Articles by Nicole Harris on ArticleSnatch.com

Musical Therapy - An Effective Autism Treatment?

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Musical therapy although a relatively new option in the treatment of autistic patients is one that should not be easily dismissed. Patients who have received such treatment have demonstrated great improvement in temperament and increased learning capacity. Music bridges the gap to the non-verbal part of the brain and therefore proves to be an excellent therapy option for disorders in which the patient has trouble communicating. If you have a child or family member that is coping with autism and have been unsuccessful in finding an effective treatment option you are encouraged to research this treatment option. Musical therapy has proven effective because it can easily be integrated into social development activities. Music therapy provides a non-threatening approach and can often serve as a mediator between the ailing child and the family members. It opens opportunities for play time and ultimately helps to improve social and behavioral skills. By encouraging eye contact while singing or playing an instrument you can foster an environment of trust and help break down social barriers. Musical therapy has also proven effective in helping autistic patients with speech development. Music, as mentioned earlier, bridges the gap between the verbal and non-verbal functions of the brain.** End Summary**

About the Author:
Confused Over The Conflicting Information About Autism? Discover what medical treatments are considered forerunners and what natural treatments and alternative therapies are currently being tested by Clicking Here .

Autistic Teenagers - How Parents Deal with Their Children's Disorder

Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

For most parents the teenage years can seem daunting. Puberty is a time of wonder, growth and new developments. Young adults go through various physical and emotional changes and rebellion is often a side effect of these changes. In an autistic child however these changes can mean the onset of more than just rebellion. Although an autistic child may develop in the same way physically, emotionally the changes are monumental. The results can be extreme depending on the hormone levels. One of the scariest side effects of puberty in an autistic child is the development of seizures. Many autistic children experience seizures from birth and these continue throughout adulthood however puberty exacerbates these seizures due to the increase in hormone levels. Normally seizures are marked by violent shaking and lost of motor functions. Autistic children however may suffer from a more subtle form of seizures; these may go undetected as they are not accompanied by violent shaking. If you observe that your child is experiencing unexplained loss of motor function this may be a sign of the onset of seizures.** End Summary**

Visual Perception Treatments for Autism - Do They Work?

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Each child is affected by autism differently, so the search for treatments can be difficult. One problem that many autistic children may experience is issues with how they view the world around them. By participating in a standardized visual perception treatment for autistic children, your child may be able to overcome these difficulties, and be able to see the world clearly, which can also make learning somewhat easier and lessen behavior problems. Sensory overload and distortion may be a problem for many autistic children. These complications may be apparent in people who do not suffer from autism as well. Those with autism, however, find that the overabundant play on their senses caused by light, colors, and shapes, is simply too much to handle, so they may throw a tantrum or completely shut out everything around them. Many treatment methods have been developed to assist in alleviating these difficulties. The feelings of sensory overload can be a genetic disorder that is greatly intensified by the autism.** End Summary**

Autism Treatments - Are Antipsychotics The Most Effective?

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Both typical and atypical antipsychotics are types of Autism medical treatments prescribed to children with Autism Disorder, especially those who experience repetitive behavioral patterns and/or aggression and self-injurious behaviors. With about 58% of children who are diagnosed with Autism receiving some form of pharmaceutical treatment, antipsychotics are the highest prescribed medicinal treatment, as it is prescribed to about 66% of those taking medication to control Autism symptoms. The most common atypical antipsychotic medication prescribed as an Autism medical treatment at present is risperidone, primarily because it is the only antipsychotic currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Nevertheless, the FDA only recommended it for children who were exhibiting severe behavioral issues, not for those who only showed signs of occasional mild aggression. While Antipsychotics do not treat the central symptoms of Autism, such as social and developmental lags, it is unquestionably successful in treating the severe behavioral issues and aggression commonly associated with Autistic children. Placebo controlled studies have shown that weight gain was the most noticeable side effect, however, it is well established that many patients discontinue antipsychotics as an Autism medical treatment because of the serious long term side effects including seizures and tardive dyskinesia.** End Summary**

Autism Treatments - Antidepressants are a Popular Treatment for Autism

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

While there is no cure for Autistic disorder, there are many treatments aimed at reducing specific Autism symptoms. Of the approximately 58% of patients who receive pharmaceuticals for treatment of Autism Disorder, about 32% are prescribed to some type of antidepressant, ranking it as second most prescribed, after antipsychotics. Concerning the use of antidepressants in the control and/or improvement of Autism symptoms, it is important to note that these types of medications are mostly recommended for teenagers or adults rather than the younger demographic of Autistic patients. While an adult or teenager's brain is fully formed, the brain of a young child is still developing making the risk much greater. There are exceptions, however, where antidepressants would indeed be prescribed to a younger child, such as a young child who needed antidepressants to prevent severe self-injurious behaviors. There are many categories of antidepressant medications, but the most commonly used are SSRI's, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. Celexa, Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft are all common brand names that are often prescribed to treat depression and anxiety disorders which are both common Autism symptoms.** End Summary**

About the Author:
Does Your Child Suffer From Autism, and You Find Yourself Confused Over The Conflicting Information About Autism? Discover what medical treatments are considered forerunners and what natural treatments and alternative therapies are currently being tested by Clicking Here .

Autism Causes - What Causes Autism??

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Though there are a few suspicions, there have been no certain causes of autism declared. Research provides a hint toward a link between genetics and the environment. This is great evidence that the autism is not caused by a single factor, but yet it is contributed to an interaction of several mediums. This outlook was created based on the variety of signs and symptoms suffered by the people who have been diagnosed with autism. Since 1980, there has been a stable increase in autism diagnoses, but the cause for this rise has not be found. It is believed that more effective diagnostic methods have brought to light many cases that would have been left undiscovered. Simply being better able to point out the disorder is the reason for the climb in cases. Research suggests that approximately 90% of autism cases can be linked to genetics. The gene of most interest is the Engrailed 2 (EN2), which could possibly be the contributing factor in at least 40% of autism cases. This gene is vital in normal neurological development. If it is inhibited in any way, it has been hypothesized that EN2 could have a significant impact on brain development.** End Summary**

About the Author:
Diagnosing Autism: What You Need to Know. Discover the symptoms and latest evaluation techniques with a plethora of information that you won't want to miss! Click here to learn more .

Autism Book Reviews

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

People tend to turn to the Internet when looking for any kind of information. This holds true for parents and caregivers searching for usable information about autism. Suffice it to say there has been a lot written on the subject. A search on Google produces 158 hits for "autism eBooks."ÃÂ Amazon.com lists about 50 books in hard back and paperback. For a disorder that is receiving more attention these days, there is a paucity of real information parents can use. Given the relative lack of good sources, what follows is an admittedly cursory and non-representative survey of the current eBooks available. The selection process was admittedly subjective but done logically and rationally. Those eBooks of a "feel good"ÃâÃÂ nature have been excluded, as have those profiling the trials and tribulations of being the parent of a child with autism. Those autism eBooks providing nuts-and-bolts advice and tips made the list. "Autism: Everything Parents and Caregivers Should Know About the Disorder"ÃÂ provides a comprehensive look at current research into the search for the causes of autism, the signs of autism, age of onset, strategies for nurturing communication and social skills, and treatment options.** End Summary**

Autism Diets - A Special Diet Can Improve Autism Symptoms

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Much has been written in the popular press about the dramatic behavioral improvement in children with autism when they are put on a special diet. This diet, devoid of gluten and casein, two major proteins in the Western food supply, is touted as being a power weapon to reduce autism symptoms through diet. Scientific research has turned up conflicting data on the efficacy of the low-gluten, low-casein diet. Autistic children have abnormal intestinal motility and have a rate of nutrient absorption lower than the general population, according to a study done in New York in 2006. The study was conducted using a very small sample of 50 children. New research, using a much larger sample size, is due out shortly from the University of Rochester. On the other hand, researchers in the United Kingdom and in Massachusetts have not found absorption problems to occur more often in children with autism. There exist alternate hypotheses as to why the diet appears to work, too. Similarly, much of the research failed to control for the single variable, the diet, during the experimental design phase. Treating autism on many fronts and with many different strategies muddies the picture further.** End Summary**

About the Author:
If your child suffers from autism, it is imperative that you are well informed of the disorder. Click here to learn more about autism, including its diagnosis, symptoms, and treatments.