When I visited my cousin brother 5 years back. I was excited to meet his son who was just 2 years old. I started to talk to him.(actual names changed)
"Hi Ashok, "How are you?"
(No response)
"Hey, I got this toy for you. Do you like it ?"
(No verbal response or signs)
I was bit surprised. For that age, you should atleast get a some sign language response. During my stay for 2 days, I saw that he just plays on his own. He doesn't act on any of the commands. He don't respond. He didn't act as a normal toddler. I asked to my cousin, he said "he is just 2 years and he will change when he grows?!. Also the difference in languages making him difficult to start talking.. ". That was his response.
After couple of years later, I read an article about Autism. I was really taken back by it and can correlate with my cousin son. I called my cousin immediately and talked to him about it. He then said,"Yes, we also came to know its a disorder named Autism. We are starting to see a theropist and trying to see what they can do".
This a true story and it is now more common in many families these days. As a father now, I can really feel the pain these parents go through. As a parent, we all except to play with our kids and see their cute smile and childish response for our child play. Thats not the case with these kids. The stories sometimes makes my heart cry. I don't know what to do other than pray to god.
Today, April 2nd is designated as World Autism day. I decided to post this blog to make it aware to as many people to help and pray for this kids. Here are some explanation.
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How many of you aware of Autism?
One in 150 kids has autism according to survey. It's not really a mental disorder as many think. It is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills.
What causes Autism?
There is no known single cause for autism, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism versus neuro-typical children.Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link between heredity, genetics and medical problems. In many families, there appears to be a pattern of autism or related disabilities, further supporting a genetic basis to the disorder.
Early Signs of Austims:
Some signs to look for in the children in your life:
- Lack of or delay in spoken language
- Repetitive use of language and/or motor mannerisms (e.g., hand-flapping, twirling objects)
- Little or no eye contact
- Lack of interest in peer relationships
- Lack of spontaneous or make-believe play
- Persistent fixation on parts of objects
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Indian Marriages
In many sections of our country, there is a tradition to marry the close relatives like neice marrying her uncle or nephew marrying his aunt. According to some research, that may be one of the causes for Autism on kids of thos marriages because of the same blood and genetics mismatches. It is not proven 100%. But I feel that may be reason my cousin's son Autism. My cousin got married to his close uncle's daughter. Because of this one, I strongly opposed my late grandpa's proposal to marry my uncle's daughter.
These kinda of marriages might work out well most of the time but sometimes it creates complications not for us for the kids. I have seen many kinds in this kind of marriages just in my relatives circle. Why do we have to make our kids suffer?! Instead we can be precautionary and avoid this circumstance of putting a child to ill fate. That is cruel in my perspective.
Also I feel as educated we are as a country. We should strongly try to be aware of this medical conditions and try to educate parents, friends who has kids that are growing. An early dediction of this disorder can help great extent in way to rectify it.
I felt thankful to God for my son who is normal and we should be. So Please do take a moment to pray for these kids at this day. Just my kind and humble request.
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Ranjini,
I love all your comments which are really enlightening even for me who been reading lot of Autism. Great informative comments, I should say. I did see some glimpses of Larry king live yesterday but not real deep. But you are right that environmental stuff, vaccinnes are all part of the causes. Nothing can be nailed to one single thing to say that the main culprit.
Anyways, thanks for all the inputs. My cousin is doing all he can. I talked to him and he is involved in all the local activities and programs to make things work better. So I don't want to make him feel uncomfortable. But I will surely forward some of your comments or ask him to check this blog out.
Thanks for Meera also for shedding some light..
Thanks all, its good that we talk about it..
VIJAI
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Hi Vijai,
Tell your cousin to check out CNN.com for many wonderful stories about autistic children. Give him my email if he needs any help or info. Read this link which is so scary and proves that parents do not have to be related or even present in the same room!!-
http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/04/02/autism.sperm.donor/index.html
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Vijay
I should write about this...sometime, whenever I am *ready* :))
As Ranjani says - it is a spectrum... the sooner you find that every child is *unique* you figure out the way to handle... sometimes it is just a single child syndrome...sometimes the brain is wired differently...when compared to 20 other brains that is wired in the same pattern... it is about awareness and what one does about it...attitude matters the most (of the parents). Pressure to conform just screws up the parents and the kids and the world is ruthless - merciless to *label* and say things to *hurt* and just be negative...well all those outsiders...
When you step outside the circle of existence - everything is enlightening and appear small...nothing!
Love Ranjani's comment on this :))
"Most "normal" people display at least one or two of these autistic behaviors!!!!! That is a surprise isn't it? We "normal" people can become obsessive about a certain topic, we may compulsively shake a limb or indulge in repetitive annoying behaviors that can be boldly called autistic like! So, why are we all not on the spectrum? It is when many of these behavior abnormalities are concentrated in one person. There is a higher rate of autism among the IT and engineering crowds!!!! Surprised? San Jose and Santa Clara areas have higher rates of autism and people are bewildered. Is testosterone somehow responsible? Too much right brain??? Too many theories, too few answers!!!! "
:)))
Meera
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Hi Vijai,
I know a lot of parents with autistic children and I have read a lot about it to place this rather lengthy comment.
I wish everyone watched Larry King on CNN today. It is still on in the West coast as I type. Senator David Kirby just said - There is no more doubt about Autism. It is due to vaccines given around the ages of 2 and 3.
Kids who were showing normal growth and had achieved all the milestones suddenly went silent after their first major set of vaccinations. There are a lot of misconceptions about autism.
It is important to remember that there is no proof that autism is genetic.
There are many many environmental factors that may cause it too. Even though your cousin's case is a glaring example of the problems with marriage between close cousins, remember that thousands of autistic parents are born to perfectly normal , unrelated couples who in many cases are highly educated and have no family history either. So, it is a misnomer that genetics is somehow responsible, because nobody knows!!!
The first and foremost is to know about the Autism Spectrum. This is the defines exactly where the kid stands in terms of level of diability. The lower on the scale, the higher is the level of disability. The ones on the other end of this spectrum are absolutely the most brilliant and creative minds. They are labeled savants by many, but these are really little professors walking around with extraordinary abilities.
These high-functioning autistic children are defined by the term called Asperger's syndrome.
It is the other end, that is the low functioning autistic children that need greater help and assistance. The parents in both cases have to get their children enrolled in the Special Education department and ask for an IEP - Individualized Education Program. This will enable their children to obtain one on one aide in class and speech therapy.
These kids are creative, as I said, and they do very well when introduced to creative arts. Parents should never fall for everything that the special ed says because in many cases they have been dead wrong. Parents have to be judicious and recognize their kids' strengths and promote their kids like a movie star!! The high functioning kids usually learn and do well with the right kind of support. Many of them are independent later in life too.
The low functioning children will need a great deal of training and on-going support. Boys usually are more susceptible to autism than girls, But when girls have autism, they have a greater degree of disability than boys! Auditory processing is the main debilitating feature of autism and caregivers have to use a lot of visual cues to communicate.
The first golden rule is for family members to offer support and empathy to the parents of autistic children and not question, taunt or make them feel lesser than others. Autistic parents are THE most informed and caring parents who go through a lot to mainstream their kids. I have known many Indian parents with autistic children and time and time again I hear of the negative responses they get from their family circles! Their kids are labeled 'retarded'!!!! During their visits back home to India, they are encountered with nosey relatives who will do anything to corner and keep questioning their parenting styles. It is shocking that in our country of Dharma and Karma, these family members show this much cruelty to the parents of these wonderful kids.
Let me close with a broad statement. Most "normal" people display at least one or two of these autistic behaviors!!!!! That is a surprise isn't it? We "normal" people can become obsessive about a certain topic, we may compulsively shake a limb or indulge in repetitive annoying behaviors that can be boldly called autistic like!
So, why are we all not on the spectrum? It is when many of these behavior abnormalities are concentrated in one person. There is a higher rate of autism among the IT and engineering crowds!!!! Surprised? San Jose and Santa Clara areas have higher rates of autism and people are bewildered. Is testosterone somehow responsible? Too much right brain??? Too many theories, too few answers!!!!
I'm tired! Best of luck to your cousin and I hope his family is not too judgemental and hope they give just the right kind of support, but mainly stay away from negative feedback. His son will need to focus on his development along with his parents.
Ranjini
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VIjai
Informative article
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Hi vijay,
This was an informative article.........
We can only pray for these kids.
MayaAnil
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Hi Ether,
How are you? Long time no see.. I am not regular to sulekha these days either. So i shouldn't say that.
I don't I said no genetic malfunction. I said may be genetic relation can affect it. I heard from may doctors in US, that marrying blood relatives can be one of the cause of autism. Somebody is yet to prove it..
No, I didn't watch that movie. May be I have to.
vijai
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Hi Vijai
You pointed out that autism is not more of genetic malfunction, then how do you relate same blood issue...just wonder
Incidentally, I was not aware of marriages in the same family because as per our Hindu system we have a matchmaking of gotra etc and surely marriage in the same blood is taboo...
BTW THANKS for the reminder of Autism Day...
Have u seen "Tare Zameen Par" it is a wonderful film and refers to dyslexia that kids suffer...your ubject reminded me to mention the film of Amir Khan!
For info - I was away - in India -
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Thank You for reminding is that today is World Autism Day....
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