Every so often, I get approached by
complete strangers freelance writers wanting to expand their resumes. They beg, they plead, they flatter me, my site, my monsters ( always a good thing!) in hopes that I will agree to let them write here. In every instance, I tell the potential guest what my guidelines are. And I have scared off every one... until last week. Last week, a
complete stranger lovely woman named Isabella Woods emailed and asked for the chance to write here. I did the previously mentioned evil witch routine. And she accepted! Here's what she had to say in one of our emails while hammering out the details of her guest post:
"...Thoughts very welcome, but only if they're honest- please don't worry about hurting my feelings or any of that nonsense if you don't feel it passes muster!"
And so, I introduce to you Open Forum. A place where, from time to time, I will feature a freelance writer who wanted a chance. I never give out topics. I do, however, tell every writer that my following will know if they just copy/paste information on special needs children from the Google. I WANT my following to comment, to speak up if they agree/disagree with the topic. If they are offended or touched. If they want to see more from a certain writer or if a certain writer should disappear.
Please note: Publishing a post from a guest does not necessarily indicate shared views and opinions of The Momma.
Larger Brains
Isabella Woods
Scientists have recently discovered that autistic children have
too many cells in the pre-frontal cortex – the area of the brain
used for emotional development and communication.
In the past, children with autism were often found to have larger
brains than average, but the reason why was unclear. The new research
found a 67% increase in the total number of pre-frontal cortex brain
cells in autistic children.
The scientists who carried out the study, led by Dr Eric
Courchesne, of the
University
of California’s San Diego Autism Center of Excellence, think
that the results from their study suggest that the condition begins
in the womb when the pre-frontal cortex is developing.
'This isn't just a simple increase in neurons,' said Dr.
Courchesne. 'It means a huge increase in potential connections and,
therefore, a potential for mis-wiring which would lead to abnormal
function.'
Other researchers, such as Lizabeth Romanski of the University of
Rochester Medical Center, have also suggested that the origins of
autism occur early.
'The generation of new neurons, what we call proliferation,
occurs prenatally during the second trimester,’ she said. ‘That
is when these neurons are being born.'
While the causes of autism remain unclear, and probably will
remain so for the foreseeable future, the effects are very real.
Recognizing the signs
For autistic children to live full, happy lives, an early
diagnosis is important as a precursor to any necessary intervention
which, according to Jennifer Humphries of the UK’s
University
of Central Lancashire, ’need to be started before deviation and
delay from the normal pattern of development has progressed too far’.
While the term ‘intervention’ may sound slightly frightening,
available treatments range from in-home behavioral therapy to
school-based programs – all of which are designed to help little
ones grow and thrive, regardless of anything else.
The bonuses of early intervention include an improvement in
communication skills and a reduction in out-of-control behaviors.
Nevertheless, successful diagnosis of autism is rare before the age
of two.
Dr. Lorna Wing, who has an autistic daughter, describes two types
of autistic infant. The first is the undemanding, placid baby who
rarely cries. The second is the screaming baby, tugging at their
baby
clothing, who is unusually difficult to pacify.
Wing, who founded the UK’s National Autistic Society, says that
autistic babies will often display other behaviors such as ‘rocking,
head banging and scratching or tapping at covers when in the pram or
cot.’
Professor Lars Christopher Gillberg of Gothenburg University in
Sweden narrows the symptoms down to those associated with
peculiarities of gaze, play and hearing.
Though avoiding eye contact is frequently thought of as a
characteristic of autism, more important is the quality of the gaze,
which appears as if the child is not seeing people at all.
A lack of sharing or joint activity while engaged in play is
thought of as a significant indicator of autism. Autistic babies
typically don’t point out things of interest or taken active parts
in playing baby games.
Autistic children are sometimes mistakenly thought of as deaf in
their early years. They often do not respond to audible changes in
their environment, though some sounds may elicit extreme emotional
responses.
Knowledge is power
Autism that is caught early allows families to begin making
adjustments and putting their feelers out for outside support.
When a child has autism, parents naturally want to know exactly
what it is. Knowledge is power, and the more they learn about autism
spectrum disorders, the better. Many negative myths exist regarding
autism – dispelling them is often a great comfort.
Learning extends beyond paper and screen. Most important of all is
learning about your child. Parents are the first to notice when
something is not quite right with their child, and they’re the ones
that will ultimately provide the day-to-day solutions.
Work out what triggers a child’s disruptive behaviors and what
encourages the positive ones. Learning what a child finds stressful,
calming, fun or uncomfortable is the key to coping. Don’t make
assumptions – learn through observation and good old trial and
error.
From a personal perspective, parents must re-train themselves to
stop focusing on how a child is different from his or her peers and
learn to accept them, quirks and all. Unconditional love is the
greatest gift a parent can give. Find the small successes that each
day brings and never give up.
