I support Autism Awareness
That being said we are very interested in quantifying the relationship with a short poll for our readers The question is very simple. Do you or a loved one have both Epilepsy and Autism?
Please do take part. We need as large a sample as possible for this poll so would it be possible for you to share with all your friends and family in the autism community.
Many thanks in advance!
Autism Awareness Butterfly
“Immersive reality can help children with autism spectrum disorder overcome their fears and phobias, new research has shown.
In a study published today in PLOS ONE, experts at Newcastle University describe how, following treatment in an immersive virtual reality room, eight out of nine children were able to tackle the situation they feared. Four children were found to have completely overcome their phobias. The effect of the treatment was still in place one year later. A video show the treatment in action.
Around 150,000 children in the UK are thought to have autism spectrum disorder and it affects four times more boys than girls. A study released earlier this month found that the condition costs the UK £32bn every year. Many people with autism spectrum disorder have a fear or phobia which can be so distressing that they and their families completely avoid the situation.
Each of the nine boys, aged between seven and 13 and with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, was immersed into a virtual environment which gradually introduced them to a scene of the real-life situation they feared. This included getting on a busy bus, crossing a bridge, going shopping or talking to an avatar shop assistant.
Supported by a psychologist, they were given breathing and relaxation exercises in the controllable and safe virtual environment to help them to learn to cope with that situation.
Dr Jeremy Parr, Clinical Senior Lecturer specialising in Paediatric Neurodisability at Newcastle University’s Institute of Neuroscience said: “Phobias have a huge impact on a child with autism and on the whole family. Parents often find themselves taking action to avoid the situation the child fears, which can impact on school and leisure activities.
“Currently the main treatment is cognitive behaviour therapy but that often doesn’t work for a child with autism as it relies on imagination. People with autism can find imagination difficult so by providing the scene in front of the child’s eyes we help them learn how to manage their fears.”
The Newcastle University team worked with company Third Eye Technologies in their unique Immersive Blue Room to create personalised scenarios. Accompanied by a psychologist, the child was completely surrounded with audio visual images representing the ‘real world’ in the 360 degree seamless screened room with no point of external reference. This meant they did not have to wear a headset or goggles. They moved around the scene using ipad controls, interacting and navigating through the scenario as they wished allowing them to fully control the environment.
Children were observed by their parents via a video-link which enabled them to watch the techniques used to help their child. This had obvious benefits as Newcastle University researcher Dr Morag Maskey explains: “One boy was so fearful shopping that he would walk behind his parents with his hood up, refusing to even speak to people he knew.
“We created a petrol station kiosk scene in the Blue Room where he picked up a newspaper. With the help of the psychologist who was in the room with him, he learnt to control his anxiety with breathing and stretching exercises. He then built up confidence over four sessions until he held a conversation with the shop assistant avatar.
“At home his parents encouraged him to do more of the shopping on his own and use the techniques they had seen him practice.
“The therapy was so successful that he is now able to go shopping with his friends.”
Another nine-year-old boy in the study had a fear of crowded buses and underground trains which meant as his family had no car, they could face a 40 minute wait for an emptier bus or experience his difficult behaviour on a crowded bus. Building up his confidence with a scene of a bus that became more crowded over the four sessions has given a new lease of life to his family who are now able to board any bus – regardless of how many people are on it.
Dr Parr from Newcastle University’s Institute of Neuroscience, added: “Parents told us that they could see the difference in their children over the course of the four session programme – their children are now much better at coping with the situations that they once found distressing. Twelve months later, the children are still able to cope.
“This treatment has led to big changes in the lives of some families. To see a child who couldn’t get on a crowded bus do so after just four weeks of treatment is amazing.”
The flexibility of the Blue Room means that scenes can be gradually built up in complexity and noise level, allowing a graded exposure and element of control that cannot be achieved in real life. However, the technology has a wide range of applications as Paul Smith, CEO of Third Eye Technologies explains: “Immersive reality environments offer a powerful tool for training as participants can navigate through scenarios at their own discretion and therefore be taken closer to reality than ever before becoming active members of a 360 degree virtual world. The work performed shows that although participants appreciate that they are in a replicated environment, within a very short period of time they start reacting and behaving as they do in the real world. ‘
“The young people in this study were able to navigate through an environment such as a street or a school and interact with objects and people, rehearsing their newly-learned skills. Because there is no point of external reference and because it’s in true perspective people genuinely think they’re in the environment – which is why it’s so effective.
“When we were approached to take part in this study, it was an area of work we had never considered but it shows how innovative use of the latest technology can help in surprising areas such as health.”
Carol Povey, Director of The National Autistic Society’s Centre for Autism, said: “Some people with autism can struggle in everyday social situations that many of us take for granted, such as boarding a bus or going to the local shop to buy a pint of milk. A chance to explore stressful scenarios in a safe, virtual environment could help those whose lives are dominated by anxiety to better manage their fears, improving their quality of life.”
Baroness Hilary Armstrong social exclusion who has been following the work said: “The Blue Room has given children with autism the opportunity to deal with their fears and anxieties in a remarkable way. This has changed their lives, and the lives of their families. This is exciting progress that has the potential to offer real opportunities to many more children and young people with autism.”
The Newcastle University team are continuing their work in this area, and will shortly begin a new project that will investigate the treatment being used in the NHS in North East England.
Dr. Sonya Doherty
Today she offers and introduction to biomedical treatments for autism. As this is a new therapy for me I’m very interested in getting feedback on biomedical treatment for autism from our readers. Please feel free to share your experiences in the comments section below.
Doherty writes:-
“1. What is biomedical treatment?
Biomedical treatment is an individualized medical treatment program to prevent and treat developmental disorders like autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, OCD, Tourette Syndrome and Speech Language Delay (Apraxia, Dyspraxia).
2. What type childhood disorders can benefit from biomedical treatment?
Biomedical treatment focuses on identifying weaknesses in a child’s body that are obstacles to development. So, any child can benefit from this program because it is the most comprehensive medical treatment plan to optimize brain development. The children who experience the most dramatic changes in language, social, cognitive and behavioural development are the children who are diagnosed with autism. They are the children who need biomedical treatment the most.
3. What is the earliest age you see?
The youngest biomedical patients are those who have siblings diagnosed with autism. Our sibling program focuses on prevention of developmental delays. Children who have a sibling on the autism spectrum are 20% more likely to be diagnosed themselves. They experience higher levels of speech delay, sensory issues, attention and focus problems and behavioural issues. Siblings are more likely to have eczema, allergies, asthma, constipation and sleep issues.
We begin more intensive biomedical treatment at the first sign of significant developmental concerns such as eye contact or visual tracking problems in infants or sensory meltdowns and self-stimulating behaviour in toddlers.
4. Can you begin treatment without a diagnosis?
It is SO UNBELIEVABLY IMPORTANT to act right away. Early intervention increases the likelihood of recovering significant and peer level language, social and cognitive function. Unfortunately, the staggering length of the waitlist means that our little ones begin treatment long before they get a diagnosis and years before they will ever receive any funded treatment. The good news is that the younger kids begin biomedical treatment, the better the outcome.
5. What type of results can parents expect to see? and how quickly?
We expect to see positive changes in 4-12 weeks. Better eye contact, decreased sensory issues, increased attempts to communicate verbally and/or non-verbally. Biomedical treatment is about repair and recovery. This process takes time and to see the best results, the treatment plans should be adjusted and changed every few months as a child moves through different stages. In the beginning, it is essential to stop further damage to the brain. The second step is to repair and then after 1-3 years our patients are on maintenance programs to continue to support their development.
6. Is the cost covered by private insurance coverage?
Many people have private insurance and biomedical treatment visits are covered by naturopathic benefits. It is important to help parents plan a monthly budget for biomedical treatments like methyl B12 injections. There are also important laboratory assessments that are done in the beginning of treatment and re-assessed throughout the process. The average yearly cost is $2000-3000. For the majority of our patients, 1-3 years of biomedical treatment creates development gains that are life changing. Biomedical works by opening doors now, doors that may remain closed because of untreated medical issues.
7. How does a family get started?
Some families like to read books or look at current medical research in this area. For those parents, we encourage them to get our biomedical handbook to get more information or to look online at www.treatautism.ca.
Other parents are ready to get started and can begin the process by contacting our clinic.
Sonya Doherty
Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine, FMAPS (candidate)
“
Dr. Sonya Doherty
Welcome to our latest guest post from Dr. Sonya Doherty. You can read the original post on her blog here. Dr. Sonya Doherty is a licensed and board certified Naturopathic Doctor who is an active member of the CAND. Sonya Doherty completed her undergraduate training at the University of Western Ontario in a Bachelor of Science Honors Kinesiology program.
Please note that guest posts on this blog do not always reflect the views of PatientTalk.Org and we repost to promote discussion among our readers.
Doherty writes “It is estimated that 1 in 6 Canadian children has a developmental delay. The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder has increased over 2000% in the last 10 years. Up 30% in the last two years alone. If this isn’t an epidemic, I don’t know what is. 1 in 68 children is now estimated to have ASD. Parents of young children are alarmed at these rapidly escalating rates of autism. More and more parents are worried that their toddler or preschooler has signs of autism or ADHD. If you are worried your child has autism, you are likely torn in two directions. One is directly into the ground, head buried, filled with terror. The other is frantically scouring the internet for more information. The reason I am writing this blog, is that autism is changing. Massive piles of incredible research lead by world renowned researchers, is showing that autism is PREVENTABLE, TREATABLE AND REVERSIBLE. This blog is for all the Moms and Dads up in the middle of the night trying to face the terrifying reality that their child may have developmental delays or a developmental disorder like autism or ADHD.
Eight years ago, I became a DAN! Doctor. DAN! doctors are experts in biomedical treatment. After training to become a naturopathic doctor in a four year post-graduate program, I realized that my passion was working with children who were diagnosed with autism. In the last 8 years, I have worked with thousands of children. Since my DAN! training many years ago, I have been completing my fellowship with the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs. The MAPS program trains health care providers to be the best in their field in assessing, treating and preventing autism. The MAPS program has been developed by leading physicians, scientists, researchers and experts in the fields of environmental medicine, gastrointestinal abnormalities, pediatrics, neurological disorders, genetics, nutrition and mitochondrial issues. It is the leading biomedical training program in the world and the only of its kind.
Our clinic has worked with parents to recover hundreds of children with autism. The DAN! and MAPS treatment protocols have helped to prevent hundreds of children from being diagnosed in my practice. Moms and Dads, who are up at night worrying, this blog is for you. This message is to you. DO NOT WAIT FOR YOUR PEDIATRICIAN TO DROP THE AUTISM BOMB. DO NOT WAIT FOR THE TEACHERS TO RECOMMEND YOUR CHILD SEEK TREATMENT FOR ADHD SYMPTOMS. Assess and treat developmental concerns the second you see them. Boys don’t speak later because they are boys. Boys often speak later because they are more at risk for being diagnosed with autism, ADHD and speech language delay. Your child should not have chronic diarrhea or constipation. PEG FLAKES do not heal the gut. Healthy digestion is required for healthy development. It is time to take action. About half the children in the US with an autism spectrum disorder are diagnosed at five or older but many parents are suspicious much earlier. If you suspect autism, if you are worried; take action.
So let’s take a look at signs and symptoms that could indicate your child needs support developmentally. Remember, early intervention is the key to helping your child. You do not need a diagnosis to get support for language, social or cognitive delay. If your child has “autistic” behaviours or has marked hyperactivity, acting now can dramatically change the course of their development.
Autism is a spectrum of closely related disorders with a shared core of symptoms. Autism symptoms appear in infancy and early childhood, causing delays in many basic areas of development such as learning to talk, make eye contact, play, and interact with others. The signs and symptoms of autism vary widely and some autistic children have only mild impairments, while others are impacted more severely. The three major areas of concerns in autism involve language, social and cognitive function. Many children with autism also have severe sensory issues.
Language delay is often the first sign parents act on when a child is on the autism spectrum. Language delay is very common and parents are able to take steps to support speech, language development without having to tackle the question of autism head-on. Two-year olds should speak in 2-3 word sentences or phrases that communicate their needs. Autism is a communication disorder, and since speech is the way to communicate, delayed speech may signal autism. Keep in mind; children who are eventually diagnosed with ADHD are often “late talkers”. Even children with hearing issues who are speech-delayed should still use vocal utterances and gestures or formal sign language to communicate.
Behaviours or symptoms that may be red flags for autism include:
Lack of eye contact
Lack of pretend or imaginary play
Lining up toys or severe transitional tantrums
No pointing or inability to imitate
Unusual behaviours
Toe walking
Chronic diarrhea or constipation (note that PEG flakes or other laxative treatments do not HEAL the gut; a healthy gut is required for healthy development)
Feeding issues including restricted diet
Sleep disturbance (many children with autism do not make enough melatonin and do not go to sleep at an age appropriate time)
Speech delay
Delayed play skills – not wanting to play with other children, not enticing parent into play or “checking in” with parents
Sensory issues – 90% of children with autism have sensory issues
Limited responsiveness – responding to their name will increase as your child gets older but many children with autism lack responsiveness
What can you do today (right now) to support your child’s development?
Talk to your child’s pediatrician about your concerns
Visit a developmental screening clinic (in Halton these clinics are DIEPP clinics hosted by the region)
Read Healing the New Childhood Epidemics by Dr. Kenneth Bock, M.D.
Then read The Autism Revolution by Dr. Martha Herbert, pediatric neurologist and professor at Harvard University
Get your child’s medical concerns assessed and treated. Digestive, sleep and immune issues decrease developmental potential. Sensory issues are painful and force children to withdraw from the world. Biomedical treatment of autism spectrum disorders and other developmental concerns, will dramatically improve language, social and cognitive development.
As a naturopathic doctor specializing in treatment and prevention of neurodevelopmental disorders; the most important thing for parents to do is to keep track of their child’s milestones. While all children hit milestones at slightly different times, it is crucial that infants, toddlers and children are gaining language, social and cognitive skills on schedule. As a parent, you never want to believe that your child has a developmental problem but when it comes to autism, catching it early makes an incredible difference. The younger your child, the greater the impact of treatment on symptoms of autism, ADD/HD, OCD, speech delay and Tourette Syndrome.
As a parent, you are the person to watch for early signs of developmental delay. It is crucial to track milestones, to take action if you are concerned and trust your instincts. I believe strongly that the “wait and watch” approach is the worst thing to do when it comes to developmental concerns. At the first sign of delay, seek out expert advice and get a plan in place to find out what is going on and how you can help your child gain skills more quickly.
If autism or other developmental concerns are addressed early there is a higher potential for the brain to heal because the brain has remarkable plasticity. Take action as soon as you can. Pull your head out of the sand, use all the information you have learned off google and get to the experts. Pediatricians, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists and MAPS trained naturopathic doctors can help. A lot. Biomedical treatment has the ability to change your child’s life.
Seek medical help if your child is not hitting the following milestones:
6 months – big smiles or other warm, joyful expressions
9 months – back-and-forth sharing of sounds, smiles, or other facial expressions
12 months – responding to their name being called
12 months – babbling or “baby talk”
12 months – back-and-forth gestures, such as pointing, showing, reaching, or waving
16 months – meaningful words
24 months – meaningful two word phrases that don’t involve imitating or repeating”
Written by: Dr. Sonya Doherty, ND, FMAPS (Cand.), Natural Care Clinic
| sharonmcmahon | As a mother of an autistic child – I first noticed that my son was not retaining speech and seemed delayed in comparison to my elder child – she had about 10 words at 12 months and he had 2 – he stopped using the first word when he started the 2nd word. I took him to the local health care nurse at 12 months – when she asked if I had any concerns and I said yes “speech” she told me I was expecting too much.. He is a boy, 2nd child and only 12 months old – well… I should not have listened to her – I waited for another 6-8 months – giving her the benefit of the doubt – DO NOT DOUBT yourself. We had our diagnosis by the time he was 3.4 years old – it took a long time as we lived in the Pilbara (Karratha Western Australia) at the time – Paediatrians visited only every 3 months – and yes it was a nightmare. My son has made a lot of progress over the years – we have done ABA therapy and natural medicines also – homeopath, naturapath – it is very difficult to get him to take any form of medicine – but I am going to start again as we havent done naturaath/homeopath for the last couple of years – and yes I see the differences in him |
As readers of this blog may know Donnee Spencer has been producing a series of brilliant medical condition awareness butterflies. You can see more of her work here.
Autism Awareness Butterfly
We would like to highlight her brilliant autism awareness butterfly. Please like and share with everyone you know in the autism community!