Gluten and casein are increasingly becoming a hot topic in the autism community and from doctors in the “Defeat Autism Now!” biomedical movement. There is lots of evidence from parents, doctors and researchers who have seen small to large improvements in children’s speech and behavior after removing gluten and casein from their diets. Other effects have been fewer bouts of diarrhea and loose stools in children with autism. And then some people report no benefits at all from removing Gluten andcasein from their diets.

So what is Gluten? Gluten and gluten-like proteins are found in many different types of food including wheat, oats, rye, barley, durum, spelt, kamut, bulgar and any foods made from these grains. They can also be found in food starches, couscous, semolina, malt, soy sauce, flavorings, some vinegars, artificial colors and hydrolyzed vegetable proteins.

So what is Casein? Casein is a protein found in milk and foods containing milk, such as butter, cheese, yogurt, ice cream, whey and even some brands of margarine. It can also be added to non-milk products such as soy cheese and hot dogs in the form of caseinate.

Over the last few years, there has been a growing interest linking autism and GI (gastrointestinal) ailments. A study by the University of California Davis Health System found that autistic children born in the 1990s had a higher chance to have GI problems, including diarrhea, constipation, and vomiting, than children with autism who were born in the early 1980s. People have used the Gluten-free and casein-free (GFCF) diet to mainly lessen GI problems and food allergies.

One Theory states that autistic children or those with PDD cannot properly digest gluten and casein. They discovered that gluten and casein form peptides which tend to act like opiates in the body. Peptides can change a person’s behavior, responses and perceptions to his surroundings and environment. Scientists have found that peptides set off an unusual response in their immune system. According to research in the U.S. and Europe, children with autism have peptides in their urine.

Although it has not gained widespread acceptance in the medical community, studies are underway to examine the effect of a GFCF diet in children with autism. There is controversy over this theory since one recent study found behavioral improvements in children when they were on a GFCF diet, and another study found no significant effects from the GFCF diet.

In order to find out if your child has a sensitivity or allergy to gluten or casein, medical tests can be ordered by a pediatrician or physician. YOu should have these run before you begin the GFCF diet. Also, before changing diets, you should consult with your pediatrician to ensure you’re providing a healthy diet. Nutritional supplements may also be necessary.

When changing your child’s diet, some advocates believe that you should go slow and remove only one food at a time so you can tell which food is causing the problem. They suggest asking other people not aware of the dietary change if they see any improvement. Some examples may be friends, neighbors or teachers. They do suggest removing milk first because milk will clear itself from the body the quickest. Gluten can be the next removed from the diet. Because of this process, it may take up to 6 months to see if this diet is really working.

Changing to this diet will be very hard. There are several steps that go into it. First, reading ingredients on food packages will be required. You will need to look for hidden gluten and casein ingredients. Examples are curds, caseinate, lactose, bran, spices or certain types of vinegar. Milk will be hard to substitue but children can adapt to a gluten-free, casein-free  milk substitutes on the market that include soy, almond, rice and potato. You will want to look for products that are high in calcium and citamin D. Parents can also give vitamin and calcium supplements.

A great source for your new diet is shopping at health food stores or groceries that carry products that are gluten-free. You shuld be able to find flour, cereal, waffles, pasta, potatoes, bread, crackers, cookies and pretzels. Retailers online will also be a great resource. And if you need to save money, some people have found out how to make their own GFCF foods.

Foods that are safe to eat on a GFCF diet include rice, potato, buckwheat flour, soy, corn, fruits, vegetables, beans, tapioca, meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, nuts, eggs, and many other foods.

Once on the diet, parents report that their children show no symptoms of autism. They have better eye contact, less GI problems and inproved behacior. Some parents though report no difference in their autistic children.

Soy and corn have also been found to relieve autism symptoms because soy protein is similar to gluten and casein.

Because there has been positive evidence in following a GFCF diet, scientists are continuing to research this theory. But, since every person is different, this can’t be expected to be the cure-all for all autistic children.

Do you have a child with autism that receives special education services from your school district? Did you know that several agencies now train service dogs to help people with autism become more independent? Would you like to learn about 7 ways that this could help your child with autism? Then this article is for you; learn about autism service dogs, and tasks that they can perform to help children become more independent.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a service animal as: any animal individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability. Tasks typically performed by service animals include guiding people with impaired vision, . . . providing minimal protection or rescue work, pulling a wheelchair or retrieving dropped items.

While autism service dogs are new, they are proving to be very helpful to children with autism. The thing to remember is that the dog must be task trained to specifically help your child, in order to be given protection under the ADA.

Below are 7 ways that an autism service dog could benefit your child in school and out of school:

1. The dog can assist children with autism safely access different environment’s. This could help your child become more independent and also help with transitions, which can be difficult for children with autism.

2. The dog can be a calming influence and give a sense of security to your child.

3. The dog can actually help your child focus on academic and social tasks. The reason that this happens is not known by many trainers of these service dogs, but it is a good side effect.

4. The dog can be tethered to your child to prevent the child from wandering away, which a lot of children with autism are prone to do.

5. The dog can actually track and search for your child if the child does wander away (if the child is not tethered). This takes out a lot of parents fear about their child getting lost in school or public places.

6. The dog can try and stop a child’s repetitive behavior by nudging the child. This does take specific training for the dog on what your child’s behaviors are. But the hope is that the child will much rather pet the dog than continue the repetitive behavior.

7. Another positive side affect of having a dog is that it appears to help the child become more social with their peers. Again the trainers of these dogs do not know why this happens, but the dog does seem to help the child engage more in social activity.

Several organizations have sprouted up that train dogs for this purpose. Several names are: 4 Paws for ability, Autism Service Dogs of America, and Dogs for autism. While the dogs do cost approximately $10,000-$13,000 many parents have become creative, in raising the money for these dogs. Some have had bake sales, car washes etc in order to be able to afford this for their child. The sky is the limit when it comes to fundraising for your child!

Check this out to help your child with autism in school and in the community become more independent in their life. Good luck!

Author: JoAnn Collins

JoAnn Collins is the mother of two adults with disabilities, and has helped families navigate the special eduation system, as an advocate, for over 15 years. She is a presenter and author of the book "Disability Deception; Lies Disability Educators Tell and How Parents Can Beat Them at Their Own Game." The book has a lot of resources and information to help parents fight for an appropriate education for their child. For a free E newsletter entitled "The Special Education Spotlight" send an E mail to: JoAnn@disabilitydeception.com. For more information on the book, testimonials about the book, and a link to more articles go to: http://www.disabilitydeception.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JoAnn_Collins

Technorati Tags: Service Dogs for Autistic Children

Your autistic child is not blind nor has a physical disability that renders them helpless, but most autistic children do lack the ability to make safe choices. Parents of autistic children are diligent, they have to be, but wouldn’t be safer and give the parents more peace of mind is there was an extra set of eyes watching their child.

Now there is a service that provides canine assistance to autistic sufferers. 4Paws, the first autistic assistance dog agency, has dogs that can be placed with your autistic child and with a doctor’s approval no family can be turned away.

Check out this success story here:

One of the most disturbing phenomena concerning autism is the child’s ability to just run away. You can be washing dishes and as soon as you turn your back your child can be gone. There are normal situations in which a autistic child can make very dangerous. They can fall into a pool or run into traffic and you would hardly know they were gone. An autistic assistance dog would alert you if your autistic child was to deviate from their normal pattern. Either by barking or by gaining your attention physically, the autistic assistance dog will give you enough warning to catch the child before they put themselves into danger.

Not only will the dog alert you that the child is missing but they will help you track and find the child. The bond between the child and dog is something special and that bond will instill the dog to protect and find your lost child. This relationship tends to be odd for more autistic children because the bonding process does not happen sometimes even if it is a human relationship. The communication process sometimes even excludes the parent from a loving relationship. Testimonials from parents who have received autistic assistance dogs say that they are amazed at how the animals and children interact.

Another benefit to both parents and the child is the parent’s report that the child has more feelings and compassion toward their dog then they do toward siblings or adults. The parents also state that once the dog is placed in the home, the autistic child shows less aggression and anger. In one case a parent said that there autistic child stopped showing frustration all together. Before the canine assistant the child would throw temper tantrums and physically attack the person they were angry at. Now the child, when frustrated, goes and hugs his dog until the anger goes away.

Another behavior that is trained to the assistant dog is to recognize repetitive behavior. If a child is prone to hand flapping as many autistic children demonstrate, it usually takes the touch of a parent to redirect the behavior. Now that is the dog’s responsibility. The dog will gently touch or nuzzle the child when the behavior happens and the child will learn through conditioned response that they are presenting a negative behavior and the behavior will stop.

The only reason that a dog will not be placed in your home is if your home is not suitable for the pet. The cleanliness of your home and your financial ability to own a pet is severely scrutinized. Also the safety of the pet is looked at. If your child is so violent that the dog may be injured because of a temper tantrum or other aggressive action, the agency has the right to deny you a dog or to pull the dog from your home. If you have a puppy that you would like trained to be an autism assistant dog, 4Paws does offer a school in which you, the child, and the dog will be taught to work together as a team.

By: Jonathan Sullivan

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Information on autism symptoms can be found here.

One of the most disturbing phenomena concerning autism is the child’s ability to just run away. You can be washing dishes and as soon as you turn your back your child can be gone. There are normal situations in which a autistic child can make very dangerous. They can fall into a pool or run into traffic and you would hardly know they were gone. An autistic assistance dog would alert you if your autistic child was to deviate from their normal pattern. Either by barking or by gaining your attention physically, the autistic assistance dog will give you enough warning to catch the child before they put themselves into danger.

Not only will the dog alert you that the child is missing but they will help you track and find the child. The bond between the child and dog is something special and that bond will instill the dog to protect and find your lost child. This relationship tends to be odd for more autistic children because the bonding process does not happen sometimes even if it is a human relationship. The communication process sometimes even excludes the parent from a loving relationship. Testimonials from parents who have received autistic assistance dogs say that they are amazed at how the animals and children interact.

Another benefit to both parents and the child is the parent’s report that the child has more feelings and compassion toward their dog then they do toward siblings or adults. The parents also state that once the dog is placed in the home, the autistic child shows less aggression and anger. In one case a parent said that there autistic child stopped showing frustration all together. Before the canine assistant the child would throw temper tantrums and physically attack the person they wer 1000 e angry at. Now the child, when frustrated, goes and hugs his dog until the anger goes away.

Another behavior that is trained to the assistant dog is to recognize repetitive behavior. If a child is prone to hand flapping as many autistic children demonstrate, it usually takes the touch of a parent to redirect the behavior. Now that is the dog’s responsibility. The dog will gently touch or nuzzle the child when the behavior happens and the child will learn through conditioned response that they are presenting a negative behavior and the behavior will stop.

The only reason that a dog will not be placed in your home is if your home is not suitable for the pet. The cleanliness of your home and your financial ability to own a pet is severely scrutinized. Also the safety of the pet is looked at. If your child is so violent that the dog may be injured because of a temper tantrum or other aggressive action, the agency has the right to deny you a dog or to pull the dog from your home. If you have a puppy that you would like trained to be an autism assistant dog, 4Paws does offer a school in which you, the child, and the dog will be taught to work together as a team.

By: Jonathan Sullivan

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Information on autism symptoms can be found here.

Technorati Tags: aspergers children with dogs, Dogs assisting autistic children

Here is a list of famous people with learning disabilities. They overcame the disabilities to become renowned individuals, the best of the lot!

Learning disabilities are manifested in four forms associated with the four stages of information processing namely, input, assimilation, retention and output. The input stage is related to perception of information. Assimilation is related to interpretation of information. There can be problems in memorizing and retaining the things perceived, while the disability concerned with output is characterized by difficulties in retrieval and presentation of the retained information.

Causes of learning impairments can be genetic or environmental. But children with learning disabilities are characterized by some unusual abilities. A learning disability does not make a child less intelligent. It is just that he learns differently.

Albert Einstein showed learning disability. He was a ‘below average’ student at school. He could not speak until he was three and was weak in Math. He grew up to become one of the greatest Mathematicians. Other famed people with learning disabilities were Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison. Edison found difficulty in reading until he was twelve and in writing, even after that.

It is believed that Leonardo Da Vinci, needless to say who he was, was dyslectic. Sylvester Stallone, Cher, Tom Cruise, Mozart and Robin Williams, who are enlisted as being famous in the field of art, have been victims of learning disabilities. Lewis Carroll, famous for authoring ‘Alice in Wonderland’, suffered from a stammer in speech. George Bernard Shaw is reported to have had an Attention deficit disorder. Suzanne Somers, famous for her work in ‘Three’s company’ was a poor student at school and was diagnosed of dyslexia. A relatively recent example of a learning disability is Phillip Manuel, a famous jazz vocalist who was identified of having AD/HD in the year 2000.

The very well known Napoleon Bonaparte had to struggle with dyslexia. Winston Churchill, who is famous for leading Great Britain during World War II, suffered from speech impediment during his childhood. Woodrow Wilson did not learn the alphabet until an age of nine and was unable to read until an age of twelve. This shows that he probably had a learning disability.

We know of Jackie Stewart. He has described in his biography, his dyslexia. He has written about his inferiority complex at school and how he overcame it. Bruce Jenner, the world’s greatest athlete as he was called, had fallen prey to learning disabilities.

Business Entrepreneurs like Richard Branson, David Neeleman and Charles Schwab were dyslexics. Donald Winkler, defeating his dyslexia, inspired many to become successful.

The Indian movie, "Taarein Zameen Par", brought learning disabilities in children under the Spotlight and counseled parents about how they should react to children exhibiting such disabilities. Actor Aamir Khan was shown to illustrate the learning disabilities in some well-known people, thus rousing the parents all over the world to realize the possibility of some very unique talent to stem out of their kids! The movie also tries to comfort children with learning disabilities and here were some examples of some famous people who had learning disabilities when they were young.

All the celebrities mentioned above and those left unmentioned had one commonality of striving towards success and attaining it, in spite of their learning disabilities. Feelings of shame, fear, depression and loneliness are evident in dyslexics. These famous people got over all these negativities and conquered not only their disabilities but also the world, by winning hearts and becoming inspirers for the aspirants world over!

By Manali Oak Published: 5/19/2008

Technorati Tags: celebrities with autism, famous people with autism

Please see the full list below. If you don’t see what you are looking for, please check the rest of this website or email me at support@autismtreatmentforchildren.com and I will try to find what you need!

If someone you love is diagnosed with autism, LOUDER THAN WORDS is the first book you should read. One morning, Jenny McCarthy was having a cup of coffee when she sensed something was wrong. She ran into her two-year-old son Evan?s room and found him seizing. In that moment, Jenny went from being the mother of an average toddler to being in the midst of a medical odyssey. Doctor after doctor misdiagnosed Evan until?after many harrowing, life-threatening episodes later?one amazing doctor discovered that Evan is autistic. Though Evan finally had a diagnosis, Jenny didn?t know what to do next and she soon found herself alone without any resources except for her determination to help her son. Jenny eventually realized that she?d have to become a detective. She spoke with many doctors, parents, governmental agencies, private foundations, and essentially earned a Phd in ?Google Research.? At last, she discovered an intense combination of behavioral therapy, diet, and supplements that became the key to saving Evan from autism. And, now in this book, she creates a roadmap for parents who are concerned about their own child. Jenny does more than just reveal the winning formula that worked for Evan. Her story shares the frustrations and joys of raising an autistic child and shows how with love and determination a parent can shape their child?s life and happiness.

Framed with both humor and compassion, the book defines the top ten characteristics that illuminate the minds and hearts of children with autism. Ellen’s personal experiences as a parent, an autism columnist, and a contributor to numerous parenting magazines coalesce to create a guide for all who come in contact with a child on the autism spectrum.

Children with autism struggle to make friends and navigate social situations. However, one child can make a significant difference in the life of a child with autism by offering compassion, understanding and friendship. Since We re Friends is about two boys. One has autism, the other does not. The story of their relationship provides practical examples of how to make such a friendship work. It will help children see that their peers with autism can make a fun, genuine contribution to friendship. From the publisher: The prevalence of autism has skyrocketed in recent years. One in every 150 children is now living with this pervasive developmental disorder. The handful of autism children s books on the market represents the most severe cases of autism. However, most children with autism are much less severe. These misunderstood children struggle in social situations and have difficulty making friends. Since We re Friends will appeal to family members, friends, teachers, therapists, doctors, neighbors, and anyone who seeks to know and understand more about children with autism. 

This book comes from the heart of a little girl(Sarah is eight years old)who has grown up with and who, with her parents, has been involved in helping her younger brother with autism to learn. The book is a testament to the parental support that has fostered a strong positive relationship between Sarah and her brother, with the result that even at a very young age, Sarah has become a strong advocate for Evan and other children with autism.

In Not Even Wrong, Paul Collins melds a memoir of his son’s autism with a journey into this realm of permanent outsiders. Examining forgotten geniuses and obscure medical archives, and beginning to see why he himself has spent a lifetime researching talented eccentrics, Collins shows how these stories are relevant and even necessary to shed light on autism.

This new autism book for parents provides a unique voice and presents information in a smart and accessible manner for parents. Line drawings (from photos), case studies, and numerous examples help make this book easy to read for anyone-and it will pair well with Making Sense of Autism. 

For many years Eileen Miller’s daughter, Kim, was unable to verbalize her experiences and emotions, but she was able to communicate using a less conventional language: her art. The Girl who Spoke with Pictures tells the story of a young woman with autism, and how her enlightening drawings enabled her to share her view of the world.Illustrated with drawings created by Kim between the ages of 3 and 17 years old, the book gives an insight into how Kim expressed her thoughts and feelings through pictures, revealing her capacity to learn and be understood by those around her. Reflecting on her daughter’s artwork, the author explores the concept of art as a universal language that can transcend barriers and enhance the personal and educational experiences of those with autism.This book provides a window into one autistic girl’s experience of life and will be essential reading for teachers, parents, and anyone with an interest in autism  

I’m confident this list is an excellent resource for any person, parent, caregiver, family or friend who wants to learn how to interact more closely with autistic or asperger syndrome children.

Technorati Tags: caregivers, friends, personal stories of autism as told by parents

Books for sensory or motor skills:

1. 101 Games and Activities for Children With Autism, Asperger’s and Sensory Processing Disorders

2. Early Intervention Games: Fun, Joyful Ways to Develop Social and Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum or Sensory Processing Disorders

3. Playing It Right!: Social Skills Activities for Parents And Teachers of Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Including Asperger Syndrome And Autism

Books that are great for social skills:

1. Staying in the Game: Providing Social Opportunities for Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Other Developmental Disabilities

2. Relationship Development Intervention with Children, Adolescents and Adults: Social and Emotional Development Activities for Asperger Syndrome, Autism

Please see the full list below. If you don’t see what you are looking for, please check the rest of this website or email me at support@autismtreatmentforchildren.com and I will try to find what you need!

I’m confident this list is an excellent resource for any person, parent, caregiver, family or friend who wants to learn how to interact more closely with autistic or asperger syndrome children.

Technorati Tags: autistic children's games and fun activities

I hope this list is a good resource for any clinician searching for detailed information on autism, aspergers spectrum disorder and its symptoms, causes and treatment.

Technorati Tags: autism, autism research, autism symptoms, autism symptoms checklist, behavior characteristics of autism, physical characteristics of autism, signs of autism

Autism is a neuro-development disorder which is marked by three prominent symptoms. Here are the behavioral characteristics of Autism…

Autism is a brain development disorder that appears during infancy or childhood, and usually follows a steady course without subsidence. Autism is one of the development disorders, which are included in the autism spectrum disorders. The autism spectrum disorders include disorders like the rett syndrome, Asperger syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, or the pervasive development disorder. The significant behavioral characteristics of autism spectrum disorders include qualitative impairments of social communication and interaction along with restricted and repetitive activities.

Behavioral Characteristics of Autism

Autism is a complex neuro-developmental disorder, which is marked by three prominent symptoms, which are – impairments in social interaction, impairments in communication, and repetitive behavior. Here are the three important behavioral characteristics of Autism:

Social Impairment:

Autistic infants exhibit less attention to social stimuli like smiling and making eye contact with people or responding to their name. Children with autism are often very resistant to cuddling. Autistic toddlers tend to exhibit more severe forms of social impairment in terms of anticipatory postures and tend to have less social understanding, emotional expression and spontaneity as compared to the other children of their age. Children with autism display extreme behavioral characteristics in the sense that they might either be overly aggressive or abnormally passive. They do not pay attention to other people around them and do not reciprocate to communication – verbal or non-verbal. A child who suffers from autism has difficulty in the development of play and usually uses only parts of toys or displays repetitive actions in playing.

Impaired Communication:

It is believed that a third to a half of individuals with autism do not develop enough natural speech to meet their daily communication requirements. The children suffering from autism exhibit difficulties in communication starting from the first few months, which can be characterized by delayed onset of babbling, unusual gestures, and the lack of synchronization of vocal patterns with the parent/caregiver. A person who suffers from autism does not establish eye contact and has difficulty in maintaining eye contact as well. Older children and autistic adults tend to show poor understanding of face and emotion recognition. Older children and autistic adults tend to show poor understanding of face and emotion recognition.

Repetitive Behavior:

A person suffering from Autism has a highly restricted, repetitive and stereotyped pattern of behavior and interests. Autistic people are extremely resistant to slightest of changes in their routines, which might break their repetitive behavioral patterns. A very low attention span is also one of the behavioral characteristics of Autism. They exhibit stereotypy, which is apparently purposeless movement like rocking the body or flipping the hands. People with autism tend to exhibit compulsive behavior and develop ritualistic behaviors in their daily routine. Children with Autism have also shown movements that lead to self-injury like biting oneself. Another significant behavioral characteristic of Autism includes restricted behavior, which includes limited focus or limited interests.

Autism is usually treated by means of behavior therapy and there is no one specific course of treatment that can be used for everyone. Every child needs a mode of treatment, which would help him to cope up with the specific problems and symptoms of autism. One of the most important things to be mentioned is that autistic children do not prefer to be alone; it is just that making friends and communicating with people is difficult for children with autism. Children with autism need constant love and support to encourage them and help them cope up with autism.

Get Your Copy of The Parenting Aspergers Resource Guide Here!

By Uttara Manohar Published: 11/17/2008

Technorati Tags: behavioral characteristics of autismcel

As parents and caregivers the best thing we can do is to educate ourselves about the various degrees of autism spectrum disorders. Interestingly, some people with this disorder can go on to lead a healthy and productive life.

Autism spectrum disorder is basically a wide range of behavioral and developmental disorders that results from a combination of certain traits. The autism spectrum disorder will range from low functioning autism to high functioning autism to normal behavior and to possibly hyper socialization.

An autism spectrum disorder is considered to be a persuasive developmental disorder, which basically means that it interferes with a child’s normal developmental abilities such as communication and speech. Autism spectrum disorders are not specific developmental disorders such as dyslexia. It is important to note that many people who have this disorder usually end up living in dire poverty.

The Affected Areas Of Functioning

This disorder is considered to be both a psychological and a developmental disorder that affects many areas of functioning. These areas will include language, motor coordination, self-help skills, communication and scholastic achievements. With some individuals, the symptoms may be it immediately noticeable, while in others; the symptoms may not be noticeable at all when first meeting that individual.

Surprisingly, many people that are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder lead very normal lives. In fact, many people with this disorder may lead a very normal life and are not noticed until later on in their adolescence or later lives. These disorders are usually diagnosed following a series of psychiatric tests.

Not Really Disabled After All

It is vital to let people know that people who were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder are not "disabled". What makes them different from every one else is their thought process. There are many different degrees of severity that no 2 people are really alike.

Individuals with and autism spectrum disorder may have a little challenge interacting with other normal children, as well as trend to keep up scholastically. In all depends on the severity. Some individuals with this disorder may not read as well or comprehend as fast Ward to as well on tests as other children. These same individuals may also have a challenge try to socialize successfully. The reason for this is due to the fact that their brains process and store information differently from normal children.

Autism Asperger Publishing Co.
The convenience of one-stop shopping for the best available books and materials in the field of autism spectrum disorders. 

Learning is Key to Understanding

As parents and caregivers the best thing we can do is to educate ourselves about the various degrees of autism spectrum disorders. Other people in the individual’s life such as teachers, siblings and friends should also become involved in the learning process too. Some individuals have shown that with intense therapy and practice, they are able to " fit in" and socialize normally with the outside world. By doing the best that we can to learn all that we can about this disorder, we become better equipped to help deal with those who have it. Admittedly, it does take a lot of patience as well as practice and guidance dealing with people with autism spectrum disorder. The good news is that some of these people with autism spectrum disorder can go on to live a normal and productive life and contribute to society.

Kerry Ng is a successful Webmaster and publisher of The Autism Info Blog. For more great helpful information about Autism visit The Autism Info Blog

By Kerry Ng Published: 11/15/2007

Technorati Tags: austism causes, autism, autism treatments

Autism typically sets in children before the age of three. Here is a checklist of the early symptoms of Autism.

Autism is a result of a disorder of the human central nervous central, that causes development disability. Autism is a highly controversial disorder as regarding its symptoms, causes and treatment. Autism is

generally diagnosed on the basis of specific criteria for various impairments in interests, activities, imagination, communication and social interaction. Therefore, there is no concrete answer to the question, ‘what is autism’.

One important reason of the controversy surrounding autism is that it may not be evident in the outward appearance of the child and therefore, there may be no external indications of such a disorder.

Autism generally sets in before the age of three. The children develop evident delays in language, speech, social interaction and social communication. Autism also results in the child being poor in symbolic or imaginative play. Here are some symptoms seen in children diagnosed with autism.

As previously pointed, autism may not have any external symptoms, and it may be almost impossible to recognize children with and without autism. However, it has been pointed out that children with autism have a larger head circumference as compared to non-autistic children.

The symptoms of autistic children are not characteristic or common to all children. Autistic children may not display the expected behavior or show completely unusual behavior. Here is a checklist of the various behaviors shown in Autistic children. This is not a comprehensive list and there may be other symptoms in autistic children. Also, it is not necessary that all the behaviors listed below will be seen in autistic children.

Unconcerned about Dangers: Autistic children may be completely unconcerned about any dangers to them. For example, autistic children may just stand on the middle of the street without worrying of a car hitting them, or even lean low against a window on a high rise.

No Pretense: Autistic children may show a dislike to playing pretend games since an earlier age. They will also not cooperate or join other children in group games like hide and seek, police,etc.

Disinterest in children: Autistic children are known not to be too keen on playing with other children. They would not be interested in either getting introduced, introducing or spending time with other children. Autistic children would also prefer to play alone.

Intensity: Autistic children are also known to throw intense tantrums on little things. These tantrums can also be violent. Autistic children are also known to be un-cooperative, and not returning smiles when smiled at.

Over-enthusiastic:Autistic children are overly active, but are immensely non-cooperative and resistant. They may not return smiles when smiled at and may not even respond to his or her name. Other than that, autistic children may have poor eye contact and will not point or wave a bye to the others.

Selfish Behavior: Autistic children may display a selfish behavior, for example getting things only for themselves. They are also very independent for their age and are not comfortable with other people around. Simply put, they are non-social beings since the beginning. Other than that, autistic children will prefer to play alone.

Less Grasping Power:Autistic children will have trouble grasping new knowledge and talents. They may not understand the working of toys or new toys as quickly as non-autistic children.

Other symptoms of autism are:

1. staring at open areas, while not focusing on anything in particular
2. Failure to explain what they want
3. Spinning around in circles
4. Clamping hands on ears.
5. Liking to be in well known places
6. Failure to follow directions and the concept of pointing
7. Walking on toes
8. Having odd movement patterns
9. Delay in developing language skills and speech
10. Failure to follow direction

By Roy D’Silva Published: 5/15/2007

Technorati Tags: autism symptoms checklist, physical characteristics of children with autism