Would anyone buy a diagnosis of CANCER? I don’t think so. Will parents BUY a diagnosis of AUTISM? Yes – some parents will try. And some families are quite successful.
Why “buy” a diagnosis of autism? Because there are lots of expensive “goodies” that attach with a diagnosis of autism. Expensive school services such as Occupatonal Therapy (OT) and Speech therapy and Social Skills therapy.
In contrast to Mental Retardation — not a diagnosis that parents seek — more and more parents do try to buy a diagnosis of autism.
Is there a real explosion of autism? Appears to be. Are the numbers way up in part because of the push by many parents to BUY a diagnosis. Yes, I think so.
To date, I have seen no research that addresses this issue: many parents WANT a diagnosis of autism and DESIRE affects t how they retrospectively describe their child’s behavior.
written by Cameron Jackson, Ph.D., J.D. Licensed Psychologist PSY 14762
831 688-6002
Screen 24 month old children for autism with the following questions. Does your child take an interest in other children? Use index finger to point and indicate interest in something? Bring objects over to show parent? Imitate interest in something? Respond to name when called? Follow a point across the room? These questions are the most critical items from the M-CHAT which consists of 23 questions.
If you would like a full copy of the M-CHAT, contact Dr. Cameron Jackson at cameronjacks@gmail.com
“Melatonin is a hormone. It is secreted by the pineal gland, and helps regulate sleep rhythms. Natural or synthetic melatonin is often prescribed for people with sleep disturbances, no matter what their cause.
Research shows that people with autism often suffer from sleep disturbances including insomnia and night waking. For parents with children on the autism spectrum (or for adults with autism spectrum disorders), melatonin could be just the ticket.
While melatonin does not generally have side effects, it is important to consult your doctor regarding appropriate dosages. This is particularly important if you are treating a child. Though you can purchase melatonin over the counter, dosages described on the bottle are unlikely to be appropriate for a little one.
Sources:
Andersen IM, Kaczmarska J, McGrew SG, Malow BA. Melatonin for Insomnia in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Child Neurol. 2008 Jan 8 [Epub ahead of print].
Dodge NN, Wilson. Melatonin for treatment of sleep disorders in children with developmental disabilities. GAJ Child Neurol. 2001 Aug;16(8):581-4.
Garstang J, Wallis M. Randomized controlled trial of melatonin for children with autistic spectrum disorders and sleep problems.Child Care Health Dev. 2006 Sep;32(5):585-9.
Chrysalis Program for young children with autistic spectrum disorders
The Crysalis Program which assists children with autistic spectrum disorders was started years ago and achieved a fine reputation in the community of Santa Cruz. It was an innovative and eclectic program. The woman who started the program, Fran Bussard, retired a few years ago.
Currently, the Morgan Autism Center is operating the Crysalis program in collaboration with the Santa Cruz Office of Education. This is the first year of operation through the oversight of the Morgan Center.
The Morgan Foundation in partnership with Santa Cruz County Office of Education provides one-to-one intensive services to toddlers and preschoolers with ASD. Where the Crysalis program is located:
Struck Preschool
984 Bostwick Lane
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
(831) 475-0290
Before the Morgan Center took over the Crysalis program for a while was run by the Listen Foundation. This is what I could find about that program from looking at local records:
“Two Santa Cruz County Office of Education classrooms, operated in collaboration with the Listen Foundation, integrate several methods and strategies such as TEACCH floor time, applied behavioral analysis, and sensory integration to teach social, communication, academic, and functional skills to address the needs of students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) The Listen Foundation is a private non-profit agency serving individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disroders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities since 1982. For informaiton about the Listen Foundation go to: www.listenfoundation.netListen Foundation.
The Listen Foundation Office is located at:
303 Potrero #29-103
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831)426-7234
“The Chrysalis Program began in September of 1996 as a result of research indicating that intensive early intervention is a critical factor in the education and treatment of young children with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). It is a highly structured program that promotes the emotional, social, behavioral, and cognitive development of each child. There is a strong emphasis on choice and communication.”
For more information about autism on the PAGE at top is a video of classic autistic symptoms in a young boy. O number of blogs concerning autism are also listed on the PAGE for autism.
What drugs assist children with autistic spectum disorders? Autism Research Institute polled 1,297 parents. LSome of the drugs lsted under Got Better include the following. Anybody remember cod liver oil as a child? That’s on the list. So is Melatonin, a over the counter drug that assists with sleep. For more info, go to Autism Research InstituteAutism Research Institute
The State of Pennsylvania has established 3 centers to serve citizens with autistic spectrum disorders. Should California follow this example?
Pennsylvania Department Of Public Welfare Unveils Regional Autism Centers
Article Date: 21 Apr 2009
“Responding to the needs of the growing number of Pennsylvanians living with an autism spectrum disorder, Secretary of Public Welfare Estelle B. Richman unveiled three new regional autism centers geared toward improving access to services, education, research and training for families and professionals in need.
“The increased prevalence of autism has resulted in a greater demand for services, but the development of new programs has not kept pace — a challenge that has left many families searching for quality services,” said Secretary Richman. “In pooling our statewide resources to create these regional centers, Pennsylvania will be better suited to continue bridging the gap to critical programs and information that can significantly enhance the lives of our families.”
Funded through the Department of Public Welfare, each center represents a partnership of medical centers, centers of autism research and services, universities and other providers of services involved in the treatment and care of adults and children with an autism spectrum disorder.
The centers, a primary recommendation of the Pennsylvania Autism Task Force commissioned in 2004, will improve regional access to quality services and interventions, provide information and support to families, train professionals in best practices and facilitate collaboration among providers of services throughout the commonwealth.
Centers will be focused in the eastern, western and central parts of Pennsylvania. They include:
— Central: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center; Philhaven’s Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities; Vista Foundation.
— Eastern: University of Pennsylvania Center for Autism Research; Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia; Holy Family University; Drexel University; Lehigh University.
— Western: UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine Center for Autism and Developmental Disorders; The Watson Institute; Dr. Gertrude Barber Center, Inc.; UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Child Development Unit Autism Center; University of Pittsburgh, Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology; University of Pittsburgh, School of Education, Special Education; The Achievement Center and LEADERS program, Mercyhurst College.
Autism Spectrum Disorder is a set of five disorders that include Autistic Disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Rett Syndrome and Pervasive Development Disorder. Children and adults living with autism generally have impairments in social, communicative, and behavior development that are frequently accompanied by problems with cognitive functioning, learning, attention and sensory processing.
How frequently does your two year old engage in the following?
Smile in response to a smile?
Initiate a request?
Make a verbal request?
Make a non-verbal request?
Respond to name?
Follow a point?
Join with adult in play?
Make eye contact?
Engage in functional play?
Engage in symbolic play?
The above is based on research to identify early signs of delays in children. Early intervention with an appropriate program tailored to your child is best for chiildren exhibiting delays. Be sure to have your child’s hearing and vision abilities checked by your pediatrician.
If you have questions about the above or like to discuss how your child is progressing, you may contact Cameron Jackson, Ph.D., J.D. Dr. Jackson’s practise is in Santa Cruz, CA. She is available for consultaiton in California.
Ultrasound Affects Embryonic Mouse Brain Development
Article Date: 08 Aug 2006
“The prolonged and frequent use of ultrasound on pregnant mice causes brain abnormalities in the developing mouse fetus, Yale School of Medicine researchers report August 7 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“Proper migration of neurons during development is essential for normal development of the cerebral cortex and its function,” said Pasko Rakic, M.D., chair of the Department of Neurobiology and senior author of the study. “We have observed that a small but significant number of neurons in the mouse embryonic brain do not migrate to their proper positions in the cerebral cortex following prolonged and frequent exposure to ultrasound.”
Neurons in mammals multiply early in fetal development and then migrate to their final destinations following an inside-to-outside sequence. The destination defines the neurons’ connectivity and function. It has been reported earlier by others that abnormal cortical function may result when this process is grossly altered by genetic or environmental factors such as alcohol and drugs.
“The study reported on August 7 is believed to be the first to look at the possible effect of ultrasound waves (USW) on neuronal migration in mice at a late stage of embryonic brain development, when the migratory pathways are the longest and may be most vulnerable. The Yale team injected more than 335 fetal mice at embryonic day 16 with special markers to track neuronal development. Exposure to USW for 30 minutes or longer caused a small but statistically significant number of neurons to remain scattered within inappropriate cortical layers and/or in the adjacent white matter.
“The magnitude of dispersion of labeled neurons was highly variable but increased with duration of exposure to ultrasound waves,” Rakic said. “These findings suggested the desirability of further work in this area. We do not have any evidence ourselves that USW cause behavioral effects in mice or have any effect on the developing human brain.”
“Therefore,” he continued, “I want to emphasize that our study in mice does not mean that use of ultrasound on human fetuses for appropriate diagnostic and medical purposes should be abandoned. On the contrary: ultrasound has been shown to be very beneficial in the medical context. Instead, our study warns against its non-medical use. We intend to conduct further research, which will focus on non-human primates, to see if a similar effect is occurring in the developing larger brains, which are more similar to humans. Those upcoming studies should give us information that will be more directly applicable to uses of USW in humans.” The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health supported the study.
C-authors include Eugenius Ang Jr., Vicko Gluncic, Alvaro Duque and Mark Schafer of Yale.
written by Cameron Jackson www.freedomOK.net/wordpress
A study in the April 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine determined that over-the-counter
melatonin medication
can shorten the length of time it takes for children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), or both to fall asleep at the beginning of the night.
Results of the study indicated that children who received over-the-counter melatonin treatments experienced significant improvements in total night sleep durations, sleep latency times, and sleep-onset times. Mean sleep duration was longer on melatonin than placebo by 21 minutes, sleep-onset latency was shorter by 28 minutes and sleep-onset time was earlier by 42 minutes.
According to the senior author, Beth L. Goodlin-Jones, PhD of the M.I.N.D Institute at the University of California Davis Health System in Sacramento, Calif., treatment with over-the-counter melatonin supplements benefits children of all ages, which helps alleviate some of the additional stress that parents of special-needs children experience.
“Sleep onset problems at the beginning of the night are very troublesome for children and their families,” said Goodlin-Jones. “Sometimes children may take one to two hours to fall asleep and often they disrupt the household during this time.”
Authors report that sleep problems are reported in up to 89 percent of children with autism and 77 percent of children with FXS, the most common form of inherited mental impairment ranging from learning problems to mental retardation, and also the most commonly known cause of autism. Dyssomnia (difficulty falling asleep and frequent nighttime awakenings) are among the most commonly reported problems. Researchers hypothesize that difficulty sleeping in these children is increased due to abnormal levels of melatonin, a natural hormone secreted from the pineal gland that is believed to promote sleep at night.
The study included information from 12 children between the ages of 2 to 15.25 years. Sleep quality and quantity were measured both objectively and subjectively. Five participants met diagnostic criteria for autism, 3 for FXS, 3 for FXS and ASD, and 1 for FXS alone.
Participants were given two weeks’ supply of either melatonin or a placebo. After they completed the two week dosage they were then crossed over to the alternate treatment for an additional two weeks. All participants were assessed for autism and received DNA testing for the diagnosis of FXS.
Authors recommend that in addition to the use of over-the-counter melatonin supplements, behavior therapies and sleep hygiene practices should be used to manage sleep problems in children with autism and FXS. Notes:
More information about over-the-counter use of melatonin is available from the AASM for patients and the public at: http://sleepeducation.com/Article.aspx?id=794
The Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine (JCSM) contains published papers related to the clinical practice of sleep medicine, including original manuscripts such as clinical trials, clinical reviews, clinical commentary and debate, medical economic/practice perspectives, case series and novel/interesting case reports. In addition, the JCSM publishes proceedings from conferences, workshops and symposia sponsored by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine or other organizations related to improving the practice of sleep medicine
For more information contact psychologist Dr. Cameron Jackson
Lots of kids are not having kids so fewer grand-kids. Stories by parents about grand-kids and/ or not having grand-kids.
Rescue a dog when no prospects of grand-kids I was in hospital for some life saving proceedure and the nurse & I chatted about about Life. What Matters. “Got any grand-kids?” I asked. She said no, that she had 4 children and no prospects. She said it used to bother her not having any grand-kids. She said that she decided to put that behind her. Decided to adopt – DOGS. She takes in dogs that needs rescueing ahd helps find permanent homes. She could not resist some of the dogs and now has about 6 dogs. Says rescueing a dog is better than knitting a sock.
So what are your grand-kid stories?
contact Cameron Jackson www.freedomOK.net/wordpress
