Health and Beauty Les Halles

Many parents and caregivers of someone on the Autism Spectrum know what it is like to be short on sleep!  For some reason, sleep disturbance is a common problem with autism. 

Parents have told me so many stories about their childrens unusual sleep habits. Some children literally wander the house or their room all night long.  

Recently I talked to a lady who would find her son sleeping in the closet.  She was concerned and tied the bifold closet doors closed to keep him out, but he lifted them off the tracks at the bottom and crawled under the doors to get in!

My own grandson woke in the night one night and wedged himself underneath our bed.  We were hysterical with panic the next morning until we found him sleeping peacefully under our bed!  Obviously these boys both liked the small, confined spaces, and you are better off going with that than fighting against it!  If they are not feeling safe and comfortable in their bed, they are probably not going to sleep there or stay there.  My grandson stopped getting up at night after we started implementing some of the following tips:



White Noise- Use an air purifier or a fan for white noise. Prevent Distractions- Heavy curtains, thick carpets, and making sure the door doesn’t squeak. Try a Tent- Let your child try sleeping in a pup tent inside a sleeping bag, many will love the small space.  You   can also find “bed tents” made just for this purpose by searching online. Sunlight- Expose your child to sunlight in the morning to regulate the body’s production of melatonin. Supplements- Ask your pediatrician about supplementing with melatonin, it can help normalize the sleep-wake cycle  in children with autism. Heavy Play- Playing with weighted toys, carrying a heavy backpack, pushing, pulling, etc. before bedtime. Epsom Salts Baths- Try giving your child Epsom Salts Baths before bed.  Don’t let them drink the bath water! Bedtime Schedule- Create a PEC’s Bedtime Schedule to hang on the wall and use it daily. Ban Stimulants Before Bedtime- Don’t give your child caffeine, sugar, or anything with additives 2 hours before bedtime.  Autistic children can be especially sensitive to stimulants and food additives. Weighted Blankets- A weighted blanket can be a lifesaver for your child and the entire family.  You can find quality, washable weighted blankets at Affordable Weighted Blankets.

Autism is a neurological disorder & needs special care for treatment. This disorder results from combinations of certain traits. This disorder ranges from low functioning autism to high function autism.

This disorder is considered to be a pervasive developmental disorder. This means that it interrupts with usual developmental abilities including speech & communication.

Autism has many effects on different parts of body.

Autism mainly affects the brain. A child is unable to excel is communication, social interactions & certain activities or interests.

A child with autism is unable to keep eye contact, indulge in facial expression & gestures. The child fails to establish friendship with people of his age. He or she does not enjoy or share interests & achievements with others. They are also unable to understand emotions.

Most children are unable to speak & don’t initiate or continue a conversation. They have a tendency to repeat a phrase over & over again that they have heard once before. Children with autism do not indulge in ‘pretend’ play. They focus on pieces rather than the whole object.

Most people don´t to know whether autism can be cured. Unfortunately, the answer is ‘no’. There is no cure for autism. In case, an advertisement, product or medication promises that it can cure autism, you are being misled.

You need to understand the fact that autism has no cure. However, the good news is that a lot of treatments are available to make people live with autism an easier task.

Autism can be treated with the following therapies:

a) Alternative treatments

These days, natural & alternative treatments for autism are very popular. These include the use of herbs in contrast to prescribed medications. Use of herbs does not have any side effects. Usually, vitamin & mineral supplements are found helpful in treating Autism. You should inform the doctor about any of the natural products that you are using for your child. Some herbs can interact with prescription medication. Remember that herbs & vitamins are used to help with certain symptoms of autism.

b) Nutritional Methods

Some people prefer taking a special diet when treating Autism. They stay away from certain type of foods that may cause sensitivities. Gluten, dairy & artificial dyes are some of the foods that are eliminated from the diet. You can also ask your doctor for allergy testing. This will let you know whether your child has allergy from a certain type of food. This way, you can easily eliminate a food from his or her diet.

It is true that there is no cure for Autism. However, there are several treatments that can help the child overcome some symptoms. You need to understand that going for one treatment at a time will only help. You should not expect any miracle treatment.

You should not waste your money or time on products that claim to cure autism. You must continue helping your child by continuing the treatment for symptoms of Autism. This will definitely help you child enjoy a better life.

Don’t shirk away from asking a lot of questions to your doctor. Try to monitor your child’s progress on a regular basis.

Handle your child with lot of love, care, presence & appreciation.

If you are worried that someone you love with autism will not enjoy life to the full then read on. Autism is an arrested development. It hampers development in a human being and occurs normally in children

Study show that it is the fastest growing development disability and there is a worldwide autism epidemic. This article will try to identify causes, diagnosis methods and steps to deal with autism.

Did You Know That…

• 1 in every 150 babies born has Autism ( and in some reports it is even greater then that)

• Families with one autistic child have a 2 to 8 percent chance of having another autistic child.

• Boys are three to four times more likely to be diagnosed with Autism.

• Mental retardation is present in 75-80% of individuals with autism.

• Autism occurs more often than childhood cancer or cystic fibrosis.

• Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability. In the U.S. alone, autism increased by 172% during the 1990s.

• When autism is detected and treated early, costs associated with the disorder can be reduced by 66%.

It is believed that one in every 150 children diagnosed is affected by autism. Parents love their children and it is a joy to bring another human being into the world. The Bible says that children are a gift from God.

It is so painful and heartbreaking to discover that your child is affected by autism. Many parents blame themselves for their child’s autism. Some believe it is their genes.

According to National Autism Association autism is no longer considered heritable and a genetic disorder. Environmental conditions are contributory factors to autism. It is believed that it is environmentally triggered and is a preventable and treatable disease. Research in the environment has brought hope to those affected by autism and therefore environmental analysis to causes of autism holds the key to finding the cause and developing effective treatment for autism.

Yet you will hear theories of many causes of autism, but no one has found the exact cause of autism

Psychologists, Psychiatrists, School psychiatrists and Developmental Paediatricians use methods such as, M-CHAT (Modified checklist for Autism in Toddlers), CARS (Child Autism Rating Scale), Autism Diagnostic Checklist Form E-2 and ADOS (Autism Diagnostic Observation Scale) to diagnose autism.

In the 1950’s-1970’s mothers whose children were affected with autism were labelled ‘’Refrigerated Mothers’’. It was believed that mothers were not loving and neglecting their children which cause them to regress into their own world. But environmental analysis has changed this notion and believed that autism has a direct link to the environment.

Diagnostic methods are available to help cure autism and is been used by professionals. Early detection of autism will decrease cost of autism. Parents should be assured that your efforts to cure autism will be rewarded.