Friday, June 3, 2011

Jenny McCarthy talks autism in Lombard

Celebrity Jenny McCarthy was the keynote speaker Saturday during a conference on autism last week at the Westin Hotel, 70 Yorktown Shopping Center in Lombard.
The five-day conference began May 25 and was organized by the nonprofit group Autism One. One of the group’s and McCarthy’s main messages is that autism is caused by vaccines. However, many medical professionals disagree.
“I don’t think there is any evidence for that,” said Dr. Kathy Ellerbeck, who sits on the
Autism Subcommittee for the Elk Grove Village based-American Academy of Pediatrics, but practices in Kansas City.
She said British medical researcher Andrew Wakefield, who first suggested a link between vaccines and autism in 1998, has been thoroughly discredited as fraudulent.
But the fear Wakefield helped spread has caused even greater concern, doctors said. Diseases once thought eradicated, such as measles, are beginning to re-emerge because of concerned mothers who are refusing to vaccinate their children, according to doctors.
“In some places in the country, you’re getting pockets of about 20 percent of kids that aren’t immunized,” Ellerbeck said. “It is a very dangerous thing for public health.”
She said there were three recent cases of measles in Kansas City.
Locally, Dr. Perniya Masood, who practices pediatrics at Delnor Hospital in Geneva and at an office in St. Charles, said she recently almost had a patient die of “whooping cough,” which was thought to be eradicated decades ago.
“It really puts us in a bind,” Masood said. “We’re here to help patients. Unfortunately, sometimes there are consequences (to not being vaccinated.)”

http://www.mysuburbanlife.com/news/x1293705924/Autisms-apparent-rise-fears-understanding-play-out-locally

Autism's apparent rise, fears, understanding play out locally

By Frank Vaisvilas, fvaisvilas@mysuburbanlife.com

Geneva Republican

Posted Jun 02, 2011 @ 07:39 PM

Geneva, IL —

A typical day for the Guzniczak family in Geneva is almost like that of any other family — they eat breakfast, get dressed, go to school and work and come home.
The exception is that their son, 9-year-old Gavin, has autism.
As a result, the family has adjusted and tries seeing the world the way Gavin does.
“He thinks in pictures, and we have found that when we show him rather than tell him what he is doing that day, he is less anxious and able to transition from one activity to another,” said his mother, Kelly Guzniczak.
Gavin’s visual schedule is on the family fridge includes the day of the week at the top, followed by a picture of school and his teacher, then either a picture of his speech therapist and the therapist’s office or the family’s home, depending on where he’s going.
As Guzniczak, her husband Vince, and their two daughters learned to understand Gavin’s autism, the medical community also is beginning to paint a clearer picture of the disorder.

Apparent increase
Last month, a South Korean study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry showed autism could be twice as more prevalent in developed countries — at a rate of 2.6 percent — than doctors originally thought.
Autism is a disorder characterized by social impairments such as a lack of basic intuition about people, communication difficulties such as lack of speech and restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior such as compulsiveness. The Center for Disease Control estimates an average of 1 in 110 children in the United States have some form of autism.
But the study suggests the occurrence of autism in a developed country could be as high as 1 in 38 children.
Yet some doctors attribute the numbers to better diagnosis.
“There’s a more unified diagnostic criteria and more awareness,” said Dr. Perniya Masood, who practices pediatrics at Delnor Hospital and in St. Charles. “I think there’s an earlier detection.”
Masood screens toddlers with an autism checklist, which includes asking parents nine questions such as “Does your child ever pretend, for example, to make a cup of tea using a toy cup and teapot, or pretend other things?” and “Does your child ever use his/her index finger to point, to indicate interest in something?” If the answer is “no,” the child could be at risk for autism.
The list is a tool for general practice physicians to use for referral to a specialized physician.
A 2009 study in the Journal Pediatrics showed that about 1 percent of children in the U.S. have autism compared with 0.0001 percent 25 years ago. The criteria to diagnose autism was broadened in 1994, and included Asperger’s syndrome as a milder form of autism.
“We are diagnosing kids (with autism) we wouldn’t have diagnosed 10 to 15 years ago,” said Dr. Kathy Ellerbeck, who sits on the autism subcommittee for the Elk Grove Village based-American Academy of Pediatrics, but practices in Kansas City, Mo.
Ellerbeck said doctors now screen for symptoms of autism at 18 and 24 months of age. She said there’s still some debate in the medical community about whether the apparent increase is due to a better diagnostic process or a real increase in its occurrence.
Locally, some groups that deal with autism have seen more of a need. Carolyn Nagle, executive director for the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, said the number of children with autism in summer camp jumped 16 percent last year compared to 2009.
In addition, the Geneva Park District is increasing its budget this year for aid workers who handle children with autism by $37,000 from two years ago.
Meanwhile, doctors said the best treatments are varying levels of behavioral therapy.
“I think medications should be used very carefully,” Ellerbeck said. “Intensive behavior intervention appears to be the most effective way to approach this.”

A unique family

Because they have a child with autism, the Guzniczaks can’t do many of the same activities as other families. For example, they can’t just take a quick walk in the park.
“It isn’t because Gavin doesn’t like this activity. It’s because he doesn’t want to return home,” Kelly said. “This is an activity that we would have to do for a lengthy period of time to avoid a major meltdown.”
However, Gavin loves going to Kane County Cougars baseball games and can do so without incident.
“We call that a normal family experience,” his mother said.
Gavin was diagnosed with autism when he was 5, but Kelly said he presented some typical behaviors of autism much sooner. He was born 16 weeks early and had developmental delays in motor skills and communication, but wasn’t catching up in certain areas as preemies tend to do. Vince Guzniczak said Gavin likes only certain TV shows such as “Phineas and Ferb” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
“He does best with a routine,” Vince said. “He has certain things he likes to do.”
Part of Gavin’s routine is attending a self-contained classroom through the Mid-Valley Special Education New Pathways program in St. Charles. It’s a smaller classroom specifically for children with autism. There, Gavin has gym, recess, music, social studies and science.
Gavin has a high form of autism and lacks speaking skills. He uses a combination of a picture exchange system and a Dynavox voice output computer to communicate.
“However, it is difficult to know, for example, if something hurts,” Kelly said. “We rely heavily on his behaviors and body language. This is fine for his immediate family who know him so well, but difficult for those who aren’t around him.”
Kelly said Gavin is an engaging child and they even get hugs. He sometimes plays with his sisters, 11-year-old Maya and 4-year-old Fiona, usually chasing or imitating each other and making silly faces.
Today, Gavin needs 24-hour supervision. Kelly said he has a severe oral aversion which results in eating issues and his sleep can be irregular. His lack of ability to communicate also presents the need for constant supervision. Vince said the family always has to be aware not to leave any gates open in the backyard.
“If he escapes, it could ugly,” Vince said. “He can’t speak and tell anybody where he lives.”
Although Gavin has surprised his family on occasion with his advancement, especially from using the Dynavox to communicate, his parents doubt he’ll ever be fully independent.
“We anticipate he’s going to be with us forever,” Vince said.
But there are moments of hope. Kelly realizes Gavin can do some activities on his own, but has become used to others doing it for him.
“He knows that if he waits long enough, it will be done for him,” Kelly said. “He knows he is cute and little and he works it.”

ttp://www.mysuburbanlife.com/news/x1293705924/Autisms-apparent-rise-fears-understanding-play-out-locally

James Hobley: Judge me on dancing, not my autism

AUTISTIC dance sensation James Hobley has urged BGT fans to vote him a winner for his PERFORMANCE alone.

The youngster, who overcame his disability to dazzle judges with his fancy footwork, won huge praise when he appeared in Wednesday's semi-final.
David Hasselhoff told the 11-year-old he was an "absolute inspiration" before adding: "He's my all-time favourite to win this competition."
But James wants to be judged only on his dancing in tomorrow's ITV1 final.
He said: "It was exciting to get the comments from The Hoff but it's nerve-racking because he expects more next time."
Unknown to viewers, James had to hold his BREATH during a lot of Wednesday's performance because there was so much dry ice on the stage.
He said: "I managed quite well by holding my breath - there was much less smoke in rehearsal!
"It was so exciting and my family were really pleased, I'm just chuffed that I got through. The whole experience has helped me with my confidence."
BGT is not the first time viewers have seen James, from Redcar, North Yorks. At the beginning of last year he was on Sky1's Got To Dance.
Host Davina McCall said at the time: "He's a gifted dancer and dancing has helped him in the most amazing way."

James - who puts in a staggering FIVE HOURS of training each day - desperately needs the £100,000 BGT prize to pay for his ballet training. He explained: "I have a sponsored place at ballet school in September but it will not take me as far as the sixth form.
"I would have to leave then because we couldn't pay. All I really want to do is to dance.
"People say I'm like Billy Elliot but I would rather be known just for being myself."

The Adult Brain Requires MeCP2 For Proper Functioning

A paper published online in Science provides evidence that the Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2) is required throughout life to maintain healthy brain function. The findings are reported from the Baylor College of Medicine lab of Huda Zoghbi, HHMI investigator and Director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute.

Mutations in MeCP2 cause the autism spectrum disorder Rett Syndrome, and have been seen in some cases of classic autism, childhood schizophrenia and milder neuropsychiatric conditions such as anxiety and learning disabilities.

Rett Syndrome strikes little girls almost exclusively, with first symptoms usually appearing before the age of 18 months. These children lose speech, motor control and functional hand use, and many suffer from seizures, orthopedic and severe digestive problems, breathing and other autonomic impairments. Most live into adulthood, and require total, round-the-clock care.

Using sophisticated genetic engineering tools, Christopher McGraw, an MD/PhD student in the Zoghbi lab, inhibited production of the Mecp2 protein in mature adult mice at 9 weeks of age. He characterized the mice and found that by 19 weeks the animals began displaying symptoms reminiscent of the classic Rett Syndrome mice which are missing Mecp2 protein from conception: impaired gait and locomotion, hind-limb clasping, motor abnormalities, impaired learning and memory. Lethality in both sets of mice took place approximately 13 weeks after removing MeCP2.

Rett Syndrome has been considered a neurodevelopmental disorder, due to the onset of symptoms in early childhood. The appearance of these symptoms after removal of Mecp2 in adult mice suggests that there may be no discrete time period during which MeCP2 is critical for normal development, and argues against categorizing the disorder as neurodevelopmental.

Joshua Sanes, the Director of the Center for Brain Science at Harvard and Professor in Harvard's Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, commented on the broader impact of Zoghbi's findings. "This work not only sheds new light on the pathogenesis of Rett Syndrome, but also raises fascinating questions about a central dogma in neuroscience - that genes affecting the brain act differently during the "critical period" than they do in adulthood. In at least some instances, Zoghbi's result tells us, this may not be the case." Sanes was not involved in this work.

The findings are also valuable from a clinical perspective, since they suggest that certain potential treatments for the disorder, such as small molecule drugs, may need to be maintained throughout the lifetime of individuals afflicted with Rett Syndrome.

"Given the parallels between autism and Rett Syndrome with regard to age of onset of symptoms and clinical features, these findings raise the possibility that several autism spectrum disorders might indeed result from failure of maintaining neuronal function rather than alterations of key developmental programs," says Zoghbi.

Monica Coenraads, Executive Director of the Rett Syndrome Research Trust which helped fund this work, and mother of a teenaged daughter with Rett Syndrome, says "Although Rett is a relatively rare disorder, it provides opportunity for broader neurological insights. Huda Zoghbi's new work challenges some central tenets in neuroscience. It is gratifying to see that Rett research is teaching us important lessons about the brain."

Source:
Monica Coenraads
Rett Syndrome Research Trust

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/227353.php

Autism blurs distinctions between brain regions Erodes molecular identities in cortex – NIH-funded study

Autism blurs distinctions between brain regions

Erodes molecular identities in cortex – NIH-funded study

Autism blurs the molecular differences that normally distinguish different brain regions, a new study suggests. Among more than 500 genes that are normally expressed at significantly different levels in the front versus the lower middle part of the brain’s outer mantle, or cortex, only 8 showed such differences in brains of people with autism, say researchers funded in part by the National Institutes of Health.
"Such blurring of normally differentiated brain tissue suggests strikingly less specialization across these brain areas in people with autism," explained Daniel Geschwind, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of California, Los Angeles, a grantee of the NIH’s National Institute of Mental Health. "It likely reflects a defect in the pattern of early brain development."

Graph displaying genetic differences of autism

A module of co-expressed genes that code for neurons and their connections tend to be under-expressed in many individuals with autism (red), compared to controls (gray).

He and his colleagues published their study online May 26, 2011 in the journal Nature. The research was based on postmortem comparisons of brains of people with the disorder and healthy controls.
In fetal development, different mixes of genes turn on in different parts of the brain to create distinct tissues that perform specialized functions. The new study suggests that the pattern regulating this gene expression goes awry in the cortex in autism, impairing key brain functions.
"This study provides the first evidence of a common signature for the seemingly disparate molecular abnormalities seen in autism," said NIMH director Thomas R. Insel, M.D. "It also points to a pathway-based framework for understanding causes of other brain disorders stemming from similar molecular roots, such as schizophrenia and ADHD."
In an earlier study, the researchers showed that genes that turn on and off together at the same time hold clues to the brain’s molecular instructions. These modules of co-expressed genes can reveal genetic co-conspirators in human illness, through what Geschwind and colleagues call "guilt by association." A gene is suspect if its expression waxes and wanes in sync with others in an illness-linked module.
Using this strategy, the researchers first looked for gene expression abnormalities in brain areas implicated in autism – genes expressed at levels different than in brains of healthy people. They found 444 such differently expressed genes in the cortexes of postmortem brains of people with autism.
Most of the same genes turned out to be abnormally expressed in the frontal cortex as in the temporal cortex (lower middle) of autistic brains. Of these, genes involved in synapses, the connections between neurons, tended to be under-expressed when compared with healthy brains. Genes involved in immune and inflammatory responses tended to be over-expressed. Significantly, the same pattern held in a separate sample of autistic and control brains examined as part of the study.
Autistic and healthy control brains were similarly organized -- modules of co-expressed genes correlated with specific cell types and biological functions.
Yet normal differences in gene expression levels between the frontal and temporal cortex were missing in the modules of autistic brains. This suggests that the normal molecular distinctions — the tissue differences — between these regions are nearly erased in autism, likely affecting how the brain works. Strikingly, among 174 genes expressed at different levels between the two regions in two healthy control brains, none were expressed at different levels in brains of people with autism.
An analysis of gene networks revealed two key modules of co-expressed genes highly correlated with autism. One module was made up of genes in a brain pathway involved in neuron and synapse development, which were under-expressed in autism. Many of these genes were also implicated in autism in previous, genome-wide studies. So, several different lines of evidence now converge, pointing to genes in this M12 module (see picture below) as genetic causes of autism.
A second module of co-expressed genes, involved in development of other types of brain cells, was over-expressed in autism. These were determined not to be genetic causes of the illness, but likely gene expression changes related to secondary inflammatory, immune, or possible environmental factors involved in autism.
This newfound ability to see genes in the context of their positions in these modules, or pathways, provides hints about how they might work to produce illness, according to Geschwind and colleagues. For example, from its prominent position in the M12 module, the researchers traced a potential role in creating defective synapses to a gene previously implicated in autism.
Follow-up studies should explore whether the observed abnormalities in the patterning of gene expression might also extend to other parts of the brain in autism, say the researchers.
The mission of the NIMH is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery and cure. For more information, visit the NIMH website. About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

Reference: Transcriptomic analysis of autistic brain reveals convergent molecular pathology. Voineagu I, Wang X, Johnston P, Lowe JK, Tian Y, Horvath S, Mill J, Cantor RM, Blencowe BJ, Geschwind DH. Nature. 2011 May 25. [Epub ahead of print] PMID:21614001

http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jun2011/nimh-02.htm

New therapies hold promise as autism treatments

June 02, 2011

Two promising new treatments to aid people with autism have shown effectiveness in pilot studies conducted by an Arizona State University professor and private researchers.
Several studies indicate that children with autism often have abnormalities in critical biochemical functions that help maintain health – specifically methylation, glutathione, and mitochondrial functions.
Methylation turns proteins in the body on and off – including DNA and RNA – a function that controls gene activity.
Glutathione, a primary antioxidant, provides a defense against toxic metals in the body. Mitochondria are essentially the “factories” inside body cells that produce energy.
The research team has been developing therapies aimed at restoring or improving these functions in people with autism experiencing abnormalities.
The complete study is published in the medical journal Autism Insights.
The team includes:
• James Adams, a professor in the School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, one of ASU’s Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering
• Stuart Freedenfeld, physician and medical director with Stockton Family Practice, in Stockton, N.J.
• Tapan Audhya, a biochemist with the Health Diagnostics and Research Institute, in South Amboy, N.J.
• Kim Hamada, a registered nurse with Stockton Family Practice.
A common feature of the abnormalities the researchers are studying is that they are affected directly or indirectly by levels of specific substances produced by the body – ribose and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NADH.
Use of ribose and NADH supplements have been reported to boost levels of adenosine-5'-triphosphate, or ATP – a primary fuel source for the body and the brain. The supplements have also been shown to be helpful in treating chronic fatigue.
The research team explored use of ribose and NADH supplements as treatments for autism in two parallel studies using ribose and NADH.
One study investigated the effect of supplementation with NADH, an important co-factor for many enzymatic reactions in the body.
Another study investigated the effect of supplementation with ribose, a special sugar made by the body from glucose.
The studies found use of ribose and NADH supplements had similar effects, boosting levels of methylation, glutathione and ATP after only two weeks of therapy.
Levels of ribose and NADH also improved substantially, without adverse effects. After just two weeks of therapy, one child in each group was reported to have some improvement in energy level.
The biochemistry of both NADH and ribose is well-established, as well as how both affect production of ATP, glutathione and methylation. Details are provided in the article in Autism Insights.
Adams points out that both treatments use products that are available as over-the-counter nutritional supplements.
Larger and more formal studies are needed to confirm the benefits of ribose and NADH supplements, Freedenfeld says.
But “these therapies appear to be safe and effective supportive therapies for restoring methylation, glutathione and ATP to near-normal levels in the body, and are likely to help children with autism who experience problems maintaining normal functions,” he says.
SOURCES:
James Adams, jim.adams@asu.edu
professor, materials science and engineering
(480) 965-3316
http://asunews.asu.edu/20110602_adamsautismresearch

‘Covert Affairs’ Star Opens Up About Son’s Autism

By Michelle Diament June 3, 2011

Just a few years ago actor Christopher Gorham didn’t know much at all about disabilities. Today, however, he’s front and center on USA Network’s “Covert Affairs” (Tuesdays at 10/9 central) as Auggie Anderson, a CIA agent who lost his sight while on assignment. And in real life the father of three is no stranger to the disability community either. Gorham’s son Lucas, 10, was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome.
Ahead of the season premiere of “Covert Affairs,” Gorham spoke to Disability Scoop about what it’s like to portray a character with a disability and his personal experience learning about his son’s diagnosis.

Christopher Gorham plays CIA agent Auggie Anderson on "Covert Affairs" airing Tuesdays on USA Network. (Robert Ascroft/USA Network)

Disability Scoop: What’s it like to play a character who’s blind?
Christopher Gorham: It’s very challenging, but I think that’s what makes it so rewarding. When I auditioned for the part I didn’t know any more about the blind community than most people do. I showed up with sunglasses on for my audition and the first thing they told me was, “can you please take those off?” So it was very much a learning experience for me.
Disability Scoop: How did you prepare for the role?
Christopher Gorham: I started with a phone call to an organization in Toronto called the Canadian National Institute for the Blind since we shoot the series up there. They’ve been just incredible, teaching me basics like mobility — how to walk with a cane, sighted lead — and then introducing me to people who’ve lost their sight. We go out to dinner and just see how they live their lives.
Disability Scoop: Do you feel a special responsibility to the blind community?
Christopher Gorham: Yeah, I do. The nice thing about this part is that it’s a type of person that you just don’t see on television. Not a lot of people know someone who’s blind and because of that, people don’t know how to act around blind people. They start doing crazy things. I’ll go out to dinner with a blind friend and watch the waiter just make these crazy facial expressions trying to communicate with me for some reason. I want to say, “it’s okay, you can talk to him. He’s blind. He’s not deaf. Go ahead, ask him what he wants to eat.” People don’t know what to do. So it’s satisfying that I have the opportunity to (show what life is like for those who are blind) and I hope that people see that I take it seriously.
Disability Scoop: Personally speaking, your son was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome not too long ago. What was that like?
Christopher Gorham: We got a diagnosis fairly late. He was 9-years-old, which is kind of the blessing and the curse of that diagnosis. Because he’s very high functioning we didn’t really know that something was off until later. It’s upsetting to hear that something is wrong with your child. At the same time, it’s a relief to know what’s wrong with your child because if you know what’s wrong then you can start to take steps to help them.
Disability Scoop: When did you first notice that something might not be right?
Christopher Gorham: Second grade was when we really knew we needed to start investigating and finding help. What we were doing didn’t seem to be working and things were getting worse and he was just getting further and further away from his peers. (He was) not understanding the subtleties of socializing, not getting sarcasm, not understanding the difference between someone who’s really being nice to you and someone who’s actually making fun of you, not understanding that all attention isn’t positive. It’s really hard for a parent when your son comes home and tells you that his best friends are the two or three kids who are actually the meanest to him.
Disability Scoop: How has this new diagnosis changed your family’s day-to-day life?
Christopher Gorham: You get the diagnosis and then instead of just taking the kids to Taekwondo after school, now suddenly you’ve got occupational therapy and you’ve got speech therapy and you’ve got the psychologist and you’ve got the behavioral specialist. Your week is filled with therapies to help support him and it becomes so hard to find the balance.
Disability Scoop: How do you manage it all while shooting the show?
Christopher Gorham: My wife is a superhero because I’m only home for a couple of nights every week or week and a half. She’s got to juggle this all on her own. We hired an assistant to come in and help out, but it’s just not the same. It’s really hard and most families don’t have available to them what I have available to me. They can’t go hire a full-time assistant to go grocery shopping. Lots of them can’t afford to have even one parent at home. I know how difficult it is for us and my heart goes out to the other parents and especially the parents whose kids have much more severe disabilities than my son has. We’re very lucky.
Disability Scoop: What made you decide to go public with your son’s diagnosis?
Christopher Gorham: I didn’t see the point in hiding it because it’s not something that we’re ashamed of. At the same time, I’m not going to make it the lead story about me and my family. I don’t plan on trotting him out in front of the cameras or having him talk about it or be the face of whatever. But I’m open to talking about my experience, what it’s like as a parent.
Disability Scoop: How is your son doing now?
Christopher Gorham: He’s just about to finish third grade and we’ve put him in a school that’s geared toward kids on the autism spectrum. It’s been a big help.
I don’t think of him as my son with Asperger’s. I think of him as my son. He’s not wrong. He’s not broken. He is who he is. We, as his parents, are going to do our best — as we do with all of our kids — to give him the best shot at having the best life he can.

Copyright © 2011 Disability Scoop, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2011/06/03/covert-affairs/13225/

Be a friend to your autistic kid

Indrani Rajkhowa Banerjee | Jun 3, 2011, 06.12pm IST

Like any other parents Saurabh and Mitali Shukla were expecting their toddler, Arjun to lisp "mama-dada" or give them a tight hug.

Sadly, it never happened. They were hurt but not alarmed. But when baby Arjun didn't speak a word even after his third birthday, the confused parents got worried about their child's behaviour. They took Arjun to numerous specialists where they received the earth shattering news that their child was autistic.

The Shukla's weren't prepared for the real world of autism; a world which can be dark and frightening. It is a lifelong neurological disorder with no present cure. It affects social, communication, and behavioral skills. They remember accepting the situation and consoling a heartbroken set of grandparents whenever they said "Why us?"

"Autism is a hidden disability. If a child was in a wheelchair, we wouldn't expect him to walk across them room to sit in his chair. Yet, adults expect children with autism to integrate and understand language and social cues," says Shyama Chona, educator and Founder of Tamana, an NGO, which works towards spreading awareness and help train autistic children become independent and self sufficient.

While the disorder is not rare, the majority of autistic people in India have not been diagnosed and do not receive the services they need. "There is a lack of awareness and misunderstanding about autism. It is difficult for children with autism to integrate and understand language. We make assumptions that autistic children perceive the world in the same way we do. Pleasant sounds, sights, and textures may not be pleasant to one with autism," says Purnima Jain, an expert who handles autistic children.

Many parents today are tutoring autistic children at home. Like Monimala Bose, who, along with her husband, has taken up the task of home-tutoring their autistic 5-year-old daughter. "We've attended workshop, researched on the Net and thought it would be best if we acted as teachers for our child," says Bose, adding, "it's a painful and slow process, but our child has taught us a lot. In fact, she has taught us ten different way to approach mundane things in life!"

Chona's advice to parents who are afraid to face reality: "An autistic child is like a mystery novel. You have to read one page at a time. If you try to skip pages you spoil the fun. It won't help to hide your kid's social behaviour disorder."

The main ingredient to making for special children is to surround them with unconditional love, patience, and understanding and remembering that these individuals are one among us.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/parenting/Be-a-friend-to-your-autistic-kid/articleshow/8713483.cms

Reader's view: Instances of autistic children reach crisis proportions

Articles about child autism are heartbreaking; our prayers are with the children and their families.
Articles about child autism are heartbreaking; our prayers are with the children and their families.
I remember when autism was first discussed on TV in the 1980s. Since then autism has increased at a frightening rate. There were just a few children at first. That jumped in less than 10 years from one in 150 children to, now, one in 110. It’s a crisis.
Parents of autistic children should intensely seek data about every autistic child in an effort to find common threads.
What drugs were parents on before a child with autism was conceived? Since the 1980s, people have been placed on increasing amounts of drugs, especially anti-depressants and anxiety drugs. Those can cause side affects, including sleepiness, moodiness, suicidal thoughts, personality changes, anger, shaking and weakness. They also can affect the thyroid, blood-sugar levels, the liver and various bodily systems.
Children also are on drugs more now.
Vaccines have been added, sometimes given nine at a time. Why does a newborn need a hepatitis vaccine on the day of discharge at just 2 days old? The Centers for Disease Control only makes recommendations about vaccines. There are no laws dictating what’s given or when. It’s up to parents to educate themselves about important vaccines such as those that prevent polio and diphtheria versus those of lesser importance.
Our food has more chemicals nowadays, too. Plus, there has been an increase in our society in scented candles, room deodorants, etc., all affecting parents’ systems prior to conception and babies once they’re born.
Since the 1980s, parents are spending more time on computers and are more selfish than previous generations. They’re ignoring their children more, leaving them to watch violent and sexual images on TV or in videos. This causes emotional distress similar to that of an abused child.
Rosemarie Mitchell
Duluth

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/200725/group/Opinion/

Looking For Early Signs Of Autism In Brain Waves

by Jon Hamilton

June 2, 2011

A technology that monitors electrical activity in the brain could help identify infants who will go on to develop autism, scientists say.

The technology, known as electroencephalography, or EEG, is also providing hints about precisely how autism affects the brain and which therapies are likely to help children with autism spectrum disorders.

"Right now, the earliest we can reliably identify a child is, say, 3 years of age," says Charles Nelson, a professor of pediatrics and neuroscience at Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School. "Our work is designed to see [if we] can we do that in early infancy, long before any signs or symptoms of autism are apparent in the child's behavior."

If EEG lives up to its early promise, Nelson says, children with autism might start getting therapy before their first birthday.

Looking For Autism Markers In Brain Signals

EEG works by recording electrical signals that come from brain activity. Children who get tested wear something that looks a bit like a hair net. The device holds several dozen electrodes against their scalp.

"Once that's on, the child can either sit on a parent's lap or sit in a chair by themselves if they're old enough," while a computer analyzes the signals coming from their brain, Nelson says.

Nelson is part of a team that has been looking for patterns in those signals that indicate autism. Another member of that team is William Bosl, a research scientist at Children's Hospital Boston and an instructor at Harvard Medical School.

"What we're looking for are markers or features in the signals that tell us something about the brain as it develops," Bosl says.

And they've found at least one promising marker, he says. It involves very high frequency brain waves known as gamma oscillations.

Bosl and Nelson have been studying those oscillations in 79 children from the time they were 6 months old.

Some of the children are at high risk for developing autism because they have an older sibling with the disorder. The rest have no special risk factors.

"What we've observed is that starting as young as 6 months, maybe even younger, infants who have a high risk for developing autism show dramatic reductions in gamma activity," Nelson says.

That suggests EEG could help identify very young children who will go on to develop autism, he says. But Nelson and Bosl say they won't know for sure until the children in their study reach the age when the disorder becomes obvious.

Trouble Integrating The Senses

In the meantime, other research using EEG is revealing how autism affects the brain and how intervening early might make a difference.

Sophie Molholm of Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York is part of a team that's been studying how autism impairs the brain's ability to integrate information from the senses. Molholm says most people do this with ease.

"We walk through the world and our sensory systems are continuously presented with stimulation: Visual stimulation. Auditory stimulation. Touch. Smells. And we very automatically put this information together to make sense of the world and to navigate it," she says.

For example, when a person is listening to someone at a noisy cocktail party, he'll focus on that person's face. And his brain will automatically combine what he sees with what he hears, allowing him to understand more words than he would otherwise.

But people with autism often have trouble doing this, she says.

That became clear in an experiment that tested the ability of children with autism and typical kids to combine visual and auditory information, Molholm says.

Molholm and her colleagues had the children listen to words that were hard to understand because they were masked by white noise. Sometimes the words were accompanied by a video of a person speaking. Other times they just had to listen.

Molholm wanted to know whether the brains of children with autism would react differently than did other kids' brains. And they did.

"What we find is that children with autism don't benefit nearly as much from the visual signal as typically developing children," she says.

Other EEG research by Molholm's team indicates that that's because their brains are having trouble integrating what they're seeing with what they're hearing. The process was still happening, she says, but it took longer and it was less complete.

Benefits Of Early Intervention

Molholm says one surprising thing her research suggests is that the brains of kids with autism seem to get much better at integrating sensory information when they become teenagers.

"The beauty of that finding is that it suggests that the neural circuitry is intact," she says. "It's just not coming on line during the earlier childhood years."

Molholm says it's not clear why things change in teenagers with autism. But she says it's possible that their neural circuitry might come on line sooner if they are diagnosed early and begin therapy that encourages them to practice integrating information from different senses.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

New Evidence Favors the Folate Hypothesis for Autism

Brian Hoyle

Authors and Disclosures

May 31, 2011 (Denver, Colorado) — A new study has documented the presence of a polymorphism in the gene encoding methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) — essential for the metabolism of vitamin B₉ (folate) — which almost doubles the chance of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The data provide further genetic evidence for a link between folate and autism.
Daniel Schulteis, MD, from Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, presented the study results here at the Pediatric Academic Societies and Asian Society for Pediatric Research 2011 Annual Meeting.
Although autism is generally regarded as having a genetic basis with environmental triggering factors, the details have yet to be completely defined, and no single theory has prevailed, Dr. Schulteis noted. Dietary supplementation with folate has been anecdotally liked to the improvement of symptoms of ASD, "despite a lack of medical evidence and endorsement," Dr. Schulteis told Medscape Medical News.
Indeed, a converse link between autism and excess folate has been suggested. Genetic evidence for a folate connection with autism was first reported in a study of 168 autistic children that chronicled the doubled prevalence of MTHFR polymorphisms in those with autism, compared with those in the control group (J Am Phys Surg. 2004;9[4]:106-108).
Dr. Schulteis and his colleagues established the MTHFR registry in 2002, and used the accumulated data to examine the reported genetic link in detail. The database contains information on patients who have been screened for the 677A→T and 1298A→C MTHFR polymorphisms in connection with other clinical concerns.
Scrutiny of the records of 487 patients younger than 26 years of age revealed that 246 (51%) had 1 of the 2 mutations. The 677A→T mutation was predominate, affecting 67% of the patients. Fourteen of these individuals had ASD, which is appreciably greater than the accepted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted prevalence of 4.43 (or 1 in 110) in young people. The prevalence rate of ADS in the control subjects conformed to the 1 in 110 rate.
Of the 14 cases, 9 (64.3%) harbored either a homozygous (n = 2) or heterozygous (n = 7) MTHFR polymorphism (χ², 24.06; P < .001; risk ratio [RR], 1.76). The 677A→T polymorphism displayed the greatest statistical risk (χ², 17.81; P < .001; RR, 1.459), especially the heterozygous polymorphism (χ², 18.507; P < .001; RR, 1.647).
The prevalence of ASD in those with MTHFR polymorphisms was 1.7 times greater than it was in the control population.
"Our results add credence to the folate hypothesis, at least in this select number of ASD cases. These data should not be taken as a recommendation for change regarding folate supplementation, but are an indication of the need for further prospective studies," Dr. Schulteis explained to Medscape Medical News.
"The study design appears good. The number of samples evaluated was somewhat limited, but were selected based on conditions often associated with the MTHFR C677T polymorphism. The conclusions are appropriate based on these data, and support the hypothesis that individuals with this particular polymorphism are at increased risk to develop autism," Eugene J. Rogers, PhD, professor and chair, Department of Clinical Laboratory and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, told Medscape Medical News.
Dr. Schulteis pointed out that the study was specifically intended to address the role of the 2 particular mutations.
"Other genes that impair folate transport and metabolism may also contribute to the risk of abnormal neurodevelopment, but MTHFR C677T is also a known risk for placental abruption (miscarriage) under 'normal' folate nutritional status, which is minimized under conditions that enhance maternal folate status during pregnancy."
"Therefore, it is highly likely that the folic acid food fortification/supplementation era has increased the birthrate of individuals with this polymorphism. They require more folic acid for neurodevelopment after birth, and are more susceptible to functional folate deficiency and neurodevelopment disorders, such as autism, than those without this polymorphism," Dr. Rogers noted.
"This study was small but was statistically significant, implying that larger studies will most likely show a stronger association between the presence of MTHFR C677T and autism. These studies need to be done now," he added.
The authors and Dr. Rogers have disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) and Asian Society for Pediatric Research 2011 Annual Meeting: Abstract 3843.506. Presented May 3, 2011.

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1219969328542551061

Autism awareness scant as crisis mounts: hearing

(AFP) – 1 hour ago

WASHINGTON — Activists and experts pressed the US Congress on Tuesday to do more to help promote worldwide awareness of autism, which they said is becoming an escalating health crisis.
"Autism is a 'developmental disability pandemic.' It is largely under recognized, under appreciated in its impact and under resourced," argued Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey, who leads a House subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights.
A developmental disability, autism can interfere with social and communication skills. There is no cure, and its causes are unknown, though genetics and environmental factors are thought to play a role.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes ASD (autism spectrum disorder) as an "urgent public health concern."
The disability that affects one's ability to communicate and interact with others and typically appears during the first three years of life.
But a new population-wide study of South Korean children has just shown autism rates much higher than in the United States, suggesting more people worldwide may have the disorder than previously thought.
By examining 55,000 children age 7-12, even those not enrolled in special education programs, researchers found that one in 38 children had some form of autism, including the more mild social disorder known as Asperger's Syndrome.
In the United States, the autism prevalence rate is believed to be one in 110.
But US studies have tended to focus on children in special education programs, and have not screened entire populations in the regular school system where high-functioning autistic children may be enrolled, as was done in South Korea.
"I think the (South Korean) study has set the stage for more investigation," Andy Shih, scientific affairs chief at Autism Speaks, told the panel.
Shih called the findings in South Korea "startling," and said they "raised important questions about if we are underestimating" ASD prevalence in the United States.
Around the world, recent years have seen many Western countries put in place screening programs. But developing countries lag far behind in screening and in some cases, particularly in Africa, in overcoming cultural stigma enough to make progress on diagnosis and care fronts, Smith and others noted.
"Communication is the key," said Brigitte Kobenan, an Ivory Coast native who has a son with autism and founded Autism Community of Africa. She said many government officials in Africa were not aware of the condition. And people in some African nations treat a child with ASD as a bad omen, hiding them for fear they will get no support and only be ostracized.
But media campaigns and social workers can get the word out as a first step, Kobenan added.
Arlene Cassidy, of Autism Northern Ireland, said on a remote connection that boosting autism's profile for research and as a public health issue was critical.
"The status quo is against us... The funding priority overall is still very low," Cassidy said. "When there's no data, there's no problem," she said. "The key is finding the budget... and quantifying the need."

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gSg6KZ8LQz7Uz5_95H6ran7JCxdg?docId=CNG.836b5e3d9530f1a41a32f2a2dc8f9d11.ed1

Monday, May 30, 2011

Asperger's Syndrome: High-Functioning Autism to Lose Its Name

By KATIE MOISSE

May 25, 2011

Eileen Parker was 41 years old when she discovered her quirky, misunderstood behavior had a name: Asperger's. The syndrome, which is marked by impaired social interaction and sensory overload, joins other neurological disorders on the autism spectrum. And for Parker, the label came as a relief.
"It opened up my world," said Parker, who is now 45. "Having been on the outside, I all of sudden found I was on the inside with millions of other people."
Parker said the Asperger's diagnosis, which is used interchangeably with high-functioning autism, made it easier for her to get along with others -- even her husband and their four kids.
"They could finally understand why I was a certain way. They said, 'Oh, that's why you're like that.'"
The American Psychiatric Association formalized the diagnosis of Asperger's in 1994, 50 years after it was first described by Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger. But the association plans to remove the term "Asperger's" from its new diagnostic manual, set for release in 2013 -- a decision that has sparked criticism from advocacy groups.
"When the term 'Asperger's' started to get used, it was a tremendous relief for families of children and adults with the syndrome. They finally had a name for what was going on; they could finally understand what the struggle in their lives was about," said Dania Jekel, executive director of the Asperger's Association of New England. "My worry is that we'll go back 16 years to a time when folks with Asperger's syndrome will not be recognized."

But members of the American Psychiatric Association's Neurodevelopment Disorders Workgroup, the group spearheading the change, said removing the term "Asperger's" from its manual and instead refering to it as an autism spectrum disorder will help focus the diagnosis on an individual's special skills and needs at that moment in time.
"The Asperger's distinction is based on early language delay, but many people come in as adults and have difficulty reporting this reliably," said Francesca Happe, professor of cognitive neuroscience at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, and a member of the workgroup."We have known for years that autism is a spectrum, which is enormously heterogeneous. ... There is no good basis to distinguish Asperger's from high-functioning autism. The distinction doesn't make scientific sense."
The term "high-functioning" refers to language and intellectual ability -- skills that set Asperger's apart from other disorders on the spectrum. But Jekel worries that removing the term "Asperger's" might open the door for misinterpreting it as just a mild form of autism.
"For many, Asperger's is not mild," she said. "If you have an IQ that's fairly high and you're verbal, people expect you to be like everyone else and get along in the world. But this is something that really can be very, very difficult for people to live with."
In response to an invitation for public comment on the proposed change, Jekel asked that "Asperger's" continue to be used as a descriptive word for a specific region of the spectrum.
"My hope is to have a name not only for Asperger's but for other parts of the spectrum, too," she said. "I think we're lucky to already have a name, and I'd like to see that continued so that families and educators can continue to use this word."
Happe said people are free to continue using the word as a descriptor, acknowledging that it has raised awareness that a person can be on the spectrum of autism disorders and have higher functions.
"When someone uses the term, I know what they mean," she said. "It's a sort of an exemplar-based category."

Asperger's' Label Essential to Services

For Phyllis Anderson, the term "Asperger's" is a ticket to obtaining essential services for her 15-year-old son, Garrett.
"I need the label to get some sort of response from the administrators," said Anderson, who lives in Dallas. "If I can tell them my son has this label, they're a lot quicker to cover their backs and provide for my son. So that label does carry weight in the school system."
For Garrett, who was diagnosed in second grade, the Asperger's label is bittersweet. While helping him to understand why he's different, it makes it harder for him to fit in.
"I know my son has struggled because he just wants to be normal," Anderson said. "But I think it's good to know and understand how you're wired."
For Parker, whose diagnosis came much later in life, the label had a "profound effect." It helped her find life-changing therapies, a new community of people with similar experiences, and even a new calling. She now runs a company that makes weighted blankets, which help people with sensory processing disorders, a symptom of Asperger's, stay calm and sleep better.
"I always knew I was different but didn't know why," Parker said. "I think I started to accept myself more."

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AutismSymptomsDiagnosis/aspergers-syndrome-set-lose/story?id=13674552

Founder of electric shock autism treatment school forced to quit

Institute uses punishment machine to discipline severely autistic and emotionally disturbed children by giving them electric shocks

Ed Pilkington in New York
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 25 May 2011 23.49 BST
Article history

The founder of a controversial school that treats severely autistic and emotionally disturbed children by shocking them into submission with the use of electrodes has been forced to quit the institution and serve five years' probation. Matthew Israel, a Harvard-trained psychologist, has created a treatment that is unique to the US and possibly the world. The Judge Rotenberg Center, just outside Boston, disciplines its students using a punishment machine that Israel invented called the GED, which gives a two-second electric shock to the skin of up to 90 milliamps. At the centre, which was profiled by the Guardian earlier this year, students wear backpacks around the clock with the GED electric generators inside them, and are zapped using remote control devices controlled by their carers. In some cases, they are shocked as often as 30 times a day as a means of dissuading them from behaviour deemed dangerous to themselves or others. The criminal charges brought against Israel relate to an incident in August 2007 at one of the school's residential homes where students sleep at night. A call came in from someone posing as an authorised supervisor, who informed the carers on duty that two teenagers had misbehaved and should be given shock treatment. At 2am, the boys were strapped on boards and given multiple shocks. One of the boys, aged 18, was shocked 77 times over a three-hour period and the other boy, aged 16, was shocked 29 times. It was later discovered that the initial call had been a hoax. The Massachusetts attorney general, Martha Coakley, indicted Israel over allegations that he ordered his staff to destroy video evidence that revealed exactly what happened that night. Prosecutors had previously ordered that the video recordings from the home were preserved. "Dr Israel then attempted to destroy evidence of the events and mislead investigators, and that conduct led to his indictments today. Today's action removes Dr Israel from the school and should ensure better protection for students in the future," Coakley said. The conviction is a substantial blow to Israel, who has weathered a storm of protest about his controversial methods for 40 years. He announced his retirement from the school on 2 May, without referring to the pending criminal case. He said he was moving to California, where his wife Judy lives. "I am now almost 78 years old, and it is time for me to move over and let others take the reins," he said in a resignation letter. But his departure will not materially change the way the school operates, crucially its technique of disciplining children by meting out electric shocks as a form of supposedly therapeutic punishment. Of the school's 225 students, 97 are currently on the electric shock regime. The terms of the plea deal struck between Israel and the prosecutors require the school to introduce additional monitoring to prevent a similar lapse of security happening again. But the shocks themselves can continue. "The case was only about Israel's conduct, it did not address the way the school is run," a spokesman for the attorney general's office said. Laurie Ahern of Disability Rights International, which has been a persistent critic of the school, said that without an end to the shocks, Israel's departure would be irrelevant. "I don't see any radical change at the moment." Hillary Cook, who spent three years at the school until 2009, and who was regularly shocked, said that whatever happened to Israel, she wanted to see the regime of shocks abolished. "I'm just worried about the kids who live there, because I know what it's like. They say the shocks are like a bee sting, and believe me they are not. It should be illegal to physically harm children and disabled people in this country." The school has been a subject of huge controversy over past decades, with regular attempts to shut it down. Last year its use of electric shocks was attacked as a form of torture by the UN rapporteur on torture. In February, the justice department opened an investigation into the school after it received a complaint alleging the centre had violated disability laws. Despite the negative publicity directed at him, Israel managed to keep operating for so long partly because he had the vociferous support of parents of severely autistic children at the school. The centre rarely uses drugs on its students, in contrast to many other homes for autistic people where heavy doses of psychotropic drugs are prescribed. At the time of Israel's resignation, Louisa Goldberg, whose son has been on the shock regime for the past 11 years, said that "Dr Israel's pioneering efforts have given our child back his life and we are extremely grateful for all that he has done for our family." http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/25/electric-shock-autism-treatment-school

Complexities of Autism Extend to Its Treatment

Parents struggle to find blend of therapies for children with mix of behavioral symptoms

By Dennis Thompson
HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, May 27 (HealthDay News) -- Parents of children with autism often find themselves struggling to make sense of their child's behavior.
What's worse, there's no single best way to treat the frightening and frustrating neurodevelopmental disorder. Children might have a mix of social impairments, communication problems and repetitive behavior patterns. Each child will require a certain blend of therapies, treatments and interventions, all specifically tailored to the child's particular behavioral problems.

"Every person with autism is different," said Lee Grossman, president and chief executive of the Autism Society. "There's a saying, 'If you've met one person with autism, then you've met one person with autism.'"
That means parents usually have to figure it out for themselves, with help from their medical team.
Experts agree on two basic principles when it comes to treating people with autism, according to the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health:

Early intervention is key to helping a child with autism find a healthy, happy and satisfying life.
People with autism respond best to programs and therapies that are highly structured and specialized to their needs.

"The earlier the child is diagnosed, and the better the quality and quantity of the programs they are in, the better their prognosis long-term," said James Ball, president and chief executive of JB Autism Consulting, in New Jersey, and chairman of the Autism Society's board of directors.
Many of the leading therapy options for autism are not medical and instead involve education and behavioral intervention.
Ball said that a type of behavioral therapy called applied behavioral analysis, which focuses on teaching useful skills that build upon each other, has helped many children with autism.
"It teaches things repetitively so a child can learn and then generalize those skills," he said.
For example, teaching children to brush their teeth would involve breaking down the activity into different skills -- squeezing out the toothpaste, brushing the teeth, rinsing the mouth -- that are repetitively taught and ultimately woven together. "You teach all the separate components up to the whole," Ball said.
Other children with the disorder might need speech therapy, occupational therapy or other forms of behavioral therapy, Grossman said. It all rests on finding a child's strongest and weakest areas and using their strengths to help them overcome their weaknesses.
Kids with autism will often have more success in these therapies if visual aids and cues are used, he said.
They often "have trouble with verbal instruction," Grossman said. "If you can provide a learning environment where they see the instrument and incorporate it into their activities, you'll have a better situation."
Children with autism also may benefit from medical interventions tailored to their symptoms. Medication can be used to treat such autism-related symptoms as seizures, depression, anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder. Kids with severe behavioral problems sometimes benefit from antipsychotic drugs.
Some parents have found that a dietary intervention can help their child, according to the mental health institute. One particular diet that has proven successful for some children involves removing all gluten and casein from their food. Casein is the main source of protein in milk, and gluten is a protein found in wheat and other grains.
Parents also should make sure their child is healthy and not suffering from illnesses that could exacerbate their behavioral problems. "We would encourage all families to get a comprehensive medical exam" for their child, Grossman said.
Health problems such as rashes, gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, asthma and the like can create discomfort and throw children off their beneficial therapies. "These are typically overlooked with a child with autism because they are often nonverbal and noncompliant," Grossman said. "The doctor may miss some other treatable conditions."
Families with an autistic child also should understand that every member will need help and should consider undergoing regular family counseling, Ball said.
"It is a whole-family disorder," he said. "Everyone is affected. Families need to come up with a plan so they can meet everyone's needs."
Finding resources can be challenging, Ball and Grossman said. Grossman knows that firsthand as he has child with autism, who now is 23.

"I was very angry and very frustrated because I couldn't find any help," he recalled. "I didn't know what to do." But he said that the group he now runs, the Autism Society, was key in helping him find doctors and therapists to help his son.
Grossman also speaks from personal knowledge when he says that the best way to help children with autism is to pay attention to how they act and what draws their interest and to then use that knowledge to teach them life skills.
"The goal here is to have a person who has a satisfying quality of life and is a contributing member of their community," Grossman added. "With the proper supports, we believe everyone can achieve that."
More information
Autism Speaks has more on autism.
A companion article looks at living with autism, from one family's perspective.
Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/brain-and-behavior/articles/2011/05/27/complexities-of-autism-extend-to-its-treatment?PageNr=2

Prenatal vitamins reduce the risk of autism by half, even more for some higher-risk cases

May 25, 2011|By Thomas H. Maugh II, Los Angeles Times / For the Booster Shots blog

Women who reported not taking prenatal vitamins immediately before and during a pregnancy were twice as likley to have a child with autism, UC Davis researchers reported Wednesday. If the women also had a mutation in a high-risk gene, they were seven times as likely to have a child with the developmental disorder, the researchers reported in the online edition of the journal Epidemiology. The study is scheduled to appear in print in July.

Epidemiologist Rebecca J. Schmidt of the UC Davis MIND Institute and her colleagues studied about 700 Northern California families with 2- to 5-year-old children with autism who were participants in the Childhood Autism Risk from Genetics and the Environment study from January 2003 to December 2009. In telephone interviews, the mothers were asked whether and when they took prenatal vitamins and the type of vitamins ingested.
The team found that mothers who took the vitamins prenatally or during the first month of pregnancy were only half as likely to have a child with autism as those who didn't. For mothers who began taking them in the second month of pregnancy, there was no effect, however. This suggests that by the time most women learn they are pregnant, beginning to take the vitamins will provide little or no benefit in terms of autism.
The researchers also found strong associations with two gene mutations that had previously been linked to autism risk. One is the variant of the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene associated with less efficient metabolism of folic acid and increased blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine.The other was a variant of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, which is also linked to increased levels of homocysteine. For women who did not take vitamins and had the MTHFR variant, the risk of having an autistic child was 4.5 times normal. For those who did not take vitamins and had the COMT variant, the risk was seven times normal.
"The good news is that, if this finding is replicated, it will provide an inexpensive, realtively simple evidence-based action that women can take to reduce risks for their child, which is to take prenatal vitamins as early as possible in a pregnancy and even when planning for a pregnancy," said epidemiologist Irva Hertz-Picciotto, the senior author of the study. It is important to replicate it, she added, because the study relied on women's recall of their vitamin use, which is not always accurate.

Legal challenge has Rockford's Campus of Care project on hold

By Melissa Westphal

HEALTHYROCKFORD.COM

Posted May 30, 2011 @ 08:49 PM

ROCKFORD — The three-facility Campus of Care project planned for the city’s west side could still see a groundbreaking later this year, but a legal challenge has delayed progress for at least a few more months.

Campus of Care is what officials call the massive development project planned for land bounded by Springfield Avenue, School Street, Pierpont Avenue and West State Street. Once complete, the campus aims to offer services for people with traumatic brain injuries and other traumas, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, and autism.

Warriors’ Gateway is the traumatic brain injury and multitrauma facility within Campus of Care and the project that’s furthest along. The Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board in March approved a certificate of need for the nursing care portion of Warriors’ Gateway.

But the residential portion still needs approval from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services and then from Gov. Pat Quinn, a process that could stretch into next year, said Christopher Dials, a director with suburban Cary-based Revere Healthcare, the organization that intends to manage the Campus of Care facilities.

Warriors’ Gateway faced another setback recently when four Rockford-area nursing facilities — Medina Nursing Center, Alpine Fireside Nursing Center, Neighbors Rehabilitation Center and Fairview Nursing Plaza — asked for a reversal of the state board’s approval of the certificate of need.

Representatives from the nursing homes spoke out against Warriors’ Gateway during a public hearing in July, saying the facility would add nursing beds to a community that already has too many. In their review request, nursing home officials say they have existing beds to meet the needs that Warriors’ Gateway purports to serve.

Dials said Revere has a few more weeks to file its argument in the case, but the state review board is the lead defendant.

“It was a surprise and quite honestly something that doesn’t happen very often,” Dials said. “(The nursing homes) are essentially asking to be heard with this filing, so a judge will decide whether he wants to hear the case or not.”

Dials said Revere and its partner agencies are still pursuing funding options for the Campus of Care facilities. Initially, officials had identified U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development money for the project, but Dials said they’re not limiting themselves to one funder.

“We’ve had presentations to investors in different parts of the country, and we’re pursuing all avenues, including equity investments,” Dials said. “We could wind up with another model of financing, but, ultimately, it’s too early to call.”

There are two other facilities besides Warriors’ Gateway planned for Campus of Care. Busara Gardens is the memory care facility. It was initially called Ara Gardens but was renamed when a new partner organization joined the team.

The Milwaukee district of the African Methodist Episcopal Church is no longer involved with the project. But Busara Living, a nonprofit agency for seniors based in Maryland Heights, Mo., is now signed on as a partner.

St. Paul Episcopal Church in McHenry is the partner agency for the campus’ Tapestry Center for Autism. And Transitional Living Services, a Woodstock-based agency that helps veterans, is still involved with Warriors’ Gateway.

Dials said various ownership models for Campus of Care are discussed during the talks with funders, so it’s possible that the partner agencies could lease the facilities if they’re built by investors.

Reach staff writer Melissa Westphal at mwestpha@rrstar.com or 815-987-1341.

http://www.rrstar.com/carousel/x530597245/Legal-challenge-has-Rockfords-Campus-of-Care-project-on-hold

Young Scottish fashion designer supports Autism Initiative

The 'one to watch in fashion in 2011' is to showcase her new collection.

By Elizabeth McQuillan 30 May 2011 12:14 BST

Named by the Scotland on Sunday as ‘the one to watch in fashion in 2011', Catriona Garforth creates handmade garments that are designed to suit various feminine shapes and sizes.
She will be at the Gallery on the Corner in Edinburgh's New Town to unveil her new spring/summer collection on Saturday, June 4.
The highlight of her visit may be considered to be the silent auction of a one-off bespoke evening gown. Although, if retailed the dress would have been priced in the region of £800 it is hoped that this exclusive piece by this rising star of the fashion world will reach a higher figure - a percentage of all profits from the day will go towards maintaining the work that the Gallery on the Corner does for Autism Initiative UK.
Miss Garforth said: "All the artwork is on a par with people who do not have the same difficulties and it helps them to find a platform for their work when they may have difficulty otherwise.
"I admire the work that is done there, I want to support that but I also want to draw people's attention to their work."
People curious to find out more about Miss Garforth's work will have the chance to quiz her, or even place a commissioned order for her growing client base.
She said: "The way I describe what I do it to say that I make wearable clothes for the woman. For the normal, hard-working woman who wants to treat herself to something a bit special."
Miss Garforth launched her business a year and a half ago and although it is based in Edinburgh she now lives in Turkey where she works with local materials and would love to expand her fashion label to be able to employ tailors in Turkey.
She said: "Everybody who runs their own business has ambition and yes I would like to see mine grow, in the long run I could look to employ some of the wonderful tailors in Turkey who would help me cope with larger orders while also maintaining that handmade touch."
The gallery which is on the corner of Northumberland Street and Dundas Street displays artwork produced by artists who have a disability, mental health problem or those from a disadvantaged background and provides a platform to exhibit and sell artwork in a high profile location.
It is the first social firm developed by Autism Ventures Scotland (AVS). Part of Autism Initiatives UK, AVS has been established to create employment opportunities and experiences for people with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) in Scotland.
The traineeships include on the job and vocational training, resulting in a recognised qualification.
The event will be a relaxed drop-in event from 12pm - 6pm on Saturday, June 4.

Exploring the Diagnostic History of Autism

By Lisa Jo Rudy, About.com Guide May 30, 2011

If you've never actually looked into the diagnostic history of autism, it's worth your time to compare and contrast today's "autism spectrum disorder" with earlier diagnostic labels and symptoms. I just came across a nicely-packaged collection of prior descriptions of "autism" as presented in earlier versions of the Diagnostic Manual versions I, II, III and III-R, available at Roy Grinker's "Unstrange Minds" blog. It makes intriguing reading!
For example, autism (not ASD as we know it today) was lumped in with childhood schizophrenia until the 1980 DSM III, and was then listed as "infantile autism" with these descriptive criteria:
DSM III (1980)

Diagnostic criteria for Infantile Autism

A. Onset before 30 months of age

B. Pervasive lack of responsiveness to other people (autism)

C. Gross deficits in language development

D. If speech is present, peculiar speech patterns such as immediate and delayed echolalia, metaphorical language, pronominal reversal.

E. Bizarre responses to various aspects of the environment, e.g., resistance to change, peculiar interest in or attachments to animate or inanimate objects.

F. Absence of delusions, hallucinations, loosening of associations, and incoherence as in Schizophrenia.

Even more interesting (to me!) are the criteria for PDD-NOS, which was first described in the 1980 DSM III. Based on these criteria, my son would come nowhere NEAR PDD-NOS - his present diagnosis!
DSM-III (1980)

Diagnostic Criteria for Childhood Onset Pervasive Developmental Disorder

A. Gross and sustained impairment in social relationships, e.g., lack of appropriate affective responsivity, Inappropriate clinging, asociality, lack of empathy.

B. At least three of the following:

1. sudden excessive anxiety manifested by such symptoms as free-floating anxiety, catastrophic reactions to everyday occurrences, inability to be consoled when upset, unexplained panic attacks,

2. constricted or inappropriate affect, including lack of appropriate fear reactions, unexplained rage reactions, end extreme mood lability,

3. resistance to change in the environment, e.g., upset if dinner time is changed, or insistence on doing things in the same manner every time, e.g., putting on clothes always in the same order,

4. oddities of motor movement, such as peculiar posturing, peculiar hand or finger movements, or walking on tiptoe,

5. abnormalities of speech, such as question-like melody, monotonous voice,

6. hyper or hypo-sensitivity to sensory stimuli. e.g., byperacusis,

7. self-mutilation, e.g., biting or hitting self, head banging.

C. Onset of the full syndrome after 30 months of age and before 12 years of age.

Absence of delusions, hallucinations, incoherence, or marked loosening of associations.
Exploring these past and future diagnostic criteria has really opened my mind to how idiosyncratic such distinctions really are! It reminds me forcibly of the classification activities often undertaken in elementary school classrooms. Kids are broken into groups and given identical collections of 100 buttons, and asked to organize them into groups. Naturally, each group takes a different approach: some organize by color, some by size, some by number of holes, some by shape, and so forth. Which organizational approach is correct? The answer, of course, is "there is no right answer."
Where would you or your child have fit under past diagnostic criteria? How helpful is the present DSM-IV? And... how do you feel about the idea that such diagnostic categories are changed and changed again over the course of any individual lifetime?

http://autism.about.com/b/2011/05/30/exploring-the-diagnostic-history-of-autism.htm