Handling Self-Injurious Behavior in Children With Autism

I have read recently and understand that some parents are desperately seeking advice for handling their child's self-injurious behavior. Self-injurious behavior, also known as SIBs, are classified as any aggression towards oneself. The most common forms of self-injurious aggression is hitting or biting but some older children may also be involved with cutting. Other forms of SIBs may also include head butting, body slamming, picking or scratching, and using other objects to hit. Before talking about strategies that help to replace these SIBs and decrease the severity of the injury, let's discuss how critical SIBs are.
If your child is demonstrating SIB, then it is time to get a behavior consultant involved if there is not one already. The reason for this is because it is crucial to get to the root of the problem and find out exactly why your child is acting out in an aggressive way. He may be desperate with communicating his needs and incredibly frustrated. She may be seeking out deep sensory input. He may be trying to gain access to some tangible that he can't have. Unless a functional behavior assessment is done, you will not be able to truly address the SIB because you won't know exactly what is causing it. I will focus another few posts on functions of behavior but it is important to note that when you know the function of the behavior, you can act proactively to help prevent and/or at least decrease the behavior that is inappropriate. So seeking out the help of a professional behavior consultant may be your first step. Now, this may take some time to get set up. In fact, just getting an agency, evaluation, behavior consultant, and/or services in place, (if you do not have already) can take a tremendous amount of time. So, here are some tips that you can try now to handle the everyday occurrences until you have more help in place.
I know it must be SO incredibly frustrating and disheartening to see your child hurting himself. You're willing to try anything because you know your child may end up causing himself severe injury, if not hospitalization. You also may be very puzzled as to why your child is acting this way. Some children will casually bite their hand and stop biting because it hurts. This is a natural consequence. They will stop biting because they feel pain. However, many children with Autism Spectrum Disorders do not feel pain like typical children do. Many of them have an extremely high tolerance for pain and may not even cry when they get hurt. Many of them also seek out deep sensory input. They crave, not only deep pressure, but some kind of impact to their bodies in order to help feel more regulated. These are children with sensory processing disorders known as the "sensory seekers." Biting can be due to an oral fixation, the need for sensory input to the mouth. As odd as it may sound, children who are orally fixed and may be biting, may continue to bite because it brings them a sense of joy and regulation, NOT pain. Don't forget that most SIBS are caused by some level of frustration in the child, not just sensory needs. A biter may be seeking input but may also be acting out of frustration for another need or want. That is why a behavior assessment needs to be done to truly understand the cause.
Let' also discuss the issue of restraint. When a child is acting out against himself or someone else, retraining him/her can be an option. HOWEVER, it is very important to note 3 things. 1. Restraining a child should only be done to help prevent further injury to the child or someone else, especially in extreme measures. 2. There is a protocol, a heirarchy, and training involved with restraining a child appropriately so that you and the child do not continue to get hurt in the process. If you are not trained properly, nor understand the protocol, then I would not recommend restraint in any way. 3. If restraining the child makes matters worse, i.e. causes your child to completely lose control, fight back, and increase rage, frustration, SIBS, and/or aggression, then restraint should not be used. I will discuss the methodology of restraint in other posts but please keep these tips in mind if considering it as a reactive measure to SIBs.
BITING
Biting can be very harmful as bite marks and bruises can occur without too much force. If you have a child that bites, you should invest in some kind of a chew object. There are companies that sell chew tubes that help children who need to chew or bite due to lower oral motor function or who may need sensory input to the mouth because of a sensory disorder. Chew tubes also work great for children who bite because you may be able to replace the biting of one's arm to biting this rubbery object and still give your child the oral input that they may be craving. If the biting is done out of frustration, it is still done in a safer way. One company, The Sensory University, offers a pack of chew toys called CHEWY RETRACTABLE BITE BUDDIES that can be attached and retractable to a belt loop so they are on hand immediately whenever they are needed. There are also CHEWY TUBES as well as a TRI CHEW toy that looks like a triangle.
HITTING
Hitting can be a little trickier, depending on where the child is hitting himself. Some times, hitting can be prevented by holding down the child's arms. You want to do this only with enough force to prevent the child from lifting his arms to hit. You can also place your hand between your child's hand and the place your child is hitting. For example, if your child is hitting his forehead, you may be able to place your hand on the child's forehead to block the hit. This has worked with some children. I had a student who stopped hitting once he felt another hand there, blocking his face. He may hit one to two more times but then stopped. Another idea is to have the child wear a helmet if he engages in repetitive and severe hits or blows to his head. The best type of helmet to use is a soft foam helmet that is easy to put on and does not harm the head further if pounded on. It simply creates a soft space between the hand and the head to protect the head. One such helmet would be Playmaker Headgear. Be sure to get a helmet that fits your child's head properly. The helmet should only be put on while head hitting is occurring and then it can be removed.
Remember that these are measures that can be taken to help reduce the severity and/or harm that can happen as a result of SIBs. They are only tips that can be tried as a reactive strategy. They are not to be considered solutions. The best way to handle SIBS is to assess what is causing the SIB and address the specific function of the behavior. In this way, you can learn to be proactive and help prevent SIBs from happening at all.

Read more special education resources, especially tips for children with autism, on my blog, http://www.tips4specialkids.com

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7257853

Gluten And Casein Free Diets For Autistic Kids

It's the parents of children with autism but not the doctors and researchers who found out the dietary treatment for autism firstly. These parents discovered that, after eating specific food, the autism of their kids got worse. So, they began to watch out which food is bad for autism. Since the effecting food for every child is different, but there's something in common. These common food include wheat, rye, barley, and most oat products, milk products, eggs and chocolate,etc.
In fact, children with autism may have trouble digesting proteins like gluten and casein which are widely found in oat and milk products. The gluten and casein can leak into the gut and attach to the opiate receptors of the autistic's brain, affecting brain functions. So, in the 1999 DAN (Defeat Autism Now) conference, there were many companies that have provided gluten-free and casein-free diet for parents.
Some now may ask what are gluten and casein exactly. Well, gluten is a protein fraction found in all wheat, rye, barley, and most oat products, but not in rice and potatoes. After having gluten-free diet for 6-12 months, most of the autistic children get a obvious improvement; Casein is a protein fraction found in all dairy products, such as milk, butter, cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, etc. Researchers had found that casein free diet is doing very well for autistic kids between 2-4 yr old.
The gluten-free, casein-free diet is challenging, but it can make a big difference for children with autism. It is important not to withdraw gluten/casein food products at once from a child's diet, as there can be withdrawal symptoms.

http://www.autism-world.com/index.php/2007/12/02/gluten-and-casein-free-diets-for-autistic-kids/
http://www.autism-world.com

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/861160

Choose the Best School for Your Autistic Kid

We all want the very best for our children and having autistic kids increases our want of getting the best for them all the more. Like for all kids their journey begins from school but getting the best school for your autistic child can be a little difficult at times. The competition for an autistic kid to be at par with any other regular kid to make it to the best school is a tough call indeed. But is this tough call giving you sleepless nights as parents? You can say goodbye to these thoughts once and for all because schools are changing to favour the autistic as well. So when you choose your desired school make sure that you keep in mind the basic qualities that they must have to make a brilliant star out of your son.
The traits schools should have to deal with autism
It is a difficult task to look for a school that would bring out the best in your child and will be the right motivation to help your child fight the odds of autism and let them be at par if not better than any regular kid on the block. So without any further ado let me show you some of the fundamental points that you must keep in mind when zeroing in on the best school for your child:

• Leadership and School Culture - any school should always strive to bring out the leadership qualities in every child because today's kids are the leaders of tomorrow. The school culture plays a crucial role in controlling the situations of anti-bullying of the autistic kids. It is the role of the teachers in schools to instil upon the kids to treat everyone as equals and not to make fun of anybody and that could be an autistic kid or anyone for that matter.


• Technology - technology is everywhere and no matter how much we criticize it clearly it is here to stay so schools should not be far off to use it to their advantage. Technology helps tremendously in improving an autistic kid's condition. The reason for technology being an instant hit is because autistic kids find it easier to deal with machines than with humans.


• Lunch - lunch is one noisy affair because that is the time kids can break free from the mundane studies and keeping quiet in class. But the problem during lunch break is that kids get to choose where they will sit and in most cases parents and teachers fear that they will not prefer to sit with an autistic kid. To stay clear from this fear teachers have fashioned the kids in a way that they don't get to differentiate between autistic kids and focus on the fact that everybody is equal. A little further to this were the small initiatives that teachers take in ensuring that kids get a turn to sit beside everyone in a cycle and share their tiffin so that there is no differentiation.


• Friendship groups - different groups are established to make the bonds among class friends a lot stronger. Some of the most popular groups were game/movie night where all the kids would come together to play a game or watch a movie together, another popular group is the friendship group where the kids come together to cherish their friendship. These groups help in bringing the kids of the class together so that they get to enjoy their childhood without being burdened only with books.


• Engage in extra-curricular activities - kids go to school not just to study but it is important that they have an all round development and to ensure that parents and teachers must encourage the kids to join the school chorus band or the dance or theatre group. All this encourages the kids to have an all round development which is important in shaping a good personality of the kid.

All these points must be given a lot of importance when choosing the school that you think will be best suited for your child. The best school is the first stepping stone towards designing a good future for your child so you deserve time and take the best call.

Kevin Halls is a doctor working at Wisconsin Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Center. In this article, he discussed the points that must be given a lot of importance when choosing the school that you think will be best suited for your child

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7973929

Is Your Baby Autistic - Factors Which Are Responsible

"But the Beast was a good person... the Prince looked on the outside the way the Beast was on the inside. Sometimes people couldn't see the inside of the person unless they like the outside of a person. Because they hadn't learned to hear the music yet" this quote could be synonymous with the current condition of any autistic child. They are beautiful souls but they fail to become likeable in mainstream society because of the way they are on the outside. But there has been a steady wind of change flowing smoothly that prompts people to change their perspective towards these autistic bunch of people. And needless to say that this change has been very welcoming specially for parents who have autistic kids.
Autism a disease?
Gone are the days when autism was considered a disease, all thanks to the advancement that medical science has made in the last couple of years autism is no longer a disease today that has no clinical treatment. Today autism is considered to be a disorder that happens due to some neurological disbalance which has a cure in the field of medical science. Autism affected people find it difficult to fit into any social gathering because the nerves that allows to interact, communicate and socialize with people gets affected the most. But is it really the fault of the children that they were autistic? They did not choose to be autistic they were born that way. So let them not face the brunt of it any longer because they deserve a lifestyle and a childhood as normal and fun-filled like ours.
Tracing the roots of autism
It is important that we try to trace back the factors that lead to autism. Parents need to be aware that autism is a neurological disorder and must do their bit in trying to protect their child from factors that are responsible for autism as early as when they have already conceived the baby and it's growing in their womb. So here is a quick look at some of the most critical factors that results in kids born as autistic:

• Air pollution has grown up to be one of the rising factors that are responsible for autism. The air that a mother expecting a baby breathes in is obviously shared with the child in the womb and if that air is polluted then the chances of the baby having autism becomes 50% more.
• Autism as a disorder is also genetic in nature. In this case you cannot really blame anybody but your own genes if your child suffers from autism. This is the most unfortunate case because the situation is not in your hand and you cannot control it.
• Parents also play a crucial factor and contribute to a large extent if the child is born autistic. Parents keeping good health is a must while planning a baby because any health disorder affects the child resulting in autism. This kind of ill-health could be diabetes or even a bad immunity system. The major health contribution comes from the mother and it is extremely important for her to maintain a strong immunity system with no severe health issue that might have an adverse impact on the child.
• The trending lifestyle of today's parents can also be responsible for a child to be born autistic. In today's time and age young couples give a lot of priority to their careers having little or no time to plan for a baby and when they do they are already late in terms of age. Planning for a baby at quite a late age is also an important factor that increases your chances of having an autistic baby. So to secure the future of your child it is important that you keep your career as a back burner and do the needful to give a better life to your child.

You must keep these things in mind because your child is your biggest asset and you would not want anything to go wrong for your baby. So do what it takes to see the twinkle in your child's eye that would lit up your life more than a thousand twinkling stars.
All it takes is to widen our perspective and think these special children are autistic-ally beautiful. It is time for people to realize that autism awareness is not important but autism acceptance is.

Allen Wood share his views at some of the most critical autism factors that are responsible for a baby born as autistic. He want to raise awareness among peoples realise that autism awareness is not important but autism acceptance is.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7973760

Medical Testing for Autism, Asperger's Syndrome, and PDD

It is generally accepted within the autism community - by parents and professionals alike - that autism is a behaviorally-based disorder, that is, diagnosis is based on observation of behavior and treatment focuses on alleviating challenging behaviors. However, a growing number of individuals within this expanding community also acknowledge that there exists an equally relevant biomedical component to the disorder that should not be overlooked in planning treatment programs for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. While recognizing the need for biomedical testing, both parents and medical professionals can be at a loss in understanding the array of tests available and how to determine which test(s) are most appropriate for a child or adult with an ASD.
The recommendations for testing that follow are based on my 10 years experience as a Laboratory Director of The Great Plains Laboratory, a medical laboratory which has performed more testing for people on the autism spectrum than any other place in the world. My recommendations are now also based on experience with my own 14-year-old stepdaughter, Paulina, who has severe autism.
Food Allergy Testing
The single most useful test for people on the autism spectrum is the comprehensive IgG food allergy test. The most common foods that are abnormal in children and adults on the spectrum are cow's milk, cheese, yogurt, wheat, barley, rye, spelt, and soy. We have documented these allergies at The Great Plains Laboratory by testing thousands of blood samples from people on the spectrum throughout the world. Multiple articles in the medical journals report similar abnormalities.
The incidence of high IgG antibodies to wheat and milk is approximately 90% in people on the autistic spectrum. Most individuals with IgG allergy or sensitivity to cow's milk are also allergic to goat's milk. Other common allergies include peanuts, eggs, citrus fruit, corn, sugar, and baking yeast. There are various allergy tests available, so it is very important to check which type of allergy test is being offered. Although helpful in some cases, I have not seen IgE food allergy testing to be as valuable for individuals with ASD. Unfortunately, this is the only kind of food allergy test that most laboratories offer.
Determining whether or not IgG food allergies are present is important. These allergies or sensitivites are associated with the reaction of foods with certain white blood cells that release powerful cytokines, protein substances like gamma-interferon that can cause profound behavioral changes and even psychosis. IgG allergies are found in children and adults on the entire autistic spectrum including autism, pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), and in Asperger's syndrome. These abnormalities are also very common in attention deficit disorder as well.
Wheat and milk restriction has been one of the most successful treatments for individuals on the spectrum. Prior to initiation of the gluten and casein free diet, Paulina spent most of the day screaming, crying, throwing tantrums and pulling things off the shelves. She could not go to dinner at a restaurant because she was so hyperactive that she would squirm out of her seat and wander around the restaurant. All of these difficult behaviors ceased after implementation of the gluten free and casein free diet (as well as an antifungal treatment).
Testing for Celiac Disease
Celiac disease is another common disorder of wheat intolerance with an incidence of about 1:150 among people of European descent. The incidence of this disorder does not appear to be higher in those on the autism spectrum than in the general population, although people on the spectrum occasionally have celiac disease also. Celiac disease can be confirmed by the presence of antibodies to the intestinal enzyme transglutaminase, which is involved in the biochemical processing of gluten.
Inhalant Allergy Testing
Allergies to things in the air is termed inhalant allergies. These allergies, in contrast to food allergies, do need to be tested with IgE tests. Some of the most common allergies are mold, mildew, pollen, cats, dogs, birds, and dust. One child with autism had a severe behavioral reaction whenever a certain special teacher entered the classroom. After testing for inhalant allergies, we found that the child had severe cat allergies. The teacher was a cat lover and had several at home. The cat hair would get on the teacher's clothes and trigger allergic reactions in the child. The child was transferred to another teacher and the severe behavioral reactions ceased.
Testing for Yeast
Another very common abnormality in autism is a gastrointestinal overgrowth of Candida. Candida is a member of the yeast family - a type of fungus. Drugs that kill yeast or fungus are called antifungal drugs. The greatest bulk of Candida is present in the intestinal tract, although it may occasionally enter the bloodstream and has been detected in the blood of children with autism by a highly sensitive test called PCR that measures the Candida DNA. There are about a dozen species of Candida but three of the most common are Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida krusei.
There are many reasons for controlling Candida overgrowth. Excessive Candida can inhibit normal digestion and absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream, as well as prevent the production of important vitamins needed for optimal health. Candida produces many toxic byproducts including gliotoxins, which can cause impairment to the immune system. In addition, large portions of a Candida cell wall protein (HWP1) have a structure which is virtually identical to the wheat protein gluten. Because of this similarity, Candida binds to the enzyme transglutaminase, which is present in the intestinal lining. This binding to transglutaminase anchors long strands of the yeast cells to the intestine like ivy vines climbing a brick wall. This anchoring inhibits the yeast from being mechanically dislodged as digested food passes by. The binding of Candida to transglutaminase also interferes with the normal function of this enzyme in the digestion of gluten. If pieces of the Candida cell wall protein (which is similar to gluten) enter the bloodstream, they may react with one of the blood clotting factors that also has transglutaminase activity, leading to interference in the blood clotting mechanism. These modified proteins may not be recognized by the immune system, which as a result, can lead to autoimmune diseases. Lastly, the Candida cells can also produce digestive enzymes like proteases and phospholipase that actually eat away the intestinal lining, allowing undigested food molecules to pass through into the bloodstream, and as a result, cause more food allergies.
Candida can be detected by culturing the stool on Petri dishes or by measuring the amount of chemicals produced in the intestinal tract. These byproducts can be measured in the urine organic acid test (OAT), which also checks for inborn errors of metabolism, nutritional deficiencies, and other factors. These chemicals or fermentation products are absorbed from the intestinal tract by the blood vessels called the portal veins. These blood vessels carry these fermentation products to the liver where they are distributed throughout the bloodstream. The blood containing these fermentation products is filtered through the kidney and is excreted in the urine.
It is important to know that Stool testing can frequently miss the presence of Candida when there are high amounts of antibodies called IgA in the intestine. These IgA antibodies may coat the yeast cells and inhibit their growth enough to prevent them from growing in the Petri dish even though they may still be able to grow enough in the intestine to cause problems. Such a situation can lead to a false negative result.
By testing the yeast fermentation products in urine, this problem can usually be overcome. However, about 10% of yeast do not produce the common fermentation products. We have resolved this problem by offering a COMBO test for both the yeast fermentation products - the urine organic acid test (OAT) - as well as the yeast culture from stool. If the yeast can be cultured, there is the added advantage that the sensitivity of the yeast to various drugs or natural agents can be determined. Many yeast have developed resistance to various antifungal drugs because of the widespread use of these drugs in people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Like people with HIV, many people on the autism spectrum have a serious lack of immunity to Candida. One possible reason that people with autism have this problem is that the measles vaccine virus can severely impair the ability of the cellular immune system (Vaccine Jan 8, 2001) to control Candida. We have found this same lack of cellular immunity in people with autism. The Great Plains Laboratory expects to have a test for this defect available shortly and a possible treatment as well.
Alongside the GF/CF diet, reducing or eliminating yeast overgrowth has been one of the more effective methods of reducing autistic symptoms. Paulina had been on antifungal treatment (Nystatin) for several years but her behavior began to deteriorate markedly. Testing showed that her yeast had developed resistance to Nystatin. With this change, she had become extremely hyperactive and uncooperative. She spent much of the time crying and whining, had difficulty sleeping, and pulled things off the table. Within six hours of starting the antifungal drug Diflucan, her normal smiling behavior returned. Unfortunately, with prolonged use, Diflucan can sometimes cause liver damage so we implemented a limited carbohydrate diet to help control the yeast after we discontinued the Diflucan. With successful antifungal treatment, parents have reported reduced aggressive and self-hurtful behaviors, improved learning at school, improved focus and concentration, better sleep and reduced hyperactivity. Many parents don't realize that antifungal treatment is a long-term issue in autism; others treat with antifungal drugs that are ineffective. It's important that antifungal treatment be done under the supervision of a qualified medical professional. A less expensive microbial organic acid test can be done regularly to make sure that the yeast or harmful bacteria have not returned.
Testing for Clostridia
Several years ago, I began a collaborative study with Dr. Walter Gattaz, a research psychiatrist at the Central Mental Health Institute of Germany in Mannheim to evaluate urine samples of patients with schizophrenia. These samples were very valuable since they were obtained from patients who were drug-free. Thus, any biochemical abnormalities would be due to their disease and not a drug effect. Five of the twelve samples contained a very high concentration of a compound identified as a derivative of the amino acid tyrosine, which is very similar to but not identical to 3,4-dihydroxyphenylpropionic acid. I have since identified this compound as 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3-hydroxypropionic acid or HPHPA. This particular compound has been linked to colonization of the intestinal tract with Clostridia bacteria.
How is this important to autism? HPHPA is found to be much higher in the urine of autistic children than in normal children. People with autism who have high values of this compound may have extremely abnormal or even psychotic behavior. One child with high amounts of HPHPA in urine kicked out the windows of the family car while being transported to school. Clostridia can be treated with the antibiotics Vancomycin or Flagyl. The first patient in a medical study improved after Flagyl treatment but then regressed when the drug was discontinued. The same child was retreated with a six-week course of Vancomycin. A developmental specialist estimated that the child had gained six months of development after the six weeks of therapy. Again, the child regressed after discontinuation of therapy. The use of beneficial bacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus GG, whose brand name is Culturelle, is very useful in controlling Clostridia species in most cases and can be safely used for years if necessary. This product has about a millionth of a gram of the milk protein casein in each capsule but such a small amount is unlikely to have a significant effect in most milk-sensitive people.
Testing for HPHPA is also included on the full organic acid test or microbial organic acid test of the Great Plains Laboratory. It is important to be aware that some laboratories incorrectly measure DHPPA as a marker for Clostridia.DHPPA is a byproduct of chlorogenic acid, a common substance found in beverages and in many fruits and vegetables including apples, pears, tea, coffee, sunflower seeds, carrots, blueberries, cherries, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, sweet potatoes, and peaches. In addition, it is also a chemical byproduct of the good bacteria, E-coli and Lactobacillus.
The Toxicity of Mercury
Mercury is a naturally occurring metal found throughout the environment. Mercury can enter the environment from deposits of ore containing mercury due to wind or rain or from the actions of humans. In addition to mercury from the vaccine preservative Thimerisol, other major sources of mercury that contaminate humans are dental fillings, which are about 50% mercury and large fish such as tuna and swordfish.
Mercury exists in two major forms, inorganic and organic. Inorganic mercury consists of metallic mercury and inorganic mercury compounds called salts. Metallic mercury is a liquid at room temperature. It is the shiny silver material in thermometers and is commonly combined with silver as an alloy for dental fillings. Liquid mercury from thermometers can give off vapor if a thermometer breaks which could then be absorbed through the lungs. Mercury is also used in alkaline batteries. Organic mercury compounds include methylmercury, ethylmercury, and phenylmercury. Methylmercury is produced from inorganic mercury by microorganisms in the environment and perhaps by the microorganisms in the intestinal tract. Methylmercury is extremely toxic. Exposure to three drops of methylmercury to the gloved hands of a researcher was fatal. Mercury exposure should be avoided at all costs.
It is important to note that the symptoms of mercury toxicity closely mirror the clinical symptoms of autism.. Parents of a child who had developmental delays and a muscle disorder contacted me because the child's tests had revealed high levels of mercury in the hair and blood. They reported that their child ate salmon or tuna five or six times a week. Although fish are an excellent source of essential fatty acids, most large fish have significant amounts of methylmercury. The FDA has recommended that pregnant women abstain from certain fish high in mercury. Since methylmercury is fat soluble, it might also contaminate supplements derived from fish oils. In addition, mercury was used as an antifungal agent in paint prior to 1992. Therefore, anyone in an older house needs to be aware that peeling paint or sanding off existing paint could lead to mercury exposure. Mercury in the fillings of pregnant women may be a significant source of exposure to developing infants in utero. Ethyl mercury, the most common preservative found in vaccines, has been present as a preservative in other products as well: contact lens solutions, nasal sprays, and in ear and eye drops.
Testing for Heavy Metals
Heavy metals may often have combined effects so that exposure to multiple heavy metals at low levels might be just as toxic as exposure to one metal at a high level. Heavy metals found to be elevated in children and adults with autism and PDD include uranium, mercury, cadmium, arsenic, lead, aluminum, and antimony. Hair is the easiest sample to collect in most cases and is generally considered one of the best samples for screening for heavy metals since the heavy metals, such as mercury, may be 250 times higher in the hair than in the blood. However, the use of hair metal testing is controversial. The State of New York bans hair testing for heavy metals while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the US Government promotes hair screening for mercury as a very useful method. In New York State tests for heavy metals in blood or urine may have to be used instead of hair. Chelation treatment with the chelating agent DMSA is probably the most effective treatment at this time for those people with abnormal values.
Multiple tests can be very useful to pinpoint the most significant biochemical abnormalities so that treatment can be focused on the most important issues. Although each autistic child will experience varying levels of success with biomedical testing and treatments, I would like to share one success story that outlines what can happen in some cases. Three years ago, a family came to visit from Turkey with their four-year-old son with severe autism. They insisted that they wanted every single test offered by the laboratory. I tried to convince them to reduce the financial burden by suggesting which tests might be delayed to a later time. They would not listen and insisted firmly that they get every test available. Two years later I received a letter from the parents who had implemented all the therapies indicated by the testing. Their son had completely recovered and was successfully attending a regular school classroom without an aide.
The tests emphasized in this article have been useful to people with autism of every degree of severity. Parents and treating professionals who want to embark on biomedical testing should first start with this group. Many other tests may be useful to people with autism of every age; they are indicated in Table 1. Most tests are covered by insurance but HMO's generally do not pay unless the physician gets advance approval from a review committee.
As concerned parents and professionals, it is vitally important that we be holistic in our approach to treatment and investigate whether or not biomedical/biochemical agents are contributing to autistic symptoms. Only then will we be best able to successfully reduce or eliminate the behavioral challenges associated with autism spectrum disorders.

BIO
William Shaw Ph.D. is the Director of The Great Plains Laboratory, Inc., which specializes in metabolic and nutritional testing, especially in autism. Dr. Shaw received a Ph.D. in biochemistry, genetics, and human physiology from the Medical University of South Carolina and is board certified in the fields of clinical chemistry and toxicology by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry. He has supervised large endocrinology, nutritional biochemistry, toxicology, and immunology departments in positions at the Center for Disease Control and Smith Kline Clinical Laboratories in Atlanta, Georgia. He was Director of Clinical Chemistry, Endocrinology, and Toxicology at Children's Mercy Hospital, the teaching hospital of the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Medicine. For more information telephone 913.341.8949; email: GPL4U@aol.com; website: http://www.greatplainslaboratory.com.
The Great Plains Laboratory, Inc. is the world leader in providing testing for nutritional factors in chronic illnesses such as autism, fibromyalgia, and ADD.
We offer a variety of metabolic tests such as immune deficiency evaluation, amino acid tests, essential fatty acid tests, glutathione levels, metal toxicity and food allergies tests. To find a specialist or to obtain a physician referral, our customer service department is available to assist you. Free 30 minute phone consultations to assist in the interpretation of our test results are also available.
The Great Plains Laboratory is located in Lenexa, Kansas, in the Greater Kansas City area. You don't need to travel to Kansas City to have a test done in our laboratory; you or your doctor may order test kits by phone, fax, or over the Internet. You can count on our experienced team of biochemists and lab technicians, as well as first-class customer service staff. We help patients from all over the world to reach their potential, and to live a healthier life. Read testimonials from people who have used our services.
Please contact one of our representatives if you need assistance ordering a test kit. When we complete the test, we will send copies of the test results to you and your doctor with the interpretation. For a more detailed interpretation, please call to schedule a consultation with our nutrition specialist.
For more information visit our website at http://www.gpl4u.com

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7856767

Applied Behavioral Analysis and Autism

Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) is the leading scientific method that helps patients with Autism to overcome their condition. In order to improve their condition, ABA specialists focus on a system of reward, which encourages positive actions like speech, social activity and life skill improvements. This works mostly with children as they are more likely to absorb and accept new challenges; this is commonly referred to as "positive reinforcement" in the literature and has become one of the leading directions for treatment. ABA therapy was devised and implemented by Dr. O. Ivar Lovaas at UCLA in 1987. Since then, ABA therapy has become a leading branch of psychology - behaviorism.
How does ABA work?
Since autistic children have low capacity of absorption, tasks are broken down into different areas, and then children focus on each of them separately through an approach known as discrete trial training (DTT). This method allows autistic children to learn tasks like persistent eye contact, fine and gross motor skills, academics, conversation ability, self help and others. The process usually starts with the most basic skills and moves on towards more complicated ones as the child develops.
New Advancements
In recent years, there has been a new approach to DTT, which focuses on a reward system. Basically, the child is always awarded, no matter how small a progress he/she made. If a child does not complete a task, the therapist will then guide him/her towards the correct answer. After a while, this makes the child learn on his/her own, without the help from a therapist. This is referred to as "errorless learning" in the literature and is widely accepted as one of the best methods for teaching autistic children.
Applied Verbal Behavior (VB) is a recent development within applied behavioral science. As the name implies, it focuses mainly of speech reinforcement, but some other skills are involved as well. This branch of behavioral science bases its efforts on the work of Dr. F. Skinner, who devised a division of speech in 1957. According to Dr. F. Skinner, there are several forms of verbal behavior - mands (requests), echoes (verbal imitations), tacts (labels) and intraverbals (conversational responses). Each of these forms has a specific nature, and VB tries to convey this to autistic children. The aim of VB is to teach autistic children the value of speech, and instruct them how to use it properly. Instead of simply labeling things ("this is a car") they are taught how to integrate their knowledge into everyday communication and social interaction. This type of therapy allows them integrate into society.

Working With Autism is the leader in autism therapy and treatment services for children in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley, and Ventura County. Since 1997, they're happily assisted families in the area with professional treatment services. Please visit their website to learn more: http://www.workingwithautism.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mariel_Martinez-Rodriguez

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7846366

Medical ID Bracelets Can Provide Autism Awareness

There are times when it is necessary to have medical id bracelets, in order to smoothly resolve situations and in many cases, save lives. Having the proper information about a person's condition, can soothe or avert a catastrophe. Well, in the case of autism, the wearing of autism awareness bracelets can bring a lot of understanding to what is, or what could become an overwhelming situation for all involved.
People who have loved ones, who live their lives through the unique and varied viewpoint of autism, may or may not have considered having them wear autism id bracelets. Now, there is no blanket set of instructions for how to interact with a lost, distressed or even injured person with autism. Still, knowing that a person has this diagnosis can alert those who are attempting to assist, that special care needs to be taken. Understanding that a person's reactions or interactions are likely to be quite unusual, will ease much of the confusion before it even gets under way.
Medical id bracelets are common place these days. Rarely is anyone taken aback about a diabetes bracelet, or even the use of medical alert bracelets. It is just that most people do not necessarily consider the use of this form of identification, for a condition like autism. Unfortunately, there can be a stigma associated with autism, but autism awareness bracelets are simply a way to deliver important information in emergency situations. These types of autism bracelets can even keep situations from escalating into emergencies.
With autism id bracelets, new social situations can become less of a challenge. There will be less of a need to have to launch into detailed medical discourses and more of an avenue to just uniquely experience new social outings. Life has plenty of challenges. When people have an altered view of the world at large, there can be a few more bumps in the road. Frustration can become the dominating state of mind for those affected by autism. It may be tough to fathom that something as small as autism awareness bracelets, could help to ease this issue. Still, think of how helpful the words "allergic to penicillin" have been. If a person with autism is wandering or ends up unescorted at a hospital, the people who are trying to help will at least be on alert for potentially different reactions to situations.
Knowledge is power. Autism id bracelets can help empower people in crisis situations. Autism awareness bracelets can help avert crisis situations. Misunderstandings and misdiagnosis have been at the root of many an unfortunate event. It is often best to present the situation as clearly as possible. There is no one size fits all interaction with those who have autism, but just grasping that the way the world is processed through their minds, means making adjustments in expectations and approaches. Any experience is an opportunity to learn and grow. The more that people interact with those who have different viewpoints, the broader their horizons will become. Autism bracelets can help people better understand and therefore, accept one another.

Autism Awareness Bracelets
Medical Identification Jewelry
Paul S, 29 year old writer from USA provides fascinating insights on his love for Health. He is action-oriented and has a strong work ethic. He enjoys reading, writing, socializing, meeting people, and traveling.

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

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7626842