Autism: What is It?

Diagnosing Autism

According to the National Alliance for Autism Research, autism is a brain disorder that typically affects a person's ability to communicate, form relationships with others, and respond appropriately to the environment. Some people with autism are relatively high functioning, with speech and intelligence intact. Others are mentally impaired, mute, or have serious language delays. For some, autism makes them seem closed off and shut down; others seem locked into repetitive behaviors and rigid patterns of thinking.

Parents are usually the first to notice unusual behaviors in their child. In many cases, their baby seemed "different" from birth-being unresponsive to people and toys, or focusing intently on one item for long periods of time. The first signs of autism may also appear in children who had been developing normally. When an affectionate, babbling toddler suddenly becomes silent, withdrawn, violent, or self-abusive, something is wrong.

Even so, years may go by before the family seeks a diagnosis. Well-meaning friends and relatives sometimes help parents ignore the problems with reassurances that "Every child is different," or "Janie can talk-she just doesn't want to!" Unfortunately, this only delays getting appropriate assessment and treatment for the child.

After assessing observations and test results, the specialist makes a diagnosis of autism only if there is clear evidence of:

Poor or limited social relationships

Underdeveloped communication skills

Repetitive behaviors, interests, and activities.

People with autism generally have some impairment within each category, although the severity of each symptom may vary. The diagnostic criteria also require that these symptoms appear by age 3.

Eating Disorders: Anorexia & Bulimia Help

When an obsession and preoccupation with food and the amount of food one eats begin to affect self image to the point where one is saying, "I'm too fat," "I'm ugly," help is often needed.

People suffering with Anorexia or Bulimia often feel a sense of power out of their eating habits. It is not uncommon to find an Anorexic or Bulimic who feels the "high" after periods of starvation or purging. Compulsive over-eaters often feel the exact opposite; lack of power and a loss of control.

What is Anorexia?

According to the National Institute of Mental Health (MIMH), "Anorexia nervosa is characterized by emaciation, a relentless pursuit of thinness and unwillingness to maintain a normal or healthy weight, a distortion of body image and intense fear of gaining weight, a lack of menstruation among girls and women, and extremely disturbed eating behavior. Some people with anorexia lose weight by dieting and exercising excessively; others lose weight by self-induced vomiting, or misusing laxatives, diuretics or enemas."

What is Bulimia?

The NIMH describes bulimia as, "Bulimia nervosa is characterized by recurrent and frequent episodes of eating unusually large amounts of food (e.g., binge-eating), and feeling a lack of control over the eating. This binge-eating is followed by a type of behavior that compensates for the binge, such as purging (e.g., vomiting, excessive use of laxatives or diuretics), fasting and/or excessive exercise. Unlike anorexia, people with bulimia can fall within the normal range for their age and weight. But like people with anorexia, they often fear gaining weight, want desperately to lose weight, and are intensely unhappy with their body size and shape. Usually, bulimic behavior is done secretly, because it is often accompanied by feelings of disgust or shame."

Treatment for Eating Disorders

The NIMH recommends treatment programs that involves " psychological and medicinal treatments are effective for many eating disorders... treatment plans often are tailored to the patient's individual needs that may include medical care and monitoring; medications; nutritional counseling; and individual, group and/or family psychotherapy. Some patients may also need to be hospitalized to treat malnutrition or to gain weight, or for other reasons."

Treatment facilities can be located by going to: Ask a Counselor

Read eating disorder signs and symptom articles at: Disordered Eating: My Child Is Not Eating

Disordered Eating: My Child Is Not Eating

Signs and Symptoms of Eating Disorders in Children

"Eating disorder" is when a person eats, or refuses to eat, in order to satisfy a psychic need and not a physical need. An eating disorder is a medical condition and requires a medical doctor to diagnose and treat. The following list provides the general symptoms and signs of an eating disorder.

• being secretive about eating
• refusal to eat, eat and purge (vomit)
  
• not willing to talk about food
• fear or feeling of becoming "fat" or obese
• food rituals: eating only certain foods in a certain order, preoccupation with weight and food calories
  
• loss in body weight (15%, or more) in a short period of time ( 1 month)
• low self-esteem
• isolation, away from friends and family
• loss of menstrual period (girls)
• higher levels of stress and anxiousness
• mood swings
• hair loss and brittle nails
• wearing bagging clothes, or layered clothes

If you suspect your child is not eating properly, or has an eating disorder, go to Ask a Counselor for help.


Read other articles regarding types of eating disorders and treatments in this blog site.

Self Doubt and Athletes

Whether you are a young beginning athlete or a professional experienced athlete, self- doubt is a feeling that most athletes have to deal with sometime during their playing years. Peak Performance Sports has a YouTube video that provides parents and young athletes with some solutions to reduce self-doubt.

Lower The Drinking Age: Not on their lives!

The Dangers of Changing The Drinking Age

Some states have been considering the option to push congress to lower the the drinking age from 21 years of age to 18. The rational comes from some well meaning individuals who believe that lowering the drinking age will curb binge drinking of underage high school students and college students who who are not yet of legal age. The evidence from recent history does not support the change.

Here are the facts: Since the United States Congress mandated in 1984 that states establish 21 as the legal age to consume alcohol:

• The National Highway safety Administration reports a 13% drop in traffic fatalities that saves the lives of over 900 individuals between the ages of 18 and 21 years of age.
• There is an 11% decline in the overall teenagers involved in fatal drunk driving accidents since the 1984 mandated law was enacted.
• Studies by the national Institute of Health "indicate that delaying the initiation of drinking by youth contributes to reduction in future alcohol related problems, including alcohol dependence, binge drinking, alcohol related crashes, injuries and fatalities and violence."
• Individuals that chose to drink before the age of 15 are:
  

1. 4 times more likely to develop alcoholism
2. 12 times more likely to be injured while under the influence of alcohol
3. 7 time more likely to be an an auto accident
4. 10 time more likely to become involved in a fight or altercation

Our society often discusses the power of using common sense when we enact new laws or legislation. Let's begin by using it now!

I need parenting strategies to help my child: Parenting Tools That Work!