Autism Spectrum Disorder is a number of complex disorders affecting the brain. It affects 1 in 88 American children, more often affecting boys than girls, and some of the those numbers are higher in certain parts of the country. In May 2013, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) created an umbrella that several of the disorders now fall under ASD. These include autistic disorder (classic Autism), Rhett's syndrome, Asperger syndrome (no longer classified as such, but the social idiosyncrasies are recognized), Pervasive Developmental Disorders Not Otherwise Specified, and disintegrative disorder. No one case of Autism is the same. The age of onset is usually between 15 to 24 months, although some cases show up earlier. Most parents notice developmental delays and loss of interests. Repetitive and obsessive behaviors start to appear, and then social reciprocity deficits begin to appear. Bringing your concerns to your doctor will help to get early intervention services set up for your child. These can include Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, and other social therapies to help you and your child progress in their development. Some other options are diets, supplements, coping techniques, routine, and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. Avoiding vaccines is each parent's prerogative.
Three things that help to remember:
- This is a developmental delay, meaning, brain and body development is delayed but will eventually catch up.
- You are not at fault for your child's disorder.
- Roots of ASD are found in very early brain development, however, in some cases of ASD there may have been no reason why the disorder developed.
When we look into the "why" of the disorder, these are some of the ideas behind the cause of ASD.
- This is genetic. It is a miracle that any child is born with 10 fingers and 10 toes. The strands of DNA are so long, and sometimes not perfect. Mutations and rare gene changes are being discovered as some causes for ASD.
- Many women don't discover they are pregnant until they are and have already been pregnant for a couple of weeks, which by that time, the fetus has already developed around these deficits. Vitamins and, most importantly Folic Acid, may be lacking at the time of conception, so it is now encouraged that women of child-bearing age take these supplements before and after conception.
- Premature and low birth weight babies.
- Illness and fever during pregnancy.
- Oxygen deprivation during pregnancy and birth
- Autoimmune disorders (Diabetes, Celiac Disease, Lupus) may deprive the fetus of necessary nutrients and there are studies showing higher instances of Autism in mothers with these diseases.
- Advanced parental age (both mother and father).
- Environmental factors, such as pollution, drugs, and pesticides.
*Not all of these factors alone will cause Autism, but a combination of genetic risk factors and situations could cause a higher instance of ASD. There are still some cases that are classified as "we just don't know".
Children diagnosed with ASD can grow up to be successful adults. Some may need more intervention and care as they age. Some kids have high IQ's, some have IQ's that are below average. Many ASD kids have such intense interest in a subject that they become experts. Some children are non-verbal but can find other ways to communicate. Some kids learn by natural process (not because of bullying, but rather by figuring things out on their own) how to navigate social situations, but care should be given to ASD kids because bullying can be a serious problem. Repetitive routines and instruction help these kids to remember and enact skills and coping mechanisms needed to take their place in the world. Most elementary, middle, and high schools now have programs in place that help ASD kids academically and with life skills.
Seeking out diagnosis and therapies for kids with Autism needs to being early. You are your child's biggest advocate. While sometimes getting a name for the issues at hand is comforting, that is only one of the first steps. Seeking out therapy, counseling, respite care, and other services that are widely available to both parents and children can make a huge difference in how ASD is handled and treated. It is worth investigating if the effects of medication, diet, therapies, play and toys, and school district services are right for your family.
Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Energetic: Emotions that contribute to ASD
- Sometimes Autism comes up as generational, meaning you may have noticed relatives that could have been classified as autistic. If you trace back to the 1300's A.D. and find the Bubonic Plague (Black Death), history tells us that so many people died from the illness that social rolls were upset. As society began to emerge, no one knew what rolls defined them anymore. Many servants had died and now required noblemen to do work for themselves. Peasants could now charge any price they wanted for their services, giving them social power that they may have never experienced before. Now no one knew how to behave, and so social norms and respect had to be redefined. Emotions of social unrest continued to be passed down trough the generations.
- Deep seated grief
- Turning off the emotions to great to bear
- Anguish
- Grief
- Anxiety
- Unsettled
- Repressing the spirit
- Depression
- Fear
- Experiences are too hard to handle
- Feeling too much
- Feeling helpless
- Life is on repeat
- Can't shut off thoughts or mind
- Not grounded
- Not in touch with reality
- Feeling ambivalence from family members
- Inner conflict between perception and intentions of their personality.
- Distrust of the universe
- Feeling drained
- Feeling too many demands
- Unable to manage life
- Disruption of programming in life
- Can't make sense of things
- Unable to process environmental events
- Suffering from chaos
- Inability to coordinate and carry out intentions and directions
- Crossed lines: meanings are causing confusion
- On auto-pilot
- Can't comprehend
- Feeling demoralized
- Feeling defiant
- Devastation
- Over reactive/Under reactive
- Denial
Essential Oils:
- Grounding Blend: spruce, rosewood, frankincense, Balance (doTerra), patchouli,
- Overstimulated: lavender, geranium, clary sage, bergamot, vetiver
- Understimulated: peppermint, basil, lemon, rosemary
- DNA Repair: frankincense, orange, thyme, lemongrass, white fir, basil, eucalyptus
- Detox: basil, grapefruit, cypress, marjoram, lemon, lime, clove, lemongrass, tea-tree (melaleuca), cilantro, peppermint, wintergreen
- Sandlewood
- Ylang ylang
- Bergamot
- Melissa
Natural Remedies:
- Gluten free/Casein free diet
- GAPS diet
- Omega 3 fatty oils
- Calcium and Magnesium
- Probiotics
- Rescue Remedy
- Sensory Play
- Compression (pressed between two cushions, tightly wrapped in blanket, bear hugs)
- Brushing (brush up and down arms, legs, spine, but never stomach/torso area)
- Routine
- Draw out what you think want to happen, or to prepare child for what is going to happen (i.e., when we go to the store, you need to hold my hand, put your hand on the cart, don't run away, no touching items without my permission)
- Consistent behavior modification/discipline
- Massage
- Cranial-Sacral Manipulation
- Chiropractic care
- Chelation (please use doctor's advice)
- Melatonin for sleep issues
- Multi-vitamins and B12
Therapies:
- ABA Therapy
- Speech and Language
- Sign Language
- Early Intervention
- Life Skills
- Play groups
- Occupational Therapy
- Education/school modifications (IEP, 504, Special Education, specialized schools)
Pharmaceuticals:
- It is important to note that ASD can be associated with ADHD, and some of those medications can treat symptoms of autism.
- Risperdol and aripiprazole
- Anti-depressants/SSRI's
- Sleeping medications if Melatonin doesn't work.
Other Considerations:
- Respite care/Babysitting so parents can get a break.
- ASD can be associate with other genetic diseases.
- Seek family support and counseling to learn how to parent a special needs child better.
- Attend seminars. Find listings with local schools, departments, clinics, and hospitals.
- Take time to nourish your marriage and other relationships.
- Advocate for your child at school and in other social situations.
- Seek out knowledge and new developments in ASD studies. Be informed!
** I am a mother to three children on the Autism spectrum. I have four that are considered ADHD as well. I homeschooled for several years until I became burned out and sought out more services that the school district could provide. I am well aware that not all schools are created the same. We have tried homeschooling, public schooling, charter schooling, and online schooling. All have had various abilities to help, but I also implore you to know your child and what educational styles would benefit him/her the most. We lived in a rural area and did not have ABA therapy available, so we relied on the school to help with occupational therapy and speech therapies through the school. We sought out formal diagnosis from two major hospitals. Even in homeschooling, you can also have IEP and 504 accommodations provided. We tried multiple drug and supplement regimes. We tried diets, some with success, some with very little difference. We worked on routines, reminders, behavior modifications, behavior therapies, and visual, auditory, and tactile suggestions. This by no means makes me an expert, but even in the face of wanting to give up, we just take one day at a time, always in search of new ideas, theories, and ways to pass on information.
