addressing autism
addressing autism ‘Something steals their souls’ By Joyce Wiswell Lisa Denha still gets emotional as she recalls her son Vincent’s early struggles. Vincent was developing in a typical fashion until he reached 18 months or so. “First he stopped saying new words, then the words he knew, and then even responding to his name,” Denha said. Before her eyes, Vincent retreated into a world of silence and solitude. “The best way to explain it is like something comes in and steals their souls,” Denha said of children with autism. At first, doctors said Vincent had a language disorder, so Lisa and Clifton sent their son for the recommended therapy. But his mother always suspected there was more going on. When she had another child who quickly began to surpass Vincent’s development, Denha knew something was very wrong. It wasn’t until age 4 that Vincent finally received a diagnosis of autism. Seven years later, Vincent is a thriving 11-year-old with lots of friends. “He still has challenges and is very behind for his age, but he is nowhere near where he was and would have been without therapy,” said Denha. “I wish somebody would have slapped me when he was 2 and said, go with your gut instinct and push aggressively.” As in the case of Vincent, autism can be a tricky diagnosis. It is defined as a complex developmental disability that impacts social interaction and communication skills, and it typically appears in the first three years of life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that autism occurs once in every 110 births in the United States, and is seen in nearly one in 70 boys – who have it four times more often than girls. Autism is growing at the alarming rate of 10-17 percent per year. There are currently 1.5 million American children with autism, and as many as 4 million could have it in the next decade. No one is sure why autism is becoming so prevalent. Some blame vaccinations, others point to environmental pollutants. New studies link autism with fertility drugs and/or in vitro fertilization. What is clear is that autism can affect any child, regardless of ethnicity, family income or education levels. It occurs around the world. No parent wants to admit their child may not be “normal,” and Chaldeans can be especially reluctant to face such problems head-on, said Bon Kas-Mikha of Sterling Heights. “The Chaldean community has a stigma – if your child wears glasses that can even be considered a birth defect,” she said. “God blessed me with three healthy kids but for some reason, everywhere I look I see kids with autism. I believe God sends you signs, and this was it for me.” So Kas-Mikha has become an advocate for early intervention and No parent wants to admit their child may not be “normal,” and Chaldeans can be especially reluctant to face such problems head-on. is producing a brochure in English and Arabic that outlines the signs parents need to look out for. She plans to launch the Chaldean and Arab American Autism Foundation, which would dispense funds for autism therapy to needy families. “Therapy is the only way to get these kids through autism,” Kas-Mikha said. “There is no medical cure.” While it’s true that no universal cure exists for autism, there are many forms of therapy that can help children lead normal lives. Denha credits Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy — which rewards positive behavior with positive reinforcement — for much of Vincent’s progress. She also gives thanks to Birmingham Public Schools’ Autistically Impaired Program, in which Vincent receives specialized attention — something 42 CHALDEAN NEWS SEPTEMBER 2010
All About Autism Autism is a disorder of neural development that causes impaired social interactions and communication and restricted and repetitive behavior. Autism affects information being processed by the brain and therefore makes it difficult to interpret sights, sounds, smells and other sensations. Autism causes children to experience the world differently because it’s hard for them to express themselves with words; they also may react to what’s going on around them unusually. This includes being bothered by noises and feeling uncomfortable when touched in any way. The effects of autism cover a very wide spectrum and can be very mild or very severe. Parents usually notice signs of autism in the first two years of their child’s life. The signs usually develop gradually after the age of six months and become more established by age 2 or 3, and tend to continue through adulthood. Symptoms include: • Paying less attention to social stimuli • Smiling and making eye contact less often • Responding less to his or her name • Making repetitive movements such as body rocking • Experiencing compulsive behavior such as arranging objects certain ways • Resisting change, so the child’s lifestyle becomes ritual with no varying pattern of daily activities • Having limited focus and interest, such as preoccupation with a single toy or game • Causing self injury such as skin picking and head banging The following signs mean a child should be evaluated by a specialist as soon as possible: • No babbling by 12 months • No gesturing by 12 months • No single words by 16 months • No two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months • Any loss of any language or social skills at any age Two tests are commonly used in autism diagnosis. The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised is a semi-structured parent interview, and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule uses observation and interaction with the child. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale is used widely in clinical environments to assess the severity of autism based on observation. The main goals when treating children are to make their lives less stressful and increase quality of life and functional independence. Although many medications are used to treat autism symptoms such as antidepressants, no known medication relieves autism’s core symptoms. Families and the educational system are the main resources for treatment. Occasionally children recover from autism but it is not known how often or why recovery happens. Source: www.autism-society.org. Compiled by Laura Abouzeid. he needs less and less of as he enters grade five. And, Denha believes, divine intervention has also played a role. Vincent used to take three medications a day to help with his behavioral issues. Last summer his doctor recommended taking a few days off the drugs just to give his body a rest. Vincent’s behavior improved miraculously and almost immediately, and a year later he’s still drug-free. “There is no explanation,” Denha said. “The doctor said, thanks be to God.” Two of Shereen Attisha’s sons had enough delays in their development that she and her husband, Sam, knew something was wrong. The family now lives in San Diego after moving from Walled Lake. Attisha points out that the label “autism” covers a wide range of issues. “A lot of people think of autism and they think of the movie Rain Man, but there is a whole spectrum,” she said. “Someone with autism can be a high-functioning scientist with awkward social skills. The diagnosis doesn’t mean anything – it’s getting your children the services that makes all the difference.” Attisha put her boys into speech and occupational therapies and school programs in the Walled Lake District, all of which helped put them on track to typical development. Today, they are doing so well that she calls the boys “the poster children for early intervention.” In fact, they don’t even realize that they had speech and learning problems when they were younger. And that is the point Attisha wants parents to get. “So many Chaldeans are afraid to admit their child is not developing right or to put them in special services. They end up doing these children a big injustice,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to look into it if your kids are delayed. You have to be the advocate for your child and use any resources that people have. By not getting the help you need, you’ll make it worse for your child. 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