Developmental Consequences of Autism Spectrum Disorders (Pervasive Developmental Disorders)
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is a complex, neurobiological disorder than typically lasts a lifetime. ASD is characterized by varying degrees of impairment in communication skills, social skills and repetitive behaviours. Symptoms range from mild to severe.
What you might see when working with students with ASD in the classroom:
- Little response when called by name, especially during the early years
- May not respond when peers attempt to interact
- May seem moody, irritable, or very passive
- May have difficulty using eye gaze appropriately in social situations
- Difficulty following classroom routines
- Easily stressed during transitions
- Lack of speech or unusual speech patterns including ecolalia
- Awkward body language
- Self-injurious behaviour
- Clumsy fine and gross motor skills
- Bizarre reactions to sensory input
On July 26, The Nature of Things with David Suzuki ran a program titled: "The Autism Enigma". I found the program a real eye opener as some doctors and parents have linked ASD to microbes in the gut, primarily Clostridium. Many of the children highlighted in the show were put on antibiotics for infections as toddlers. Parents noted their children had extreme diarrhea afterwards (Clostridium Difficile) and autistic behaviours began. One mother discovered this link when her son was three years old after being severely autistic for a year and a half. One doctor finally agreed to look into this development and began treating the boy with an antibiotic designed to kill clostridium microbes. The autistic behaviours began to recede within days, however, clostridium releases spores which germinated when he stopped the medication and the behaviours returned. The child is now 19 and his autism is controlled (he can care for himself) with probiotics, which regulate the amount of clostridium in the gut. This information being studied that may link autism to gut microbes (clostridium) is very exciting as it can be prevented with the right antibiotics, limiting antibiotic use in toddlers and has shown to reverse many autistic behaviours even after years of having the disorder. I feel like my family had a narrow escape as my son was put on antibiotics at age 2 1/2 for pnuemonia after which he had clostridium difficile for a period of three months. Definately something parents of small children need to be aware of and a must watch for those who missed the show.
ReplyDeleteWow! Thanks for sharing that information with us Krista. I like how you separated out the autistic like behaviour from the diagnosis of autism. Further study is definitely needed in order to understand the complex etiology of pervasive developmental disorders.
ReplyDeleteHere is the link to the program that Krista referred to. It is called AUTISM ENIGMA and was broadcast on the CBC on Thursday, July 26, 2012. You can watch it online. Additionally, it will be aired again at 10:00 p.m. next Thursday on CBC News Network.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbc.ca/natureofthings/episode/autism-enigma.html
Amazing, I was absolutely mesmerized by this episode. It really hit home about the increase in Autism over the last 20 years. The environmental influences are astounding but as the researchers kept repeating, this is not the only answer. It must give families hope though. Just my own reaction is instantly what little changes can I make to my families diets that will keep them healthier. I can not imagine how a parent of a child diagnosed with ASD or ASD type symptoms would react. I look forward to future advances with these studies, especially the connection of diet between immigrated Somali's and their families at home. I guess this is where some of the "fad" diets are being born.
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