Quit Smoking and Health

Many parents and caregivers of someone on the Autism Spectrum know what it is like to be short on sleep!  For some reason, sleep disturbance is a common problem with autism. 

Parents have told me so many stories about their childrens unusual sleep habits. Some children literally wander the house or their room all night long.  

Recently I talked to a lady who would find her son sleeping in the closet.  She was concerned and tied the bifold closet doors closed to keep him out, but he lifted them off the tracks at the bottom and crawled under the doors to get in!

My own grandson woke in the night one night and wedged himself underneath our bed.  We were hysterical with panic the next morning until we found him sleeping peacefully under our bed!  Obviously these boys both liked the small, confined spaces, and you are better off going with that than fighting against it!  If they are not feeling safe and comfortable in their bed, they are probably not going to sleep there or stay there.  My grandson stopped getting up at night after we started implementing some of the following tips:



White Noise- Use an air purifier or a fan for white noise. Prevent Distractions- Heavy curtains, thick carpets, and making sure the door doesn’t squeak. Try a Tent- Let your child try sleeping in a pup tent inside a sleeping bag, many will love the small space.  You   can also find “bed tents” made just for this purpose by searching online. Sunlight- Expose your child to sunlight in the morning to regulate the body’s production of melatonin. Supplements- Ask your pediatrician about supplementing with melatonin, it can help normalize the sleep-wake cycle  in children with autism. Heavy Play- Playing with weighted toys, carrying a heavy backpack, pushing, pulling, etc. before bedtime. Epsom Salts Baths- Try giving your child Epsom Salts Baths before bed.  Don’t let them drink the bath water! Bedtime Schedule- Create a PEC’s Bedtime Schedule to hang on the wall and use it daily. Ban Stimulants Before Bedtime- Don’t give your child caffeine, sugar, or anything with additives 2 hours before bedtime.  Autistic children can be especially sensitive to stimulants and food additives. Weighted Blankets- A weighted blanket can be a lifesaver for your child and the entire family.  You can find quality, washable weighted blankets at Affordable Weighted Blankets.

Autism (say: aw -tih-zum) causes kids to experience the world differently from the way most other kids do. Kids who have autism usually keep to themselves and many can’t communicate without special help. Although treatment has improved greatly in the past few decades, autism cannot be cured. It’s estimated that three to six of every 1,000 children have autism. It persists throughout life. Some believe this increase is largely due to changed diagnostic criteria and/or societal factors, while others think the reason is environmental. Although the specific causes of autism are unknown, there is a large database of links between autism and genetic loci that span every chromosome. Other ASDs include Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). Some autistic children and adults are opposed to attempts to cure autism, because they see autism as part of who they are, and in some cases they perceive attempts of a cure to be intensive and unnatural.

Symptoms of Autism

Some Symptoms of Autism :

Avoids cuddling or making eye contact.

Doesn’t respond to voices or other sounds.

Injures himself or herself or is unafraid of danger.

Has a flat facial expression or uses a monotone voice.

Doesn’t understand hand gestures or body language.

Is very concerned with order, routine or ritual.

Treatment of Autism

Therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills. Family counseling for the parents and siblings of children with autism often helps families cope with the particular challenges of living with an autistic child.

Doctors often prescribe an antidepressant medication to handle symptoms of anxiety, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Anti-psychotic medications are used to treat severe behavioral problems. Seizures can be treated with one or more of the anticonvulsant drugs.

There are a number of controversial therapies or interventions available for autistic children, but few, if any, are supported by scientific studies. Parents should use caution before adopting any of these treatments.

If you are worried that someone you love with autism will not enjoy life to the full then read on. Autism is an arrested development. It hampers development in a human being and occurs normally in children

Study show that it is the fastest growing development disability and there is a worldwide autism epidemic. This article will try to identify causes, diagnosis methods and steps to deal with autism.

Did You Know That…

• 1 in every 150 babies born has Autism ( and in some reports it is even greater then that)

• Families with one autistic child have a 2 to 8 percent chance of having another autistic child.

• Boys are three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with Autism.

• Mental retardation is present in 75-80% of individuals with autism.

• Autism occurs more often than childhood cancer or cystic fibrosis.

• Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability. In the U.S. alone, autism increased by 172% during the 1990s.

• When autism is detected and treated early, costs associated with the disorder can be reduced by 66%.

It is believed that one in every 150 children diagnosed is affected by autism. Parents love their children and it is a joy to bring another human being into the world. The Bible says that children are a gift from God.

It is so painful and heartbreaking to discover that your child is affected by autism. Many parents blame themselves for their child’s autism. Some believe it is their genes.

According to National Autism Association autism is no longer considered heritable and a genetic disorder. Environmental conditions are contributory factors to autism. It is believed that it is environmentally triggered and is a preventable and treatable disease. Research in the environment has brought hope to those affected by autism and therefore environmental analysis to causes of autism holds the key to finding the cause and developing effective treatment for autism.

Yet you will hear theories of many causes of autism, but no one has found the exact cause of autism

Psychologists, Psychiatrists, School psychiatrists and Developmental Paediatricians use methods such as, M-CHAT (Modified checklist for Autism in Toddlers), CARS (Child Autism Rating Scale), Autism Diagnostic Checklist Form E-2 and ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale) to diagnose autism.

In the 1950’s-1970’s mothers whose children were affected with autism were labelled ‘’Refrigerated Mothers’’. It was believed that mothers were not loving and neglecting their children which cause them to regress into their own world. But environmental analysis has changed this notion and believed that autism has a direct link to the environment.

Diagnostic methods are available to help cure autism and is been used by professionals. Early detection of autism will decrease cost of autism. Parents should be assured that your efforts to cure autism will be rewarded.