Child with Autism. The on going thread

[listy]

Since I've left the Army and started working at an outdoor adventure centre I deal with Autistic kids every week from various points in the spectrum. It's a great feeling when they do things that their teachers and parents think they won't and is greatly satisfying.

You've done a wonderful thing giving up your business to help those who need it. You Sir, are and should be an inspiration to us all.

It's really nice to hear you get great satisfaction from what you do now, and I'm glad you are making headway with your boy in some areas, even if some are more of a struggle.

In the summer at my centre, we are open for 3 weeks where families can come down and partake in the activities. If you would like for next year, I can see if I can get you a discount (families of staff get 50% off, but I'm unsure if that would be for friends also.)

Accommodation and food is all included in the price too.

We do everything from surfing and climbing to mountain biking and caving. If you would like me to enquire about it, I'm happy to do so.

[The Raven]

O wow, i dont know how much of that he could or would do but im always happy for him to try new things,

 

Interested in the details. Thanks Listy

[The Raven]

Nath has a block of speech booked in the new year, Kicked up a fair bit at the meeting and got what we wanted. I have brought him a scooter for xmas in the hope he it might help his coordination if he has to put on foot down and use the other to move.

 

On a really great happy side i was asked to play santa at his special needs school, it was one of the best things ive ever done, amazingly rewarding. Best thing i got asked for....an eel?!??!

 

[Chris Wilson]

I bet Jim would have fixed that....

[The Raven]

Xmas has come and gone. Nath enjoyed it a bit more this year, got it a bit more this year. Opened some more stuff and used the toys more. He is trying to use his scooter which is great as its quite complicated process. That involes him using two feet differently and also pushes his balancing skills to the limit

 

He has his hospital appointment tomorrow for his hearing test. Im really kind of worried about it but i guess its for his own good. I will report back with the findings. Just hoping he does not struggle to much when they put him under.

 

I have emailed someone at work that holds meetings for parents with young children with autism. I feel that i can offer something in the way of talking and doing Q & As for these people.

[SupraStar 3000]

always read your updates,.. but seldom know what to say,....

 

Massively impressed how you deal with everything mate. You have my respect

 

 

on a side note.

I was banned from being Santa after last year. How was I supposed to know Santa doesn't wear crotchless pants.

[The Raven]

Edd as santa....what could go wrong!

 

Sometimes you dont deal with things, stuff gets broke, you cry, you stress. Then it kind of passes and you move on. Having a great wife is probably key to it. We take it in turns i guess if one of you is having a bad day the other takes over. The only time that fails is when you have both had enough.

[Thorin]

You continue to be an inspiration sir. Glad to hear Nath is doing well.

[The Raven]

Nath is back from hospital, where he took a pre med, and two shots of ketarmine to be able to give him a general. Even then he was still trying to stop them sticking stuff to him. He just wasnt going to give in.

 

 

Good news is he can hear just fine so i guess its his learning delay/autism that robbed him of his speech.

[The Raven]

Small break though to report.

 

Nath can now jump with two feet, something he would or could never do, took 4 months on a trampoline and now he can bounce around happy as larry. He can also drink from a open bottle. Again something he had issues with and would often end up covered in juice.

 

On a more amusing note. His teacher said when its time to use ipads they just give it to him and he sets it all up..

[Style]

Small break though to report.

 

Nath can now jump with two feet, something he would or could never do, took 4 months on a trampoline and now he can bounce around happy as larry. He can also drink from a open bottle. Again something he had issues with and would often end up covered in juice.

 

On a more amusing note. His teacher said when its time to use ipads they just give it to him and he sets it all up..

 

Nice update and good to hear he's doing well mate. Hats off to you for all your involvement as well

[Morpheus]

Good to hear that things are improving and thought that this might be of interest;

 

Dear Daily Health Member,

 

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed when individuals exhibit characteristic behaviours that include repetitive actions, decreased social interactions, and impaired communication. Curiously, many people who suffer with autism also suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) problems, like abdominal cramps and constipation.

 

The mainstream is still slow to catch onto the fact that overall health and well-being starts with a healthy gut. Instead of promoting a balanced and healthy diet as the foundation for good health and combatting diseases, like diabetes, heart disease and even depression, doctors continue to push drugs as a first-line of defence.

 

Getting the right balance

 

A study, published in the journal Cell, turned heads and dropped jaws all across the autism community, when the researchers from the California Institute of Technology concluded that they have successfully REVERSED the most common symptoms of autism in mice with nothing more than a simple probiotic!

 

The researchers noticed that mice with symptoms of autism all had one thing in common — they were suffering from "leaky guts" — leaky gut syndrome allows waste particles to pass from the intestine into the bloodstream.

 

For the study, the researchers began feeding the mice with autism a steady diet of Bacteroides fragilis, a common probiotic for animals. This probiotic regimen helped to heal their leaky guts in no time.

 

But the real magic began, when the researchers noted that the symptoms of autism seemed to disappear almost overnight! The mice were less anxious, more willing to socialise and less obsessed with repetitive tasks.

 

Commenting on the results of the study, Professor of Biology, Sarkis K. Mazmanian, said: "Traditional research has studied autism as a genetic disorder and a disorder of the brain, but our work shows that gut bacteria may contribute to autism spectrum disorder symptoms in ways that were previously unappreciated. Gut physiology appears to have effects on what are currently presumed to be brain functions."

 

Of course, this was an animal study and it's too early to say if the same results will be replicated in human trials. But the link between autism and the gut makes perfect sense. We've known for ages that people with autism are more likely to suffer from gastrointestinal disorders.

 

However, a more recent human study strengthens the gut brain connection and its effect on behavioural problems.

 

A study, published in the journal Pediatric Research, evaluated 75 infants who were randomized to either receive a specific probiotic, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, or a placebo during the first six months of life. The study then followed these kids for the next 13 years.

 

At age 13 years, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or autistic spectrum, was diagnosed in 17 per cent of the children in the placebo group and none in the group receiving the probiotic.

 

The researchers concluded that "probiotic supplementation early in life may reduce the risk of neuropsychiatric disorder development later in childhood."

 

It seems to me that we are only just beginning to realise the importance of maintaining a healthy balance of good gut bacteria...

Until next time,

 

Francois Lubbe

Editor

[The Raven]

Time flys!

 

6 months on. Nath went on the train for the first time today and really liked it. Hes moved up in school to the junior dept, a change he took in his stride with no issues at all. They seem to focus on life skills cooking ect, but also very strange things like french.

 

Now thats great but nath doesn't talk? Id love to see how they get a bunch of ASD kids to talk french when they dont talk at all. But hey ho.

 

Xmas is coming so off the back of the scooter working we are trying to get him a trike and see if he can pedal. hes still a happy little chap.

 

Im still volunteering at the special needs nursery once a week while i do my course and working with adults with autism the rest of the week. Had one of the little ones sing me BAH BAH black sheep after seeing one in a field the other day......It was truly amazing to be able to tell her mum when she came to pick her up.

 

Im aiming to be full time at the school by the summer term next year. That said i have offered my services at my current place of work in the field of meeting parents that have just been given a diagnosis. If they allow me to do that i may stay as i think id be more use there after the horror we went though be great to be able to tell someone how it really is.

 

 

Nath on the train age 7

Edited November 12, 2016 by The Raven (see edit history)

[j_jza80]

Inspiring stuff many would be overwhelmed by what you've been through, but you've turned it into a way of helping others. I'm sure you're very proud of your lad, but you should be very proud of yourself too

[Thorin]

I don't visit the forum much these days, but still check in on this thread when there's updates.

 

Pleased to hear things are going well for you sir.

[The Raven]

Being back on the forum i though id update this.

 

Nath is still doing fine. Hes alot more independent. The biggest break though in the last 3 years (wow where did that go) is he now has an IPad he uses to talk. Its a great system using pictures that string a sentence. He can make requests for things he wants and ask for help ect.

 

I should add the speech specialist refused to help fund the ipad and claimed he couldn't or wouldn't use it.. So we self funded and taught him ourselves.......i was super smug when 3 mins after setting it up he was able to ask for juice with it. I sent a video of it to the offending douche.

 

School is going well for him and hes still super chilled.

Edited August 12, 2019 by The Raven (see edit history)

[Scooter]

Well done on the progress and sticking to your guns re self funding and self belief that it would help. I see first hand the parental effort that goes into disabled care (severe physical in my case), before it happens it really is hard to understand the stresses and strains that come with it that are constant and hard to get any relief from. "Thrown in the deep end" and "life changing" come to mind, I know you had a personal wobble early on but glad to see you turn it around into the positive and making sure your son progresses as well as possible.

[Thorin]

Hey man, good to hear you guys are doing well.