FREQUENCY of COMORBIDITY
(Autism with Migraine)
By Evelyn Lorrie Christy
Sensitivity to both volume and pitch have been identified in Autistic children .
An EEG, electroencephalograph, or an MRI can show evidence of Migraine and/or Seizure Disorder, a frequent contributor to sound sensitivity in Autistic children. Which to use, is a matter of discussion.
Migraine causes sensitivity to both sound, smell and light, even when no headache is present. Migraine causes visual disturbances, called auras, which can capture a child's attention. Auras can look like bright sparkly patterns to small black dots, (which may appear to the child as objects moving about the room). The visual disturbances of migraines include huge blank areas with no picture at all. When these form at the point of focus, wherever the child looks, nothing is there. Only by looking away, using peripheral vision, can the child see who is talking and what is in the room.
We conjecture that a very high percentage of Autistic people have Migraines.
Children learn faster when they are not in pain.
SOUND FAMILIAR - Home treatments include "Acetaminophen/Aspirin" combinations given in conjunction with Caffeine, (coffee will work). As with any over the counter medication, read the dosage chart for the weight and age of your child, and ask to your child's doctor for approval prior to using this home treatment... and NEVER give aspirin if a virus might be present.
Many individuals with ASD have underlying medical issues that are frequently missed.
"Hard to see the forest for the trees"
Diagnostic testing by your child's physician is needed for the following:
- vitamin and mineral deficiencies
- food allergies and sensitivities
- bacterial and fungal infections
- chronic diarrhea or constipation
Symptoms of autism can be dramatically reduced when these additional medical issues are addressed.
Training and Rehabilitation Programs
Different intervention strategies are used to educate Autistic and ASD effected individuals.
The three most commonly used are:
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), an applied behavior analytic program.
- ABA includes an individual assessment to determine the skills that a student with autism does -- and does not -- have. The skills are broken down into segments and taught by a specific system.
Developmental, Individual-Difference, Relationship-Based (DIR).
- The DIR/Floortime approach focuses on helping children aquire the basic building blocks of relating, communicating and thinking.
The Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH).
- The TEACCH system emphasizes structure by organizing the physical environment. TEACCH uses visual cues, schedules and work systems to help make expectations clear to students with autism.
There are new programs in the works! Check back often to see what program might work for your child.
Books on this biomedical subject include:
Children with Starving Brains,
Dr. Jacquelyn McCandless
Changing the Course of Autism,
Dr. Bryan Jepson
Healing the New Childhood Epidemics,
Dr. Kenneth Bock
Autism: Effective Biomedical Treatments
Rimland, Baker & Pangborn
Some of the Standard Treatments for Autism
Behavioral: Behavioral Training usually includes activities designed to encourage social interaction, communication, increased self-awareness and attention.
Nutritional: The aim nutritional interventions is to restrict allergy-associated dietary components, and to supplement minerals or vitamins found be lacking.
Medical: Medical treatments usually treat symptoms associated with autism.
(anxiety, depression, pain, lack of social interaction and repetitive behavior)
Blood tests for Lead and Mercury
as well as hair analysis MUST show evidence of contamination in the person prior to considering CHELATION THERAPY.
