Spectrum Insider

Therapeutic AquaScapes

2012-12-11T01:36:00.001-08:00

Recently setting up a salt water reef tank for a friend has rekindled my interest in aquatics, especially as a therapeutic tool for myself and my children. I have always favored salt water, reef tanks with living coral and invertebrates, but love to build and observe fresh water ponds, aquascapes and terrariums as well. Here is an inspiring video on a very talented aquascaper from the UK who does a demo on building an award winning aquascape from start to finish. The end result is nothing short of breath taking. Imagine having this piece of art in your family room to view, learn and de-stress. enjoy!

2012-11-28T00:19:00.001-08:00

Some photos of a sea anemone we put in our tank today. Having a fish tank and marine life to study is helpful as a stress reliever. My son Logan, who is autistic, loves to watch and feed the fish and invertabrates. I believe the fish tank to be a very powerful theraputic tool.

Grandparents – I Want to Do My Part.

2010-12-11T01:55:00.000-08:00

from: Autism Speaks

This guest post is by Nancy Miltenberger, Chair of the, 2011 Lehigh Valley Walk.

As any parent or grandparent knows, hearing that a child you love has autism is devastating. I have heard it twice. My twin grandsons, James and Thomas are both on the spectrum. A few years ago, James was also diagnosed with leukemia. Fortunately, when the oncologists told us about his disease, they also handed us a road-map for his cure. Three years and two months later (and many spinal taps, rounds of chemo, transfusions, and more) I am thrilled to report that James is cancer-free. If James had been diagnosed with the same type of leukemia 60 years ago, his story may not have had such a happy ending. In 1950, the cure rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia was about 4% and in 2010 it is about 94%. What a difference!

As we all know, there is no cure for autism… yet. But the model for leukemia gives me hope. I am so thankful for James’s wonderful doctors and all the funding and research that went into pediatric cancers over the last few decades. Now, we need to turn our attention to finding a cure for autism. It affects far more people than pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined. I want to do my part to see a cure for my grandchildren and others like them. That is why I Walk and why I am the chair of the 2011 Lehigh Valley Walk Now for Autism Speaks. I recently heard Dr. Geri Dawson, the Chief Science Officer of Autism Speaks, and I now have some hope for finding help for my grandsons and our family. I feel that by supporting our local Walk I am helping to fund the research that is needed to help pull my grandsons and countless others like them from the isolation that is autism, and help them to lead normal lives.

Is oxytocin a safe treatment for autism?

2010-12-11T01:41:00.000-08:00

from: Autism Speaks

Is oxytocin a safe treatment for autism? - From: Autism Speaks

“Got Questions?” is a new weekly feature on our blog to address the desire for scientific understanding in our community. We received over 3000 responses when we asked what science questions were on your mind. We answered a few here and the Autism Speaks Science staff will address the other themes we received in this weekly post. The hormone oxytocin is believed to play a role in social bondin...

“Got Questions?” is a new weekly feature on our blog to address the desire for scientific understanding in our community. We received over 3000 responses when we asked what science questions were on your mind. We answered a few here and the Autism Speaks Science staff will address the other themes we received in this weekly post.

The hormone oxytocin is believed to play a role in social bonding and affiliation. Researchers using animal studies have shown that oxytocin released in the brain regulates social recognition, social memory, mother-infant and male-female bonding, and other aspects of attachment. Because social impairments are one of its most consistent features of autism, a number of scientists have hypothesized that abnormal oxytocin function might play a role in autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

The data regarding whether individuals with ASD have changes in oxytocin signaling are somewhat mixed. A few studies have found children with ASD have lower average levels of blood oxytocin in comparison to typically developing children matched for age. Several genetic studies have found associations between autism and specific forms of the gene for the oxytocin receptor. Recently, it was reported that post-mortem brain tissue from individuals with ASD showed lower levels of gene expression for the oxytocin receptor when compared to age/gender matched comparison individuals.

So far only a few studies have examined the effect of administering oxytocin in human beings. The data suggest that administration of oxytocin, either nasally or intravenously, positively impacts human social behavior. For instance, recent studies with typical individuals show that giving oxytocin can increase gaze to the eye region of human faces, increase memory for faces, and improve the ability of people to infer the mental states of others (known as Theory of Mind). All of these are challenges that have been associated with autism.

Given the lack of pharmacologic treatments for social deficits and the possibility of dysregulated oxytocin signaling in autism, many have proposed oxytocin as a treatment for ASD. These studies are just beginning. The three reports published so far have suggested that a single dose of oxytocin can temporarily improve social cognition in adults and, in one study, teenagers, with ASD. In a pilot placebo-controlled study, researchers found that twice daily oxytocin in adults with autism resulted in some improvements in social function and quality of life and reductions in certain types of repetitive behaviorsThe data are very preliminary and larger follow-up studies are now underway.

Together these first studies support a potential role of oxytocin in ASD and suggest oxytocin could have therapeutic benefits for the treatment of ASD symptoms in adults, especially in the area of social functioning. It is important to note that there are currently no published safety or efficacy data for oxytocin in children.

Autism Speaks is funding research to better understanding the role of oxytocin in ASD. More information on clinical trials for oxytocin as a treatment for ASD can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

SDSU considered a national leader in autism work - SignOnSanDiego.com

2010-11-25T18:46:00.001-08:00

*This article can also be accessed if you copy and paste the entire address below into your web browser.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/nov/22/sdsu-autism-program-hailed

Using Medication to Treat Autism and Related Symptoms

2010-11-12T17:41:00.000-08:00

Tonight I spoke to a parent of an autistic child who uses medication to treat her son. She was kind enough to spend an hour or so taking me through the process of getting her son on a medication that works for him. She has had great results in eliminating some unwanted behaviors and allowing some new breakthrough behaviors to take hold.

My son Logan has been showing signs of aggressive behavior in the past two weeks and has also been running away more than usual. Logan is sleeping less and getting frustrated with things. Medication may be the next step for him and us. I will keep you updated on our decision and any further developments.

Off to the fair today - I need a sanity check

2010-10-30T08:04:00.000-07:00

Logan was better yesterday afternoon with his tantrums. With some extra time and attention from all of us, he was more in control and responded better to verbal communications. As usual he was up early this morning 4:00am singing and dancing, although very loudly and disrupting the rest of the household. So we sat him up to the computer and did visual learning exercises on www.starfall.com, a very good website for visual interactive learning. Maybe not the best choice of 4:00am activities, but it kept his attention and the rest of the house was able to get a few more hours sleep. Logan now 6 can play on the Starfall website by himself but one of us has to sit with him to prevent any repetitive loops he so easily slips into. If he finds an action or sound he likes on a certain web page he will click back and forth to repeat the event over and over for hours if left to do so.

So now the rest of the tribe, Skylar (Logan's sister), Luke (Logan's twin brother) and my wife, Dana, are all awake and ready to go to the Fall Festival at their school. It's 10:30 am Saturday morning, and I am ready for bed already. Logan is also ready to go with plenty of fuel in his reserve tanks. These are the moments when you cant imagine where you will find the energy, motivation and patience to complete the rest of the day's tasks or planned events. Going to the fair is a treat for everyone as we are so broke, we don't do activities that cost money. Gramma and Grampa bought a bunch of tickets for the fair, so the day is on them, thanks G&G!

So, shower, sweep the dirt under the couch, dress everyone, find some clothes for myself (not easy at 50 lbs lighter than usual) and off to the fair. I pray for Logan to have a manageable day and have a back up plan in case he needs to leave. Granny Jan will go with us in another car and be ready to leave with Logy if needed. Usually Logan is fine at events like this but sometimes all it takes is one wrong visual or audio trigger to send him into an uncontrollable tantrum to get away from whatever is bothering him.
Other than that, should be a fun day? I try to convince myself anyway. There will definitely be no shortage of excitement that's for sure. Please share any comments and feedback, it does help to know your not alone.
Till later,
"Logan's Dad"

A Tough Week With Logan

2010-10-29T08:15:00.000-07:00

This week has been tough with Logan. He has been getting great reports from school, yet acting out at home with some new behaviors. He has been throwing tantrums of screaming and throwing things, ripping up papers and destroying items around the house. I tend to blame myself, thinking I am not interacting with him enough or in the correct way. The stress level in or household is above average with both my wife and I being out of work, and I have to imagine this is affecting him. Seeing him act out like this scares me that he is heading in a downward spiral with his ASD. I will devote special attention to him until I find something that counter-acts this new behavior he is expressing.

A Test Drive of Posterous.....Buckle Up...Let the content find its way.

2010-10-27T11:06:00.001-07:00

This is my first post via Posterous, a newer online application that helps one to post content to many places at once with a single action of either sending an email or using an online utility. This message is being posted via the web function. I have prepared for this test by signing up to Posterous and linking all of my Blogging accounts to Posterous. I will be amazed if this works, so lets give it a try. Here she goes...I will follow up with a report on my results. - Shane

Now is a Great Time to Contact Members of Congress to Advocate for Autism Issues

2010-09-22T05:18:00.000-07:00

Congress is on August Recess until September 10. This means the people who represent you in Congress are back at home. This summer work period provides an excellent opportunity for you to advocate for autism issues. Just call your Member of Congress' local office and ask for an appointment. Many members use this time to host "constituent coffee hours" and "town hall meetings." Just ahead of the November election, your voice is more powerful than ever. To learn more about how to advocate for autism, check out the Autism Society's "Grassroots Advocacy 101 Handbook."

Here are three issues you can bring to the attention of your Members of Congress. Click to learn more:

Keeping All Students Safe Act;

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act;

Toxic Chemicals Safety Act;

If you have questions on how to make an appointment in your home district, or have questions on how to be an effective advocate, please direct them to Hannah Cary, Associate Director, Public Policy at hcary@autism-society.org.

Project LifeSaver - If you have a family member that is a flight risk or tends to wander off, this bracelet can save their life.

2010-09-21T15:08:00.000-07:00

Project LifeSaver is a program where participants wear an RF enabled wrist watch-type of device. The bracelet contains an RF device that emits a signal and each bracelet has a unique identifier serial number. For children with disorders who tend to run or wander off, or even seniors who have issues with getting lost or wander due to Alzheimers and other dementia related problems, this bracelet is a must have item for them and their families.

If you look at my son Logan's picture in the header of this page you can see the bracelet on his right hand. If Logan runs off or gets lost for any reason, we can call 911, give a PIN number and reference Project Life Saver. The local Sheriffs Dept. find his signal and pinpoint his location usually within minutes. For a young child who is unaware of the dangers in life due to Autism or other types of disorders, every minute counts when they go missing. This bracelet can be the difference between getting lost momentarily or losing their lives in a number of different ways we wish not to think about.

The RF technology in the bracelet is used as opposed to a GPS based technology so the signal can be picked up under water (up to 8 feet) and can also be detected inside well fortified places such as a concrete basement or abandoned water well (God forbid).

The Project LifeSaver Program is usually run by local law enforcement and we (the parents) keep a log every day to check batteries and make sure the unit is working properly. Every 30 days the sheriff will come out to our house to collect the paperwork and replace the batteries in the unit. Logan has no issues wearing the device and it gives us a little piece of mind when giving him his freedom outside and taking family trips to places like Disney World.

The program cost anywhere from $200 - $350 last I checked and is a one time fee. If you can not afford it, the local authorities will work something out for you as it is cheaper to fund the bracelet than to form a search party to look for Uncle Willie who is wandering out alone in an unfamiliar place. The only criteria for joining the program is that you have a family member who is a flight risk (due to health issue - not your cousin Billy who has 6 felonies).

For more information call your local law enforcement or Google Project LifeSaver. You can also call me (Shane) or my wife Dana anytime with questions.

Thanks for reading and please pass the word!
Sincerely,
Shane Hopkins & Family
logansrun2005@gmail.com
727.734.1487

Autism Speaks

The amazing intellect of an ASD child.

2010-09-21T07:23:00.000-07:00

Logan (5), my son, a twin brother of Luke has never siesed to amaze me, sometimes to a freakish level. An adorable child who will melt you in an instant lives in another place we cannot relate to. He is not affected by outside stimulus, pier pressure nor is he bothered by any adverse comments or gestures made by others in public while he is out and about with us. He is always happy and full of joy, he is entertained by simple pleasures and never asks for anything materialistic. During Christmas he opened his gifts and played all day in one of the cardboard boxes used to package a gift. He does not experience humiliation or embarrassment and you can not hurt his feelings. Logan has a twin Brither Luke who has physical disabilities with his kidneys (hydronephrosis) and his throat and voicebox is soft containing no cartlidge (laryngomalacia). This makes it hard for Luke to breath at times as the voicebox collapses on itself when he breaths. He might outgrow this condition (we pray) as most do, but there is always a chance. Luke's kidney condition requires regular testing to see if the kidneys are draining any better but so far no luck. Everytime he gets a fever, he needs to go to ER for tests to make sure that there is no infection coming from the kidneys. Luke attends regular Kindygarten and Logan is enrolled in an ASD Kindygarten class where he has aids to help him and several types of therapy each day. We also have daughter Skylar who is 8 and she loves her brothers and watches out for them at school. Skylar helps Logan during school if needed as she is quite caringand this makes me proud of her.

Logan was diagnosed at 18 months and has been in constant therapy and school ever since with no breaks for summer. He has come so far that it litteraly blows my mind. At 18 months he never had made eye contact with me or even acknowledged me. No reponse to requested actions by others and lots of repetitive play by himself for hours. Well, 4 years later he makes great eye contact with all of us, he can count higher than most adults, speaks english, spanish, some german, french and his own cluttered jibberish.

He can recite an entire tv show after watching it one time and has better handwriting than most adults I know. His six sence is truly a human superpower as he know things that would not be possible to know by a "normal" (non-autistic) human. He is a stacker (of objects) and builder with amazing innovation.

Once his teacher sent home anote saying he failed to stack more than 6 blocks with no assistance. I laughed and broke out hte Digital Video Camera and supplied Logan with a bunch of blocks and an open space. He stacked and I filmed. Logan stacked all the blocks as far as he could reach. When he could reach no higher, he wondered off only to return with a mini-step ladder and some other odd materials. Logan climbed the ladder finished thstack until it was 2" from the ceiling. "Done" I thought, great job Logan. But not Logan, he took the wood scraps he found and carried over and proceded to fit the remaining gap between the blocks and the ceiling with wood wedges until it was a solid colum and nice and tight to the touch or even push by me. At this point I am amazed and full of goose bumbs. I praised him and he laughed and immediately took to wrecking his engineering feet as fast as he put it up. This is typical for Logy, he will write on a dry erase board in very neat penmanship some complex words that my eight year old cant spell, but he usually erases them with a cloth before anyone can see. He has no ego or need to show off, he is as pure as the driven snow and uncorrupted by society, crime, schools, bus rides and general interaction with people. I am convinced Logan was brought to us as a gift. Who is to say that he is not the normal one? I wonder if we should be in the ASD class learning to be like him so we can see and appreciate everything under the sun as he does.
We love you Logan, forever and ever.
Love Dad

Living inside the Autistic Spectrum

2010-07-23T07:05:00.000-07:00

My name is Shane, I am 42 years old, married and have 3 children. My son Logan, a twin, is 5 years old and has been diagnosed as being within the autistic spectrum. We noticed something different about Logan when he was about a year and a half old and after seeing a show on TV about autistic children, we decided to take Logan to the Neorologist where he was diagnosed as being Autistic. Here we will share our experiences as parents of an Autistic child. We hope this will help other parents who find themselves living within the Autistic Spectrum. Please feel free to comment and ask questions. We will try to post as often as possible.

Shane