What's New: Research, News, and Comments

Omega 3 Fatty Acid Treatment in Autism
Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychopharmacology, by Meiri, G., Bichovsky Y., and Belmaker RH, published in 2009, summarized Mar 2010

Omega 3 fatty acids appear to be safe and helpful for children with autism.

This open study looked at the effect of omega 3 fatty acids on ten children with autism. The children were given 1 gram of omega 3 fatty acids (180 mg DHA and 380 mg of EPA) for 12 weeks. The children were tested for symptoms of autism by a board-certified child psychiatrist upon entrance to the study, at 6 weeks, and at 12 weeks. The children were examined using three tests for symptoms of autism. The symptoms of autism improved in most of the children after 6 weeks of omega 3 fatty acid therapy.


Treatment of Food Selectivity in a Young Child with Autism
Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, by Wood, BK, Wolery M., and Kaiser AP, published in 2009, summarized Mar 2010

Therapeutic feeding intervention may increase the number and variety of foods eaten by a child with autism.

This case study describes feeding intervention with a five your child with autism who was on the gluten-free casein-free (GFCF) diet. The treatment package focused on four new food items. The boy learned to eat GFCF pizza, GFCF waffle, apple, and french fries. He often said no when asked to try a new food. And at times, he left therapy sessions when hand-over-hand prompts were used.


Autism and Aging: Hardly Out of the Woods
The Consultant Pharmacist, by Wick, JY, and Zanni GR, published in 2009, summarized Mar 2010

Doctors who care for aging people with autism need to know about the many aspects of autism in order to create an effective treatment plan.

This review article describes the problems that come with the long-term care of people with autism. Adults who were diagnosed with autism in the 1980s are now starting to reach old age and some will need long-term care in homes. There is very little research on what happens as people with autism age, although studies suggest that older people with autism will have many problems. They will likely have trouble knowing others’ intent and they will likely behave in ways that may be hard to manage.


Does Risperidone Improve Hyperacusia in Children with Autism?
Psychopharmacology Bulletin, by Ghanizadeh, A., published in 2009, summarized Mar 2010

Risperidone may help children with autism overcome sensitivity to loud noises.

This case study described the use of risperidone to treat a five and a half year old girl with autism who was frightened by loud sounds (hyperacusia). While many children with autism do not process sound the way other children do, only some children with autism cry and avoid loud sounds. Children with hyperacusia may also cover their ears when they hear loud sounds such as a vacuum cleaner, car, or washing machine. The doctor reports that this child’s hyperacusia improved when she took risperidone. This appears to be the only report that has described this effect of risperidone.


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One-on-One Therapy is Focus at Supporting Autism and Families Everywhere (SAFE)

Mar 19, 2010

George Shadie, founder of Supporting Autism and Families Everywhere (SAFE) sees hope for children, teens, and adults with autism. This Pennsylvania father of a son with autism has seen his child and others blossom under one-on-one therapy, especially at places like New Hope Farm. When he started SAFE 15 years ago, he was assisted by psychology students from Wilkes University. They found, and Shadie has since confirmed, that a person with autism seems to work better when “all the teachers, speech therapists and occupational therapists who work with that person use the same cues and teach a task the same way.”

Read original article: Local Group Provides Help, Hope for Families


Does Vision Therapy Work for Kids with Autism?

Mar 17, 2010

Judith Warner of the New York Times recently wrote a long and well-researched article on Vision Therapy for use with children. She spoke with parents of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. She also spoke with pediatric optometrists and behavioral optometrists, specifically, Stanley A. Appelbaum. Appelbaum and vision therapists believe that eyes working well in coordination with other parts of the body help the child in all areas of learning and emotions. He says, “Vision isn’t just about eyes or eyesight but is also something more holistic — how eyes work together and move together and process information and store information and do something with the information.” There is not yet much evidence-based research for vision therapy, but as one mother says, “Vision makes sense.” She has a daughter with autism who has spent a lot of time being told that therapies she has found to work, are not supposed to.

Read original article: Concocting a Cure for Kids with Issues


Various Forms of Animal Therapy May Help Children with Autism

Mar 15, 2010

Animal-assisted therapies may help children with autism and other disabilities learn non-judgmental love and emotions and teach them responsibility for care of an animal. Kids also have the ability to play with the animals, which can translate into physical therapy. Animal therapies are not limited to service dogs, and include therapeutic horseback riding, and swimming with dolphins. The biggest advantage of canine-assisted therapy is that the dog can live with the family and in some cases accompany the child to school.

Read original article: Animals can Help in Therapy for Special Needs Children


Musical Therapy in India Increases Communication and Creativity

Mar 12, 2010

Stuti Chandhok, a classically trained musician in India, is one of the first certified musical therapy providers in that country. She has been working with children with autism and other special needs for over 10 years. The children she works with have increased communication, creativity, and confidence. Dr P.K. Partheeban, Director of the Swabhimaan Trust in Chennai, has found that “Rhythmic music which is in conjunction with the heartbeat can be really soothing and rejuvenating. Good rhythmic music, whether it's drums, guitar, flute or veena, can stimulate the mind, depending on how the music is presented to the children.”

Read original article: Hitting the Right Note


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Please comment on this autism topic.

Does Vision Therapy Work?

Mar 18, 2010 by Anonymous

Unfortunately the article written in the NY Times was frequently quite biased. We have the research to show that optometric vision therapy works (http://www.covd.org/Home/ResearchWhitePapers/tabid/188/Default.aspx) for many vision and learning related vision problems. We do not know very much about the vision system and autism. We are just starting to figure out if optometric vision therapy is a form of treatment that can help the child on the Autism Spectrum....you can say the same for many therapies now being developed in this area.

Dominick M. Maino, OD, MEd, FAAO, FCOVD-A; Professor of Pediatrics/Binocular Vision Illinois Eye Institute/Illinois College of Optometry

Questions? Contact me at dmaino@ico.edu


Responding to hippotherapy

Mar 18, 2010 by Anonymous

Where are some good providers for Hippo Therapy in the Columbus, Ohio area ?


Please respond to    jim.swank@fcbdd.org      Thanks


Responding to Socially Assisted Robotics (SAR)

Mar 16, 2010 by Anonymous

My son is 6 years old & has autism. We gave him a toy robot for christmas & he loves it. I would love to know more about this & if these robots are available. There are very few therapies in my area or doctors.


Comments

Mar 8, 2010 by john-smith

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