When I tell people about the electroconvulsive therapy my autistic 15-year-old son Jonah has been getting for the past four years, the response has been ... surprise, certainly. Curiosity. Interest. No horror, no judgment. But that’s to be expected from those close to my family: They know we spent the better part of a decade struggling to manage Jonah’s aggressive and self-injurious behaviors. Countless therapies, behavior plans, medication trials, and even an almost yearlong hospitalization at one of the nation’s premier facilities failed to stop his frequent, intense, and unpredictable rages.
Showing posts with label treatment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label treatment. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Summary of Advances in Autism Spectrum Disorder Research: Calendar Year 2013
Each year, the IACC releases its annual list of scientific advances that represent significant progress in the field. The 20 studies selected have given new insight into the complex causes of autism and potential risk factors, studied clues that could lead to earlier diagnosis, and evaluated promising early intervention strategies.
The advances also address the prevalence of ASD both in the United States and internationally, as well as the service needs of people with ASD across the lifespan. The 2013 Summary of Advances provides short, plain language synopses of the top research breakthroughs selected by the IACC from a pool of peer-reviewed articles nominated by the members. Articles are grouped according to the questions of the IACC Strategic Plan for ASD Research.
- Introduction
- Articles Selected for the Summary of Advances
- Question 1: When Should I Be Concerned?
- Question 2: How Can I Understand What Is Happening?
- Question 3: What Caused This To Happen and Can This Be Prevented?
- Question 4: Which Treatments and Interventions will Help?
- Question 5: Where Can I Turn for Services?
- Question 6: What Does the Future Hold, Particularly for Adults?
- Question 7: What Other Infrastructure and Surveillance Needs Must Be Met?
- Citation List – Articles Selected for the 2012 Summary of Advances
- Full Listing of Nominated Articles
- About the IACC
- IACC Member Roster
- Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) Staff List
Beware of False or Misleading Claims for Treating Autism
FDA Cracks Down on False Claims
According to Gary Coody, R.Ph., FDA’s national health fraud coordinator, the agency has warned a number of companies that they are facing possible legal action if they continue to make false or misleading claims about products and therapies claiming to treat or cure autism. Some of these so-called therapies carry significant health risks and include:
- “Chelation Therapies.” These products claim to cleanse the body of toxic chemicals and heavy metals by binding to them and “removing” them from circulation. They come in a number of forms, including sprays, suppositories, capsules, liquid drops and clay baths. FDA-approved chelating agents are approved for specific uses, such as the treatment of lead poisoning and iron overload, and are available by prescription only. FDA-approved prescription chelation therapy products should only be used under medical supervision. Chelating important minerals needed by the body can lead to serious and life-threatening outcomes.
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. This involves breathing oxygen in a pressurized chamber and has been cleared by FDA for certain medical uses, such as treating decompression sickness suffered by divers. It has not been cleared for autism, among other conditions.
- Miracle Mineral Solution. Also known as Miracle Mineral Supplement and MMS, this product becomes a potent chemical that‘s used as bleach when mixed according to package directions. FDA has received reports of consumers who say they experienced nausea, severe vomiting and life-threatening low blood pressure after drinking the MMS and citrus juice mixture.
- Detoxifying Clay Baths. Added to bath water, these products claim to draw out chemical toxins, pollutants and heavy metals from the body, falsely offering “dramatic improvement” for autism symptoms.
- CocoKefir probiotics products. Product claims include being a “major key” to recovery from autism, but they are not proven safe and effective for this advertised use.
Coody offers some quick tips to help you identify false or misleading claims.
- Be suspicious of products that claim to treat a wide range of diseases.
- Personal testimonials are no substitute for scientific evidence.
- Few diseases or conditions can be treated quickly, so be suspicious of any therapy claimed as a “quick fix.”
- So-called “miracle cures,” which claim scientific breakthroughs and secret ingredients, may be a hoax.
The bottom line is this—if it’s an unproven or little known treatment, talk to your health care professional before buying or using these products.
Motor Skill Deficiencies Linked To Autism Severity
An Oregon State University researcher has found a relationship between motor skill deficiencies and the severity of the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in very young children.
The findings, believed to the be the first to show a direct relationship between motor skills and autism severity, indicate that development of fine and gross motor skills should be included in treatment plans for young children with autism, said Megan MacDonald, an assistant professor in OSU’s College of Public Health and Human Sciences.
“Recognizing those deficits really early gives us more time to help children catch up to their peers in regards to motor skill,” said MacDonald, who is an expert on the movement skills of children with autism.
Read more at http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1113130206/motor-skill-deficiencies-linked-to-autism-severity-in-new-research/#VJVcCWBGQbAYMraT.99
Need a Task Analysis? - Here are 132
Some very good examples to use and modify.
Index of Task Analyses in Alphabetical Order Page
1 Blank Form 35
2 Accepts/Learns from Constructive Criticism 36
3 Alphabetical Order 37
4 Apologizing 38
5 Appropriate Grooming and Dressing (for employment) 39
6 Asking a Question: Information About Actions 40
7 Asking a Question: Who? 41
8 Asking for Help 42
9 Asking Permission (When & Whom to Ask) 43
10 Blowing Nose 44
11 Bowel Movement (Male/Female) 46
12 Brushing Teeth 47
13 Buttoning Buttons 49
14 Clean Face with Skin Cleanser 50
15 Cleaning Bathtub 51
16 Cleaning Toilet 53
17 Cleaning Up After Lunch 55
18 Clean-up After Activity 58
Risperidone use in children with autism carries heavy risks
Risperidone, the first drug approved for children with autism and the most widely used, improves some children’s behavior but can have severe side effects, suggests an informal analysis of the drug’s use.
The drug effectively treats the explosive and aggressive behavior that can accompany autism. “It has pretty big effects on tantrums, aggression and self-injury,” says Lawrence Scahill, professor of pediatrics at the Marcus Autism Center at Emory University in Atlanta, who has conducted clinical trials of risperidone. The change can be dramatic, he says, taking effect in a matter of weeks.
It has also been shown to reduce hyperactivity and repetitive behaviors, though the Food and Drug Administration has not approved it for those purposes1, 2.
Through these effects, risperidone allows children with autism to benefit from social services, educational programs and behavioral interventions, experts say.
“If you can’t sit still during speech therapy, you’re attacking the teachers, you’re not going to be able to take advantage of it,” says Christopher McDougle, director of the Lurie Center for Autism at MassGeneral Hospital for Children in Boston, who has studied risperidone use in children and adolescents.
Children with autism benefit from behavioral therapies
All three children have shown marked improvement in their behavior and social skills after entering a program called applied behavior analysis, or ABA, which has become the standard for autism intervention. ABA programs are tailored for each child after behavior therapists like Erin Faulkner of Quality Life Concepts assess strengths and weaknesses and write programs to improve behavior and increase skills.
“The programs are tailored depending on skills, and the style of how we teach may vary based on the learning style and needs of the child,” Faulkner said.
“I believe heart and soul in those interventions,” said Amy Brooks, whose daughter had a small vocabulary and was prone to running away when she was first diagnosed with autism. “There’s no doubt Jacey has come as far as she has because of the ABA program.”
Monday, August 18, 2014
Gut Bacteria May Play a Role in Autism
Autism is primarily a disorder of the brain, but research suggests that as many as nine out of 10 individuals with the condition also suffer from gastrointestinal problems such as inflammatory bowel disease and “leaky gut.” The latter condition occurs when the intestines become excessively permeable and leak their contents into the bloodstream. Scientists have long wondered whether the composition of bacteria in the intestines, known as the gut microbiome, might be abnormal in people with autism and drive some of these symptoms.
. . . researchers at Arizona State University reported the results of an experiment in which they measured the levels of various microbial by-products in the feces of children with autism and compared them with those found in healthy children. The levels of 50 of these substances, they found, significantly differed between the two groups.
So could autism one day be treated with drugs designed to restore a healthy microbial balance? Perhaps, but autism is the result of a “complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors,” explains Manya Angley, an autism researcher at the University of South Australia, so the solution may not be that simple. Caltech biologist Sarkis K. Mazmanian, co-author of the mouse study, agrees. “Many more years of work will be needed before we are confident that gut bacteria impact autism and whether probiotics are a viable treatment,” he says.
Read more here.
Thursday, August 14, 2014
Remote Coaching Helps Parents Deliver Autism Therapies
In a pilot study, researchers have demonstrated the practicality and benefits of using the Internet to teach parents how to use early intervention techniques for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The program combines live, remote coaching with online learning materials.
The families and researchers communicated using Skype, a free, password-protected, video-conferencing program. First, the researchers used the link to observe the parents and children playing.
Next, the parents completed four self-guided, web-based lessons introducing Reciprocal Imitation Training. RIT encourages imitation through play
At the end of the self-taught portion of the program, the researchers again assessed parent interactions and child behavior through video conferencing. All the parents showed improvements in using RIT techniques, and four of the five children showed improvement in imitation skills.
Read more here.
The families and researchers communicated using Skype, a free, password-protected, video-conferencing program. First, the researchers used the link to observe the parents and children playing.
Next, the parents completed four self-guided, web-based lessons introducing Reciprocal Imitation Training. RIT encourages imitation through play
At the end of the self-taught portion of the program, the researchers again assessed parent interactions and child behavior through video conferencing. All the parents showed improvements in using RIT techniques, and four of the five children showed improvement in imitation skills.
Read more here.
Review Shows Big Increase in Science Backing Behavioral Therapy
Recent years have brought a dramatic increase in the scientific evidence backing the effectiveness of intensive behavioral therapy for children affected by autism, according to a new report to the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality.
“We are finding more solid evidence, based on higher quality studies, that these early intensive behavioral interventions can be effective for young children on the autism spectrum, especially related to their cognitive and language skills,” says lead author Amy Weitlauf.
“This review speaks to the clear consensus on intensive early intervention,” comments developmental pediatrician Paul Wang, Autism Speaks senior vice president for medical research. “Kids with autism clearly benefit from these behavioral interventions, and we need to make sure that they’re provided.
Source
Study
“We are finding more solid evidence, based on higher quality studies, that these early intensive behavioral interventions can be effective for young children on the autism spectrum, especially related to their cognitive and language skills,” says lead author Amy Weitlauf.
“This review speaks to the clear consensus on intensive early intervention,” comments developmental pediatrician Paul Wang, Autism Speaks senior vice president for medical research. “Kids with autism clearly benefit from these behavioral interventions, and we need to make sure that they’re provided.
Source
Study
Monday, August 11, 2014
Webinar - Getting the Most Out of Brain-based Treatments For Autism
August 25th, 6PM (Pacific) 9PM (Eastern)
During this FREE webinar, you will learn:
- How to choose from a wealth of therapies that are now available for children with autism.
- More importantly learn how to prioritize, and gain an understanding how they may interact. This can be a challenge for parents.
- This seminar will present some of the latest neurological research to help guide parents in these important decisions.
- Diagnosis and management of mitochondrial dysfunction in autism
- Neurologically-based approaches to behavior and language intervention.
Register here.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
The Kids Who Beat Autism
In the last 18 months, however, two research groups have released rigorous, systematic studies, providing the best evidence yet that in fact a small but reliable subset of children really do overcome autism. The first, led by Deborah Fein, a clinical neuropsychologist who teaches at the University of Connecticut, looked at 34 young people, including B. She confirmed that all had early medical records solidly documenting autism and that they now no longer met autism’s criteria, a trajectory she called “optimal outcome.” She compared them with 44 young people who still had autism and were evaluated as “high functioning,” as well as 34 typically developing peers.
In May, another set of researchers published a study that tracked 85 children from their autism diagnosis (at age 2) for nearly two decades and found that about 9 percent of them no longer met the criteria for the disorder. The research, led by Catherine Lord, a renowned leader in the diagnosis and evaluation of autism who directs a large autism center and teaches at Weill Cornell Medical College, referred to those who were no longer autistic as “very positive outcome.”
Read more here.
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