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Facing Autism
By Roger Heilos, President of
Oralflo Technologies
"Your child has autism."
These are the words that no parent wants to hear, and yet over 58
million parents all over the world have heard them.
In a world where everything is so fast-paced, parents of newly diagnosed
children with autism are told to get their children help immediately.
Research shows that early intensive intervention is the key to helping
children with autism.
And just like that, parents are off and running-searching to find
the right treatments for their child, looking for ways to get subsidized
for services, and readjusting their entire lifestyles to meet their
child's needs.
In the meantime, there is very little time to take a breath and
actually process the diagnosis. As a result, many parents find themselves
feeling overwhelmed and overwrought, not fully understanding or
acknowledging the emotions surrounding their child's diagnosis.
Autism is often the silent disorder, often going unrecognized for
several years. Yet, according to the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) and Prevention three hundred thousand children suffer from
autism. The CDC reported that 5.7 children out of every thousand
- one in 175 - have the problem. And the total may be higher because
many doctors do not recognize the early warning signs and make a
diagnosis when the child is already in school.
Autism is a developmental disability that affects a person's verbal
& non-verbal communication, understanding of language, and socialization
with peers. Some or all of the following characteristics may be
observed in mild to severe forms:
o Communication problems (e.g., using and
understanding language);
o Difficulty relating to people, objects, and events;
o Unusual play with toys and other objects;
o Difficulty with changes in routine or familiar surroundings; and
o Repetitive body movements or behavior patterns.
Children with autism vary widely in abilities, intelligence, and
behaviors. Some children do not speak; others have language that
often includes repeated phrases or conversations. Children with
more advanced language skills tend to use a small range of topics
and have difficulty with abstract concepts. Repetitive play skills,
a limited range of interests, and impaired social skills are generally
evident as well. Unusual responses to sensory information-for example,
loud noises, lights, certain textures of food or fabrics-are also
common.
Autism is a behavioral disorder, NOT an illness or disease. It typically
appears by age three and is a lifelong condition. There is no known
cure. Although autism affects the functions of the brain, the specific
cause is not known.
Researchers
generally believe there is a genetic factor - autism does run
in families - but there may be more at work as well. Some advocacy
groups believe certain preservatives in childhood vaccines may
play a role, and the issue has become highly controversial.
Parents
whose children are diagnosed with autism often go through a great
deal of confusion and a high level of stress. Raising a child
with autism can be very demanding and parents often find themselves
overwhelmed with the responsibility involved. Families often find
themselves limited by what they can and cannot do and this can
lead to feelings of frustration and even despair.
But what
is so exciting today is that there's new research, interventions
and tools that improve the function and well-being of children
with autism that didn't exist just a few years ago.
And some
of the techniques just take some thought prior to action:
1.
USE ROUTINES.
Set up a crystal clear, daily structure before the day begins
and decrease power struggles. Think structure, structure, structure.
Children, especially in the autism spectrum, need routine and
structure.
That
means arrange breakfast at the same time each day. Set a specific
time period to do homework, to watch TV and schedule other activities
routinely.
2.
CHANGE ENVIRONMENT RATHER THAN THE CHILD.
Look around you. People with autism are especially sensitive to
sensory conditions such as sound, lighting and physical touch.
If you
have lights on a Christmas tree, bring them out early and have
your child get used to them. Stick to one kind of fabric the child
prefers.
3.
BREAK TASKS INTO SMALL CHUNKS
If you overwhelm kids with autism, it's no wonder they fight back.
By breaking down the tasks into do-able items, you are ensuring
their feeling of success and even raising their own self-esteem.
For example,
when bathing, teach the child how to wash his or her hair in steps:
1) put the shampoo in your hand;
2) Put shampoo from hand onto hair;
3) Lather;
4) Rinse
4. FIND OTHER OPTIONS.
Sometimes in the best thought ideas don't work when a child has
autism. Simple tasks can become complex, so you need to find other
ways to get things accomplished. Learn about assistive technology
that can help your child.
Many
kids with autism have difficulty swallowing pills. Use a special
pill swallowing cup, which contains the pill and the child's favorite
drink to help him or her take the needed medications without hassle.
5.
CHECK THE DIET.
The simple removal of dairy products or wheat products can make
a difference.
In several
studies, more than 49% of those who chose a dairy free treatment
option found it to improve their child's symptoms, while only
2% found it to worsen symptoms. Of those who were willing to take
it a step further to a gluten free / casein free diet, a resounding
65% saw an improvement in symptoms. Gluten is a protein found
in wheat and other flours, while casein is a highly allergenic
milk protein.
6.
GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK.
After your child is diagnosed, helping him or her can often become
the primary focus of your life. Many parents feel that every moment
is taken up driving their child to doctor's appointments and treatment
sessions such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral
therapy. It's too much for almost anyone. And your child can sense
it too.
If you
find yourself in the position where you are feeling consumed by
your child's disorder but feel too guilty to take breaks, then
keep in mind the following: Allowing yourself to take breaks will
help you to reenergize and take control of your life. Taking care
of yourself will help you be a better parent to your child with
autism.
About the author:
Roger Heilos, president and founder of Oralflo Technologies (www.oralflo.com)
was inspired to create a product that can make pill swallowing
easier after witnessing the difficulty his own family had in doing
so. After two and a half years of extensive research and development,
in 2003, the Oralflo Pill Swallowing Cup was introduced.
A medical products design engineer
with an impressive record of innovative contributions to business
operations and profits, Heilos' product has already helped to
simplify the process of pill-swallowing for thousands of people.
SOURCE: Oralflo Technologies
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Made in America 
"The cup is working out so well with my son (who has autism) that I need to order another one for use at school. Thanks for all your help.