Sensory integration therapy is most helpful if it slowly helps children get used to extreme sensory stimulation.
This study was designed to see if children with autism were more likely to try to avoid sensory stimulation (e.g. bright lights, loud noises, strong smells) than other children. The authors found that many children have problems with strong sensory stimuli and not just children with autism. As children got older it became easier for them to be around sensory stimulation. This was true for all children and not just children with autism. They found that about 58% of the children (autistic and non-autistic) got used to sensory stimulation as they aged. The authors suggested that therapy should be designed to help children get used to the strong sensory things they may find in their neighborhood.
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Ayurveda for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Jan 4, 2011 by sunethriayurved...Hi everybody,
I am Dr.Prasad M, MD (Ay.), working with autistic kids from 2002 onwards. I went through the article mentioned. Let me share with you an unbiased information on the scope of Ayurveda, the age-old Indian system of Vedic medicine, in the treatment of ASD. This is based 100% on my personal experiences. Kindly see the following passages. Comments and criticisms are welcomed whole-heatedly.
Scope of Ayurveda in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Trials with Ayurvedic medicines and treatments for their efficacy in ASD are going on at various centres in India and abroad. The main advantage of ayurvedic medicine is that it has got a magazine of safe therapeutic preparations of various forms which are developed by continuous trials and rectifications over thousands of years. There are many preparations like kwatha (decoction), churna (powder), arishta (self-fermented beverage), gudika (pill), ghrtha (medicated ghee), thyla (medicated vegetable fats) etc. In recent times, many of the herbs used in Ayurveda are proven to have excellent detoxifying effect as well as free radical- scavenging potential. The therapeutic preparations like kwatha are combinations of many herbs. These combinations are originally developed on the basis of ayurvedic principles. Till recent times these formulations were not given due consideration by the western scientists. But now the picture has changed. More and more ayurvedic preparations are under their evaluation. In Ayurveda, the compounds as well as single herbs are used for different purposes of health care like pacifying vitiated functional units called doshas, eliminating excessive toxic accumulations, providing targeted nutrients to tissues, tuning the mind-body coordination, sharpening the efficacy of sense-organs, and so on. These prescriptions are based on personalised evaluation of different aspects like body constitution, doshik status, power of digestion and assimilation, status of bowel evacuation, physical strength, mental constitution, and etc which is done by experienced physicians. Mind is an important factor in the healing of any ailment. It is assumed that mind is like ghee which is held inside a pot called body. If the ghee is hot the pot also gets warmed and if the pot is hot definitely the ghee also will be hot. You cannot expect warm ghee in a cool pot and wise versa. Similarly, food is given the supreme role in the healing process as well as in the maintenance of health. It is a basic concept in Ayurveda that there is no use for any medicine if one stick on to pathya (wholesome) food (as it brings about health spontaneously) and there is no use for any medicine if one stick on to apathya (nasty) food (as there is no scope for functioning of the medicine). In the context of autism, these assumptions are extremely important and seen exceptionally beneficial.
The care of autism, as per ayurvedic principles, is based on the protocol of a three-step intervention.
Again, though the stages are generalised the execution will be personalised.
The first stage is based on medicines almost completely. Medicinal preparations like purgatives, specific formulations for de-worming, for enhancing the functions of the liver and pancreas, for enhancing the digestive fire (Agni), and for regulating the intestinal motility are used in this stage. Certain preparations meant for squeezing out heavy metals from the tissues are also used. Turmeric, garlic, curry leaves, etc are having this advantage.
Second phase is mainly comprised of massages. Traditional methods like abhyanga (hot-oil massages), udwarthana (dry powder massages), pindasweda of various types, thalapothichil, pizhichil, etc are used here. These manoeuvres improve the muscle tone, reduce hyperactivity, create better motor coordination, and normalize most of the obsessive repetitive movements. Child sleeps well. The bowels become more regular at this stage. He/she will be more receptive to commands or suggestions. The demand for sensory stimulation slows down considerably and the symptoms like increased sensitivity to certain sounds (hyperacusis) slowly disappear. There will be oral medications parallel to the therapies and a few of these medications will be carried over to the next phase as well.
Third stage is very specific and sold not be started before the proper completion of the first two. This is an important point as there is a general tendency to mark the condition as mental retardation and to prescribe brain tonics and memory boosters to all autistic kids indiscriminately.
The major therapies in this stage are shirodhara (pouring of liquids like oils on the head), shirovasthi (holding of medicated oils on the head inside specially designed leather-rims), shiropichu (wetting the scalp with oil bandages), dhoopanam (fumigation with specific medicines) etc along with specific medications like kallyanakam kashayam, indukantham kashayam, gorochanadi gudika,balakanakapathradi kashayam, sidharthakam gudika etc. Certain specific herbs like sahadevi, sankhapushpi, vacha, vishnukranthietc are also used. Follow up is done with ghee preparations like mahakallyanaka, mahapaisachika, brahmighrtha, saraswathaghrtha, etc.
Conclusion
It is seen that the classical ayurvedic treatment done systematically give promising results in kids diagnosed with ASD. But it should be emphasised that the level of improvements is different from child to child. Another important point is that these interventions are made in a corrective manner. The child gets relieved of a lot of physical problems and tantrums. But this will not make him/her a normal child. Intensive training and special education are needed to put him on track and to catch up the peers. This requires the dedicated involvement of parents, special educators, and skilled professional like occupational therapists.
Scope of Ayurveda in ASD by Vaidya Prasad
Nov 13, 2009 by AnonymousTrials with Ayurvedic medicines and treatments for their efficacy in ASD are going on at various centres in India and abroad. The main advantage of ayurvedic medicine is that it has got a magazine of safe therapeutic preparations of various forms which are developed by continuous trials and rectifications over thousands of years. There are many preparations like kwatha (decoction), churna (powder), arishta (self-fermented beverage), gudika (pill), ghrtha (medicated ghee), thyla (medicated vegetable fats) etc. In recent times, many of the herbs used in Ayurveda are proven to have excellent detoxifying effect as well as free radical- scavenging potential. The therapeutic preparations like kwatha are combinations of many herbs. These combinations are originally developed on the basis of ayurvedic principles. Till recent times these formulations were not given due consideration by the western scientists. But now the picture has changed. More and more ayurvedic preparations are under their evaluation. In Ayurveda, the compounds as well as single herbs are used for different purposes of health care like pacifying vitiated functional units called doshas, eliminating excessive toxic accumulations, providing targeted nutrients to tissues, tuning the mind-body coordination, sharpening the efficacy of sense-organs, and so on. These prescriptions are based on personalised evaluation of different aspects like body constitution, doshik status, power of digestion and assimilation, status of bowel evacuation, physical strength, mental constitution, and etc, which is done by experienced physicians. Mind is an important factor in the healing of any ailment. It is assumed that mind is like ghee, which is held inside a pot called body. If the ghee is hot the pot also gets warmed and if the pot is hot definitely the ghee also will be hot. You cannot expect warm ghee in a cool pot and wise versa. Similarly, food is given the supreme role in the healing process as well as in the maintenance of health. It is a basic concept in Ayurveda that there is no use for any medicine if one stick on to pathya (wholesome) food (as it brings about health spontaneously) and there is no use for any medicine if one stick on to apathya (nasty) food (as there is no scope for functioning of the medicine). In the context of autism, these assumptions are extremely important and seen exceptionally beneficial.
The care of autism, as per ayurvedic principles, is based on the protocol of a three-step intervention.
Again, though the stages are generalised the execution will be personalised.
The first stage is based on medicines almost completely. Medicinal preparations like purgatives, specific formulations for de-worming, for enhancing the functions of the liver and pancreas, for enhancing the digestive fire (Agni), and for regulating the intestinal motility are used in this stage. Certain preparations meant for squeezing out heavy metals from the tissues are also used. Turmeric, garlic, curry leaves, etc are having this advantage.
Second phase is mainly comprised of massages. Traditional methods like abhyanga (hot-oil massages), udwarthana (dry powder massages), pindasweda of various types, thalapothichil, pizhichil, etc are used here. These manoeuvres improve the muscle tone, reduce hyperactivity, create better motor coordination, and normalize most of the obsessive repetitive movements. Child sleeps well. The bowels become more regular at this stage. He/she will be more receptive to commands or suggestions. The demand for sensory stimulation slows down considerably and the symptoms like increased sensitivity to certain sounds (hyperacusis) slowly disappear. There will be oral medications parallel to the therapies and a few of these medications will be carried over to the next phase as well.
Third stage is very specific and sold not be started before the proper completion of the first two. This is an important point as there is a general tendency to mark the condition as mental retardation and to prescribe brain tonics and memory boosters to all autistic kids indiscriminately.
The major therapies in this stage are shirodhara (pouring of liquids like oils on the head), shirovasthi (holding of medicated oils on the head inside specially designed leather-rims), shiropichu (wetting the scalp with oil bandages), dhoopanam (fumigation with specific medicines) etc along with specific medications like kallyanakam kashayam, indukantham kashayam, gorochanadi gudika, balakanakapathradi kashayam, sidharthakam gudika etc. Certain specific herbs like sahadevi, sankhapushpi, vacha, vishnukranthi etc are also used. Follow up is done with ghee preparations like mahakallyanaka, mahapaisachika, brahmighrtha, saraswathaghrtha, etc.
It is seen that the classical ayurvedic treatment done systematically give promising results in kids diagnosed with ASD. But it should be emphasised that the level of improvements is different from child to child. Another important point is that these interventions are made in a corrective manner. The child gets relieved of a lot of physical problems and tantrums. But this will not make him/her a normal child. Intensive training and special education are needed to put him on track and to catch up the peers. This requires the dedicated involvement of parents, special educators, and skilled professional like occupational therapists.
If there's one thing I hate . . .
Feb 6, 2007 by dankohnToo much noise. Too much noise. “If there’s one thing I hate, it’s the noise, noise, noise, noise!” The Grinch said that, and I’m beginning to feel like the Grinch. I’m not looking green and hairy, but that’s how I feel sometimes.
The new floors are not helping. The echo in here with the vaulted ceiling makes for double the noise and reverberation. The worst part is that Thomas thinks it’s funny when Jonathan and I get upset when he screams. Sometimes, it’s a long, pealing screech and other times, it’s several short blasts like a “man overboard” warning on a ship. Either way, it makes my brain feel like it’s going to melt and ooze out of my ears.
It’s getting to the point where I feel like something must be done. This is probably all sensory and I think that we may have to hire a private occupational therapist at least once every week to help Thomas. He gets OT at school one day per week, but I’m beginning to think that although it helps, it’s not enough. I’ll probably end up calling our EI caseworker to see if she can help locate someone. Thomas really liked his first occupational therapist and I wonder if she would be able to help us out privately.
The other thing that’s really getting on my nerves is the selective deafness. Now I don’t know if this is a four year-old thing, an autistic thing or just a “boy” thing, but I can stand there or come over to Thomas and in a very calm and cool voice say, “Please stop spitting on the floor. That’s very yucky.” All the while, looking him in the eye and (seemingly) engaging his attention. His response is usually to smile and then spit right in my eye. And then laugh like hell.
What does this mean? First of all, why is he spitting? Secondly, what enjoyment does he derive from enraging me to the point of having to stick my head in the freezer and think about Disney World? There are consequences – a time-out (while I calm down and clean up the saliva) and a stern but simple-worded speech about why we don’t spit on the floor or anywhere else. The main reason not to spit on the floor is because I hate it. I hate the sound of spitting and I hate biohazard of any kind on the floor. Maybe I need occupational therapy. I probably need some kind of therapy. For now, I’d be happy if he’d just stop spitting and screaming. Nothing turns me into Cruella DeVille faster than Thomas spewing half-digested Goldfish crackers on the floor. Just writing about it is making my heart rate rise.
All of these new and horrible things are making me think that yes, we need to call in a professional to give Thomas more of what he craves, i.e. sensory stimulation.
The only thing that’s saving me at this point is that our cruise is a mere four days away. By this time next week, I’ll be relaxing at dinner, watching the show and enjoying myself. I won’t be taking the dog out to pee in twelve-below air temperatures, grocery shopping, washing out kiddie cups and bowls, sweeping crumbs up off the floor, washing laundry, etc. I’m almost positive that nobody will spit on me, and if they do I’ll be well within my rights to toss a drink in their face. Which someone else will have to clean up. I will have ample time to make myself look pretty for dinner. I’m going to wear tank-tops, which I never do at home, because I figure that if my arm flab offends anyone, I’ll never see them again anyway. Our wedding anniversary is Valentine’s Day, and we’ll be spending it on the beach in Jamaica.
Okay, my heart rate is back to normal.
Thomas has been having a string of “okay” days. He’s been shouting a lot at school and today his teacher said that he had trouble with the routine. That can be attributed to the fact that Jonathan didn’t work today because of the freezing weather. We already know that he’s not working again tomorrow, so I’m not expecting much better from Thomas in the morning. He really didn’t want to go to school this morning because Daddy was home. I had to drag him outside but once he saw the bus, he calmed down a bit. I was able to get him to wear his mittens this morning which was a small victory, and he was wearing them when he got home, too. He was also wearing a hat that I had never seen before. I’ll send it back tomorrow.
Anti-social problems
Nov 27, 2006 by AnonymousAll in all, it was a successful Thanksgiving weekend.
When I last wrote, I was about to take Thomas to the doctor for pink-eye. We went on Wednesday morning, and he again amazed me with his composure. This time, I told him that all the doctor wanted to do was look at his eyes, but the doctor ended up giving him a complete once-over…and Thomas put up with it! I couldn’t believe it. He was very calm and still as the doctor examined him. He was diagnosed with pink-eye, and the pediatrician also wants me to take Thomas to a pediatric cardiologist to have his systolic heart murmur checked out. That’s a little scary…but the doctor doesn’t seem to be too worried about it. Also, I have no idea whether or not the cardiologist handles special-needs kids at all. I’m pretty sure that Thomas would have to be sedated for chest x-rays and any other tests they would want to perform. I’ll have to call soon and find out.
So as I predicted, we were prescribed eye drops for Thomas’ infection and they were every bit as hard to administer as I thought they would be. I almost cried when the doctor said to give them to him seven or eight times every day! I think we gave him five or six rounds before the infection was completely cleared up. The good news is that although he protested mightily, he did get over each round very quickly. He used to cry for a long time after stuff like that, but he was able to soothe himself really well after the eye drops.
He was not contagious for Thanksgiving Day at my mother-in-law’s house, so off we went on Thursday, despite Thomas’ objections. It wasn’t that strange for him to be against going somewhere like that, but he wouldn’t even get out of the car when we got there. It took a lot of coaxing to get him to come in the house, and even after he finally did come in, he wouldn’t take his coat off. It was such a beautiful day here that Thomas got to play outside with his second-cousin Grady, and Uncle Jeff’s new puppy, Brooke. Thomas also learned how to roll downhill; he loved that probably because it’s fun but also because of the sensory stimulation. The three of them were so cute playing outside. The puppy thought she was a little kid, too.
Thomas seems to be going through an anti-social phase. Every time we talk to Thomas about seeing somebody – anybody – Thomas cries, “No! I don’t want to see So-and So!” He gets really upset about it. We had Jonathan’s family over for the Bears’ game on Sunday, and Thomas didn’t like the idea of it at all. When Jonathan’s mother got here, Thomas said he didn’t want her, didn’t want to see Grandma, and of course my mother-in-law took it very personally. I tried to tell her that it’s not personal, he just doesn’t feel like seeing anybody and we should let him warm up a little. She kept asking Thomas, “Why don’t you want to see Grandma?” “Why” questions are really tough for little kids anyway, but it just exacerbated the situation. Thomas screamed and cried for quite a while after everyone showed up, but he did calm down eventually and was pleasant after. Seeing other people and going to other people’s houses used to be something that Thomas looked forward to, but it doesn’t seem like he’s into it right now. Hopefully, he’ll get better at it. We’ll just keep giving him as much warning as possible. We didn’t arrange the get-together on Sunday until late Saturday, after Thomas was in bed, so maybe the shorter warning had something to do with his behavior.
We’ve decorated the house and put up the outside lights. This was the week to do it; we’ve been having unseasonably warm weather here in Chicago. The house looks great (except for the hideous carpet) and we’re looking forward to Christmas. And Thomas didn’t miss hand-turkeys on Wednesday when he was home from school; they made them last Tuesday and his was sent home in his backpack today!