Autism
Autism spectrum disorder includes conditions previously called autism, pervasive developmental disorder. It is a brain disorder that often makes it hard to communicate with and relate to others. With this, the different areas of the brain fail to work together. Most people with autism will always have some trouble relating to others. But early diagnosis and treatment have helped more and more people who have autism to reach their full potential.
Estimated 1.5 million American children and adults, over 1.7 million children in India and about 0.2% of the world population is affected by this disorder, affecting all races almost equally.
CAUSES OF AUTISM
Causes are not known but various theories have come forward suggesting that there are structural and functional changes in the brain in the patients with autism.
AUTISM IN CHILDREN
Some of the triggering factors considered responsible for Autism are:
- Genetic predisposition
- Exposure to environmental chemicals
- Intake of some drugs, medicines during pregnancy
- Metabolic imbalance
- Vaccinations
SYMPTOMS OF AUTISM
- Marked deficits in communication and social interaction
- Language impairment
- Preoccupation with fantasy
- Abnormal behavior, such as repetitive acts and excessive possessiveness to certain objects such as car, doll, keys
- Intellectual impairment
The common end symptoms could be:
- Annoying obstinacy in behavior
- Poor verbal expression, uses gesture to point out for his needs
- Repeating words or phrases
- Laughing, crying without apparent cause
- Prefers solitude
- Throws Tantrums
- Difficulty in social interaction with his age or elders
- No eye contact while communication
- Unresponsive teaching
- Failure to perceive fears of danger, leading to jumping from high place, playing with pointed objects
- Physical hyper-activity or under-activity
- Underdeveloped fine motor skills
- Not responsive to verbal instructions with normal hearing
- Spinning objects
- Inappropriate possessiveness to objects
- Over-sensitivity or under-sensitivity to pain
- Screaming and shouting out of proportion
- Repeats the same words (echolalia)
HOME TREATMENT : PARENTAL GUIDE
Having a child with autism requires taking a proactive approach to learning about the condition and its treatment while working closely with others involved in your child’s care. You also need to take care of yourself so that you are able to face the many challenges of having a child with autism.
- Educate yourself about autism
- Work closely with others who care for your child
- Promote healthy growth and development
DIET IN AUTISM
The theory is that some people with autism cannot properly digest gluten and casein, which form substances that act like opiates in their bodies. This “drug” substance alters the person’s behavior, perceptions, and responses to his environment, according to this theory. Research in the U.S. and Europe has found substances with opiate activity in the urine of a significant number of children with autism.
Some parents, doctors and researchers say that children have shown mild to dramatic improvements in speech and/or behavior after a gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet.
HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT
While no other system of therapeutics can make a significant difference in the autistic child or adult, Homeopathy shows immense promise. This is because the approach of Homeopathy towards the treatment of any disease, whether as simple as a common cold or as complex as Autism, has a holistic essence.
Homeopathic treatment is targeted towards UPROOTING THE DISEASE and ensuring health with no side effects. For prescribing to an individual, a PLAN OF TREATMENT is followed which involves:
- GETTING THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF CASE which includes complete case taking (analyzing patient as an individual) along with patient history and family history
- DIAGNOSIS OF PATIENT AND DISEASE
- INDIVIDUAL ASSESSMENT OF THE CASE
- PRESCRIBING THE MOST SUITABLE INDIVIDUAL CONSTITUTIONAL REMEDY