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Posts Tagged ‘Applied Behavior Analysis’

1
Oct

Education Services for Children With Autism

Once a child is diagnosed with autism, families have many questions and concerns. One of the major dilemmas is determining how a child with autism will be educated. Each child is different with unique qualities; the education of each child with autism is determined by their needs and strengths.

Autism is considered to be a spectrum disorder. It is a disorder characterized by symptoms that include repetitive behaviors or interests, deficits in social interaction and deficits in verbal and nonverbal communication. Furthermore, children with autism often have unusual responses to sensory stimulation. Children with autism may also display symptoms that include an inability to form relationships, delay in the development of speech, lack of imagination, repeated patterns of activities, extreme aloofness and insistence on consistency in routines and isolated areas of strong ability.

Research has determined that early intervention is crucial for children with autism. Early interventions include services from speech therapists, occupational therapists, adapted physical education, applied behavior analysis, social skills training and other therapies. Some of the services are provided through the local school district; however, many families choose to hire private therapists and aides.

Children with autism are eligible for special education services under the federal law once they turn three years old. The services include children who are in both general education and special education classes. Some parents keep their children in a general education class for their education with support services being provided for specialized needs. Many children with autism are educated in a special education class. Special education classes are designed specifically for students with disabilities and are taught by a special education teacher. A child can also be serviced by a resource specialist who is a special education teacher who either goes into a general education class or pulls students with disabilities out of the general education class. The related services that are available include school psychologists, school nurses, speech specialists, physical/occupational therapists and behavioral therapists. Other special education services available are community-based training for the older child and summer school for many special day class students. Services vary according to the child’s needs. A child with autism may have difficulty with communication and may need services specifically focusing on speech and language development. A child with Asperger’s disorder which is on the autism spectrum may have average or above average intelligence but may still be in need of services.

Services required for a child with autism will most likely change over time. The most important thing a family can do once a diagnosis of autism is determined, is to seek support and services. Recent reports reveal one of every 166 children is diagnosed with autism. Fortunately, the exposure of the topic is providing extensive and exciting research and hope!

http://www.newsforautism.com/pages/Home.html

About the Author: Theresa McFarland, M.A. has over 20 years of experience providing services to children and adults who have disabilities including autism. For up to date news on topics related to autism, please visit: http://www.newsforautism.com/pages/Home.html

“Your Online Magazine for Autism Related Issues!”

21
Aug

Dr. Nelson Mane Talks About Another Factor You May not be Aware of With Regard to Autism

Autism as defined by NINDS is “What is Autism”.

What is autism?

Autism (sometimes called “classical autism”) is the most common condition in a group of developmental disorders known as the autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).   Autism is characterized by impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or severely limited activities and interests.  Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS).  Experts estimate that three to six children out of every 1,000 will have autism.  Males are four times more likely to have autism than females.  – National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

Most agree that the cause of Autism Spectrum Disorders is multi-factoral and that one specific cause has not been identified. As such, those of us who treat children with ASD are always looking for any other possible cause that can be ruled out in order to make the most effective use of the doctor’s treatment and the patient’s family’s energy. Many parents are not aware that Vitamin D deficiency is a possible factor which may influence the development, treatment and potential improvement of these children.Let’s go to the scientific literature.

Autism and vitamin D

Atascadero State Hospital, Psychiatry, 10333 El Camino Real, Atascadero, CA 93423, United States.

Any theory of autism’s etiology must take into account its strong genetic basis while explaining its striking epidemiology. The apparent increase in the prevalence of autism over the last 20 years corresponds with increasing medical advice to avoid the sun, advice that has probably lowered vitamin D levels and would theoretically greatly lower activated vitamin D (calcitriol) levels in developing brains. Animal data has repeatedly shown that severe vitamin D deficiency during gestation dysregulates dozens of proteins involved in brain development and leads to rat pups with increased brain size and enlarged ventricles, abnormalities similar to those found in autistic children. Children with the Williams Syndrome, who can have greatly elevated calcitriol levels in early infancy, usually have phenotypes that are the opposite of autism. Children with vitamin D deficient rickets have several autistic markers that apparently disappear with high-dose vitamin D treatment. Estrogen and testosterone have very different effects on calcitriol’s metabolism, differences that may explain the striking male/female sex ratios in autism. Calcitriol down-regulates production of inflammatory cytokines in the brain, cytokines that have been associated with autism. Consumption of vitamin D containing fish during pregnancy reduces autistic symptoms in offspring. Autism is more common in areas of impaired UVB penetration such as poleward latitudes, urban areas, areas with high air pollution, and areas of high precipitation. Autism is more common in dark-skinned persons and severe maternal vitamin D deficiency is exceptionally common the dark-skinned. Conclusion: simple Gaussian distributions of the enzyme that activates neural calcitriol combined with widespread gestational and/or early childhood vitamin D deficiency may explain both the genetics and epidemiology of autism. If so, much of the disease is iatrogenic, brought on by medical advice to avoid the sun. Several types of studies could easily test the theory.

PMID: 17920208 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Dr. Mane offers one on one consultations as well as Group Seminars  for parents and children who suffer from Autism Spectrum Disorders.  If you are interested in scheduling a consultation or to attend a seminar please call 813-935-4744. 

For more information about Dr. Nelson Mane, D.C. and his treatment approach for ASD go to http://www.manecenter.com/ADHD.htm.