Autism is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder that can be diagnosed during early childhood and is characterized by three major signs/symptoms:

1. communication problems
2. problems with social interaction
3. repetitive, restricted and stereotyped behaviors

There are different types and range of autism according to DSM IV-TR or Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

Classical autism is considered as “severe” because of the inability of children diagnosed with this as having no or low eye contact, facial expression and use of gestures and body language to communicate, among other characteristics. Spoken language is severely delayed or not developed at all. There is a preoccupation to one object or part of that object like a certain toy car’s wheel.

If a child has very delayed or showed no attempts with communicating with others, it is best that he/she is brought to a specialist.

Autism spectrum disorder or ASD on the other hand is considered a “milder” form of autism. A child diagnosed with ASD has the ability to develop his/her language, self-help and cognitive skills but needs help in several areas of development like: developing social interactions, adjusting to changes in routine and rituals, emotional reciprocity and being able to share interests with peers.

PDD-NOS or Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Other Specified is a diagnosis that cuts across the two previously mentioned conditions. DSM IV-TR lists that: PDD-NOS is a type of childhood developmental disorder which forms part of the group of Autistic Spectrum disorders. (ASD) This group also includes Classical Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome and Childhood Disintegrative Disorder. The diagnosis of PDD-NOS is one of exclusion, made when a toddler or child clearly has a Pervasive Developmental Disorder but the symptoms and signs do not comply with the Diagnostic Criteria for any of the other ASD’s (or childhood psychiatric disorders).

Autism and Communication

Children with autism have difficulties in talking to or expressing themselves using words the way other children do. There are those who usually “keep to themselves” and are able to communicate with devices.

These children can’t usually “connect” or easily understand the underlying language symbolisms which include non-verbal language cognition and the more advanced skills like pragmatics and listening. They usually respond to short and easily understandable instructions rather than long complicated ones. Their names will be called but they do not look at the person calling them.

They react differently in situations like when there’s a thunderstorm or a certain part of a tv/radio commercial or song being played.

Social Interaction

Due to these children’s difficulties in communicating with others, they have a hard time making friends, start conversations and “get” the humor behind jokes.

Repetitive, Restricted and/or Stereotyped Behavior

They thrive in routine like putting socks on the right foot first and not the other way around. They do repetitive behavior like banging or clapping. In some of those classified as having classical autism, these children manifest hand-flapping, rocking back and forth, turning things around over and over among other things.

Causes
The number used to be much bigger but these days, it is said that autism affects 1 child in every 150 children.

Scientists are still baffled as to the cause of this condition for one because of the complexity of the human brain.. Some believe that some of the brain connections that have something to do with communication, emotions and certain behaviors affecting social interactions do not develop as it should.

There are instances of sibling or cousins with autism.

How to Deal with Autism

Getting a diagnosis of autism is one thing. Getting the proper help to be able to have a breakthrough in the behavior of these children diagnosed with autism is another thing.

When to get the diagnosis is also important: the earlier the intervention, the better. There is such a thing called Early Intervention where the children diagnosed with autism undergo through a series of intervention that aim to develop the skills needed to be able to decrease behavioral patterns that are symptoms of the condition.

There are many options in terms of intervention procedures available for parents and caregivers in terms of getting help for their children.

Behavioral interventions. Behavioral intervention can be given in different ways: structured, skill-oriented, intensive and practical training sessions to help develop the social and language skills are needed primarily because autism symptoms are manifested through their behavior.

Occupational, speech and language as well as physical therapies are needed to consolidate the need to approach the behavior manifestations that need to be addressed in the same manner.

Learning to talk is one of the first important things to develop as is learning to listen and follow instructions.

Social skills like waiting, sitting still and observing basic social skills for social interactions are also taught.

Self-help skills like a daily routine upon waking up till sleep time and even understanding garmin nuvi gps for those learning to drive or waiting at the bus stop for those who commute are also a few of those skills being given as intervention. They need to learn real life skills in order to be independent.

Family counseling for the parents and family is also needed to help in coping with the challenges of living with a child diagnosed with autism.

Medications are prescribed to those who exhibit autism-related symptoms like anxiety, depression and obsessive – compulsive behavior. Those with behavioral problems are given medications too. It is best to consult with a doctor first before giving any type of medication for children with autism.

Dietary considerations are being adapted by parents though caution should be practiced to avoid compromising the nutritional status.

Regular school. Those who have manageable and mild autism can go to a regular school. These school should have an orderly atmosphere where the teachers understand their conditions and are able to deal with them properly in terms of learning and socializing with others.

For parents with children diagnosed with autism, be inspired with the lives of Temple Grandin and Eric Duquette

I’m sure children will get bored if they are not engaged in summer fun activities so reading, and not just clicking on those gadgets, will give them fun and excitement too. Now is the time we parents and teachers and parents lead the way and make them love reading.

I’m sure when they are adults they’d rather read fun stuff than read minute details of work-related literature like contracts, North Carolina health insurance, and manuals.

Here is a list of books for summer reading. Let’s hope the reading continues on till after summer vacation. I know *rolls eyes*, it’s 2009 but it’s still a list

Here is another reading list.

I’m not one who get books with popular animation characters because the children can watch these characters on TV so why bother have them in books? I’d rather children read books that will take them to different places, stir their imagination and make them want to read more. Or maybe be a children’s books author some day.

Fast forward to three years ago, I had a student who underwent a Tomatis Listening Program in Alabang. The parents were so happy with the results. They said that their child, my student, has greatly improved after she underwent a Tomatis Listening Program.

What is Tomatis Method?

The Tomatis Method was developed by Dr. Alfred A. Tomatis, a French Ear-Nose-Throat or ENT specialist. The study of auditory processing and language development was pioneered by him which led to a new multi-disciplinary science called Audio Psycho Phonology or APP.

It was the Tomatis Method which led to the discovery of ear and voice interrelationship: the voice can only reproduce what the ear hears. One of the causes of learning problems is the inability to listen.

The Tomatis Method allows children and adults alike to improve their listening skills for better and improved learning skills in a non-invasive and drug-free way. This can be coupled with occupation and/or speech-language therapy and/or special education services.

Listening and communication are the targeted learning modes wherein the auditory stimulation between the ear and the voice are given focused to stimulate the ear’s ability to listen and the brain’s ability to understand what is being heard.

The Tomatis Method makes use of the Music of Mozart because of these three elements: rhythm for human balance, harmony for reaching emotions and melody for the intellect.

The Tomatis Method also uses Gregorian Chant (which by the way, our nun teachers had us learn to sing via Latin songs) because of its proportional beat that is close to the respiratory rhythm. This beat has a succession of sequences of unequal length said to be found in ocean waves that come one after the other but not identical.

The Tomatis Method re-trains the listening system through:

• use of electronically modified music and language to improve auditory information processing
• enhances the ability to know the difference between frequencies which are all necessary for language development and auditory information processing
• use of Electronic Ear

Why is Listening an important factor in Learning?

For school children who learn through auditory means most of the time, listening is the key to learning the concepts and facts presented in class. We’ve heard it time and again, teachers complain that students “do not listen” or “Are not focusing and listening”. This is true to most students, specially those who have developmental and learning problems.

I wrote in a post about Study Skills that:

For me, study skills involve active listening, discussions, allowing the children to explore their surroundings, interactions between the teachers and the students and/or among students themselves.

Good Learners are Good Listeners.

The Tomatis Method is guided by the principle that “good learners are good listeners”. How so?

• Good learners are good listeners first because they focus on what they are listening to, as trained with the various frequencies the children undergoing the program listen to.
• Good learners are right ear dominant.
• Good listeners know which things they should listen to and can filter the not-so-relevant information.

Who can benefit from a Tomatis Listening Program?

Children and adults diagnosed with ADHD, Autism, Learning Disability, Sensory Processing Disorders can benefit from Tomatis Listening Program. Even those who were not diagnosed can benefit from the program because their listening skills will be more enhanced thus making them more productive and better learners.

What happens during a Tomatis Program?

• A listening assessment is first conducted to know a client’s auditory skills levels.
• An individual Tomatis Program is designed to meet each and every child’s needs and level.
• After every 15 hours of the program, progress is tracked through a listening test followed by a short interview or counseling session. This allows the team to see how much was achieved in terms of the areas where problems are pinpointed, and what feedback the child and the parents have of the program.
• Further changes will be done to suit the child’s present level.
• During sessions, children listen to personalized tracks playing in the headphones they wear. These tracks, usually consisting of Mozart music, Gregorian chants, the mother’s voice and some voice exercises and are tuned to the frequency needed by the child are put together by the Tomatis consultants pictured below: Ria Vecin, Joanne Pedrosa and Gem Manosa.

Individualized Listening Programs consist of 3 phases which last for 10 days. Each of these days have 2 hour sessions. A four – eight week break is given after each phase.

Read more about Tomatis Philippines, basic FAQs and about the Tomatis Listening Program in these links.

Like Tomatis Philippines on Facebook.

Autism, though still a puzzle to most people, is now getting the necessary attention through the internet and other means. Here in the Philippines, there are several organizations aiming to educate and train the parents and caregivers as well as inform the public about autism.

Schools are now accepting children with special needs, including those diagnosed with autism in their classes. Sadly, some schools are there for profit and some schools really aim to have these children mainstreamed in their regular class setting, offering good services to help them cope better.

The school where my children go to have special needs children. I even have several students who go there but some have graduated or moved to other schools. They have partial mainstreaming. The typically developing children have learned to cope with their special needs peers and have seemed to accept that there are children who are different from them. They don’t tend to ridicule nor make fun of these other children (of course, some do). They have learned to be more understanding and helpful too.

Two of the more popular people diagnosed with autism are Temple Grandin and Eric Duquette.

I wrote about the importance of teaching these children, at the right time, Life Skills, how to take vacations with them, taking practical education programs, Social Enterprise or Sheltered Workshops and Alternative Career Options.

For those with teen-aged children, however, their choices are few regarding the right placement because only a handful offer college courses and these usually are two-year associate courses.

Others choose to go the practical educational programs by way of technical and skills-based courses like those with computer and culinary skills among others. These alternative career options are nothing to be ashamed of, if some parents feel their children are “degraded” without a four-year degree course.

Children diagnosed with special needs can show their best by developing skills through social enterprise. They not only learn practical social skills, they also learn to be independent.

In this article, children with autism learn social skills in a coffee shop while they earn money, it is heartening to read about children being independent learning money, people and social skills.

Isn’t this what parents want? After all, parents can’t be there at all times for their children.

Then I wrote posts about my family and about being a parent under the parenting posts.

Through it all, it gives me immense joy when people I don’t know send emails, comments and thank-yous for helping them while they read about my experiences as a special education teacher.

I know I still have a lot to learn. I know I have my own shortcomings and that my students have adapted to my quirks I know too that I fall short of the expectations I set for myself.

And there were times when I ranted online when I shouldn’t have.

But in the end, when I see where my students are right now, I feel pride and joy that all the things we went through together are worth every second: teenage issues, challenges, expectations, bittersweet moments, future plans, discussed controversial topics where I have been privy to their journey through the turbulent teenage years.

The sleepless nights, the crossroads, the questions, the doubts now look like just little stumbling blocks that made their parents and I hope that we have shaped the path for a better future for them.

It was through this blog too that I took a fancy to taking photos and eventually had my own photo blog.

Through the years I’ve met a lot of mombloggers, virtually and in real-life, and have even forged a bond and a blog with some special friends who I know will be there through all wrinkle serum and hair-dyeing times.

I join photomemes and tagging memes too, to meet new friends.

One blog lead to others more out there and if only I have all the time in the world sans parenting responsibilities, real work, house chores and mundane things, I would probably have more blogs than I can handle but alas, I always go back to this blog and reserve my best thoughts here.

I hope I can still keep the “fire” and the passion in this blog alive even when my fingers are too shaky to touch the right keys on the keyboard and when my eyesight fails to read the fine print (thank God, there’s none of that yet, LOL).

It’s been a long journey (the blog’s template name) but the fun is just starting.

Like my photo blog, this is a long shot at winning but as I’ve said, it’s a close to being a winner in itself. Thank you to everyone I met virtually and in real life, for enriching my life more