Autism Speaks

[The Oi]

From what armchair research I've done, it looks as if higly functional autism plus intelligence is a great recipe for being very strong at the sciences.

It makes sense to me that people with a tendency to spend time alone and a tendency to hyper focus on limited topics would excel in areas that require a natural gift for them plus a significant amount of time immersing oneself in the subject without crowding their brain with other information.

 

[oracio]

What harm comes from having him learn coping techniques?

I think this is the key here (no pun intended).
Today, what is available in the science/medical/professional world regarding Autism is -
1. Identifying measurements to tell and to categorize that the child is on the Autism spectrum
2. giving the parents and the children coping tools - training and sometimes even taming...
That's it.
And @The Oi I totally agree that a lot of children are flagged mistakenly as Autistic and they need to live with it all their life.

This world is becoming tougher and tougher on grownups and on children. You can find so many depressed children who don't want to live (In my work I met several 7-10 years old kids who have "normal" family and environment and they just don't want to live), children who have social issues and don't have a meaning to life and no motivation for togetherness - this is something broader than labeling a child with "Autism", "Depression", "ADHD" - but I guess this is for a different thread ...

 

[The Oi]

I'm making shit up here, but this really has me thinking now...

If I thought my son was high functioning autistic, I think I'd spend some time with him on each of the sciences until I found out which one(s) he took to. Then I'd hand him a bunch of basic science and math books to him on some kind of scheduled basis, leave him to his own devices without interrupting until he wants me and see what happens.

Is that the "right" way to handle @oracio?

 

[oracio]

I think the most important thing you can do with any kid, autistic or not is try to act to them as normal as you can and give him innocent love.
Of course he might need special environment and coping tools (he and his parents) but over-thinking it or trying to make him "rain man" or what he is not won't help no one...

 

[Randolphkeys]

My wife just found some kind of "Walk for Autism" coming up, we are going to take Thor. I am interested to talk to other parents (perhaps of older autistic kids) and pick their brain. I'm also intrigued by watching the interaction of other kids with the same diagnosis, see if they take to each other more easily. I guess that is an advantage of being in a densely populated area, we can find other families in driving distance who have been through this.

 

[Adam]

Thought i would put this in here. Interesting stuff via iflscience (worth a follow on soc media)

Genes Connected to Autism Active During Fetal Development
February 22, 2015 | by Lisa Winter

photo credit: vetre/Shutterstock
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Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects about 1 in 68 children. Genetics plays a large role in the onset of ASD, but the exact genes involved are not clearly defined. However, a new paper published in Neuron describes how specific genes known to be connected to ASD are active during fetal brain development. Lilia Iakoucheva of the University of California, San Diego headed up the research.

The study focused on copy number variants (CNVs) in particular regions that have previously been connected to ASD. However, the researchers soon learned that not all CNVs were activated during the same growth period. Activation of various CNVs was staggered throughout fetal development.

The two genes, known as KCTD13 and CUL3, have ASD-associated mutations, and become activated around the middle of development. These genes regulate the protein RhoA, which is crucial to brain development. RhoA is responsible for the development and maintenance of neurons, while also assisting in the regulation of their migration.

"The most exciting moment for us was when we realized that the proteins encoded by these genes form a complex that regulates the levels of a third protein, RhoA," Iakoucheva said in a press release. "Suddenly, everything came together and made sense.”

Image credit: UC San Diego School of Medicine

“Our model fits perfectly with what we observe in the patients," co-first author Guan Ning Lin added.

Using zebrafish (a common model organism in genetics), they found that certain mutations on CUL3 adversely affected KCTD13, which, in turn, affected the normal function of RhoA. Just as the zebrafish with these mutations had head sizes that differed from typical development, so do children with ASD. Additionally, the mutations also correlated to the weight of the fish, just as it does in humans.

Moving forward, it is hoped that obtaining a better understanding of these genetic pathways and how they connect to various disorders on the Autism spectrum will allow researhers to manipulate these pathways into a potential treatment.

"The fact that three different types of mutations may act via the same pathway is remarkable," concluded Iakoucheva. "My hope is that we would be able to target it therapeutically. If we can discover the precise mechanism and develop targeted treatments for a handful of children, or even for a single child with autism, I would be happy.”

Some interesting evidence is emerging for the genetic component of the condition

 

[Randolphkeys]

I knew it. My son is going to be a member of the X Men.

 

[Sumac13]

Came across this article in Science Daily:

Autism risk determined by health of mom's gut
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180718113343.htm

Interesting read. Also, it is interesting how gut bacterial seems to be linked to many aspects of health.

 

[The Process God]

I personally have Aspergers and am now 29 years old. It was difficult as a kid especially since I was the youngest in my class, but it got better. I now have a master's degree and am a store manager. I'm married as well. Im not saying my wife and I don't struggle, but I think I'm a prime example of thriving while being on the spectrum. I think the biggest struggle is self awareness and being the last to know what I am/was doing was not acceptable. In some ways, because I've focused on self-awareness so much, I'd say I'm better than the average person at it, but I can still have my embarrassing moments.

I didn't stop wetting the bed until I was 13. I walked at 19 months. Developmental delays like those were there. But I overcame them to live a happy life.

Let me know how you're doing with Thor, Keys. Coincidentally, I have a German Shepherd named Thor who has also been called autistic by behavioral specialists.

 

[Randolphkeys]

Let me know how you're doing with Thor, Keys.

First off, thank you so much for speaking out about your experience. I have taught some ASD kids at this point as well. I probably did before, but when I mention that my son is on the spectrum students come up to me to tell me their journey. Again, when I went through the tougher stage early on I needed these posts. RCF at it's finest.

I just re-read this thread and my first few reactions were #1- Wow I can barely remember the time I had hardly any idea about ASD. At this point my son is pretty much my best friend and I spend most of my non-working time with him. I have researched ASD as much as possible. #2 - I'm no longer freaking out about witch doctor diagnoses to how it develops. My wife has members of her family who had Asperger's. That's it, it's genetic for fuck's sake. What I've been needing, and everyone with a family member on the spectrum has been needing, is understanding. If you are at a kids party or playground and a kid is a little different, don't be that jackass who judges. You don't know how hard it is for that kid and his family. And we see you, we totally see you. When I watch Jon Stewart's fundraiser on Comedy Central, I can't help but think everyone in the audience pretends to care but would act like assholes if they met an ASD kid without being told about their status beforehand.

My son? He doesn't get invited to all the birthday parties, especially the rich superficial families. They are image conscious and they came to his birthday party but wouldn't invite him to reciprocate. We got used to that. He got expelled in kindergarten from a public school. Yep, that happened. My wife and I then worked the system like psychopaths to get him into an even better public school with an autism focused classroom. He will be taking regular grade level math and science in second grade but be in the special class the rest of the day with the other ASD kids. He is witty, empathetic, and totally obsessed with trains. I'd never change anything about him.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

As you may or may not already know, I am a BCBA and work with kids with Autism specifically. Hit me up if you have any questions.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

Click on it...it's a good thread.

View: https://twitter.com/shiphitsthefan/status/1019620665572429824

 

[The Process God]

First off, thank you so much for speaking out about your experience. I have taught some ASD kids at this point as well. I probably did before, but when I mention that my son is on the spectrum students come up to me to tell me their journey. Again, when I went through the tougher stage early on I needed these posts. RCF at it's finest.

I just re-read this thread and my first few reactions were #1- Wow I can barely remember the time I had hardly any idea about ASD. At this point my son is pretty much my best friend and I spend most of my non-working time with him. I have researched ASD as much as possible. #2 - I'm no longer freaking out about witch doctor diagnoses to how it develops. My wife has members of her family who had Asperger's. That's it, it's genetic for fuck's sake. What I've been needing, and everyone with a family member on the spectrum has been needing, is understanding. If you are at a kids party or playground and a kid is a little different, don't be that jackass who judges. You don't know how hard it is for that kid and his family. And we see you, we totally see you. When I watch Jon Stewart's fundraiser on Comedy Central, I can't help but think everyone in the audience pretends to care but would act like assholes if they met an ASD kid without being told about their status beforehand.

My son? He doesn't get invited to all the birthday parties, especially the rich superficial families. They are image conscious and they came to his birthday party but wouldn't invite him to reciprocate. We got used to that. He got expelled in kindergarten from a public school. Yep, that happened. My wife and I then worked the system like psychopaths to get him into an even better public school with an autism focused classroom. He will be taking regular grade level math and science in second grade but be in the special class the rest of the day with the other ASD kids. He is witty, empathetic, and totally obsessed with trains. I'd never change anything about him.

I was in special reading for a small amount of time in 1st grade, but I was back in regular rearing by the end of the year. And birthday parties were a sore spot for me too until i got married. Once, in college, someone i knew since my freshman year of high school from home room and 4 years of the tennis team was having a birthday. I wasn't formally invited, but I was hanging out with all of my friends at another house when they were all leaving for his birthday party, and had been over to his house multiple times in the past and thought he wouldn't mind. He had his friend ask me to leave. As someone who just wanted to feel like he was wanted and valued his whole life, I was crushed. I killed him with kindness afterwards by smiling at him and saying hi every time I saw him working at the front desk of my gym, but I will never forget that night.

Another sobering story for you: when I was in sixth grade or so, I was in the percussion section for concert band at school. The kids treated me horribly, but there was a kid with Downs Syndrome named Jarrod who they treated great. I came to the band director with my dad and said I wanted to quit. He asked me why. I told him, "do you see Jarrod? They can see his disability. They can't see mine." Jarrod was also regularly picked over me in gym class. I'd bluntly ask other kids why I was picked last, and they told me it was because he was retarded.

Most of my biggest grievances are related to my disability. But it has made me stronger and who I am today.

Thor's ASD will definitely continue to give you grief, and others will continue to amaze you with their judgment and pure cruelty, but we're a highly optimistic bunch.

Be ready for three to five year cycles of different passions, obsessions, and hobbies. Some will stick for life. Some will be phases.

Has he shown any savant-like abilities yet? Mine were art, music, and math. I was able to learn 10 to 15 Andy McKee songs on guitar within a year of playing. I scored in the 100th percentile on the ASVAB, and the military came to my door, asking me to join when I was 19.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

How old is Thor?

 

[Randolphkeys]

How old is Thor?

"Thor" is seven and going into second grade. My wife had a friend and her daughters visiting last weekend. She is a school psychologist in Ventura County and we hadn't seen her in a few years. She didn't pick up on my son being on the spectrum for a few hours, but then noticed that he kept chewing on his shirt. I felt that was reassuring. He can blend in much better now than he could the past few years.

That said I just got a call from my wife. It was their annual take your kid to work day, and my son had a meltdown. She's on her way home with him now, taking a half day. The team working under her got all pissy because they needed her help but my son was there, all hopped up on the soda and doughnuts the company provided. In my book, my kid is seven, ASD and lost it being in a cubicle for four hours. I don't know their excuse. Do your damn job independently one day out of the damn year.

Always an adventure.