Discussing Autism

One of our most treasured (and tortured) holiday traditions in our family is to make Christmas cookies. My mother has been doing this with us since we were so young that I can’t remember when it started but she still insists on doing it every year, no matter how busy we are.

Last year was the first year that AJ was really able to participate in the activity, as the first year he was only two and was running around and playing with toys. Last year he had a blast. He mostly just coated his GFCF cookies with his GFCF frosting and ate but he LOVED it.

This year he is not only on the GFCF diet but also on a soy limited and corn free diet…He is also on a sugar free diet because of his yeast issues. So this year we have decided to only do a few cookies and then make this fabulous Gingerbread Train that I found in my Family Fun Magazine. What I did was order GFCF Gingerbread Mix from Miss Roben’s (allergy grocer) and will prepare it ahead of time. The mix is also Stage One on the Feingold Diet.

The frosting I will be preparing will be GCFC but will certainly NOT be sugar free…but he won’t be eating it, just playing with it and decorating. The candy we can add are certainly GFCF and if he inadvertently pops one in his mouth it won’t hurt the diet, just the sugar issues.

To counteract the sugar? No Phenol enzyme supplement, Grapefruitseed extract, and Biocidin.

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Last week when I was making AJ’s pancakes I made him an A and a J. Wow, was he fascinated. He asked for more…and even wanted to spell out our last name, which is way too long to spell out in pancakes.

But, when I opened up my Family Fun Magazine yesterday I found pancakes telling me it was now going to be 2008! Can you believe that? 2008? Gosh, I am old…but that is not the point, is it?
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I am going to open this up again…just in case anyone missed it. Deadline is the end of November.

It is the giving season and Therapy Shoppe has another giveaway for you!

I have talked before about Social Stories and the benefit they have for children with Autism, PDD, or sensory issues. Jim, at the Therapy Shoppe knows you, my readers, can benefit from these Social Stories and is in the giving spirit once again.
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Tonight will be a long one, especially since AJ CAN’T EAT any of the candy he gets after trick or treating. Or can he? Just what candy is GFCF? Because our kids need the GFCF candy, right?
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My son LOVES Halloween. He loves everything about Halloween…the pumpkins, the decorations, the hayrides, the farms (oh, the farms!), the costumes, the candy that he can’t eat, the lights…everything.

He has been talking about Halloween since September when he saw the first pumpkin in the store. I’m certainly not looking forward to the Christmas decorations (which I know he has already seen).

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In order to do that you have shop Lead Free and Green, right?

Here is a handy helper to email to your family, friends, and put on your wishlist.

LEAD FREE TOYS WIDGET

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You are into the swing of things at school, right? And the teacher asks you for playdough…You have two options: Crayola Modeling Clay or Make your own. Now that it is colder and you need a craft…maybe make your own?

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What exactly are PDD’s, or Pervasive Developmental Disorders? And, what is it when it is Not Otherwise Specified PDD-NOS?

Pervasive Development Disorders actually refer to the group of disorders characterized by delays in socialization and communication.The group includes Autism, Aspergers, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, and Rett’s Syndrome. It also includes disorders that can not be specifically specified but is developmental in nature , thus NOS.
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“The protein MeCP2 (methyl-CpG binding protein 2) is critical in determining the number of synapses. And the correct number of synapses is necessary for healthy brain development. A mutation of the MeCP2 gene results in too little of the protein which further results in girls developing Rett syndrome. Boys with too much MeCP2 have spasticity and mental retardation with autism-like behavior.”

Interesting…considering that the Methylation protein seems to be extremely close, or one in the same. This particular finding is coming out of Baylor College of Medicine and states that the brain seeks proportions that are “just right”.

Could it be that scientists are finally on the verge of finding that methylation and vaccines are truly the reason for the rising cases of autism? It surely seems that metallothionein family of proteins play a significant role in chelation of toxins and could, in fact, play a significant role in the chelation of mercury and other toxic elements found in vaccines. “There are four varieties of metallothionein proteins. MT-I and MT-II are found throughout the body and function to regulate zinc and copper levels, promote the development of neurons and synaptic connections, normalize immune function and to detoxify heavy metals.”

Check this out from an earlier Discussing Autism article and then look again at the Baylor Study, found by Facing Autism in New Brunswick.

The metallothionein protein helps:
1. Regulate zinc and copper levels in blood.
2. Detoxify Mercury and other harmful metals.
3. Regulate the development and function of the Immune System.
4. Regulate the development and pruning of brain neurons.
5. Prevent yeast overgrowth in the GI tract.
6. Produce enzymes that break down casein and gluten (DPP IV).
7. Respond appropriately to intestinal inflammation.
8. Produce stomach acid.
9. Regulate taste and texture discrimination on the tongue
10. Normalize hippocampal function and behavior control
11. Normalize the development of emotional memory and socialization.

So, apparently I am “jumping on the bandwagon” in saying that my son has Institutional Autism. I have clearly stated from the very beginning of this blog that AJ does not have Autism, that he has not been diagnosed with Autism but rather, that he has been diagnosed with Institutional Autism.

I stated that, hmmmm, May 3? I believe that was long before all this Jenny McCarthy news, the Autism Trial, the Vaccine Debates, the Lead Toy Scandals (that cause toxicity), and so forth. Right?

Institutional Autism is not a classic autism, at least according to the leading Neuropsychologist in the field, Dr. Ronald Federici. It is a learned behavior disorder that mimics autism. When we consulted (via email) Federici two years ago he was very clear in stating that AJ met his criteria for Institutional Autism. However, he also stated that for a full diagnoses we should meet with him. We have also had another neurologist confirm that belief.

While abandonment and institutionalization most certainly has a profound impact on a child’s ability to develop trust, bonding and security in newly adoptive relationships, an emphasis needs to be placed on the integrity of the post-institutionalized child’s higher-level neurocognitive abilities with a comprehensive assessment regarding the availability of “innate skills” needed for bonding, attachment and the development of appropriate social interactional and reciprocal behaviors. While many children with post-institutionalized attachment disorders may display a combination of unattached or even indiscriminant behaviors (Ames, 1997), many post-institutionalized children display a very intense pattern of behavioral dyscontrol; aggression and violence; destructiveness to self and others; a lack of cause-and-effect thinking; indiscriminant affections to strangers as evidenced by being inappropriately demanding and clingy; or a pattern of social withdrawal, isolation and maintaining a self-stimulating posture. A principle complaint from parents adopting an older child is that the child may be out of synchrony with their environment resulting in difficulties in providing management, structure and organization.

The bold text above is what we experience on a daily basis (except affection to strangers)…along with
Severe Sensory Integration
Social deprivation
Self stimulation (ie: stimming)
Severe oral motor and feeding issues
Central Auditory Processing Issues are surfacing
Uncontrollable Rage
Age Regression (AJ is 4 but emotionally and mentally 2)
Dyspraxia related problems

Now, it is clearly stated in this article that “that institutional autism is not a medical condition, but rather a description of certain patterns of behavior that look like or are similar to what is observed in children with “real” autism. Some autistic-like behaviors may be, in fact, an adaptive behavior in an institutional setting, but become mal-adaptive in a family situation. And if institutional autism is a learned behavior, than adoptive parents have a hope that their child can learn new behaviors. And, indeed, there are instances when adopted children get rid of behaviors usually associated with the autistic spectrum.”

I have always questioned whether AJ has Organic Autism or if his issues are strictly the result of his time spent in the orphanage, or if his birth mother is to blame. For all I know that could be the real reason (and I am certainly not naive to that). If one would have taken time to visit the blog, or gather background information instead of jump to conclusions and claim I was “jumping on the bandwagon”…they would know our situation. Its nice to know that people do research though…

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After Sunday evening’s Dateline special on Clonidine use and Bi-polar disorder I started to see other information about over-medication.

The FDA has recently issued warnings about giving young children decongestants and cough medicines, especially antihistamines in children younger than age six. In August they issued warnings stating that cold and cough medications should never be given to children under two unless approved or prescribed by a doctor.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and Baltimore city officials many over-the-counter cough and cold remedies can harm toddlers and preschoolers but also don’t even work.

Even our pediatrician agrees and will not recommend or prescribe anything for a cold, which she state will run its course within ten days.

Additionally, “for antihistamines, the group recommends adding a warning that the drugs not be used to sedate young children, president Linda Suydam said.” Yeah, how many of us have done this when children are sick and not sleeping? Doctors have even prescribed this as a sedation medication (Benedryl) when children can not sleep or for travel situations.

Here is the problem:

The Baltimore petition came on the heels of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that found more than 1,500 toddlers and babies wound up in emergency rooms over a two-year period because of the drugs.

Why? In high doses “cold medications can affect the heart’s electrical system, leading to arrhythmias.”

Specific medications targeted in this review are Toddler’s Dimetapp, Infant Triaminic, and Little Cold because they were never given proper review by the agency.

Would you give a six-month old cold medication? Would you request that your pediatrician give your four-year old cold medication despite what the FDA says…because you know he/she needs some comfort?

Or, better yet, would you give a four year old sleep medication like we do? I already know my answer and its right for my child.

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AJ and I just made and played this game the other day…absolutely fantastic.

http://wondertime.go.com/create-and-play/archive.html Go to Archives/Printables for the printable car pieces

http://wondertime.go.com/create-and-play/article/great-car-games.html

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Obviously, most of our kids are behind or you would not be reading this, right? But, do you have a good resource to evaluate your child at home?

Strollerderby has found one for us. “A questionnaire called “Ages and Stages” (ASQ) has been developed by the University of Eugene in an effort to try to catch possible delays sooner. Pediatricians give the questionnaire to parents who complete it at home while observing their children, up to age 5.”

A questionnaire called “Ages and Stages” was developed at the University of Oregon. In the last year, pediatricians with PeaceHealth Medical Group gave the surveys to parents of one- and two-year-olds to take home and complete. It asked parents to have their kids perform a number of tasks and record the results.

When all the surveys were studied, the number of kids found to have developmental delays had increased by 224%.

The survey helped Annie Clay determine that her son had some delays when it came to his speech.

“I had to sit down on the floor and go one-by-one to see if he could stack blocks or line blocks up or ask him to go do something like one or two directions,” she said.

A doctor who helped with the study says the questionnaires help provide information that is not always identified during well-child checkups.

“You’re a pediatrician and you’re in a hurry and you have so many things to talk about. Just reviewing all those milestones in a visit, its just not the same standardized reliable process,” explains Dr. Kevin Marks, a pediatrician.

According to the study, 12% to 16% of kids in this country have developmental or behavioral problems. But in about 80% them, those problems are not spotted as early as they could be.

Given this, is it possible that the assessments that pediatricians use today are not up to date, not correct? If that many children are falling behind, perhaps we need to readdress the checklists.

Go ahead and take the developmental test online.

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Jenny is RIGHT! It is not just vaccines that cause Autism and each case has to be looked at. Look at this information. There is a connection between vaccines and immune systems. Some kids don’t have the ability to naturally chelate toxins. AJ does not so we have to supplement with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. He also has to, like Jenny McCarthy’s son, Evan, chelate Candida (yeast) because he can’t do that either.

If you read this post you will see everything we do on a daily basis…probably things that Jenny does as well.

There is such a gut/brain connection.

PBS KIDS Sprout, the first and only 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, will launch television’s only live preschool morning program, The Sunny Side Up Show, on Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. ET.

The three hour show (from 9-noon) will integrate Barney, Bob the Builder, and other characters like the Fireman Sam with live, hosted segments wherein preschoolers can prepare for the day to share birthdays, greetings, ideas, crafts, and interact live with the hosts through email subscriptions at SproutOnline.com

Hosted by Kevin Yamada, who most recently served as host for Sprout’s The Birthday Show, and Philadelphia-based actress Kelly Vrooman, The Sunny Side Up Show takes place inside a whimsical barn in the hills of Sprout with staging such a toaster-shaped monitor displaying viewer-submitted artwork and photos and a crate-desk for the show’s two hosts who will rotate weekly. Each day, the host is joined on-air by Chica, a witty, playful chicken puppet who communicates with kazoo-like sounds only understandable by the hosts. Chica will also supply surprise eggs that can be cracked open for clues, games and even a joke-of-the-day.

Each week, The Sunny Side Up Show will explore a new theme ranging from colors, numbers and letters to manners, gardening and pets. Themes will also reflect holidays including Halloween, Thanksgiving and Mother’s Day. Special guests will stop by to visit on a regular basis, so on any given day, viewers could get a special treat from a Sesame Street® character like Big Bird, or Nina from Sprout’s The Good Night Show.

“The show’s live aspect allows for viewer interaction to be immediate and unique, creating a true sense of community,” said Andrew Beecham, senior vice president of programming for Sprout. “We’ve been celebrating birthdays on Sprout since we launched two years ago, and The Sunny Side Up Show takes this concept of a preschool network made ‘for you, by you’ to a whole new level.”

Well, welcome back Mr. Rogers. I’m glad to see someone has finally taken notice that you were needed.

Free Chica Coloring Page
Click here to enter the Sprouteriffic Refrigerator Contest!

Meet the Cast of the Show and learn more about The Sunny Side Up Show.

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