World Autism Day!

All across the world, 2nd Aprilwas marked for those in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder. A client was all excited and came up to tell me about some articles she had read up in the local news paper. I asked her, what was so special about the day. Was it any different for her struggle for her son's acceptance into the society? Did the day indicate any improvements in her son's rights to dignity and opportunity? Then what was it that made her so happy? Just a mention of the disorder and the features and treatment (rather... rehabilitation)opprtunities, by the same selected professionals who are mentioned every year with the same comments and similar statistics? The photograph and struggle story of the same parent and her child every year!

Common. Enough of these gimmics. I suggest the reporters, instead of going overboard with the same information every year, why not increase public awareness by helping the acceptance of these children. Many of them can do well in regular schools but are not given any opportunities. There are no vocational courses suited to cater to this group. Each parent struggles in his/her own individual way. Many dont even have access to therapies. Some fall victims to undue medications which though give short term relief from Hyperactivity, but are hazardous to health in the long run.
Its high time the parents of effected children Gain information on more practical aspects rather than form forums which end up only being publisised and they land up wasting time and energy.

The bottom ;line is early identification and commencement of therapies are the only way to maximise the child's potentials and like in all cases there is no short cut to hard work!

my tribute to those in the autistic spectrum...

“The Rainman”
Beyond the horizons of ‘truth’
Beyond the reach of time…
Lives the child with Autism
Away from the qualms of realism.

Loved at birth,
Cherished for sometime
Later shunned by his parents
Shunned by the world.

But the truth will anyone wanna know…
Or limit thyselves to ‘the rainman’ shadow?
The diagnostic calamity may befall
ASD, ADD, Asperger’s and all.

Their life within the nut
Difficult to crack…
To let us go in
Or pull him outside.

Doctor shopping in full spree
Nothing but ignorance indeed.
Parent, I know thou plight…
He’s more than just the rainman inside.

To us his world is all new
Witches and devils to name a few.
Echolalia- immediate, delayed, mitigated
Getting us all the more agitated.
Attention deficit, hyperactivity, stereotypes and all
You name it; he has it on call.

So let’s try and get him out
Far from the world of the perseveratory bout.
You go to him and he’ll come to you,
That’s my message through and through…



- Ms. Priya Nayak-Gole
(To the parents of these children who travel miles with utmost dedication)

Autism info....

AUTISM
Parents may hear different terms used to describe children within this spectrum, such as autistic-like, autistic tendencies, autism spectrum, high-functioning or low-functioning autism, more-abled or less-abled. More important than the term used is to understand that, whatever the diagnosis, children with autism can learn and function productively and show gains with appropriate education and treatment.
Every person with autism is an individual, and like all individuals, has a unique personality and combination of characteristics. Some individuals mildly affected may exhibit only slight delays in language and greater challenges with social interactions. The person may have difficulty initiating and/or maintaining a conversation. Most of the public, including many professionals in the medical, educational, and vocational fields, are still unaware of how autism affects people and how they can effectively work with individuals with autism.. Like other children, they respond to their environment in both positive and negative ways.
Autism is a spectrum disorder. The symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations, from mild to severe. Although autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors, children and adults can exhibit any combination of the behaviors in any degree of severity. Two children, both with the same diagnosis, can act very differently as talking at others.

Persons with autism may also exhibit some of the following traits.
Insistence on sameness; resistance to change
Difficulty in expressing needs; uses gestures or pointing instead of words
Repeating words or phrases in place of normal, responsive language
Laughing, crying, showing distress for reasons not apparent to others
Prefers to be alone; aloof manner
Tantrums
Difficulty in mixing with others
May not want to cuddle or be cuddled
Little or no eye contact
Unresponsive to normal teaching methods
Sustained odd play
Spins objects
Inappropriate attachments to objects
Apparent over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain
No real fears of danger
Noticeable physical over-activity or extreme under-activity
Uneven gross/fine motor skills
Not responsive to verbal cues; acts as if deaf although hearing tests in normal range.



For most of us, the integration of our senses helps us to understand what we are experiencing. For example, our senses of touch, smell and taste work together in the experience of eating a ripe fruit: the feel of the fruit fuzz as we pick it up, its sweet smell as we bring it to our mouth, and the juices running down our face as we take a bite. For children with autism, sensory integration problems are common. Their senses may be over-or under-active. The fuzz on the fruit may actually be experienced as painful; the smell may make the child gag. Some children with autism are particularly sensitive to sound, finding even the most ordinary daily noises painful. Many professionals feel that some of the typical autism behaviors are actually a result of sensory integration difficulties.
There are many myths and misconceptions about autism. Contrary to popular belief, many autistic children do make eye contact; it just may be less or different from a non-autistic child. Many children with autism can develop good functional language and others can develop some type of communication skills, such as sign language or use of pictures. Children do not "outgrow" autism but symptoms may lessen as the child develops and receives treatment.
One of the most devastating myths about autistic children is that they cannot show affection. While sensory stimulation is processed differently in some children with autism, they can and do give affection. But it may require patience on a parent's part to accept and give love in the child's terms.

Progress!

Today 4yr old Prem (name changed) spoke 3 sentences on his own free will! To any one it sounds something so ordinary but then Prem is no ordinary........ he is specially abled. He was diagnosed with Moderate degree of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) last year. He would only cry to communicate his needs and had a lot of sensory issues. But today he has secured admission in a school based on an interview....... this goes to prove how hard work and dedication on part of the parents following proper guidance can make wonders for a child like Prem.
This is one of the many success stories. Read on and look out for further info on Autism in this blog. Till then Take Care....

Unilateral hearing loss and partial deafness...

hello readers... am back after a long hiatus. Back to discuss yet another important topic plaguing not just adults but a large number of school children too.

Unilateral hearing loss:
this means that hearing loss effects only one ear. Usually results from trauma to the ear and /or infections. Do remember unless Normal life is effected, usually hearing aids are not prescribed. If they are (as in case of assymetrical hearing loss) then the better ear is fitted with the hearing aid. It is very important to note that the naturally better ear will always respond first, irrespective of hearing aids!

Partial deafness:
Many a times it is seen that a child doesnt do well academically and needs instructions to be repeated many a times. besides suspecting learning disability (LD), currently made famous by Aamir Khan's "TZP", hearing also should be assessed. This especially if the speech is unclear. Hearing Aid fitting followed by spech-language therapy will help the child.
in case of adults, the symptoms typically include, "can hear sounds but cant make out....." Raising volumes too doesnt help much. Usually observed in case of high frequency hearing loss. Hearing aids in these cases have to be fitted with extreme precision.


So the next time we come across a child who otherwise seems normal but has unclear speech and poor in academics........ we know what has to be done!

i look forward for your opinions and comments.
P