Scanning brains may catch autism soon

In a new study, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill used a special kind of MRI imaging called diffusion tensor imaging to look at 15 brain connections of babies who had a sibling with autism. They found significant differences in 12 of the 15 connections in those who developed autism. Children without the disorder had stronger connections. Children with autism had weaker connections.

"The children who went on to have autism, we can see differences as early as six months, and that over time, their brains changed less," said Dr. Jason Wolff.

by Click2Houston.com  Read more here

Hoofbeats to Healing is opening in Bountiful!

We are so excited the opportunity has arrived. Hoofbeats to Healing, therapeutic riding center, is opening an additional facility in Bountiful in just a couple weeks (this June). - Large indoor arena, horses specially trained to work with those who have all kinds of special needs. - Our boys have shown and maintained improvements over the last three years from riding at Hoofbeats. Improving brain functions, speech, interactions (social skills) and minimizing tantrums and sensory stemming.


The 20 spots open for the one day per week are going fast. Additional spots will be added in the future. The best way to reserve a spot is to call Tami Tanner 801-836-4325. You can also e-mail her but she doesn't check it often tamtrot@gmail.com.


Read more about Hoofbeats on these links below.

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9170140230049680882#editor/target=post;postID=5879054316842999447

http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9170140230049680882#editor/target=post;postID=614898944571320426

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hoofbeats-To-Healing/47832645139

Mother of six pursues psychology degree to better understand her sons’ disorder

Mother of six pursues psychology degree to better understand her sons’ disorder 

5/10/12

Over the past 12 years, Utah's Sharla Jordan has seen four of her six sons diagnosed with autism. Witnessing one diagnosis after another, Jordan spent many of those years experiencing a wide range of feelings.

"I have gone through all kinds of emotions," Jordan said. "I have gone through anger, denial, blame, sadness, acceptance. It is never just one, and I probably cycle through those emotions every time something new comes up."

After receiving several misdiagnoses from doctors and struggling to understand the ins and outs of autism, the stay-at-home mom began researching the disorder to improve her knowledge of how she could best help her children, even publishing a book in October. Then, after years of research, Jordan decided to go back to school and pursue a bachelor's degreein psychology, as it would allow her to further her understanding of autismwhile earning credits.

Although it had been more than 10 years since she had earned an associate's degree, Jordan began taking classes toward her bachelor's degree last fall. So far, she said the experience of being an adult learner is different than being a younger student.

For example, as she is now raising six children between the ages of 4 and 16, Jordan must find fool-proof ways to manage her time. Currently, she is taking advantage of her college's online and independent courses, which allow her to stay home with her youngest son while also working toward a degree. When her son is old enough to go to school for the day, she plans on trekking to campus to complete her courses.

Although going back to school is a daily challenge, Jordan does not regret her decision. For adults who are thinking of making the same life change, she says it is important for them to think about why they are going back to school and use that as motivation. Of course, for Jordan, the thought of being able to better understand her four autistic sons is enough to keep her focused.

"If they have that desire or motivation, go back and do it," Jordan said. "It's never too late to go back to school. If you have finished a degree in something you can always go back and do something else. Just because we seek out to do one thing, 10 or 20 years later there may be a totally different road that we've taken since then." 

ABA Therapy approved by the Federal Government

Thank you Autism Speaks! Autism Speaks Hails Landmark Federal Decision Calling Key Autism Therapy a ‘Medical’ Service Eligible for Insurance NEW YORK, NY (May 30, 2012) -- Autism Speaks hailed today’s announcement by the federal government, the nation’s largest employer, that Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the most widely used behavioral intervention used to treat autism, is a “medical” therapy that qualifies for health insurance coverage, rather than an “educational” service. Click to read more

The Healing Power of Horses

Here is an article from BYU's "The Universe" about Hoofbeats to Healing. Wonderful benefits have come for our boys riding there.

Hoofbeats to Healing is an organization founded 15 years ago by TameraTanner, and is designed as a therapeutic horse ranch dedicated to improving those with physical and cognitive disabilities.

The Poop Page - from TACA

I read this article and found the information helpful understanding my sons tummy troubles. I hope it helps you too.

The “Poop” Page

By Lisa Ackerman and Linda Betzold

Dedicated to fellow “poop peepers” like me!

Many children with autism suffer from many issues involving the gut and their bowel movements (or lack there of). So much so that not a meeting goes by, nor a support phone conversation, that does not involve a discussion of “how are your child’s poops?”

Based on the obsession to help children “go” daily, one would conclude this process is a newly found hobby. Many TACA families take great care in discussing, analyzing and fretting over their child’s poops! (So you are not crazy! Join the club!)

For our kids (and all humans) moving our bowels daily is a key component to basic and good health. If a child:

• Is having loose bowel movements that happen too quickly after eating (for example less than one hour) — there are issues to address.
• Is having bowel movements two, three, four or more days apart; then they are not stooling often enough — there are issues to address.
•  Is having bowel movements that contain undigested food particles, and you recognize the good in the toilet or diaper — there are issues to address.
• Has a bloated belly beyond the age of two — there are issues to address.
• Performs self stimulatory behaviors such as toe walking, flapping or posturing just before or while stooling (posturing appears to provide comfort and may include applying pressure to the abdomen by leaning against a blunt object, like arm of sofa, therapy ball, mom’s knee, etc.) — there are issues to address.
• Alternates between constipation and diarrhea — there are issues to address.
• Produces stool that has a very odd odor, color and/or texture — there are issues to address.
• Has fallen behind or hit a plateau on his/her growth chart — there are issues to address.
• Has been unable to potty train passed a reasonable age (6, 8 10 years of age) — there are issues to address.

If your child is pooping daily and still seems uncomfortable, he or she may not be getting enough stool out every day. It is important to consider these suggestions with your doctor and make sure that your child is having complete and regular bowel movements.

A few more thoughts …

1. Stool impaction is incredibly painful, and it sometimes happens to our kids. An exam and x-ray of the abdomen (called a KUB) can help diagnose an impaction, which will likely require MEDICAL ATTENTION. Watch for distended tummies, night waking because of pain, and sometimes dramatic changes in behavior as clues. Sometimes children with stool impaction will produce thin, ribbony stool in the toilet, another clue that there may be an impaction. Sometimes children with an impaction may have diarrhea every day or every few days. It can be a little confusing or misleading, but diarrhea is the only thing that can squirt around the impaction. This can be another clue that there is an impaction. Please see a doctor for help immediately. A good gastroenterologist can make a huge difference in finding and solving the root problems unique to your child.
2. The best pediatric gastroenterologists that understand and treat the GI issues of children with autism are Dr. Arthur Krigsman of Pediatric Gastroenterology of New York and Texas, www.autismgi.com, and Dr. Timothy Buie at Massachusetts Hospital for Children, a teacher at Harvard Medical School,www.massgeneral.org/children/specialtiesandservices/ladders/default.aspx. In many cases, if children on the autism spectrum are experiencing severe, prolonged GI-related problems, a trip to either one of these professionals is recommended.

Read More Here

Moving With Your Special-Needs Child - 15 Ways to Ease the Transition

Moving With Your Special-Needs Child - 15 Ways to Ease the Transition

Written by Krystyann Krywko, Ed.D.;

 photo: PhotoXpresss.com 

It is estimated that 1 out of 5 families move every year; which means that for many families, the early weeks of summer are often filled with packing boxes, contacting new schools and finding new dentists. While transitioning to a new neighborhood or town can bring an assortment of stresses, this stress can be amplified when a family moves with a special-needs child. Routines, therapies and support networks can be disrupted and the entire family can feel on edge. Whether this is your first move or you are a seasoned veteran, the following tips will steer you and your family on the path to a smoother transition:

Keep them involved – As a parent, you know what your child can handle emotionally. While taking a child house hunting might work in some families, for others, it makes sense to wait. “Our children are visual learners,“ says Sharla Jordan, mother of six boys (four with special needs), “so once we had a contract to buy our new home, I drew out a sketch of the floor plan and explained where their bedrooms would be and where their toys would go. This really helped reduce anxiety.”

Read more of the Article here

(I am glad to see the author used all my suggestion in her article)

Autism Brain Research

Autism Research Unraveling Mysteries - April 9, 2012

"Research suggests the brains of autistic children may indeed be "wired" differently "right from the beginning," Paterson says. A popular theory among researchers holds that autistic people have an abundance of "local connections," in one specific part of the brain, but not enough "long-distance connections" to coordinate complex tasks among various parts of the brain, such as interpreting emotions, says Geraldine Dawson, chief science officer for the advocacy group Autism Speaks.

"The changes lie not in the brain cells themselves but in the pathways that transmit messages between brain regions, Paterson says.

"These pathways aren't visible to the naked eye. But scientists can get a sense of these bundles of nerve fibers with technology that traces the path of water through the brain.

"Structural changes in these fiber tracts are evident in the brains of children later diagnosed with autism, even as young as 6 months old."

The Arizona Republic

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2012/04/09/20120409autism-research-unraveling-mysteries.html#ixzz1sEpjPMC8

ACU - Autism 15 second spot

I Hope...

How many of you go through that feeling of a sense of loss more than once? This is very common at first when your child has been diagnosed, but also every time another mile stone is missed/delayed, or when another road block is in the way of your child's development. Over the last couple months we have had more than a few of these come up for more than one of our sons. I realize more and more what additional challenges I see in their future and I begin to ask "what if he can't..." I have to stop myself right then, because If I continue to dwell on that question, it brings me down and hinders my perception to see what my sons are capable of. Instead I need to say, "I hope..." and then focus on the now, because now is so important for their future.

Laughables

Check out our new page, "Laughables", we started this page because. . .

“The only way to get through life 

is to laugh your way through it. 

You either have to laugh or cry. 

I prefer to laugh. 

Crying gives me a headache.” 

― Marjorie Pay Hinckley

CDC Autism Rate show a rise of 25%

One out of 88 children in the U.S. has an autism spectrum disorder, according to the latest estimate by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 


Previously the CDC estimated autism's prevalence at about an average of 1 in 110 U.S. children. The new estimate suggests autism is more common than previously thought - about 25 percent more common - and may affect more than one million children and teens in the U.S.

For the CDC's study, researchers looked at autism prevalence estimates from 14 areas in the country. Since every state is not included, the CDC warned the rate "should not be generalized to the United States as a whole." But the data do show that autism diagnoses continue to increase. It's published in the March 29 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Boys are still about five times more likely to be diagnosed with autism in the U.S. than girls, according to the CDC report. It estimated one in 54 boys have autism, while one in 252 girls do. The number of children identified with ASDs ranged from 1 in 210 children in Alabama to 1 in 47 children in Utah. The largest increases were among Hispanic and black children.


For 2012, the National Institutes of Health invested $169 million in autism research to improve screening and diagnosis, develop effective services and resources for families, identify potential risk factors in the environment that may cause the disorder, and for testing potential treatments.


Read the CDC report

What is Normal?

Autism Understanding the Puzzle - All Over the World

Thanks to all of you who have helped spread autism awareness and have shared our site. Check out the list (scroll down in the right hand column) of the 40+ countries that have visited our website AutismUnderstandingThePuzzle.com

Showing Love for Those with Special Needs

I was telling a friend about these videos last night and I realized I hadn't shared them here yet. I share them with you now, I cannot think of better examples of youth putting aside their egos and pride to include and get to know these awesome friends and gain a greater love for one another.