Autism Parents Club

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Autistic children

March 28, 2011, 09:50:37 AM

Signs of autism may be visible already during the first two years of life.
Signs of autism include:

- weak ability to connect
- delayed language development
- a repetitive and obsessive behavior

The diagnosis of “autism” can be set when all features are present, otherwise we use the term “autistic traits”.

How can I find out if your child has autism?

You get no interaction with the child, who often avoid eye contact.
The child shows no interest in ordinary toddler toys, and you realize that there is something seriously wrong with it.

Why are some children autistic?

It is shown that the hereditary system plays a major role, and children with autism more often than healthy children, have complications before and in a first few months after birth.
There were many proofs that autism is caused by a disturbance in brain function, but it is not known exactly in what way the failure occurs or what does it consists. There is a lively research in this area now.

Is there anything I can do to prevent your child will have autism?

No, there is not. The most important thing is to find a way to interact with your child.
Using sign language has proven to be useful.

Is autism something to go to the doctor?

Yes, if you are troubled by the idea that something is seriously wrong with the child.
Then you should talk to your doctor. The sooner, the better.

How can the doctor tell if your child is autistic?

First, the doctor can tell you about child development and behavior. After that he can observe the examination of the child. It will show that the child is severely abnormal.
It is not customary to set a clear diagnosis in the first place.

What can the doctor do next?

Infantile (children) autism is such a rare condition that the doctor always want to refer the patient to child psychiatrist or pediatrician. When the child is thoroughly examined by a specialist he can set up a treatment plan along with the child’s special education teachers.
Your doctor can also make sure you get adequate relief and the benefits you are entitled. Your doctor can provide information about “National Association of autism,” where you can share your experiences with other parents who have autistic children.
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“Beading to Beat Autism”

April 13, 2010, 08:01:09 PM

The Autism News | English

By Fox 41 | Louisville News

Michala Riggle is taking her “Beading to Beat Autism” project to prison. Wednesday the 13-year-old from Louisville spoke to nearly two dozen inmates at the Kentucky Correctional Institution for Women. The women have volunteered to bead bracelets to be sold on her website.

KCIW Warden Janet Conover explains, “I think the inmates get a sense of giving back to the community. You know they’ve committed some crimes, been convicted by a court, and this is their way of giving back to society in a positive way.”

Jail officials say more than thirty inmates signed up, but only 23 are participating. The program’s goal is to help in raising $300 million to build the most comprehensive autism research and treatment center in the world. (more…)

Daily challenges of raising a child with autism

April 13, 2010, 08:01:09 PM

The Autism News | English

Published by Trumpeter Books

Given the daily challenges of raising a child with autism, it’s easy for parents to lose themselves and for their overall quality of life to plummet.

The Autism Mom’s Survival Guide contains many parents’ stories and ideas (including my own) on handling feelings of despair and hopelessness, caring for your marriage, enjoying your life as an adult — not just as a parent — having fun with your kids, finding a good balance between accepting your child and seeking new treatments, dealing with the rest of the world’s attitudes towards your child, looking toward your child’s adulthood, letting go, and allowing yourself to find your own joy even in the midst of great struggle. (more…)

World Autism Awareness Day

April 13, 2010, 08:01:08 PM

The Autism News | English

 

By WorldAUtismAwarenessDay.org

On December 18, 2007, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution 62/139, tabled by the State of Qatar, which declares April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in perpetuity. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned, Consort of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, the Emir of the State of Qatar, supported the campaign for a World Autism Awareness Day through the current 62nd UN General Assembly Session, garnering consensus support from all United Nations Member States.

This UN resolution is one of only three official disease-specific United Nations Days and will bring the world’s attention to autism, a pervasive disorder that affects tens of millions. The World Autism Awareness Day resolution encourages all Member States to take measures to raise awareness about autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and early intervention. It further expresses deep concern at the prevalence and high rate of autism in children in all regions of the world and the consequent developmental challenges.

World Autism Awareness Day shines a bright light on autism as a growing global health crisis. WAAD activities help to increase and develop world knowledge of the autism epidemic and impart information regarding the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention. Additionally, WAAD celebrates the unique talents and skills of persons with autism and is a day when individuals with autism are warmly welcomed and embraced in community events around the globe.

By bringing together autism organizations all around the world, we will give a voice to the millions of individuals worldwide who are undiagnosed, misunderstood and looking for help. Please join us in our effort to inspire compassion, inclusion and hope.

UN World Autism Awareness Day Resolution (.pdf format)


Source: http://www.worldautismawarenessday.org

Please share this news with friends, family and also with your contact list on Twitter, Facebook and MySpace.

The Autism News English April 2, april 2nd, autism, autism awareness, autistic

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Newer Genetic Test for Autism More Effective

March 17, 2010, 12:44:45 AM

The Autism News | English

Study finds chromosomal microarray analysis detects more abnormalities

By Jenifer Goodwin | HealthDay Reporter

A newer type of genetic test is better at detecting abnormalities that predispose a child to autism than standard genetic tests, new research has determined.

Researchers offered about 933 people aged 13 months to 22 years who had been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder three genetic tests: G-banded karyotype testing, fragile X testing or chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA), which has been available only for the past few years.

Karyotype tests identified chromosomal aberrations associated with autism in about 2 percent of patients, while the fragile X genetic mutation was found in about 0.5 percent of patients.

CMA detected chromosomal abnormalities in slightly more than 7 percent of patients, making it the best available genetic test for autism spectrum disorders, the study authors said.

“The CMA test alone has triple the detection rate of karyotyping or fragile X,” said co-senior author Bai-Lin Wu, director of the Genetics Diagnostic Laboratory at Children’s Hospital Boston. “CMA should be added to first-tier genetic testing for autism spectrum disorders.”

The study appeared online March 15 and will be published in the April print issue of Pediatrics.

“When parents have a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, one of the first questions they often ask is ‘how did this happen?’ ” said Dr. Robert Marion, a pediatric geneticist at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.

“In the vast majority of cases, we believe there is at least a genetic predisposition to autism, but the ability to identify a specific genetic cause has been very elusive,” Marion said. “Part of that is because of the technology that’s been available. A larger part is at this point, we just don’t fully understand what the genetic mechanism that leads to autism is.”

Standard practice is to offer children with autism two tests as a first-line genetic work-up: karyotype and fragile X testing, the researchers said.

In karyotyping, forms of which have been around since the 1960s, geneticists use a microscope to look for chromosomal abnormalities that are associated with autism, explained Dr. David Miller, a clinical geneticist and assistant director of the Genetics Diagnostic Laboratory at Children’s Hospital Boston, which conducted the new research along with Boston’s Autism Consortium.

Like karyotyping, CMA also looks for chromosomal abnormalities, but does so at 100 times the resolution of the earlier test, Miller said. CMA, a genome-wide test, can identify sub-microscopic deletions of duplications of DNA sequences, called copy-number variants, known to be associated with autism, he said. (more…)

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