National Autism Awareness Month

The month of April is Autism Awareness month and the U.S. Autism Society is rallying for greater awareness and action during this month in efforts to give support to those with Autism throughout the country.

The Autism Society in a press release dated March 31, 2011, has launched several awareness campaigns.

The Wretches & Jabberers tour:

The Autism Society had joined with AMC Theaters© and Area23a, for a unique, national theatrical run of the feature documentary Wretches & Jabbers about two self advocates with autism.

AMC Theater

44681 Mound Road

Sterling Heights

888-266-4386

April 16th at 12pm

More events can be viewed on their press release at Autism Society.

In the 1970's National Awareness Month had been started in efforts to bring attention for awareness and concern. This month they are taking the opportunity to educate the public about autism and its issues.

There is an ongoing need for services and support.

Autism is a range of complex neurodevelopmental disorders, defined my social impairments , communication problems, restricted and stereotyped patterns of behaviors. Signs and symptoms usually appear within the first two years of the child's life. Autism varies in a wide range of severity and symptoms and can go unrecognized.

People with autism can have problems with:

Social Skills

Understanding

Physical Contact

Learning

Physical Ticks

It is also important to remember that just because a person with autism does not express their feelings the same way others do, does not mean that they do not have feelings like the rest of people. They have the same human emotions like feeling happy, sad, pain and love.

For many children symptoms can be improved with treatment and age. People with autism require ongoing services and support as they become older. Many persons with autism can be employed successfully and can live on their own or within a supportive environment.

There is no cure for autism. Therapies and behavioral interventions are created to relieve specific symptoms and can bring about remarked improvement. The ideal treatment plant integrates therapies and interventions to meet each individual child's needs. Almost all health practitioners do agree that early intervention is best.

Treatments

Educational/Behavioral Interventions:

Therapists use highly structured and intensive skill-oriented training sessions to help children develop social and language skills, such as Applied Behavioral Analysis. Family counseling is also available.

Medications

Practitioners may prescribe medications in which is to treat a specific associated symptom such as depression, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder. Seizures are treated with anti-convulsant medications. Anti-psychotic medications for severe behavioral problems.

Other Therapies

There are some alternative therapies that are available. Keep in mind very few may be supported by scientific evidence. As with any alternative therapy check with your primary practitioner before starting.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic care has reported remarked improvements in some symptoms of autism after treatments especially after upper cervical adjusting.

Chiropractic care has been noted as being effective treatment option for those with autism and when used in combination with medications approaches it becomes extremely effective. For more information on chiropractic and autism association it can be viewed online through Autism One.

Acupuncture

Scalp or head acupuncture has shown some positive results as an effective treatment in treating central nerve damage. Some cases have led to patients improving to live a fairly normal life as humanly possible. The suggested areas for autism used include sensory and speech. Patients are usually treated two to three times each week. There are other acupuncture techniques which can also be effective such as ear and body acupuncture. Scalp is the most effective and safe that results in quicker progress.

Other events:

Living with Autism Workshop

8:30 am to 4:30 pm April 28

Somerset Inn

Troy

For more information is available on Metro Parents

For more information on Autism:

Autism Society of Michigan

Sources:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Medical News Today

Chiropractic Research

Autism One

Acupuncture