
Article Date: 16 Nov 2010
A new study suggests that the handwriting problems that affect children with autism are likely to continue into their teenage years. The research is published in the November 16, 2010, issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
The study included 24 girls and boys between the age of 12 and 16. Half of the group had autism spectrum disorder and all of the teenagers scored within the normal range of perceptual reasoning on an IQ test.
The teens were given the Minnesota Handwriting Assessment Test, which uses a scrambled sentence to eliminate any speed advantage for more fluent readers. The sentence used on the test was “the brown jumped lazy fox quick dogs over.” Participants were asked to copy the words in the sentence, making the letters the same size and shape as the sample using their best handwriting.
The handwriting was scored based on five categories: legibility, form, alignment, size and spacing. The teenagers’ motor skills, including balance and timed movements, were also examined and given a rating.
The research found that the teenagers with autism earned 167 points out of 204 total possible points on the handwriting assessment, compared to the 183 points scored by teens in the group without autism. These results showed statistical significance in the study. The teenagers with autism also had motor skill impairments.
Read in Full:Â http://www.medilexicon.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=207961

By Victoria Allen
A YOUNG Scot with Asperger’s syndrome has finally found love… with the first girl he’s ever been able to look in the eye.
Craig Thomson, 25, has a severe form of the condition, which means he struggles with social skills.
He has always been afraid of eye contact, even with his mum and dad, but things were different when he met partner Gemma Shaw.
Craig said: “It’s not natural for me to look someone in the eye. It’s like letting someone hear my thoughts.
“But with Gemma, it doesn’t matter. We’re so close and I’m so comfortable that it’s not scary any more.
“I never thought I would be that close to anyone.”
Craig, of Strathaven, Lanarkshire, is often trapped in his own world because of his condition.
He is happiest when things are planned and becomes anxious around unpredictable people.
Craig can’t figure people out using facial expressions or social cues. He can’t express his feelings and he hates to be touched.
When he’s anxious, he often comforts himself by repeating actions. He has seen the film Terminator 2 more than 500 times.
But despite his problems, Craig was determined to find love.
And when he joined an online dating site, he was honest about his condition.
He wrote in his profile: “I have social problems, I don’t like eye contact and can’t recognise facial expressions.
“I have temper tantrums and obsessive compulsions, like turning lights on and off eight times before bed.”
Many women would have been put off, but Gemma, 23, liked Craig’s honesty.
She replied, they met a few weeks later and they were living together within six months.
Craig said: “I felt very comfortable with Gemma. When I gave her a kiss, it felt right.
“The biggest myth about people with my condition is that we’re not capable of love. We are – we just express it differently.”
Gemma said: “I’ve never thought of Craig as autistic – I just think of him as Craig.
“The first time he looked me in the eye, it was almost impossible for him. It means we’re meant to be together.”
Source:Â http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/2010/10/28/man-with-asperger-s-syndrome-finds-love-with-first-girl-he-was-able-to-look-in-the-eye-86908-22664220/
 
Researchers say they have identified a unique ‘signature’ of autism in the brains of children with the condition
Alok Jha, science correspondent
guardian.co.uk, Monday 15 November 2010 20.00 GMT
The pattern of brain activity in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is markedly different from that of children without the condition, according to a new brain-imaging study.
The work, which shows that ASD has a “signature” in the brain, may lead to a better understanding of which parts of the brain the condition interferes with and how some people, despite having a high genetic risk of developing the condition, manage to compensate for its effects.
ASD is a genetically influenced condition that affects the development of children’s brains, with symptoms that include difficulties with social communication, interaction and imagination.
Hundreds of genes may contribute to the condition and scientists believe that individual cases of ASD could correspond to different patterns of genetic variation, which could lead to measurable differences in the way that the brains of autistic children function.
Dr Martha Kaiser and Professor Kevin Pelphrey of Yale University led a team of researchers that explored this idea by studying how children’s brains responded to videos of people moving around them.
“As intrinsically social creatures, humans typically exhibit robust visual sensitivity to other people’s movements,” they write today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
“This is well illustrated by the discovery that point-light displays (ie videos created by placing lights on the major joints of a person and filming them moving in the dark), although relatively impoverished stimuli, contain sufficient information to identify the kind of motion being produced (eg walking, dancing, reaching) as well as the identity of the agent.”
Previous research found that two-year-olds with autism did not turn to face point-light displays of “biological motion”.
In their study, Kaiser and Pelphrey placed 62 children aged from 4 to 17 years old into functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scanners and monitored their brain activity as they watched a point-light display of biological motion and another of scrambled dots.
In the group, 25 children had ASD, 20 were the siblings of children with ASD but did not display any symptoms themselves, and the remainder were “typically developing” children.
The researchers identified three signatures of brain activity that corresponded to the different children’s responses to the point-light displays.
Relative to the other groups, there was reduced activity in specific brain regions in children with ASD when they were watching biological motion compared with scrambled motion.
These included the right amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, areas which other research has identifed as having changed activity in adults with ASD.
The researchers found additional brain regions that showed reduced activity in both the siblings group and the ASD group, relative to the typically developing group.
They interpreted this result as a reflection of the underlying genetic vulnerability that the siblings group might have to ASD.
The scientists also found what they called “compensatory activity” in the siblings group – brain regions that were working harder than normal and might be helping the children overcome their increased genetic risk of ASD.
Read in Full:Â http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2010/nov/15/children-autism-patterns-brain-activity
 
I want to fix my child with autism, make him normal like all the others kids. There isn’t a parent out there with such a child that hasn’t – at least for a fleeting moment – had such a thought. Those adults with autism, even those who may be non-verbal, often bristle at the notion of “fixing†or “curing†autism; after all, in removing autism from their beings, they would cease to be the person who they are – different, but no less valuable or important that anyone else.
What about those people suffering from sinistralism? Throughout history, across the world, those with sinistralism were thought improper in society, wrong, even evil – thus, the term being taken from the Latin word sinestra today used as the root for “sinister.†In many cultures those with sinistralism were forced to adopt mainstream practices, or hide their so-called affliction, when all this condition really stems from is a neurological predilection. Sinistralism, by the way, just means you’re left-handed.
And not so dissimilarly, autism spectrum disorders nowadays are looked upon just as that – disorders, to be fixed and cured – when we might well reconsider them as just another shade of neurological diversity. And like those left-handed members of the population, who is to say that those with autism should be forced to adapt to the mainstream conceits of society when tools and means can be developed for such individuals to facilitate operating in the world.
To continue the parallel, it is our society that defines and dictates the qualitative worth of the minority. Just as the peoples of the Andes consider that left-handers possess special spiritual abilities, including magic and healing, so too might our society better value those individuals with autism for non-typical or non-linear thinking, intense focus on problem solving, inspiration, for example, regardless of outward behaviors that seem odd to the majority.
Read in Full:Â http://www.examiner.com/autism-in-national/the-cure-for-autism-mainly-understanding
 
Article Date: 11 Nov 2010 – 4:00 PST
Mary Muscari, associate professor in the Decker School of Nursing at Binghamton University, is author of Let Kids Be Kids: Rescuing Childhood; and a person who has avoided stress-out Thanksgivings for over 20 years.
Ways to keep stress from turning your Thanksgiving into a real turkey:
— Shop ahead of time for non-perishables and have your list ready for what you need to purchase right before the holiday.
— If you’re going to breakout the good serving ware, getting it ready ahead of time. Don’t wait until Thursday morning.
— Have the entertainment ready TV for the football fans; Wii, board games or DVDs for everyone else.
— Share the chores so that everyone gets to enjoy the day. If you can’t share them with family and friends, share them with Betty Crocker, Jimmy Dean or whoever makes something you can heat and eat.
— Yes, healthy is better, but this is Thanksgiving we’re talking about. If you can’t make it healthy, tasty AND easy to cook, worry about being healthy some other day. Lighten up what and where you can for ‘T-Day’ and pre-plan to cut back during the rest of the week. You can enjoy a serving of stuffing on the big day; just don’t stuff yourself with it all weekend.
— Minimize the driving. You don’t have to visit every family member in one day honest! Alternate years, or celebrate another day. Have mini family Thanksgivings one day a week during November and stay home and relax on Thanksgiving.
— Remember the meaning of the holiday. It’s about giving thanks. In these difficult times, we need to be thankful for what we have. Make sure the kids know that. And when you have a moment, drop some food off at the nearest food bank for those who are not so lucky this year.
— Happy Bird Day!
Source: Binghamton University Â
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/207442.php

Article Date: 13 Nov 2010 – 1:00 PST
While many associate the holidays with Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” and its theme of gaining and sharing the holiday spirit, E. Christine Moll, PhD, says the opening lines from “A Tale of Two Cities” may have even more relevance: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the season of light, it was the season of darkness… It was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.
Moll, associate professor of counseling and human services at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY and a mental health counselor, says that for many the holidays are a time of stress, loneliness, anxiety and dysfunction. “Suicide rates rise 10 percent during the season,” says Moll.
She notes that the following are three areas that can trigger holiday stress or depression:
— Relationships. “Relationships can cause turmoil, conflict or stress at any time. But tensions are often heightened during the holidays. Family misunderstandings and conflict can intensify especially if you’re all thrust together for several days. Conflicts are bound to arise with so many needs and interests to accommodate. On the other hand, if you’re facing the holidays without a loved one, you may find yourself especially lonely or sad.”
— Finances. “Like your relationships, your financial situation can cause stress at any time of the year. Overspending during the holidays on gifts, travel, food and entertainment can increase stress as you try to make ends meet while ensuring that everyone on your gift list is happy.”
— Physical demands. “The strain of shopping, attending social gatherings and preparing holiday meals can wipe you out. Feeling exhausted increases your stress, creating a vicious cycle. Exercise and sleep good antidotes for stress and fatigue may take a back seat to chores and errands. High demands, stress, lack of exercise, and overindulgence in food and drink these are all ingredients for holiday illness.”
So what does one due when it’s the season to be jolly, but you’re feeling anything but jolly?
“When stress is at its peak, it’s hard to stop and regroup,” says Moll. “Take steps to help prevent normal holiday depression from progressing into chronic depression.” Moll suggests the following tips:
— Acknowledge your feelings. “If a loved one has recently died or you aren’t near your loved ones, realize that it’s normal to feel sadness or grief. It’s OK now and then to take time just to cry or express your feelings. You can’t force yourself to be happy just because it’s the holiday season.”
— Seek support. “If you feel isolated or down, seek out family members and friends, or community, religious or social services. They can offer support and companionship. Consider volunteering at a community or religious function. Getting involved and helping others can lift your spirits and broaden your social circle. Also, enlist support for organizing holiday gatherings, as well as meal preparation and cleanup. You don’t have to go it alone. Don’t be a martyr.”
— Be realistic. “As families change and grow, traditions often change as well. Hold on to those you can and want to. But understand in some cases that may no longer be possible. Perhaps your entire extended family can’t gather together at your house. Instead, find new ways to celebrate together from afar, such as sharing pictures, e-mails or videotapes.”
— Set differences aside. “Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don’t live up to all your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. With stress and activity levels high, the holidays might not be conducive to making quality time for relationships. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are, they’re feeling the effects of holiday stress, too.”
— Stick to a budget. “Before you go shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend on gifts and other items. Then be sure to stick to your budget. If you don’t, you could feel anxious and tense for months afterward as you struggle to pay the bills. Don’t try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Donate to a charity in someone’s name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.”
— Plan ahead. “Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make one big food-shopping trip. That’ll help prevent a last-minute scramble to buy forgotten ingredients and you’ll have time to make another pie, if the first one’s a flop. Allow extra time for travel so that delays won’t worsen your stress.”
— Learn to say no. “Believe it or not, people will understand if you can’t do certain projects or activities. If you say yes only to what you really want to do, you’ll avoid feeling resentful and overwhelmed. If it’s really not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.”
— Don’t abandon healthy habits. “Don’t let the holidays become a dietary free-for-all. Some indulgence is OK, but overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don’t go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and schedule time for physical activity.”
— Take a breather. “Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Steal away to a quiet place, even if it’s the bathroom, for a few moments of solitude. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Find something that clears your mind, slows your breathing and restores your calm.”
— Rethink resolutions. “Resolutions can set you up for failure if they’re unrealistic. Don’t resolve to change your whole life to make up for past excess. Instead, try to return to basic, healthy lifestyle routines. Set smaller, more specific goals with a reasonable time frame. Choose only those resolutions that help you feel valuable and provide more than only fleeting moments of happiness.”
— Forget about perfection. “Holiday TV specials are filled with happy endings. But in real life, people don’t usually resolve problems within an hour or two. Something always comes up. You may get stuck late at the office and miss your daughter’s school play, your sister may dredge up an old argument, you may forget to put nuts in the cake, and your mother may criticize how you and your partner are raising the kids. All in the same day. Expect and accept imperfections.”
— Seek professional help if you need it. “Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for several weeks, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. You may have depression.”
Moll says to remember that one key to minimizing holiday stress and depression is knowing that the holidays can trigger stress and depression. “Accept that things aren’t always going to go as planned,” says Moll. “Then take active steps to manage stress and depression during the holidays. You may actually enjoy the holidays this year more than you thought you could. Just remember, for the holidays and beyond…Practice Safe Stress!“
Canisius College is one of 28 Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders intelligent, caring, faithful individuals able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.
Source: Canisius College Â
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/207793.php
