervention action plan to help your child reach his or her full potential and to help your family successfully cope with autism.

Follow these steps to create and implement an effective autism intervention action plan for your family:

1. Learn as much as you can about autism and treatments for autism. Conduct research using books, magazines, journals, the Internet...any sources you can find that will help you learn about and understand autism. Don't be shy about asking the health care and therapy providers, social workers and case managers who are part of your child's treatment team questions about autism. Write your questions down so they are easy to find when you are ready to ask them. Ask for clarification of anything you don't understand or need to have further explained.

2. Learn as much as you can about how autism affects your child who has been diagnosed with autism and your other family members. Observe and take note of how autism presents in your particular child. Be aware of your child's strengths, deficits, behaviors, capabilities and needs. Be mindful of how your child's autism affects the rest of your family. Knowing as much as you can about how autism affects your child and family will be immensely helpful when it's time for you to determine how your family will respond to the effects of autism.

3. Make a two-column list. Write your child's strengths, deficits, behaviors, capabilities and needs in the left hand column. Write possible interventions to address them in the right hand column.

4. Investigate the costs of the interventions you believe might benefit your child. Compile a list of resources you have for paying for the therapies, treatments and other interventions you believe will help your child.

5. Seek the support of other people and families who are affected by autism. Contact parent groups in your area. Join groups and forums online. Participate in meetups and social activities. Autism affects your entire family so everyone could use some support. Encourage family members to join support groups for people who have autism and their parents, siblings and extended families.

6. Seek professional help when you need it. Autism can take a toll on a family. If your family needs the intervention of an experienced professional to help it make it through tough times dealing with autism, enlist the assistance of a counselor, social worker, psychologist or member of the clergy.

7. Reflect on your plan. Revisit, revise and refine it as often as is necessary.

An autism intervention action plan can benefit all families affected by autism, whether your child is newly diagnosed or was diagnosed with autism years ago. Understanding autism and consciously preparing to cope with it will benefit all members of your family immensely.

http://www.autismassistance.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_McFarland-Mcdaniels

Early Intervention With Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnosis

The dramatic rise in autism spectrum disorder has leads parents to worry any signs of abnormality to their children. Symptoms such as not playing with other children, lack or no communication, being behind the development grid, and odd physical behaviors like toe walking can cause parents to contact the child's pediatrician. Sometimes these are just paranoia to the lifelong disability, other times it can lead to immediate intervention and positive outcome. The disorder diagnosis is usually done after symptoms of autism spectrum disorder have been noticed.

Psychologist, developmental pediatrician, or pediatric neurologist is the best doctors to do the disorder diagnosis. These doctors screen the child by observing the behavior, interviewing, and then evaluating the child. Since this kind of screening is a not definite test to confirm autism spectrum disorder, terms such "it looks like" or "it appears to be" are used by these physicians. The reason behind is that, the outcome of the screening is just the doctor's opinion and not yet conclusive.

A comprehensive autism spectrum disorder diagnosis by a multi-disciplinary team is followed to confirm the diagnosis. Several autism spectrum disorder diagnosis screening tools have been made to hasten the information gathering about a child's social and communicative development within medical setup such as the Checklist of Autism in Toddlers (CHAT), the modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), the Screening Tool for Autism in Two-Year-Olds (STAT), and the Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) for children age 4 and older. Another tool often used by the team is the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS). It helps in evaluating the child's body gestures, listening, and verbal communication.

The disorder diagnosis will make parents understand the condition of their children and what help is needed. The multi-disciplinary team can recommend programs for problems in speech delays, hearing impairment, and social deficits. Parents need to understand that once autism spectrum disorder is diagnosed, it is not the end of the world for the child. The diagnosis makes it easier for people concerning this disorder to move forward and for the child to live a normal life.

Want to know more about Autism Spectrum Diagnosis? Visit Michael Harrah's site at http://autism-spectrum-disorder.net/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Harrah

Autism Intervention Teaching Strategies - Increasing Success in Your Autistic Child

As you may know there are several autism intervention strategies available to you. However, many can be a simple fad that may have seemed to work with one or two children, but because of the testimonials and the desire of parents to want to "cure" their child, they will try almost anything.

Intervention teaching strategies that have worked and continue to work are those that have been researched and proven to help many times. Can you guess what this may be? It is Applied Behavior Analysis, also known as ABA. This intervention method is based on applying the principles of behavior into teaching skills that promote behavior change to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

This autism intervention or ABA can be used to teach many skills that are broken down into smaller sub skills. These sub skills are taught by using behavior change techniques such as positive reinforcement, fading, shaping (chaining), and prompting.

The most important and primary factor in teaching new skills is the use of positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is the method of providing an individual with something that will increase the probability of the behavior to occur again. Some think this is as simple as giving a reward, but what may be rewarding to one, may not be rewarding to another. An example of this autism intervention strategy is that a child may be given a piece of candy for saying, "hi" to another individual. If the child likes candy he/she may begin to say "hi" more often; if the child does not like candy, the probability of the child increasing that behavior is not likely.

It is important to have many different reinforcers (motivators) available when teaching and maintaining skills learned.

Visit http://www.autismsupportonline.com for FREE newsletters sent to your inbox relating to treating individuals with autism. Upcoming articles with detailed information on more autism intervention strategies such as positive reinforcement, fading, shaping, and prompting will be available in newsletters for registered individuals. For more information on the author, visit http://www.autismsupportonline.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Triglia

Biomedical Autism Treatment - Intervention For Autistic Children

What is Biomedical Autism Treatment?

Biomedical autism treatment is the practice of treating the medical problems that can trigger autism and other disorders. Many children, teenagers and adults with an autism-spectrum disorder (ASD) have a true, underlying medical condition that includes genetic susceptibilities, detoxification imbalance, immune dysfunction, nutritional deficiencies, dietary sensitivities, biochemical abnormalities and more as causative factors in their ASD condition. A biomedical autism treatment approach comes from the awareness that ASD for many individuals is NOT just a psychological condition with no hope for improvement or recovery, like some say. It is, instead, a medical condition that has the potential to be reversed. Biomedical autism treatment for someone with an Autism-Spectrum Disorder works! It should be considered essential for any comprehensive program you are implementing to improve the health and quality of your child's (and your) life.

Basic Overview of Biomedical Autism Treatment:

* It is more than just a neuro-developmental disorder. Autism and other autism-spectrum disorders are truly a medical condition.

* It is the knowledge that the majority of autism-spectrum children (as well as teenagers and adults) are dealing with an underlying biological (aka. medical) disorder.

* Biomedicine can help children with attention-deficit (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other neuro-developmental problems even if they are not diagnosed with autism.

* Heavy metals, food sensitivities, nutritional deficiencies, chronic infections, immune dysfunction and genetic susceptibilities are at the core of their health problems. When these health issues are identified and treated many children's autism condition either improves or goes away.

* Biological problems involving the brain, immune, digestive, hormone and biochemical systems are at the root for many children on the autism-spectrum. The key is to recognize that autism is reversible for many children.

* Some of the biomedical autism treatments include dietary intervention such as the gluten and casein-free diet, vitamin and mineral therapy, detoxification treatment including the removal of heavy metal toxins, digestive support therapy including bacterial and yeast eradication, hyperbaric oxygen therapy for ongoing neurological inflammation and poor oxygen circulation and more.

* It is totally false that there is no hope for recovery - Autism Is Treatable. Many children have the potential to improve and in some their autism can be reversed. Biomedical autism treatment can also improve the effectiveness of other therapies such as speech, occupation therapy and Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). Many parents see a dramatic improvement in their child's response with these "traditional" autism interventions once they begin biomedical intervention.

Don't let ANYONE tell you there is nothing you can do to help your child. Autism really is treatable! Start your child down the road to recovery from autism. Biomedical Autism treatments and therapies have resulted in many, many children improving - even losing their autism-spectrum disorder diagnosis. For more information and a free ebook on biomedical autism treatment go to http://www.AutismActionPlan.org

Dr. Kurt Woeller is an autism biomedical specialist, with a private practice in Southern California for over 10 years. He has helped children recover from autism, ADD, ADHD, and other disorders, and has the information you need to help your child. Get his ebook, "7 Facts You Need To Know About Autism (But Probably Weren't Told)." You can download it right now for free at http://www.AutismActionPlan.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Kurt_Woeller

Available Autism Behavior Interventions

Given the lack of interventions that can deliver cure for patients of autism, they are limited to therapies that can improve the quality of their lives. The main goal of an autism behavior therapy is, in general, tri-fold - to lessen the impairments and distress associated with the symptoms, improve the lives of the patients, and allow them to become more capable of functioning independently. Although there are a lot of contradictions in the efficacy of various therapies, evidence still suggests that conducting interventions is more preferable and relatively more effective at achieving the aforementioned goals than not doing anything at all. There are a number of therapies currently in use today; some of them are briefly discussed below:

Educational interventions

Educational interventions are not exclusively focused in helping patients of autism acquire the necessary skills to understand academic subjects as well as ready them to traditional school settings. Instead, these interventions give more weight to helping patients develop skills that can make them more functional in most types of situations, cognitive skills to help them exercise mental functions, social skills to help them build social relationships and respond better to social stimuli, communication skills to develop their capacity to interact with others and to use acceptable means of expressing their ideas and feelings, to try to reduce their unwanted behaviors, along with others.

There are many educational interventions that can demonstrate varying degrees of efficacy. Applied Behavior Analysis includes all other methods used in behavioral analysis. These basically objectively measure the observed behavior of autistic children based on their responses to stimuli and the effects of rewards on their behaviors. In general, this group of techniques has demonstrated results in controlled environments, but it is not known whether these results will hold in actual settings.

Structured teaching, short for TEACCH or Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children, uses highly structured methods and environments to treat patients of autism.

Communication interventions or speech therapy, on the other hand, tries to resolve the patients' inability to express themselves more effectively. One striking symptom of autism is speech impairment. This therapy attempts to help diminish, if not correct, speech development-related problems.

Other educational interventions that are widely used nowadays are patterning, pivotal response therapy, therapies that focus on Sensory Integration Dysfunction, music therapy, animal-assisted therapy, a home-based program called Son-Rise, neurofeedback, aversion or electric shock therapy, and others.

Parent-mediated interventions

This group of autism behavior therapies concern parents more than their autistic children. These commonly provide practical advises to make them more capable of handling their children's condition.

Medical management

Medical management is a body of interventions that involves the use of supplements, drugs, and changes in diet to alter factors that are known to stimulate the onset of the symptoms. Other medical management methods include chelation therapy, craniosacral therapy, chiropatic, electroconvulsive therapy, stem cell therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and prosthetics. To know which autism behavior therapy can help a patient best, it is advisable to seek medical advice.

I'd like to give you a FREE DVD (worth $97) on shaping your child's autistic behaviors. Click here to claim your FREE DVD today! We only have 250 DVD available, so hurry and get your FREE DVD today and start understanding and helping your child!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johnathon_Ellis

Alternative Treatments for Children With Autism

(For easier reading and flow, I have used he/him/his throughout this article. Obviously these words are interchangeable with she/her)

"That alternative treatment is unproven by medical science. Don't waste your money. Wait until the research has been done and published in peer-reviewed medical journals." That's easy for you say...you don't have to live with a child with autism day after day, and see him wasting away in the face of his hidden potential. A child who held the promise of being a normal, intelligent child, who is now trapped under the mask of autism. I am talking about the child with autism who can't communicate. He bites his fingers, bangs his head against the wall, huddles in the corner of his bedroom covering his head with a blanket and moans, as he tries to shut out frustrating environmental sounds, sights and smells that he can't make sense of, or internal sensations and pain that he can't communicate. If you try to comfort him, he becomes aggressive. You don't know what to do. You can only watch as the tears run down your face.

Being a parent of a child with autism makes you feel every emotion possible. It's frightening, disappointing, lonely, and frustrating. You feel angry, trapped, and financially drained. But sometimes it's humorous, enlightening and educational. And there are rare moments when you feel absolutely joyous because he shows you a skill that you never knew he had. You didn't teach it to him. It was there all the time - trapped. But because of a so-called unproven treatment, the skill emerged. And you are one step closer to knowing your child.

Interventions can be educational, behavioral, therapeutic, psycho pharmacological, and/or bio-medical. A multi-treatment approach is most likely to reap the best results over time - a long time. But who can afford all of it and where do you start?

The good news is that there is an abundance of information on the internet about alternative treatments for autism. The bad news is that there is an abundance of information on the internet for alternative treatments for autism. There are so many unproven and expensive alternative treatments for children with autism, some of which are very beneficial for some children with autism, but not others. How are parents supposed to sort through it all? They must spend hundreds of hours educating themselves and then use their gut instincts to make the right choices for their family.

Recent studies have shown that many children with autism have significant co-existing medical (physiological) conditions that need to be addressed. However, because of the lack of proper evidence of the effectiveness of biomedical treatments, most medical doctors won't even test their patients with autism for possible physiological conditions. But an abundance of anecdotal evidence exists that some of these treatments can be very effective. Most medical doctors, who have spent some time researching biomedical treatments for autism, will agree that they are definitely worth a trial despite the fact that this is an emerging field, and clear-cut treatment protocols are lacking.

Even with a proven intervention such as ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis, Lovaas) the rate of effectiveness is controversial. The literature shows that intensive behavioural therapy clearly benefits children with autism; however, the original effectiveness claim by Lovaas was overstated. In the original controlled study and its follow-up, the 19 children with autism who were treated intensively with behaviour therapy for 2 years were reported to gain an average of 30 IQ points, while nearly half of them were able to participate in mainstream education and were indistinguishable from their peers. However, both controlled and uncontrolled published studies have failed to corroborate the original claim of achieving normal functioning. There are so many variables; such as the age of the child, the severity of the autism, the quality and intensity of the program, the skills of the instructor-therapist and program supervisor, etc. All of these will make a difference as to whether or not a child will benefit from ABA or Intensive Behavioural Intervention, and to what degree.

You may have heard the phrase...If you meet one child with autism; you have met one child with autism. Due to the fact that each child with autism will have a different combination of a variety of issues that present themselves as autistic symptoms, each child will require an extremely individualized treatment plan. A combination of biomedical interventions and therapeutic, educational, and behavioral programs such as Intensive Behavioral Intervention can have profound effects. So parents have to educate themselves and be their child's own case manager. This is a daunting task for many parents since they are already overwhelmed with their child's needs.

You may have heard that early intervention is essential. However, through no fault of your own, your child may not have been diagnosed early by a medical doctor. Time doesn't stand still, and while you are enduring long waiting lists for government services, and trial-and-error treatments, your child will continue to age. But no matter how old your child gets, never give up on him.

Visit AFASE at School http://www.afase.com/Bio-Medical_Treatments.html to join the only doctor directed biomedical website that educates and empowers you to treat and possibly recover your child from autism.

For more resources to help you ensure that your children are getting the best from their educational program, browse through my site http://www.afase.com/Resources_Links.html and sign up to receive my free advocacy tips and news.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_A._Robinson

Autism Intervention - An Intervention That Can Work Wonders For Your Child

Misbehavior is often interpreted as a child's way of seeking attention. But, in the state of affairs of autistic children, this is spontaneous, not deliberate. Almost us who is diagnosed of autism has a number of challenging behaviors that prevent them based on information from functioning normally. Autism Intervention

These behaviors may range based on data from self-injurious this type of as hitting oneself or deciding on one's own skin, utterly odd like continuous hand flapping and spinning, and really precarious such as kicking. However astronomical these behaviors may seem, they can be, in fact, set for the duration of a therapy called behavior therapy.

Behavior therapy is a technique that focuses on a wide variety of methods covered by Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA. Although it is a relatively new concept in Psychology and an experimental one at that, studies have shown that it is an effective treatment
method for autism. Autism behavioral therapy focuses on correcting behaviors based on the main factors observed in ABA - stimulus, response, and reward which can be defined quantifiably.

Through observation of behaviors, experts try to create proper measures that can help discourage the repetition of unwanted behavior and establish a new set of behaviors that are favorable to the patient. Autism behavioral therapy roots from the concept that all spectrum of behaviors, autistic or otherwise, can be understood and modified, regardless of their nature and occurrence, to the needs of the individual performing the problem behaviors and the people he affects through his behavior. Autism Intervention

It works by observing the typical behaviors of the autistic child in normal settings. His activities, emotions, and reactions and responses to things and activities are important information that are studied. From these, the behavioral specialist will create interventions to improve what needs to be improved and reinforce behaviors that are good.

These interventions are based on six methods usually used to support patients of autism. In summary these include: Reinforcement procedures which encourage repetition of desirable behaviors and discourage the performance of unwanted behaviors:

* Systematic instruction to teach patients new skills like communication, functional life, and social skills.

* Maintenance of behaviors through introducing self-monitoring procedures.

* Application of behaviors from one setting to another.

* Restriction of settings and conditions that can interfere with positive behaviors. Autism Intervention

* Reduction of interfering behaviors. Don't let your child suffer anymore! Lead your child out of his world through Autism Intervention program now!

Autism, Hope and Positive Intervention

Autism is a neurological condition characterized by impairments in social, communicative and behavioral development. It is three times as common, like ADHD, in boys. The level of severity varies and the problem of autism is international in scope. It has been described as a "public health concern."

In 1943 Dr. Leo Kanner of the Johns Hopkins Hospital studied a group of 11 children and introduced the label early infantile autism. A German scientist, about the same time, labeled a milder form of the disorder which became known as Asperger syndrome. These are two the most common of the disorders known as pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), or as autism spectrum disorders.

The five PDD disorders are autism, Asperger syndrome, Rett Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (the latter two being less common that the first two). Also, a 5th is labeled as PDD-NOS, that is pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, a disorder that does not meet the specific criteria for the other commonly diagnosed disorders.

At times it takes discernment on the part of parents and treatment teams, psychologists and professionals in determining whether a child has ADHD, autism, or some other disorder.

Experiences Recently the girlfriend of actor Jim Carrey, Jenny McCarthy, released teh book "Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism," about her son, Evan, and his progress in coming out of autism, as well as about Carey's attentiveness to him and the role that she felt that had in his partial recovery. Evan is 5-years-old (November 2007) Evan's experience here.

Stories such as this do give a ray of hope to parents whose children are autistic and should encourage them to take whatever postitives steps they can to work with their children to see what might be of help. For some children, full recovery might not be possible, for others, that might be hope for a better life through therapy and lifestyle adjustments.

A boy named Eric was diagnosed with autism. He couldn't make eye contact and his parents were faced with a choice of using medication or behavioral therapy. After a short but not good experience with medication, they found that behavioral therapy was effective in helping Eric to open up. Within a short time he was making eye contact and engaging in productive educational activities.

His therapist Eve Band, and Owning Mills psychologist, states concerning autism, that many autistic children are "highly visual." In teaching or working with autistic children, she states, "when you support something verbal with something visual that he creates, it helps him rework, process and remember the information."

There are specialized schools within the public school system for autistic children. Such classes consist of few students with a high ratio of teachers and students.

Medication

While it is generally held by many authorities that autism is not significantly helped, or is not helped at all through the use of medications, psychiatric medications are something that is being routinely prescribed to control symptoms associated with autism.

At times, children with autism might also suffer from depression or from such difficulties as seizures, which are said to effect 1 in 4 who have some form of autism. Antidepressants have been prescribed for such depressed children, and in the case of seizures, the use of anticonvulsants. However, the whole spectrum of psychiatric drugs are also being experimented with in treating symptoms of autism.

Each professional might hold a different opinion. Parents, though, should realize that medications for autism, at best, might help to improve some of the symptoms for a limited time, but also, psychiatric medication in general also have many difficulties and side effects associated with them, as described in other sections of this website. This can especially be true for children.

The thought, then, expressed here, and by a number of other professionals and professional organizations is to use medications sparingly, or not at all. Positive therapies, educational remediation and lifestyle changes or adjustments will probably work just as well, if not much better than medications in the case of autism and its related disorders. Dr. Andrew Zimmerman, a pediatric neurologist at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, feels that about 10% of children with autism can fully or partially recover with therapy.

Another authoritative source states that approximatly 1/3 of those who receive intensive therapy, especially from preschool years, can achieve marked improvement, another 1/3 can be helped somewhat and the other third might night make much progress at all. Children who are effected the most by the symptoms of autism spectrum disorders are those who will be least likely to achieve any marked improvement, although there are always exceptions.

It therapy is accompanied by attention to positive lifestyle changes at home, this can help to improve the ratios of children who are helped to recover from autism and similar disorders. (As described below.)

These are some symptoms in infants:

* No big smiles or other joyful expressions by six months.

* No communicative sharing with parents, smiles or reactions by 9 months.

* No gestures towards parents by 12 months: pointing, reaching, waving.

* No babbling by 12 months or words by 16 months.

* No meaningful phrases with own volition by 24 moths.

* Loss of speech or social skills at any age.

* Repetitive Behavior

* Some additional symptoms of autism are a child or toddler becoming silent, withdrawn, self-abusive or indifferent to social overtures.

A child might have a tendency to "lose control", especially when they are in a strange or overwhelming environment or when they are angry or frustrated. They might beak this, attack others, or hurt themselves. Some bang their head ins frustration or pull their hair bite their arms.

Some children with ASD remain mute throughout their lives. Others might be delayed, only learning to speak at 5-9 years old. Some might use only sign language later in their development.

Echolalia Some ASD children parrot what they hear, repeating the words just spoken to them.

Speech Some children speak in a high-pitched, song-song, or in a flat, robotic voice.

Teenagers As autistic children become teenagers, they deal with the same issues of their developing bodies and that other children deal with. Some children also become increasingly aware that they are different than other children and this can lead to depression.

Mercury and Vaccinations There is much research being done as to the causes of autism disorders but as of now, there are not definite answers. There is controversy over the effects of childhood vaccines, the presence of a mercury-rich preservative, called thimerosal, which some parents feel is responsible for autism. Today, the preservative is no longer found in routine childhood vaccines, but is used in some flu shots.

Scientific studies have not found a causal relationship between childhood vaccines and autism, although some parents still feel strongly that this is the case. So it has become an emotional issue in the field of autism.

So while much research has been done at the present time, special education and positive involvement by parents, some lifestyle changes, and a number of therapies, are aobut the most definite answers for parents who have children with autism.

Television and Children's Cartoons, Movies Some of the other principles on this site may be of help for parents with children who have autism as well. Many children with autism are highly visual. Their minds might process information differently than other children, and might be susceptible to sensory overload much more easily than children without a disorder. The stimulation of television and television cartoons might be something that effects the mind of some children, and parents m ight consider doing without television and movies as entertainment for children with autism.

Video games, in a way, mirror the thinking that is characteristic of autism, repititive, sudden stops and starts, for some children. Children in general easily become obsessed and addicted to video games, and some experiences of children with autism, show how the autistic mind can become, like with other children, obsessed with video games.

Some autistic children can become obesessed with numbers, certain subjects in science, the functioning of a specific mechanical device such as a vacume cleaner. The autistic child needs help to "come out of his shell," in some cases, as autism is associated with social withdrawal in some cases.

The electronic world has a tendency for even children without a disorder to crawl into their shell, so, this can be especially true of autistic children. Autistic chidlren also can overeact to loud or sudden noises, it being unbearable for them. TV and movies are filled with such sounds, as well as cartoon violence. This can contribute to sensory overload and make it more difficult for a child with one of the autism spectrum disorders to make progress.

This has been especially so in the past 28 years, since Sesame Street introduced the first children's programming. It was designed to be "attention grabbing" through rapidly changing "sound bite" type of visual effects. This is true of children's cartoons today, many of which are also overtly violent or have underlying violence. e.g. Bugs Bunny, with fast-paced, or underlying violence. 8 out of 10 Saturday cartoon characters are said to be violent in one 1994 survey.

And children's program in the past few years has become excessively violent as well as what children are being exposed to through parents and older siblings, programming not necessarily designed for children.

One child with a form of autism was especially attracted to Monsters Inc., and while such children's movies can keep children busy for an hour or two, it might also contribute to confusion in the mind of a child with autism, who might have a more difficult time seperating reality and fantasy. So attention to this might be one area where children could benefit from sensory stimulation that is more positive and gentle in nature.

Art and Gentle Music Some educational organizations sponsor art summer camps, which some teachers involved in special education of children with special needs feel is of value in helping autistic children to open up and learn to focus. One such teacher related the story of an autistic boy he taught who he felt benefited from art therapy and who went on to hold a full time job when he grew up. The teacher felt that the art was helpful for the boy to learn to focus. (Paterson, NJ).

Additionally, gentle music in the house or car is of value, rather than highly stimulating music which might also be more than the mind can handle for a child with autism. Some special education classes feature only gentle classical music, which seems to give the children more peace of mind.

* A neurologist or developmental specialist such as a child psychologist should diagnosis autism in children.

Spirituality is also an area of consideration with autism. Attention to spiritual needs of both parents and children is of importance, as is mental and spiritual hygiene. This can help parents to be able to handle the many pressures that come with having an autistic child, to respond positively, as well as helping some autistic children as well. Reading positive and loving, compassionate stories can help some children.

Exercise: Regular exercise for autistic children is also of value, as well as attention to a healthy diet. In one school for handicapped children in Newark, NJ, a swimming pool is part of the program, within the school premises, that provides healthy and gentle stimulation and recreation for autistic children. If it is possible for an autistic child to be taken for regular walks in the park, this also can be of value and calming for the mind.

References:

1. Coalition Against Institutionalized Child Abuse
Behavioral modification vs. medicine
caica.org/NEWS%20Autism%20Behavior%20Mod.htm

2. Talk About Curing Autism.
Behavior and teaching methods.
talkaboutcuringautism.org/behavior/socialization.htm
Talk About Curing Autism is a one stop portal for autism related issues.

3. Talk About Curing Autism
Children with autism get day in court
by Andrew Bridges, AP
talkaboutcuringautism.org/index.htm?gclid=CK3cn4SKlo8CFSBMGgodViSJew

4. Autism Spectrum Disorders Pervasive Developmental Disorders Department of Health and Human Services Naqtional Institute of Health. NIMH. (2004) nimh.nih.gov

John W. Samuels is a writer and author on the subject of children's mental health, a resident of Newark, NJ U.S. and currently teaches science in public schools in Newark, NJ. He runs the NJ non-profit, Association for Natural Psychology, and its mental health website. Please see: http://www.winmentalhealth.com

Articles and resources are presented on ADHD, depression, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, schizophrenia, OCD, borderline personality disorder, autism, the psychological effects of abortion, positive parenting, child psychology, and many other topics, 146 pages of free information.

The ADHD book Overcoming ADHD Without Medication: A Parent and Educator's Guidebook, is available on Amazon.com in paperback and as an ebook on Kindle and also touches on autism as comorbid with ADHD>

Many of the underlying causes of ADHD are considered, as well as positive non-pharmaceutical solutions for both parents and teachers. Mental health professionals can also benefit from insight into aspects of children's mental health that might not usually be considered. Research from scores of clinical studies and other professional sources, an extended bibliography and index, as well as nearly 100 footnotes help to distinguish this book from some others on the subject.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_W._Samuels