Electroconvulsive therapy reduced severe self-injury behavior in a boy with autism, allowing him to attend school.
This case study reported electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for an 8-year-old boy with autism, mental retardation, mood swings, and extreme self-injury behavior. He was trying to hurt himself an average of 109 times per hour. Applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy and drug therapy did not work. He had to stay in the hospital. He wore arm restraints with metal strips to limit where his arms could reach. And he wore full-body protective padding so he wouldn’t hurt himself. He was treated with ECT 3 times per week for 5 weeks. ECT therapy is a medical procedure that uses a brief electric current to the brain in a closely-monitored medical setting under full anesthesia. Doctors also use neuromuscular blockade (temporary full relaxation of muscles) during the procedure. After 5 weeks of ECT, he no longer needed restraints and protective padding. This child was able to return home after 2 years in a hospital, attend school and learn for the first time, and also participate in meaningful family life. The authors said this was the first report of successful ECT for self-injury behavior. They recommended that doctors consider ECT when other therapies don’t work.
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Responding to weighted vest
Aug 25, 2011 by AnonymousMy young adult son hiked the entire Appalachian trail a few years ago--form Ga to Maine--over 7 months --carrying a 40 plus pound back pack. He was calm, relaxed and maintained a positive mood as the hike continued. He was able to stop his Ablilfy meds while hiking and lost 40 pounds of excess weight. He self reports that he gained spiritual insight, confidence, and trust in his fellow humans. His comment was that he only met two people he didn't like--out of the hundreds he encountered. Based on Joe's experience, I believe hiking is a wonderful non-competitive activity for some high functining young adults on the spectrum. The weight bearing and steady movement in generally quiet and natural settings agreed with Joe. He had never hiked and never pitched a tent--but with the support of an experienced hiking partner, he made his way over 2,000 miles of hard mountainous terrain--an amazing accomplishment for anyone--and a phenomenal one for Joe.
Responding to mirror neurons
Feb 9, 2010 by AnonymousIt is my opinion that mirror neurons are the basis of our internal connection with each other. Deep inside, without the interference of the ego, is a network of vibrations that allow us to "feel" exactly what the other person is feeling. The person must be closely related to the subject.
Example is when one walks into a room and the entire mood of the room changes. That person influenced the vibrations of the room simply with his mirror neurons. His feelings were transferred to the others through the subliminal vibrations we can't feel with our five senses.
This explains the phenomenon commonly called "contact high". When an individual is under the influence of marijuana, he will influence the mood, the feelings, and other related emotions of the group as a whole because whatever is firing inside him is also firing inside the others in the group.
This can explain why autistic children can tap a part of their brain that we can't. But at the same time he must hold onto a tree in order to accept that it is real. He has lost touch with this reality because he has no mirror neurons in which to relate. He cannot find that vibration with others that we all take for granted.
The cure for this anomaly would be to find ways to help mirror neurons develop in autistic children. This network, although taken away at birth, should be examined and ways sought in which we can enhance this development.
When we pray for a person we are connecting that person with God through our mirror neurons. We can literally change the mind of one who is suffering from a disease simply by connecting him with God and dispelling the myth that he is sick.
Blog from 35,000 feet
Aug 7, 2009 by AnonymousSo here we are, already above the clouds on our way to Orlando for our super-fabulous vacation! Finally, no more sleeps until we go! Jonathan and my mother-in-law are sleeping, I’m writing, Thomas is looking at the pictures that Jonathan drew for him and Hayley is probably annoying the hell out of the person in the seat in front of her. I have a hard time sleeping on airplanes because they make me nervous, so I thought I’d write.
The past few weeks with Thomas have been very difficult. He’s been hyperactive and difficult to deal with; the noises he’s been making have been driving us all nuts. He hums the theme music to “Indiana Jones” very loudly (we’re hoping to make it to the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular later today) and this kind of thing makes us quite crazy. Even Hayley has been bothered by it, which is a new thing.
Jonathan and I think that Thomas’ new erratic behavior has a lot to do with the trip which, until right now, has been coming up. He’s been trying so hard to understand and deal with this Disney World thing that he’s been acting out in other undesirable ways. Only this morning was he able to admit that he was excited about going to the airport. Hopefully, once we get on the Mickey Bus, he’ll be able to tentatively admit that he’s excited about Disney World. We got in line this morning, very early at the International Terminal because for SOME REASON, the boarding passes I printed out didn’t work for just me at the skycap. We were ushered into the elite line for security which went very smoothly, luckily. Getting everybody put back together and re-shod after that can be a pain and as a complete surprise to me, the metal E-Z Combs I had in my hair contained enough metal to set off the detector.
Jonathan went to park in long-term parking and re-joined us at the gate like clockwork and the kids got antsy waiting to board the plane, but they’ve been pretty good so far. I’ve just been told that we’re over Indianapolis and we’ll be over Valdosta, Georgia in about an hour. So we still have about two hours to go.
Jonathan and I have been saying “This is crazy, this is crazy, this is crazy!” like Chevy Chase in Vacation right before he goes skinny-dipping with Christie Brinkley. We still can’t believe we’re doing this! I’m up in the air right now and I can’t believe it. Now it’s in God’s hands, I guess.
Thomas has been showing more interest in some of the shows we’ll see in Disney World like the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, the Beauty and the Beast show and the Nemo show. Hopefully, his mood will only improve. Otherwise, we’re screwed. And I know that when I get home, I’ll need a vacation. This is Jonathan’s idea of a vacation: Go, go, go all day, fall into a deep and exhausted sleep at night, wake up the next day, repeat. I like beaches and Mai-Tais and a nice tawdry novel. Oh well. The kids had just better have fun, that’s all. They had better love this time and remember it for always. Now, and only recently, have I begun to understand the emotional and financial undertaking my parents went through when I was in eighth grade and they took my three sisters and me to Disney World. SIX ROUND-TRIP AIRFARES? Good God. Not to mention all of the six-day park hoppers. Hotel. Food. Yikes. So I understand now what that was all about.
I just hope that Thomas responds well to the whole thing. I hope Hayley stops whining. They fought at the airport just after we made it through security about who was going to hold my hand. I mean like, screechy, whiny fighting. Hooray. So what did I do? I bought them both a chocolate donut. And I had coffee with real cream and real sugar.
Hey, I’m on vacation!
This Week...
Jul 12, 2009 by AnonymousThe past week has been an emotional rollercoaster for Joshua and in turn for me. My oldest had come home for a visit, as he resides in another state. While this visit was much anticipated it also brought a level of anxiety in not knowing how Joshua would deal with his inevitable departure. So it was a week of walking on emotional egg shells, waiting for a meltdown to happen. Joshua typically does not have on the spot meltdowns, they usually come days or even weeks later, but like a storm brewing I have learned to watch for the clouds rolling in. It could come in the form of sleeplessness, unexpected and inconsolable crying or severe mood swings with seemingly no precipitators. Days before my son’s return flight I began to try to prep Joshua by telling him Anthony would be leaving in four days, and again the next day and so on. Every day he replied in the same anxiety ridden fashion, “he can’t leave…I need him” to which I would reassure him that his brother would always be there for him and would stay in touch with phone calls and emails, that we would all miss him but we would be together soon. The day of Anthony’s returning home Joshua came downstairs into my office and gave me a big hug. He asked, “Mom are you sad because Anthony is leaving…you gonna miss him?” I smiled and nodded to which he put his hand on my shoulder in trying to comfort me. “It’s ok if you miss him mom, I’ll miss him to…but I’ll take care of you until he comes back” Those are the moments that you live for!!
On a brighter note please see E-Bays Authors for Autism Speaks silent auction, and vote on a set of my signed children’s books. A worthy cause!! Hoping that everyones week is pleasant and blessed!!!
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