Autism
Autism questions and answers
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Q: autism?????
I've been reading so much about autism and about the the different views on the links to the vaccines. But are there any reports on children who have autism and have not been vaccinated?
A: I firmly believe that the ONLY link between autism and vaccines is that they happen at the same age.
If vaccines were non-existant, they'd find something else to blame it on.
"Autism is linked to playground equipment."
"Autism is linked to apple juice."
They always find something.
Q: When did autism start to become high profile or well known through the media?
These days I hear a lot of news and coverages of autism. In the past, I kept asking myself why was I so different from others and what was wrong with me until I learned of autism in 2004.
Were there any news or coverages of autism in 1990-2003? In K-12, I never heard the word "autism" and I was never tested for autism. If I had known about my autism back then, I would have gotten help.
Did autism start to become high profile and well known through the media in 2004? If not, when?
A: Haven't you asked this same question before? There are many things that put autism in the forefront of media. The main thing is the explosion of children who were diagnosed with it whose (affluent) parents are in the technology field. They are much more savvy about networking online and getting far reaching attention. They demanded and got more people involvement in therapeutic interventions and research.
Q: How prevalent is autism among feminists in the modern day?
Studies in psychiatric journals in the early 90s showed a link between autism and feminism.
The rise in autism has been attributed to women with masculine minds marrying men with masculine minds, leading to children with hyper masculine minds.
Furthermore a link has been shown to exist between autism and women and the diagnostic criteria for autism.
A study tested 4200 women at the University of New Hampshire. 677 women tested scored highly on the feminist belief scale, or feministic scale.
254 out of 677 women who scored highly on the feministic scale also ranked highly in restricted repetitive and stereotyped patterns of behavior, interests and activities. Usually their obsession focused around feminist issues whether real or contrived.
107 of the 677 women scored low on the qualitative social interaction scale.
430 out of the 677 women who scored highly on the feministic scale also scored highly on the masculine personality type scale.
Do you know any autistic feminists?
This study was in a 1992 Issue of the Journal of Applied Psychiatric Medicine so you can look it up yourself if you like.
If a web link is absolutely necessary:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/femail/article.html?in_article_id=477153&in_page_id=1879&ito=1490
Anna you are correct, and you can be correct about more males being diagnosed with autism than females but that still does not have any relevance to the high rate of autism among feminists, a subset of women rather than all women, as noted in the study only a minority of the women tested actually scored highly on the feministic scale.
The ' Hyper-Masculine Mind' is a working hypothesis of neurobiology wendy g. Furthermore you appear to have a rather obsessive need to prove yourself right. Perhaps caused by low self esteem, but nevertheless obsessive. Are you a feminist who has been diagnosed with autism by any chance? At the very least I would suggest that any children you have should be submitted for possible diagnosis immediately.
A: Actually, Wendy G., the " hyper- masculine mind " concept is more than conjecture. It is a working hypothesis of neurobiology.
Not that that has much to do with the rather stretched claims of the questioner.
Q: Why do some people with autism have dysmorphic facial features but others look normal?
I work with people with learning difficulties and i've always wondered why two of the people I teach with severe autism have dysmorpic facial features, and the other people with servere autism look normal!
How does this work?
A: Some people diagnosed with autism also have a genetic syndrome called Fragile X. Fragile X Syndrome is one of the few genetically inherited syndromes that has been known to actually CAUSE autism.
In laments terms, Fragile X syndrome occurs during gestation.. where the X chromosome blocks important brain development.
Q: Any parents of children with autism out there surprised by the Republicans sudden interest in our kids?
Not that I don't appreciate it, but where have you been for the last eight years? And does anyone know where Sarah Palin's newfound expertise in autism comes from? Down Syndrome and autism are apples and oranges, and I can promise you, Sarah Palin is never going to have to fight for services for her child.
A: My daughter is a special ed teacher who evaluates and implements individual instruction plans at an elementary school. She told me about Obama nearly 2 years ago when she volunteered to work his campaign. Her only goal in life is the betterment of kids who don't have the same abilities as everyone else. Like she says, you can anyone, but it takes a bit more imagination to break through to some kids. Since she believe in children as much or more than anyone I know, I am following her lead on this.
McCain has adapted his words and campaign to what has been successful for Obama I've noticed. After the polls showed huge upticks with Obama's "change", McCain decided to become a Maverick, etc. Of course, the GOP wants to cut school spending, it's always been a party mandate.
Q: What is the difference between autism, and autism spectrum?
Doctor states child is autistic, school says chld has autism spectrum disorder?? What is the difference? Can medication help with any of this?
A: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a general term that includes Autism, Asperger Syndrome, PPD-NOS and others. The reason they used different terms is that the Dr. gave you a specific diagnosis of Autism, but the school can only determine eligibility for special services. Sometimes schools refer to it as "autism like behavior).
Medication is sometimes used to help an issue caused by the autism, say anxiety, but there is no pill to cure it like an antibiotic will cure an infection. It's closer to say that individuals with autism learn to manage their condition. This is done through learning the skills needed to overcome their individual deficits. IMO unless there is a physical danger, it's best to save medication to control behaviors as a last resort. Much better to teach the person through therapies, love and patience more appropriate behaviors.
Right now the best thing you can do is to educate yourself about autism and the different treatment/therapy options that are out there. There is no one size fits all treatment plan. Every person is different. You are a full member of your child's' team and the best expert on him there is. You need to help the development of an appropriate plan because you are the constant in the different areas of his life (school, home, activities) and get the big picture.
Best of luck- it is an interesting, exasperating, exhilarating e-ticket ride!
mom of 2 on the spectrum
Q: What games to play to teach children about autism?
My friends and I are doing a community service project to spread awareness about autism. We are planning a roving carnival, with game stations that children can take part in to learn about autism. Basically we just wanna let them understand how it's like to be autistic, or to learn more about autism through the game. Currently the only game we can come up with is Charades. The kids range from 7 years old to 12.
Do you guys have any suggestions for games? :)
A: Another game that could be fan and shows again how difficult can be to communicate something, is the following:
- Place small items like a clothes pin, a key, a battery, a ring, etc each in a small cotton fabric bag (you need to make these) of the same color and tie them shut.
- Make two identical bags of each item. And have the kids in two teams. Each kid gets one of the bags. S/he needs to feel what is inside the bag and then describe it to the team-mates without using the name of the item. Example: Key - it is made of metal, can be used to open a door, has teeth, etc.
- Time them. The least time to guess gets a higher score.
This will show kids how people with autism can sometimes create a mental image of something (thinking in pictures) but it is hard to communicate (put into words) what it is they "see" in their mind.
Since the kids do not see item but visualize it through the sense of touch, they create a 3-D mental image of the item, which is similar of how an autistic person will think of an item before communication what they are thinking in words, describing the mental image, is the hardest part, and that is why the speech of many autistic kids is so fragmented because they are describing a mental 3-D image into 2-D words...
Once you have made these little bags with the items, you can use them again and again. If they get dirty just put them in a pilowcase and wash them in the washing machine.
Good luck!
Q: How do parents who have children without autism deal with raising an autistic child?
As in, they already had children without autism, then they have a child with autism. How do the parenting skills change?
A: Im 14 years old. I have a brother and he is autistic and he is 13. I know from seeing them all the time that autism can make the parents life so much more stressful (including mine). But, i know patience is a big thing that changes when they had my brother. My dad isnt very good with that but i know my mom sure is. I mean, my brother is pretty smart (above the average smartness level of autism), he can read, write, spell, and do math. I know that having an autistic brother changed me completely, without him, i totally would look at life so much differently. It makes me appreciate autistic people and mentally challenged people way more than i would if i didnt have my brother. Also, ive been thinking of becoming a special teacher. But yeah, back to topic [lol] parenting skills change by having A L O T more patience, and idk but its hard and i give anybody who has an autistic child [including my parents] alot of credit, it is alot harder than people think.
hope this helped :)
Q: How can I help a child with autism manage his behaviour?
I am a preschool teacher in an integrated childcare centre, and I have a child with autism in my class. I have never worked closely with a child with autism before, and he seems to have trouble managing his behaviour. He mainly hits, kicks, and pushes the other children. What strategies can I use to help him learn other methods of expressing his upset with the other children?
A: I would use a social story with him.....they are simple short stories that help the child learn to self monitor his behavior. I would also try a token system of reinforcement, something that you can show him easily and discreetly to let him know that he is displaying appropriate behavior, keeping hands and feet to self, for a small discreet reward. If he does start to have a tantrum or start to display negative behaviors and can't calm down try removing him from the situation, and letting him have a small area, "break room" where he can deal with his frustrations. hope this helps, i included links for information on social stories.
http://autism.about.com/od/treatmentoptions/f/socialstorydef.htm
http://www.polyxo.com/socialstories/
http://www.autism.org/stories.html
Q: What is the difference between High functioning Autism and Asbergers?
I've got high functioning autism and i have got friends with Asbergers. Asbergers is a form of autism but what is the actual difference between the both?
A: Asperger's is a certain type of high fnctioning autism. It has distinct signs in males and females. One person with it might be a compulsive liar who hates people and studies science, while another person might be a writer who loves people and can't hold interest in just one subject all the time, but many. They can get along with people if they have to, and some really want to. They probably have high iqs or above average. They obsess on things in a manner similar to those with autism, but they have more ability to act on their ideas and feelings, as they are more in tune with those. They are overwhelmed by them sometimes, but not as much as someone with just autism, who might throw a fit instead of say, skip class or tell someone off. They are usually perceived as aloof, but some can be seen as too friendly. They can be childlike, but also too old if that makes sense. They revert back to childlke behaviors when facing unknown problems.
High functioning autism...I'm going to say the people with that might not have genius iqs, but they might have above average or normal, and interact differently with people. They are usually very sweet ALL the time, and not always aware of when people are making fun of them, unlike an Aspie who figures it out. This doesn't mean they don't sometimes realize it. They might not even care when someone does it coz they aren't thinking like it matters. They are in their own world more. They usually are very good at one or two things that will be their FAVORITE things they always talk about and do things about. I usually see high functionings as very sweet and always wanting to be nice or have others be nice. They don't seem to think about mean stuff or worry about what others are going to do, because they have their own thing.
I don't know if you find this true at all. Every one is different with their own personality, and can be a slight bit higher or lower on the scale.
A clinician, or a search on Google for the definitions and diagnostics, might help you more. Thought i'd give a personal perspective.
Q: What are the chances that my children will have autism?
My fiance and I are planning on having children eventually. In his family, three of the five children have autism. My side is clear. What are the chances of us having a child with autism?
A: Autism has a genetic component.
If autism runs in your family, you have an increased risk of having a child with autism.
If you already have one child with autism, you have an increased risk of having another child with autism.
The genes associated with autism are complex -- and a genetic inclination toward autism may require an environmental "trigger" to cause symptoms
Q: What are some of the best sensory activities/products for children with autism?
This question is for parents of children with autism and autism professionals. I am looking to provide a really good sensory diet for my 3-year-old daughter, who has autism. Therapy catalogs are full of pricey products. Which ones have you found to be the best?
A: hi there! My son is 3yrd old and has asd, autistic spectrum disorder.
I have several things for him
I have a big tupperware item filled with beans ( uncooked ) and I hide farm animals in them so he has to put his hands into the beans to find his animals
I also have a rice one as well. Yes they can make a mess but its fun
Also bath foam from walmart, put a little bit on a paper plate or mat and let them put their hands in it to paint with.
I have a book also where I make things, its a book the professionals at TEACHH here in NC use. If you would like the name of it, email me!
There's lots of stuff I do with him, playdoh, cooked noodels in a container ( this one we are working on still,lol )
theres lots of stuff you can do around the house and make!
email me at fatbottomfaerie@yahoo.com
We can help and support each other.
Q: Does anyone know the cause of autism? How to prevent my soon to be born daughter from having autism?
I'm currently pregnant and wonder if there's anything I have to do to prevent autism? Is it true that certain vaccines can cause autism? Thank you
A: There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted by the medical community that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in autistic versus non-autistic children. Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link between heredity, genetics and medical problems. While no one gene has been identified as causing autism, in many families there appears to be a pattern of autism or related disabilities, further supporting a genetic basis to the disorder. Researchers are searching for irregular segments of genetic code that autistic children may have inherited. It also appears that some children are born with a higher susceptibility to autism, but researchers have not yet identified a single "trigger" that causes autism to develop.
Researchers are also investigating the possibility that, under certain conditions, a cluster of unstable genes may interfere with brain development, resulting in autism. Still other researchers are investigating problems during pregnancy or delivery, as well as environmental factors such as viral infections, metabolic imbalances, and exposure to environmental chemicals.
Autism tends to occur more frequently than expected among individuals who have certain medical conditions, including Fragile X syndrome, tuberous sclerosis, congenital rubella syndrome, and untreated phenylketonuria (PKU). Some harmful substances ingested during pregnancy have also been associated with an increased risk of autism. Early in 2002, The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) prepared a review of hazardous chemical exposures and autism and found no compelling evidence for an association. However, there was very limited research and more needs to be done to rule out chemicals.
The question regarding a relationship between vaccines and autism continues to be debated. In 2001, an investigation by a committee of the Institute of Medicine concluded that the "evidence favors rejection of a causal relationship.... between MMR vaccines and autistic spectrum disorders (ASD)." The committee however, acknowledged that "they could not rule out" the possibility that the MMR vaccine could contribute to ASD in a small number of children. While other researchers agree the data does not support a link between the MMR and autism, they also agree more research is clearly needed.
Whatever the cause, it is clear that children with autism and PDD are born with the disorder or born with the potential to develop it. Bad parenting does not cause it. It is not a mental illness. Children with autism are not unruly kids who choose not to behave. Furthermore, no known psychological factors in the development of a child have been shown to cause autism.
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WhatIsAutism
If you are a normal healthy individual do not worry about any thing and keep yourself cheerful and healthy. Do the physical exersises as adviced by your Doctors regularly and think positively. Wish you all the best.
Q: What questions should the money for autism research address?
Would you be interested in finding if there is a relationship between paternal age and autism currently in the US? What specific questions do you want answered? Do you want pre-natal testing worked on?
Dear SpecEdtch,
. We need to get the data.You know how horrible the situation is for these kids and yet people keep ignoring the father's age issue. It is not fair to to be so cavalier about the risks of later fathering because the parents are not the ones who have such agonizing lives. We now know that sperm mutate. If guys want to become fathers late I think they should banks their semen in their 20s. I hope you speak out,because you know a lot about the realities. I wish you the best in your work.
Maybe you could write a book about your experience because someone has to tell it like it is. It is not to make anyone feel guilty but to make people aware of reality.
Dear basketcase
Thank you, it is very exciting. In a 1980 study of autism in Sweden 34 was the mean age of the fathers and at that time this mean age was much older than the fathers is the non -affected group. I hope a lot of money goes to programs to help these kids as they grow up. But we may need to re-think what is an older father. Certainly 32 seems quite young now-a days. Alex
A: Yes, I would be interested in the parental age of autistic children. In my experience many of my students parents were older than 30 when they had their children.
I work directly with adolescents who are severely autistic with cognitive disabilities, and minimal to non-verbal in communication skills. My students are extremely aggressive. They are both self-injurious and assultive.
Finding material that is age appropriate is next to impossible. Add to that covering state curriculm as required by NCLB and its a deadend. My students do not benifit from being mandated to be instructed like non-disabled peers...actually this is torture and quite possibly part of the reason for violent aggressive behaviors. We are trying to emerse them in instructional materials that have no meaning to them, and will do nothing to better enable them to live the fullest lives they are able to live.
These children need intensive behavioral managment before they can learn about the water cycle, yet I am charged with teaching the water cycle by law and job description. BTW I was not told of the severity of behaviors that I confront daily when I interviewed for the job. I am there six months and I will be their at least until June maybe through the summer 07. I do not know if I am meant to work with this population, but I am acutely aware that these children are not receiving the help they need and this weighs on my heart and mind heavily.
I suppose simply put much research needs to be put into adolescent autistic children with severe behavioral disorders.
Q: What evidence supports the assumption that autism can not be cured?
I'm curious. I've always believed that autism can be corrected (perhaps cured is not the appropriate word). . . we just don't have the means to do so yet. There has been tremendous success in mainstreaming high functioning autistic children and I think it is just a matter of time before the medical and educational community comes up with a better way to teach lower functioning children. However, many do not agree . . .
A: I am a former ABA therapist and now a mother to a child with autism. I dont know where these people are getting there info, but they must live in states that do not have good ABA programs. When I was in college I worked for WEAP while the were replicating Lovaas's study on ABA therapy and recovery. Almost 50% of the kids in both studies "recovered" meaning they were in a reg. ed classroom with no aid by 1st grade, were social, indistinguishable from their peers, normal IQ, etc... these kids were followed to adulthood and were still successful (married, had friends, college grads, etc..). All of the kids made improvement even if they did not recover. So, no there is no cure, but there is hope.