Virtual Reality as Therapy for Autism

Researchers estimate approximately one fourth of children who have autism struggle with phobias that can negatively impact their daily lives. Thanks to modern technology, researchers have discovered a promising new method of treating these extreme fears. Using virtual reality therapy, researchers at Newcastle University in England in conjunction with Third Eye NeuroTech have created interactive computer-generated scenarios to help children with autism deal with their fears.

Last week, Science Daily published an online article regarding this research that was also published on February 14, 2019, in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and Autism in Adulthood. [To read “Immersive virtual reality therapy shows lasting effect in treatment of phobias in children with autism,” please click here.]

For this therapy, known as the Blue Room treatment, children and adults with autism were exposed to a 360-degree virtual environment related to their specific fears. In real life, the people with autism would have difficulty coping with these frightening scenes. As researcher Dr. Morag Maskey notes, people with autism may have trouble imagining scenes, but the virtual reality allows them to visualize these scenarios while they are provided support to deal with their fears. Accompanied by a psychologist, the children used an iPad to navigate and control completely the situations they were shown. In addition, they did not have to wear goggles, unlike some forms of virtual reality.

Some of the phobias addressed in this treatment included fears of the dark, walking into rooms, school, public transportation, elevators, dolls, balloons, dogs, and wasps and bees. For the first study, 32 children with autism who were between 8 and 14 years old were divided equally into two groups. The first group began treatment in the Blue Room immediately, whereas the second group, acting as the control group, waited six months to begin the Blue Room treatment. The children spent four sessions per week in the Blue Room with a psychologist observing personalized scenarios related to their individual phobias. Their parents could also observe these sessions through a video link. After these treatments, the parents provided opportunities for their children to face their fears in the real world.

Two weeks after the virtual reality treatment, 25% of the children in the first group were able to cope with their specific phobias. Six months later, the positive effects of the therapy remained, as 38% showed improvement, and only one child displayed an increase in the intensity of the phobia. In the second group, 40% showed improvement two weeks after completing the treatment, and 45% retained the benefits of the therapy six months later.

In a similar but smaller study, eight adults with autism ranging in age from 18 to 57 participated in four twenty-minute sessions in the Blue Room interacting with scenarios personalized for their specific phobias. Six months later, five of the adults retained the benefits of this therapy.

While the research team plans further studies to see how long lasting the effects of this therapy are and to discover why some children and adults do not respond to this treatment, the positive results are encouraging. As Dr. Maskey states, “It is incredibly rewarding to see the effect it [the Blue Room treatment method] can have for some, overcoming a situation which just a week previously would have been so distressing.”

Moreover, the leader of the study, Professor Jeremy Parr from the Institute of Neuroscience at Newcastle University, emphasizes how life changing the effects of this therapy could be. He states, “For many children and their families, anxiety can rule their lives as they try to avoid the situations which can trigger their child’s fears or phobia.” Furthermore, he adds that this treatment “offers hope to families who have very few treatment options for anxiety available to them.”

Since extreme fears can produce debilitating anxiety in people with autism, potentially triggering aggressive panic attacks or causing them to avoid situations they fear, addressing phobias in a supportive way could have lifelong benefits. Fortunately, the researchers at Newcastle University and the technology experts from Third Eye NeuroTech have discovered that virtual reality may help children and adults with autism successfully overcome phobias so that they may face everyday reality fearlessly.

“I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

Social Skills for Social Media

While social media offers opportunities for parents of special needs children to share information and support, this modern convenience also can allow people to be hurt by intentionally or unintentionally unkind comments. When parents of children with autism make rude remarks, I wonder if they, like their children, may be on the autism spectrum themselves and have difficulty with social skills. Others may be sleep-deprived from taking care of children who stay awake all night, and others are likely understandably upset by the stress of their circumstances. Nonetheless, in order to help each other, we need to remember the power of words and strive to be kind and helpful in what we say to others.

Over the years, I have participated in various online support groups for parents of children with autism. A great deal of what I have learned about autism and parenting children with special needs has come from those wise and caring parents who were willing to share what they have learned from their experiences. Remembering the thoughtfulness of those parents who helped me through the early years of autism, I strive to offer the same support and information I received to other parents of children with autism. However, I’m sometimes surprised when parents of young children with autism deem themselves experts and fail to value advice given by veteran parents. Nonetheless, many of us still share our experiences, hoping to help others.

Last week, a parent shared serious concerns about a child with members of an online support group and asked valid questions while seeking information. Instead of offering sympathy or empathy to a parent in crisis, some seemed more intent on critiquing parenting skills. Perhaps if they couldn’t be nice, they should have been quiet instead. One person kept asking nosy question after nosy question, more like an investigative reporter than a supportive presence. In a sense, this interrogator seemed to be trying to gain all the attention by asking irrelevant questions. At one point, I was waiting for this person to ask the silly question from the movie The Breakfast Club: “Can you describe the ruckus?” After all those questions, this person, who is not a parent, had nothing helpful to offer, which confirmed my suspicion of simply seeking attention.

Another issue that arose in this online conversation was the topic of medications, which is a touchy subject in autism. Certainly, many parents would prefer not to medicate their children. However, for some with autism, medication proves essential to well-being and safety, addressing depression, anxiety, and aggression. Some parents of younger children with autism eschew the use of medication, yet they don’t realize the need until their children get physically bigger and stronger, becoming more difficult to handle when they have meltdowns. Those who tout only using behavioral therapy need to remember that therapy takes time to have positive effects. I know this because Alex has been in behavioral therapy for more than six years with a fantastic therapist; the benefits take time to achieve. Moreover, some parents are on long waiting lists for therapists and cannot get the help they need immediately. Therapy may only be one piece of the puzzle.

Later, some caring parents brought compassion to the discussion. Addressing the parent by name, offering not only good, specific suggestions but also sharing their own experiences and empathy, these parents provided what the parent in crisis was seeking: understanding and guidance. Perhaps these parents reflected upon their own situations and remembered what they wanted to know in similar situations and what had been helpful to them. By being gracious instead of critical, they offered the support that should always be present in a social media support group. Responding to their kindness, the parent in crisis was equally gracious, thanking everyone for the advice and support.

Last week, the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at Indiana University posted one of their terrific social stories on their Facebook page. Written by Kristi A. Jordan, these short stories intended for children with autism provide helpful tips regarding how to interact with others. For Valentine’s Day, the social story suggested, “It is nice to make a card for every person, even if you do not like them. If you do not like someone, remember that is a secret. You should think it, but don’t say it. Keep that thought a secret.” Perhaps, all of us, not just children with autism, should heed that advice. As Alex’s behavioral therapist reminds him in a useful handout: “Before you say something, THINK: Is it true, helpful, informative, necessary, and kind? If not, keep it to yourself.”

Addressing the issue of how to deal with rude people on social media, especially trolls, autism mom Cathy Jameson recently wrote an outstanding essay for Age of Autism. [To read this essay, please click here.] While she specifically mentions the heated debate regarding vaccines, she offers good suggestions for handling any topics of contention. These provided good advice for me at a time I was ready to straighten someone out on social media for making comments I saw as hurtful and unfounded. Instead, I chose discretion and opted not to engage in the debate. As Cathy Jameson advises: “Sometimes it’s best to just walk away and let it go.”

However, she also offers helpful recommendations when engaging in dialogue with others: “When you do say something, I’d suggest doing so without emotion and name calling. When one resorts to name calling, the chance to politely prove a point is immediately lost.” Moreover, she offers a valuable tenet for dealing with others online that also applies in real life: “Encourage people. It’s simple and what we prefer to do.” We may not always agree on every topic, but we can be agreeable in how we treat others.

"Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God Himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to Him forever and ever! Amen." 1 Peter 4:11

Testing Testing

As a classroom teacher for more than thirty years, one of the few aspects of my job I truly disliked was giving standardized tests to my students. In fact, retiring from teaching brought relief that I would no longer have to give these dreaded assessments. Knowing these evaluations were often worded in ways that were confusing to my students or bored them with long reading passages that failed to hold their interest, I questioned how accurately these tests could measure their abilities. As I watched some students who lacked motivation rush through the tests simply to get done and others struggle through every minute trying to finish in time, I knew their scores would not reflect what they really knew. Moreover, the general atmosphere of anxiety prevalent during testing among students and staff was upsetting and counterproductive.

My mistrust of standardized tests has only been heightened as the parent of a child with autism. Having been present for most of Alex’s evaluations, I know that they cannot measure accurately what he actually knows and can do. Consequently, on traditional intelligence tests, he scores quite poorly. Nonetheless, we place little value on the IQ values assigned to him, knowing that Alex is smart in ways that the tests fail to measure.

Recently, an enlightening article in The Atlantic addresses the shortcomings of using traditional cognitive testing with people who have autism and offers promising alternative methods. In “IQ Tests Are Biased Against People With Autism,” published December 31, 2018, author Nicholette Zeliadt notes, “…research has confirmed that some autistic people––especially those who speak few or no words––have abilities that standard tests of intelligence underestimate or overlook.” [To read this article, please click here.] In addition, the subtitle of this article states, “For those with poor verbal and motor control, traditional intelligence exams can be a faulty way to measure real cognitive ability.”

Recognizing problems of using traditional testing methods with people who have autism, scientists have recently considered new ways to test cognitive skills. Some have adapted existing tests, while others have developed new tests. In both cases, the goal has been making tests easier to complete for people with autism. Other researchers have employed technology that measures eye movement and brain activity to evaluate skills. While using technology may produce more accurate results, the expense and lack of portability make these methods less accessible.

Although experts cannot reach a consensus about which tests are most useful in evaluating people with autism, researchers note that none of the most commonly used assessments qualify as “a particularly good fit.” In addition, interpreting scores often proves problematic when assessing people who have autism. Many issues commonly associated with autism make testing difficult, such as anxiety, social-communication challenges, restricted interests, and lack of motivation to do boring tasks. Furthermore, poor fine motor control makes pointing, which is required in some tests, difficult, and tests lasting nearly an hour are too challenging for those with attention issues. As Beth Slomine, neuropsychologist at Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, Maryland, candidly explains, “…the tasks we have that measure cognitive ability are often boring, [and] the tasks don’t always measure what we think they’re measuring.”

At Boston University’s Center for Autism Research Excellence in Massachusetts, researchers have adapted testing for children with autism. To make the process less stressful, the child does not interact with the evaluator. Instead, two pictures are shown side by side on a screen as a recording instructs them to “Look!” Additionally, to keep them interested, pictures of beloved character Thomas the Tank Engine and videos of rockets launching are shown. According to the director of the Center, Helen Tager-Flusberg, “We did that to keep them engaged, to keep them looking––it doesn’t feel like a test.”

Using technology to observe eye tracking, researchers at Bar-Ilan University in Ramat-Gan, Israel, monitor involuntary eye movements as a method of testing people with autism. Under the direction of Yoram Bonneh, associate professor of vision science and optometry, the researchers study “tiny flicks of the eye as it jumps toward something of interest” in people with autism to assess word comprehension. After words are spoken or shown on a screen, two pictures are displayed side by side, with only one matching the given word. Eye movement toward the picture demonstrates word comprehension. This research indicates that adults with nonverbal autism perform as well in this testing activity as typical adults do.

In addition, these researchers show multiple choice questions and answers on a screen without reading them aloud. When the person’s eyes stop on a correct answer, the researchers use this behavior as a measure of cognitive ability. After testing a group of young men with autism who had minimal verbal skills and were thought to be illiterate, the researchers discovered through the testing that these men could actually read. Consequently, this testing method not only proved the young men had the ability to read and understand written text but also demonstrated that their skills had previously been underestimated.

At Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey, scientists have been using EEGs to test minimally verbal children with autism. As the children watch images immediately followed by hearing a word that may or may not match the picture displayed, researchers use the EEG technology to look for brain activity to indicate the recognition of the image and word. Through this form of testing, the research suggests that the children don’t always connect the words and pictures. Another theory is that children with autism may use other parts of their brains to process what they have seen and heard than typical children do. Nonetheless, using brain wave technology allows scientists to glimpse how the minds work in children with autism.

Clearly, research shows the importance of creativity when assessing people who have autism, considering their special needs and the differences in the ways their brains process information. As Charles A. Nelson, professor of pediatrics at Harvard University and Boston Children’s Hospital notes, “These kids we think are very low functioning, very nonverbal, may have more going on upstairs then we’re giving them credit for.” Indeed, using traditional methods to question those with autism may produce questionable results. Instead, parents, educators, and professionals should seek better ways to assess the skills of people with autism, and more importantly, they must never underestimate the abilities of those whose brains work in mysterious––and perhaps even superior––ways.

“But there is a spirit within people, the breath of the Almighty within them, that makes them intelligent.” Job 32:8

Book Review: Common Man, Extraordinary Call

After a child is diagnosed with special needs, many parents seek advice from others in similar circumstances who can share the wisdom of their experiences. In Common Man, Extraordinary Call, released last week and available from Amazon and Barnes and Noble, special needs dad Jeff Davidson offers an honest and clearly written guide for fathers of special needs children. As the father of an adult son, Jon Alex, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, and nonverbal autism, he and his wife, Becky, generously share what they have learned. [Special thanks to Becky Davidson and Kregel Publications for providing me an advance complimentary digital copy of this book.]

Although he never served in the military, the author explains that he greatly respects those who have served our country. Consequently, he uses military terminology throughout this guide for fathers who have unwittingly been drafted into the troops of special needs dads. In each chapter, he offers practical ways to deal with issues through a section titled “Mission Critical,” in which he provides checklists detailing what needs to be done.

As he provides leadership to the dads on the front lines, Jeff Davidson explains the tactics in a casual, conversational tone that is reassuring. Sharing candidly what he has learned along the way, he reveals a keen sense of audience, engaging the reader through direct address: “You” and “Dad.” Moreover, each chapter ends with "A Story from the Front Line,” in which special needs dads share their own stories, or an “Encouragement from the Homefront,” a letter from Jeff’s wife, Becky, offering support to special needs dads. In addition, the book also provides a helpful study guide at the end, reviewing important points in the book, as well as thought-provoking discussion questions for further reflection.

One of the issues the author tackles in the first chapter is the problem of denial. In fact, he admits that he refused to say that his son had autism until three years after his son’s diagnosis. However, he notes: “When I finally accepted the truth, our world shifted, and life became easier.” Having struggled with denial himself, he strongly urges special needs fathers to ask God for help in accepting their circumstances.

In addition to asking God for help, the author also advises asking others for assistance when needed. Enumerating all the various roles fathers must play in providing for their families’ physical, emotional, spiritual, and financial needs, he understands that special needs dads may feel overwhelmed. While fathers may be reluctant to impose on others for help, he explains, “If we forgo their help, we are robbing them of the opportunity to be a blessing.”

Moreover, the author encourages special needs parents not to isolate themselves from others. While raising a child with special needs fills life with challenges, he urges, “We have to be willing to let people into our lives. They need to know what your reality is like.” Although allowing others to see what life with a special needs child is really like may be uncomfortable, he assures the benefits are worth the efforts. Ultimately, others can gain understanding as well as love and respect for people with special needs by interacting with families who are raising special needs children.

Perhaps one of the most powerful chapters of the book, Chapter 8, “Emotional Land Mines,” candidly describes the difficulties special needs parents must consciously avoid. Specifically, he warns against envying other people’s lives and advises special needs parents to stop comparing their lives to those of others. Additionally, he describes the dangers of fear, self-pity that can lead to despair, futile attempts to assign blame for the child’s disability, and the sense of being cheated. Instead, he suggests, “…the power over every circumstance depends upon my choice of perspective.” Similarly, he addresses the bitterness and grief associated with missed milestones, beautifully noting the importance of a positive perspective: “Joy can be found in the simple successes, and contentment in the seemingly insignificant moments.” Furthermore, in dealing with the death of dreams that parents of special needs children face, he admonishes abandoning our expectations because “God has plans and dreams for our children, too.”

Yet another key point Jeff Davidson raises is the importance of teaching our special needs children how to overcome fear. He stresses that parents must reassure their children that they can confidently trust God as a source of wisdom, protection, and provision. As an additional reassurance to parents, he reminds us, “God will always be there for your children, even if you can’t be.”

Sadly, Jeff Davidson passed away unexpectedly and went to be with the Lord in May 2017. In the preface of Common Man, Extraordinary Call, his wife, Becky, explains Jeff’s desire to help special needs families, especially fathers of children with special needs. Moreover, she notes that writing and publishing this book fulfills his dream “to speak directly to the men he knew were so in need of hope.” Indeed, Jeff Davidson’s words of faith and love will continue to inspire others while sharing the hope he had found in the Lord.

“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together.’” Matthew 25:23

Small Setbacks

A few weeks ago, when we took Alex for his annual physical, his doctor proclaimed him to be in excellent health. Although we suspected this to be true, for Alex had not needed to go to the doctor since his last annual exam a year ago, we were delighted to get such a good report. Nonetheless, the doctor did have one issue for Alex (and us) to work on: eating more calories per day and trying to gain about fifteen pounds. While many of us would be ecstatic to have our doctors give us that advice, we knew this could be challenging for Alex, whose metabolism and level of activity keep him naturally thin. Along with the food aversion issues he’s struggled with for more than a year and a half that caused him to lose weight, gaining weight for Alex is as difficult as losing weight is for most people.

Nonetheless, we took the doctor’s suggestion to heart, trying to find ways to get Alex to eat more and consume more calories. Fortunately, Alex made a real breakthrough around Christmas, suddenly eating a greater variety and quantity of foods, returning to his past habits of eating healthy, instead of limiting himself to cold and smooth foods. He even began asking for old favorites, such as meatloaf and shrimp, and happily devoured them. Thanking God for this Christmas miracle, we thought Alex had made a big breakthrough in overcoming the food aversion that not only made him not want to eat certain foods but also triggered panic attacks at the kitchen table.

Because his doctor understands Alex’s issues well, he recommended adding nutritional supplements, namely Ensure or Carnation Breakfast Essentials, to Alex’s daily diet. Although both of these products contain milk, to which Alex has a dietary sensitivity, I was willing to take a chance that their benefits outweighed the potential concerns about giving him milk products in these supplements. After I added Carnation Breakfast Essentials powder in Classic French Vanilla flavor to Alex’s nondairy shakes made of Rice Dream ice “cream” and coconut milk beverage and strawberries, he seemed to like the taste and was willing to drink three of these shakes every day. I thought we had found a great way to get some calories into him easily.

However, after a few days of these shakes, Alex began complaining of headaches. While I suspected the milk in the nutritional supplements might have been the culprit, I thought a few more days wouldn’t hurt. I was wrong. The more days Alex had the powdered milk supplements, the more irritable he became. Then he started complaining of stomachaches. Although I was fairly certain the source of his pain and grouchiness was milk in the doctor-recommended nutritional supplement, I knew we had to test this theory by eliminating it from his strawberry shakes. Once I removed the milk product from his shakes, Alex stopped complaining of headaches and stomachaches, and he stopped being cranky, which was probably a result of not feeling well. Consequently, we had to abandon the doctor’s simple plan for adding calories and find other ways to help Alex gain weight.

About the same time, and probably not coincidentally, Alex’s wonderful progress in eating a variety of foods was followed by a regression. Unfortunately, he wanted to return to the cold and smooth diet, favoring applesauce, dairy-free yogurt, and non-dairy pudding. Between the bad reaction to the nutritional supplements and the return of food aversion, I was terribly frustrated by these setbacks, even though they were relatively small. Knowing that Alex has an appointment in a few weeks with his doctor to monitor his weight, I am feeling pressure to make sure he puts on some pounds to show that I’m putting forth effort.

Feeling a bit defeated and disappointed, I knew what I had to do. Reminding myself of Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” I resumed my usual determination and began researching other ways. Knowing that Alex likes pudding, I found a great and simple-to-make recipe for peanut butter pudding that can easily be adapted with coconut milk. Full of calories and protein, it offers Alex what he needs. In addition, the recipe came from one of his favorite chefs, the late “Mr. Food,” whom Alex loves to imitate by repeating his motto in a deep voice: “Ooh, it’s so good!” I knew that Alex would be willing to try this new food, especially, if we both said Mr. Food’s motto before he ate it. Fortunately, the peanut butter pudding turned out delicious, and Alex loves it because it is, indeed, “Ooh, so good!”

In addition, I found a different nutritional supplement to try that uses plant proteins instead of milk proteins. While I’m not sure whether Alex will like the taste, we’ll give it a try next week. In the meantime, I keep praying that he’ll resume his healthy and varied diet, as we witnessed the week after Christmas. However, I also know that I need to remain upbeat and calm about Alex’s eating habits so that he doesn’t pick up on my anxiety and add it to his own. If nothing else, I am tenacious about making sure Alex is healthy and happy, and I won’t allow these small setbacks to deter that ultimate goal. Most importantly, I know that God has a plan for Alex, and as the Great Healer, He will make certain that Alex gets everything he needs.

“But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” 2 Chronicles 15:7

Benefits of Coconut Milk

Like many people with autism, Alex has shown sensitivity to regular milk in food allergy testing, and he drinks plant-based milks instead. Over the years, he has tried a variety of brands and types of substitute milks, but his favorite is coconut milk because of its appealing taste and texture. For the past few years, he has been drinking So Delicious brand vanilla coconut milk beverage, and he also really likes their vanilla dairy-free yogurt and Coco Whip whipped topping. After being on a dairy-free diet for nearly twenty years, Alex doesn’t mind forgoing milk because he has tasty milk substitutes to enjoy daily.

After recently reading an article about the benefits of coconut water, I was curious if coconut milk shared those same healthy attributes. According to research, coconut milk offers great health benefits. In “Coconut Milk Health Benefits and Uses,” published online at the Healthline.com website on December 11, 2018, registered dietician Franziska Spritzler outlines what makes coconut milk a healthy choice. [To read this article, please click here.]

First, she explains that medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut milk prove beneficial. Research indicates that these fatty acids are less likely to be stored in the body as fat, may help curb the appetite, can increase metabolism, and might help the body lose belly fat. However, she cautions that the lower levels of medium-chain fatty acids found in coconut milk may not dramatically increase weight loss.

In addition, she cites studies that demonstrated the lauric acid found in coconut milk can lower bad LDL cholesterol and triglycerides and can raise good HDL cholesterol. Along with potential for improving cardiac health, lauric acid can improve overall health by fighting viral and bacterial infections. For this reason, every day Alex takes the supplement Monolaurin, which contains a form of lauric acid. Some research suggests that Monolaurin also acts as a natural antifungal, eradicating yeast infections.

Moreover, she references research indicating the ability of coconut milk to reduce inflammation in the body and to decrease the size of stomach ulcers as effectively as prescription medication. Although she touts the potential value of coconut milk, Ms. Spritzler indicates that not all studies are conclusive regarding its benefits. Furthermore, she cautions that regular coconut milk is quite high in calories and fat: one cup contains 552 calories and 57 grams of fat. In contrast, the So Delicious coconut milk beverage, which also contains filtered water, has 80 calories and 4.5 grams of fat in one cup. Since the calories and fat levels differ between pure coconut milk and coconut milk beverage, one wonders if the effectiveness of the health benefits may differ, as well.

In another online article, “Coconut Milk Nutrition: Beneficial Vegan Milk or High-Fat Trap,” published on the Dr. Axe.com website on December 26, 2018, Jillian Levy describes even more potential health benefits of drinking coconut milk. [To read this article, please click here.] In addition to citing the same research noted in the previous article regarding potential cholesterol-lowering improvements, Ms. Levy touts the benefits of the minerals found in coconut milk. These minerals, especially magnesium, also help cardiovascular health by lowering blood pressure. In addition, she notes that these minerals provide electrolytes the body needs for optimum health.

Along with minerals, the medium chain fatty acids, or MCTs, found in coconut milk offer various health benefits, she explains. Specifically, they help the brain function properly. Furthermore, as noted in the previous article, these fatty acids can help in losing fat because they help the body use energy. Referencing research from the School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at McGill University, the author quotes from the published study: “MCTs may be considered as agents that aid in the prevention of obesity or potentially stimulate weight loss.” She goes on to explain that MCTs provide people with a sense of being full which makes them less likely to overeat, perhaps making dieting easier.

As in the previous article, Ms. Levy cites the same research indicating the potential for coconut milk to reduce the size of ulcers and describes its protective effect upon the mucus lining of the stomach. Moreover, she notes that coconut milk can help the digestive system, hydrating and nourishing the digestive tract without causing irritation that regular milk may inflict.

Noting the benefits of coconut milk upon inflammation also described in the previous article, Ms. Levy explains that the MCTs found in coconut milk can help joint inflammation and arthritis. Specifically, she states that the medium-chain fatty acids help lower inflammation associated with pain in the muscles and joints as well as inflammation associated with autoimmune disorders.

In addition, this article describes two potential benefits of coconut milk noted in blood tests. To illustrate, she explains that coconut milk can help prevent anemia because plant-based milks provide the iron needed to treat iron-deficiency anemia. Moreover, coconut milk can prove helpful in treating diabetes by managing blood sugar effectively. The fat content in coconut milk apparently helps slow the rate sugar is released into the bloodstream, regulating insulin levels. After clearly explaining all the potential health benefits of coconut milk, the author recommends drinking full-fat coconut milk for optimum results but advises drinking this type in moderation because of the higher caloric content.

Although some may wonder if people with autism on the gluten-free and dairy-free diet can fulfill their nutritional needs on this restricted diet, research suggests that coconut milk offers several potential health benefits. After reading more about coconut milk and how it can improve cardiovascular and digestive health as well as alleviate inflammation, I am delighted that Alex consumes coconut milk products on a daily basis. I have always thought that he is quite intuitive about knowing what his body needs to be healthy, and now I’m confident that his choice of coconut milk is one that will continue to heal his body so that he can enjoy life to the fullest.

“You gave the people of Israel this land that You had promised their ancestors long before­––a land flowing with milk and honey.” Jeremiah 32:22

New Tips for a New Year

When I find things that are helpful, I like to share this information with others, hoping that they, like me, can benefit. Whether these tips are good recipes, clever ways to do tasks, or useful gadgets, I’m always on the lookout for ways to make life easier and better. As the new year begins, I would like to share three good tips I’ve recently discovered that may be of use to others, as well.

First, I’ve adapted a recipe for a dessert that has become Alex’s favorite. Because he is on a gluten-free and dairy-free diet, typically I have to make desserts from scratch for him. Also, his current preference for foods that are cool and smooth means that I must consider the texture of the dessert carefully. When he requested some type of pumpkin dessert for Thanksgiving, I started looking online for recipes that might satisfy his restrictive dietary and sensory concerns. After some searching and making a few changes, I hit upon a light and fluffy dessert on the Taste of Home website Alex absolutely loves, rewarding my efforts.

To make pumpkin pudding whip, add ¾ cup of non-dairy milk (I use So Delicious vanilla coconut milk.) to a 3.4 oz. package of Jello instant vanilla pudding and use an electric mixer to combine for one minute on medium speed. Next, add one half of a 15 oz. can of pure pumpkin and ½ teaspoon McCormick pumpkin pie spice and mix together. Then add one half of a 9 oz. container of frozen nondairy whipped topping that has thawed in the refrigerator (I use So Delicious dairy-free Coco Whip coconut whipped topping.) and combine with the other ingredients and refrigerate. This recipe can easily be doubled, too. If dairy is not a dietary issue, use 1½ cups regular milk and 1½ cups of Cool Whip topping instead. (Nondairy milk is more watery, so less is required to make the proper texture.) I appreciate how quick and easy this dessert is to make, and the taste and texture are perfect for Alex, who has eaten pumpkin pudding whip every evening for dessert since Thanksgiving.

Another tip I’d like to share is how to address cards to families who have adult children with autism living at home with them. (For that matter, this would be true if the adult children living at home did not have autism.) When we received Christmas cards this year, I was a bit surprised and a little hurt when some cards were addressed only to Ed and me, even though I feel certain that the senders knew Alex still lives at home with us. If someone were not sure whether an adult child were still living in the family home, cards could be simply addressed to the last name (e.g. "The Byrnes") or to the family (e.g. "The Byrne Family"). This would be appropriate even if adult children were no longer living at home.

Two relatives came up with quite clever ways to include Alex in a special way. My cousin sent Alex his own Christmas card separately, which made him feel especially grown-up. In addition, knowing that he is interested in weather, she added a note about the current temperature in her town. We liked the special touch she gave in acknowledging Alex and remembering his fondness for numbers and meteorology. Our nephew’s wife was also very clever in addressing our family Christmas card to “Alex Byrne and Family.” By making him the center of the family, which he is, he felt quite special to have the card specifically addressed to him. Again, we appreciated such thoughtfulness in remembering him at Christmastime.

Finally, I recently found a useful gadget that could prove very helpful in an emergency situation. Since Alex and I enjoy watching television shows about fire stations and hospitals, I began thinking about what might happen if we were ever in an automobile accident. I remembered seeing a label that could be attached to the seat belt as a way of identifying the passenger as having autism. This way, first responders would know why the passenger may be behaving in an untypical way. A Google search took me to the spot where I had seen these seat belt labels, the National Autism Association's Little Shop of Hope. [To access this online store, please click here.]

Known as a Help Belt-Safety Alert Seat Belt Cover, this bright red fabric label wraps around any seatbelt and snaps in the back. On the front is written the following information: “PERSON WITH AUTISM/May Not Respond to Verbal Commands/Open for Info.” Inside the label is a plastic pouch containing a pre-printed form that can be filled out to detail information regarding the person’s name, address, phone number, emergency contact information, and medical information, such as medications. This would be extremely helpful in an emergency situation to have this information readily available.

In addition, these useful safety devices are quite reasonably priced at $8.00 each plus $1.50 for shipping and handling. For less than twenty dollars, I ordered one for each of our cars and was pleased that they arrived in less than a week. After filling out the information sheets and placing them in the secure plastic pouches, I attached one to the front passenger seat of my car and the other to the back seat of Ed’s car, where Alex rides. If Alex were going someplace with my parents or his caregiver, we could easily detach the label from one of our cars and temporarily transfer it to another car. While I hope no one ever needs to use this safety alert device, I feel better knowing that this information is handy in the event of an emergency.

Although desserts and addressing cards and seat belt labels may seem trivial on the surface, discovering potential ways to make Alex’s life better always makes my life better, too. Perhaps passing along the things we’ve learned through our journey with autism may improve other families' lives, as well. The teacher in me certainly hopes so.

“Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. May Your gracious spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.” Psalm 143:10

2018: Year in Review

“Five hundred twenty-five thousand six hundred minutes. How do you measure, measure a year?” from “Seasons of Love” by Jonathan Larson

Since this is the last blog entry of 2018, I thought a review of our highlights from this year would be appropriate as a good way to measure Alex’s progress. Tomorrow evening, he will eagerly await the ball drop in Times Square in New York City, and he will count down along with Ryan Seacrest as he watches the televised event. In that spirit, I will also count down from ten.

10. We began the new year with a new case manager to oversee Alex’s disability budget and coordinate his support services. Although we were sorry to see his former case manager go because she was sweet, energetic, and efficient, his new case manager is kind, conscientious, and experienced. One of her main tasks has been collecting information for the new person-centered individualized support plan required by the state of Indiana. By asking numerous questions, she was able to construct a comprehensive multi-page document that accurately reflects Alex’s strengths, interests, and needs. However, I’m betting that after all that work, the only people who will read that document are his case manager and me.

9. Because Alex has poor fine motor skills as well as impaired gross motor planning skills, he has a great deal of trouble putting on his shoes and cannot tie shoe laces. This year’s discovery of Skechers men’s shoes with elastic bungee laces, allowing Alex to simply slip on these comfortable shoes, has made my life easier. Thank you, Skechers!

8. Due to a change in company policy, Alex’s music therapist informed us recently that he would have to do music sessions in his office instead of in our home. While he had many concerns about making this change, I felt reasonably confident that Alex would adapt. Thankfully, Alex proved me right and has done quite well so far in making the transition to the new setting. Of course, the warm welcome the office staff provides Alex each week probably helps, too.

7. Last year, Alex’s behavioral therapist was promoted to supervisor, and her additional responsibilities meant cutting back from two sessions to one each week with her. The second weekly session focused on going out in the community and practicing social skills they had worked on earlier in the week. This year, she decided Alex has made such good progress that she could spend less time working on skills with him and add the community component back into his sessions. Consequently, she now spends half of the session working on skills, and for the other half, we take Alex out in the community again. Alex was pleased with this change, and the sweet ladies who work at Burger King and treat him like a king seemed delighted to see him again.

6. After reading research from Dr. Chris Exley regarding aluminum toxicity links to autism and Alzheimer’s disease, I decided to follow his suggestions about chelating aluminum. Every day, Alex now drinks bottled Fiji water, which contains the mineral silica that bonds with aluminum and removes it from the body. Hopefully, continuing to drink the Fiji water will lessen or even eliminate any aluminum lurking in Alex’s brain, where it can do damage.

5.  One of the most valuable lessons Alex’s behavioral therapist has taught him this year is being assertive but polite. Often, when posed with a choice, Alex seems indecisive and will ask, “What would be good?” She has helped him learn to weigh his options and tell what he wants or needs while using good manners. He has done much better about expressing himself, and sometimes to make sure he’s covered all of his bases, he’ll tell us what he wants immediately followed by all three of the polite indicators: “Please, thank you, and you’re welcome.”

4.  This year, we have been able to reduce more of the medications Alex takes to manage anxiety. Since he has learned ways to deal with anxiety cognitively through behavioral therapy, he relies less on medication. With the guidance of his psychiatric nurse practitioner, we have been able to reduce dosages of nearly all of the medications he takes and are hopeful we can eliminate some of them soon. His behavioral therapist has told us that medication reduction is rare in autism, so we are delighted that this is a sign he is doing remarkably well.

3.  After 2017 found us constantly battling with yeast overgrowth in Alex’s digestive system, his doctor wisely decided to continue weekly doses of the anti-fungal Diflucan for several months this year to wipe out the dreaded thrush. This aggressive treatment did the trick, as we thankfully saw no signs of thrush this year. In fact, this year, Alex has probably been the healthiest he has ever been, with no colds, infections, or any illness.

2.  While we started the year with Alex having some increased sensory issues and anxiety about going places, especially in cold weather or in noisy settings, he thankfully overcame these concerns. In fact, he enjoyed going to several concerts this summer and to many basketball games this fall with no signs of crowds or loud noises bothering him. In addition, he looks forward to going grocery shopping every week at the new local superstore that opened this summer, where he does a better job of pushing the cart and staying out of other people’s way than any other customers do.

1.  Although we have been dealing with Alex’s aversion to food for about a year and a half following an especially bad case of thrush, he seems to be on the right track to regaining his appetite. After a year of his self-limited diet, we took him to a terrific speech therapist who reassured us that nothing was physically wrong. She believed that thrush had made eating painful and food taste bad, so we had to work with Alex on overcoming those negative thoughts. Her warmth and kindness inspired him to try a variety of foods. Still, progress has been slow; however, the past week, we have seen a real breakthrough as Alex has shown signs of returning to his formerly varied and healthy appetite. As we begin a new year, we pray that he continues to make progress so that he can enjoy eating again.

Looking back over all the accomplishments Alex has made in 2018 makes us hopeful for the progress he will continue to make in 2019. Most of all, we are thankful for the blessings God has provided this year and will continue to provide so that Alex will, indeed, reach his full potential.

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness, I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

Christmas Present

With just one more door to open on our Advent calendar, we know that Christmas is imminent. Often, December is a difficult month for Alex, even though he eagerly anticipates his birthday and his favorite holiday, Christmas. Like many with autism, sometimes all the hoopla surrounding the holidays can be a bit much for him. To be honest, all the expectations fueled by the media to create a perfect Christmas can make me anxious, too.

The December issue of a magazine sitting on my coffee table (which is cluttered with Alex’s notebooks and pens, his Jeopardy baseball cap, and his tape measure) insists that I still have things to do in the relatively short time between now and Christmas Day: “MAKE IT MAGICAL!” “Amazing holiday gifts (to buy or DIY)” “Host the Perfect Cookie Swap” and “Deck your halls in striking winter whites.” While magical, amazing, perfect, and striking may be good goals for some, I’m just delighted that my decorations look cheerful, the cookies I baked for family and friends are tasty, and I put careful thought into the gifts I’m giving. More importantly, I have remained calm throughout all the preparations, and so has Alex. As Martha Stewart, whose magazine I quoted, would say, “It’s a good thing.”

In contrast to the perfection stressed by December magazines, autism websites offer helpful tips for families in dealing with the sensory overload that often accompanies the holiday season. Talk About Curing Autism provides practical solutions to make the holidays less overwhelming. In “Talk About The Holidays,” they list good suggestions to make holiday photos, food, gifts, noise, and memories easier and better. [To read this article, please click here.] For example, “Be willing to not take it personally if the child shows no interest in the gift given. It may be something that they will come to treasure at a later date.” Having witnessed that first-hand, I know that tip is on target.

Another helpful website, the Indiana Resource Center for Autism at Indiana University, provides social stories for children and adults with autism to teach them coping skills. [To see their website, please click here.] In a social story titled “Christmas Presents,” a good lesson about being a gracious recipient is provided: “It is good to say ‘thank you’ to the person who gave me the present. If I already have the present or do not like the present, I do not say anything. I smile and say ‘thank you.’ Saying that I do not like a present may hurt the person who gave me the present.” Frankly, this lesson about gratitude could benefit many people, not just those with autism.

With Alex, we have learned over the years to encourage him to participate in holiday activities while constantly watching for signs that he is overwhelmed by sensory overload. For many years, he wasn’t particularly interested in the decorations until they were done, but this year, he seemed to enjoy the process, watching me intently as I hung ornaments on the Christmas tree, set up the Christmas village, and decorated the mantel over the fireplace. Although he offers no suggestions for what gifts he would like to receive, he is completely content to trust my judgment about what I think he will like. Moreover, he seems to have learned the lesson in the social story, smiling and saying “thank you,” never telling me that he doesn’t like a gift, except for the year I gave him socks as a joke and he told me that wasn’t a good gift.

Even though Alex has been remarkably calm and content the past few weeks, we know there’s always the possibility that he can become anxious. Moreover, we know the importance of being flexible, despite the attempts to make Christmas as magical, amazing, and perfect as possible. Last year, we had nearly made it to my brother’s house for our family Christmas get-together when our car skidded slightly on ice. Although this was a momentary loss of control, it was enough to make Alex lose control, and he insisted we had to go home immediately. Despite reassurances, he needed to go home where he felt safe, and we had to honor his requests. While not being able to be with family was disappointing, we had to put his needs first, as we always do. For many years, we didn’t even try to go to family holiday gatherings because Alex couldn’t handle them. At least now we can try, but we prepare ourselves for the possibility that we may have to cancel plans at the last minute. This is the reality of life with autism, which is not always magical, amazing, or perfect.

However, for Alex, Christmas preparations don’t revolve around decorations or food. He will tell you that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday, and he likes to celebrate by listening to Christmas music. In addition to the two Christmas concerts he has enjoyed this holiday season, Alex has been singing Christmas songs with his music therapist and listening to holiday songs on his CD player. Remembering favorite songs from years past, he has sent me searching the house for specific CD’s he wants to hear. The other day, he had me looking for “Glory to God in the Highest” and rewarded my efforts by smiling and swaying to the upbeat contemporary gospel tune. Last night, he requested a Christmas song by gospel songwriters Bill and Gloria Gaither, “Look Who Just Checked In.” After my unsuccessful hunt for the CD with that song, he was able to find a video performance of the song on YouTube. Always curious as to what makes a song special for Alex, I listened to the lyrics along with him:

“Look who just checked in, into the barn, into the world, into the hearts of the boys and girls. Never been a baby quite like Him. Look who just checked in.

He’s the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings, the Lord of the Universe and every little thing. Emmanuel says time again, God is with us once again, once again.”

Despite all the obstacles autism presents in social skills and communication skills and sensory issues, Alex understands the true meaning of Christmas: the birth of our Savior. It’s not decorations or food or presents; it’s the reminder that God sent his Son to Earth to check in to the world and into our hearts. As if that were not gift enough, He gave me my son to remind me what makes Christmas truly magical, amazing, and perfect. “Glory to God in the highest!”

“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11

Three Cubed

“December 16, 1991.” Over the past twenty-seven years, I have mindlessly rattled off that date countless times in doctor’s offices and pharmacies as well as over the phone to insurance companies and special services providers. In true Jeopardy format, I could tell the significance of this date in the form of a question: “What is Alex’s birthdate?” However, the judges would also have to accept the following as correct: “What is the date I became a mom?” or “When was the most fascinating person I’ve ever met born?” or “What is the day my life forever changed for the better?” Certainly, becoming Alex’s mom has allowed me to experience life in ways I could have never expected, and for that, I will be forever grateful to God and to Alex.

If it were not for Alex, I would not appreciate the wonder of numbers. As someone who has always loved words, mathematics held no particular interest for me. However, for Alex, numbers allow him to make sense of the world: how big, how far, how tall, how expensive, how hot, how many, how long. He treasures measuring devices that give him the answers and perspectives he seeks, such as clocks, calendars, and rulers. He notices and happily announces patterns that others might miss, including when the temperature is the same as the number of minutes on the clock, when the gas prices are the same as pi, and that our phone number is a prime number. Indeed, even Alex’s new age––twenty-seven––becomes more interesting because it is a perfect cube (3 times 3 times 3). Because Alex has shared his love of numbers with me, I have realized that despite the infinite possibilities and seeming randomness of life, patterns and plans are waiting to be discovered. We only need to keep looking for them with enthusiasm, as Alex does every hour of every day.

If it were not for Alex, I wouldn’t have realized the depths of goodness in the man I married. Having the opportunity to witness the caring and patience and unconditional love Ed has developed since becoming Alex’s dad has been a gift. Since Alex usually sits between the two of us when we take him to concerts and sporting events, I often see Alex lean toward his dad in these situations to ask him a question or make a comment. With their two heads literally and figuratively together, they share a bond most father and sons would envy. The other evening, I heard Bob Dylan Christmas music coming from the basement and walked downstairs to find the two of them having a grand time, enjoying the music they love and I don’t. While being an autism dad has been challenging, Ed has stepped up and been the father Alex needed. In return, he has been rewarded with Alex’s devotion to him.

If it were not for Alex, I wouldn’t know how precious the last few minutes before falling asleep are. After we say bedtime prayers together, in which Alex asks God to bless practically everyone he’s ever met, not to delay going to sleep, but because these people have made an impression upon him, we engage in a nightly routine that is familiar and comforting. We discuss his schedule for the next day and say, “Love you” to each other. Because Alex has sensory issues that make physical affection difficult for him, the verbalizing of our love takes on greater value. Nonetheless, over time, he has become more tolerant of touch, smiling as he lifts his head off his pillow for me to kiss his forehead or cheek. I really don’t think Alex needs a bedtime kiss from me to know he’s loved, but I think he offers his sweet face to me because he knows how much it means to me.

If it were not for Alex, my faith in God would not be as strong. Not only has autism tested and developed my faith, but also being able to witness Alex’s complete trust and faith in God has provided a model of how I need to believe. When Alex was struggling mightily with anxiety, I would kneel beside his bed as he slept, praying earnestly for God to help him and comfort him in ways that I could not. When Alex is doing well and content with life, as he has been lately, I offer prayers throughout the day, thanking God for how far He has brought Alex. Despite wanting to control every aspect of Alex’s life, I have learned that God’s ways are far better than mine, and I have learned to trust and wait upon God instead of leaning on my own understanding.

Although I don’t know what the future holds for Alex and honestly worry about how autism may make his life more difficult than necessary, I do know that God has plans for him He hasn’t shared with me, probably knowing I would want to tweak them myself. Nonetheless, He has entrusted this precious child to me, and I have tried to teach him the important lessons in life. Twenty-seven years later, I burst with pride at the fine young man Alex has become and thank God for the best student and teacher I’ve ever had, as well as the most precious gift God has ever given me.

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12

Waiting

Armed with a Sudoku puzzle and a crossword puzzle to keep myself occupied and slightly distracted, I sat in the waiting room last Thursday afternoon while Alex was engaged in music therapy. This change of setting was different for both of us, as usually Alex’s music therapist comes to our home, and I sit in a nearby room where I can eavesdrop on their session. With the therapy room at the back of the building from where I was sitting in the front of the office, I didn’t know how things were going, but I hoped for the best, praying all would go smoothly.

A few weeks ago, Alex’s music therapist apologetically told us that his company wanted clients to start having sessions in their office instead of at home. Because Alex has been doing remarkably well lately, his music therapist didn’t want to make any changes that might cause setbacks in his progress. Knowing that he was just following company policy, I reassured him that Alex would adjust to the changes and be fine. Moreover, I suggested that maybe the change in setting would be good for Alex.

Wanting to make the transition as easy as possible, the music therapist and I discussed with Alex that only the place would change; everything else would remain the same. His sessions would meet the same day at the same time, would last the same amount of time, and would follow the same procedures. I told Alex that we would take along the clipboard and notepad they use every week for his therapist to write down the songs they sing as well as a deck of cards so that they can play the game War as a reward for a good session. Also, with his therapist’s approval, I assured Alex that I would bring orange juice in a sport bottle for him to drink during the session there, just as he does at home. I suspect that he thought his therapist and I were overdoing the pep talk, as he seemed quite calm and unfazed by the change of venue. Nonetheless, his therapist told me that if sessions didn’t go well at the office, he would talk to his supervisor about keeping Alex’s sessions at home.

Sitting in the waiting room alone, I thought about how much of life revolves around waiting and wondering. Especially with special needs children, parents spend a great deal of time in waiting rooms of doctors and therapists, wondering what the professionals will tell them about their children’s conditions. In addition, parents of special needs children often wait a long time for their children to master skills, to achieve milestones, and to overcome obstacles. In short, we spend countless hours waiting for our children to get better.

When I find myself waiting impatiently, I need to look no further than Alex’s example because he has become amazingly calm about waiting. In the past week or so, he has sat patiently waiting for two Christmas concerts to begin and for two basketball games to start. Because we usually arrive early to get seats that are best for Alex, we often wind up sitting a while before the activity actually starts. Nonetheless, he doesn’t seem to mind waiting; he’s just happy to be where he wants to be.

At the end of Alex’s music therapy session, both he and his therapist returned to the waiting room smiling, his therapist giving me a “thumbs up” signal. Furthermore, his therapist told me Alex did “fantastic,” despite any concerns we had about how he would adapt. His therapist started laughing as he told me that Alex had wanted to know where the bathroom was in the building. When he showed Alex the location, opened the door, and asked if he needed to use the restroom, Alex bluntly told him, “No, it’s too stinky in there!” To Alex, overpowering air freshener would be as offensive as any bathroom smells might be, so I’m not sure what he found to be so off-putting. Nevertheless, he won’t likely be asking to use the bathroom during session.

With one good session behind him, we pray for future success as Alex continues having music therapy at the office instead of at home. However, I do have to admit that I’ll miss eavesdropping on their conversations and listening to them sing together. Nonetheless, his therapist and I are relieved and delighted and thankful that Alex handled the new situation so well and are hopeful that he will continue to make good progress there.

“Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes; wait patiently for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14

One in Forty

An article published in the December 2018 issue of the journal Pediatrics indicates that the current rate of autism in the United States is 1 in 40 children. “The Prevalence of Parent-Reported Autism Spectrum Disorder Among U.S. Children” details research led by Michael D. Kogan, Ph.D. and his colleagues at the Office of Epidemiology and Research at the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau. [To read this article, please click here.] Their study analyzed parent survey data from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health and included 43,283 children 3-17 years old.

For this survey, parents were asked if a doctor and/or another health care provider had ever told them that their child had autism. The parents were also asked if their children currently had autism. Of the parents surveyed, 2.5% responded that their children had received an autism diagnosis from a medical professional and still had autism. This translates into approximately 1.5 million children in the United States with autism. In addition, the data showed that boys are 3.5 times more likely than girls to have autism.

In comparing this survey to other similar surveys regarding autism prevalence, the researchers noted that the National Health Interview Survey yielded similar statistics. The results of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM), which were reported in April of this year, showed a lower rate of autism: 1.7% of children with autism, or 1 in 59 children. Dr. Kogan’s team notes that the ADDM survey focused only on eight-year-old children in eleven communities in 2014, whereas their research covers a wider range of ages across the country in a more recent survey.

In addition to citing the increase in the rate of autism in the United States, the researchers emphasize that children with autism have greater health needs than typical children. Specifically, 83% of children with autism have at least one health condition, such as asthma, eczema, gastrointestinal issues, or seizures, accompanying autism. Furthermore, they found that children with autism are more likely than other children with behavioral, developmental, or emotional disorders to have seen a specialist and to have received mental health counseling, early intervention, and special education services.

However, finding proper care for children with autism proves difficult, the researchers discovered. The survey indicated that parents were 44% more likely to have difficulty getting mental health treatment for their children with autism. Moreover, children with autism are 46% less likely to receive needed mental health care. The researchers also found that 64% of the children with autism had received behavioral therapy in the past twelve months. In addition, 27% of the children with autism took medications for symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and hyperactivity.

Aside from a lack of mental health care availability, the researchers also noted problems finding a “medical home” for each child with autism. They defined medical home as having five criteria, all of which must be met for the patient: a personal doctor or nurse, a usual place for sick care, no problems getting referrals, family-centered care, and effective care coordination. Their survey indicated that children with autism were 23% less likely to have a medical home, and 24% were less likely to have their care coordinated. Clearly, having professionals work together to improve the child’s physical and mental health is crucial in autism, but more coordination of services must be done.

As the researchers state, autism rates have been increasing over the past thirty to forty years. Other studies have demonstrated the significant rise in the number of children diagnosed with autism. Specifically, the rate of autism in the United States has gone from 1 in 5000 in 1975 to 1 in 2500 in 1985 to 1 in 500 in 1995 to 1 in 250 in 2001 to 1 in 166 in 2004 to 1 in 110 in 2009 to 1 in 88 in 2012. This new research now makes another leap to 1 in 40 in 2016. The researchers speculate that the increase is due to better and earlier diagnosis, broader diagnostic criteria for autism, greater parental awareness, and some increased risk factors, such as older parents.

The sudden increase in numbers of children with autism poses a financial hardship as well as difficulties noted in finding proper physical and mental health care. The researchers indicated that the cost of providing proper health care and non-health care for a child with autism is $17,081 greater per year than for a typical child. Moreover, the researchers cited data from 2011 indicating that the total societal cost of caring for children with autism in the United States was estimated to be $11.5 billion per year. Considering the number of children in the U.S. has doubled or tripled since then, the cost of caring for them would also significantly rise.

The researchers conclude their article as follows: “Because ASD [autism spectrum disorder] is a lifelong condition for most children, an important area of future research would be to study life course development and understand what factors influence health and well-being in young adulthood and beyond for these children.” Well, the good news is that they will probably have a lot of people with autism available to study, especially if the rates keep increasing dramatically. The bad news is that they will get no closer to finding the cause of autism if they continue to stick with the better diagnosis/greater awareness/increased diagnostic criteria reasoning. At what point will the medical profession declare we have a health care crisis as more and more children are diagnosed with autism, a lifelong condition?

Instead of just counting the number of children with autism and admitting they need better access to care, researchers need to figure out the true causes of autism. For example, what roles do environmental toxins, such as heavy metals, play in autism? Furthermore, instead of denying that vaccines cause autism, perhaps an unbiased reexamination of their effects upon children should be taken. One only need to see that the dramatic increase in autism follows the dramatic increase in the number of vaccines recommended by the CDC for children between birth and five years of age. In 1962, only three shots were recommended, but in 1983, ten shots were advised. The 2018 CDC Recommended Immunization Schedule now includes 38 shots.

The researchers who proclaim the new rate of autism is 1 in 40 American children never address the possibility that environmental toxins or the increased rate of vaccines may be related to autism. Until doctors and researchers are willing to consider all possible causes of autism and seek ways to make our children with autism healthier, we can anticipate that the autism rates will likely go higher. We can only hope and pray that our merciful God will save us and our children from this calamity, for He can heal what humans cannot.

“From six calamities He will rescue you; in seven no harm will touch you.” Job 5:19