Autism, OCD and Anxiety

Autism, OCD and Anxiety Associated with PANDAS and PANS

healing4soul.com

For years physicians who treat children with autism and other DSM diagnosis have stated that there is a link between these conditions and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Diagnosis Associated with Streptococcal Infections). The patients they treat with biomedical interventions have experienced improvements and up until recently, mainstream medicine was not on board. This all changed when the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health stated that PANDAS is indeed a real medical illness.

The NIMH states that PANDAS is used to describe a subset of children and adolescents who have Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and/or tic disorders whose conditions worsen following strep infections such as Strep throat and Scarlet Fever.  

PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) is a newer term used to describe the larger class of acute-onset OCD cases and includes all cases of abrupt onset – not just those associated with strep infections. Lyme disease, staph infections, mycoplasma infections such as walking pneumonia and rheumatic fever have been linked with PANS.

PANDAS/PANDS leads to autoimmune-mediated inflammation of the brain and attacks parts of the brain known as the basal ganglia and the anterior cingulated gyrus resulting in serious changes in behavior, movement control, obsessive thoughts and extreme emotional ups and downs.

The following symptoms are usually seen in children diagnosed with PANDAS/PANS:

• Severe separation anxiety
• Generalized anxiety. which may progress to episodes of panic and a ‘terror-stricken look’
• Hyperactivity, abnormal movements, and a sense of restlessness
• Sensory abnormalities, including hyper-sensitivity to light or sounds, distortions of visual perceptions, and occasionally, visual or auditory hallucinations
• Concentration difficulties, and loss of academic abilities, particularly in math and visual-spatial areas
• Increased urinary frequency and a new onset of bed-wetting
• Irritability and emotional lability. Abrupt onset of depression can also occur, with thoughts about suicide.
• Developmental regression, including temper tantrums, "baby talk" and handwriting deterioration

How Does This Relate to Autism?

It is estimated that more than 30% of children with autism also have PANDAS/PANS. In children diagnosed with autism, the extreme pain from brain swelling may lead to head-banging behavior.  Unfortunately, medical professionals view head-banging as stimming and are not likely to do the lab tests necessary to determine if the child’s brain is inflamed due to a severe bacterial infection. It is important to advocate for your child as many children on the spectrum make dramatic improvements with several documented cases of complete recovery once properly diagnosed and treated.

Testing for PANDAS/PANS

The diagnosis of PANDAS is a clinical diagnosis, which means that lab tests alone are not enough to qualify for the diagnosis. Instead clinicians use diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of PANDAS that includes some lab work. Recommended lab work includes:

• Measuring anti-streptococcal antibody titers to determine whether there is immunologic evidence of a previous strep infection.
• Throat swab or 48-hour strep test
• Check family members to see if someone is a strep carrier. Carriers are often asymptomatic, but will test positive for strep.

Diagnostic Criteria for PANDAS/PAN are:

• Presence of obsessive-compulsive disorder and/or a tic disorder
• Pediatric onset of symptoms (age 3 years to puberty)
• Episodic course of symptom severity
• Association with group A Beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection (a positive throat culture for strep or history of Scarlet Fever)
• Association with neurological abnormalities (motoric hyperactivity, or adventitious movements, such as choreiform movements).

Treatment Options

Traditional treatment includes Cognitive Behavior Therapy, antibiotic treatment and immune based treatment such as IVIG or Prednisone.

At Healing 4 Soul, we recognize other treatment approaches that have been effective throughout the world. Many homeopaths are seeing success treating PANDAS/PANS using Pleo Sanum remedies and supplements. The Healing 4 Soul PANDAS/PANS treatment plan will sometimes include the following:

1. Pleo San Strep

2. Pleo Not

3. Quinton Isotonic

4. GcMAF

5. Pleo San Staph

6. Pleo Quent

Scheduling an appointment with Sima Ash will allow her to look at the specifics in your child’s case and also utilize other modalities such as CEASE Therapy to provide further benefit. Please phone our office at 714-939-9355 to schedule an appointment in our office, over the phone or via skype.

Who Are Twice Exceptional Children?

Who are Twice-Exceptional Childen?

m.wisegeek.com

Twice-exceptional children are gifted children who also have learning disabilities. They represent a unique challenge in education and child-rearing, as many people are unaccustomed to the idea that a person can be gifted while also being disabled. One of the most common problems which faces twice-exceptional children is a failure to be recognized, meaning that their unique needs are not addressed. When this happens, a twice-exceptional child may fall through the cracks and fail to realize his or her full potential.

In fact, learning disabilities are not uncommon in people who are unusually gifted. For example, a child may be an extremely talented reader, but he or she may lack math and logic skills, or a child may be capable of composing a symphony, but be unable to write out his or her own name. Some disabilities are actually linked with gifted tendencies, as is the case with conditions like Asperger's Syndrome, dyslexia, and autism.

Twice-exceptional children can present in a variety of ways. In some cases, the child's gifts may compensate for the learning disability, essentially hiding the disability. In this situation, a twice-exceptional child may find schoolwork easy or even boring until he or she encounters a major obstacle, in which case the learning disability manifests. This can be seriously damaging for the child, as he or she may not get early support to address the learning disability, and the child may also struggle with difficulties, learning to abandon things which are too hard because everything else is too easy.

In other instances, people may become so focused on a learning disability that they miss a twice-exceptional child's gifts. This often happens to dyslexics, who struggle with reading and writing tasks as children. A dyslexic may be shunted to a different educational track which does not allow the student to develop other skills, with the dyslexia being viewed as a crucial impairment that needs to be addressed.

Many twice-exceptional children struggle with accomplishment and failure, and a child who fails to perform as expected may be struggling with a learning disability. If, for example, a child demonstrates remarkable reading and writing skills but poor oral comprehension, it could be a sign that the child has an auditory impairment, or that he or she is unable to focus on material which is presented orally. A twice-exceptional child may also become bored or restless by material which is too easy, which can result in a fall in performance.

Educators and parents are starting to recognize twice-exceptional children and their unique needs. Because these children often defy tests which are used to categorize children, it is important for parents of such children to support their children to ensure that they get the education they need. Discussing a child's situation with a teacher is a good way to start, and it can also help to use the services of doctors, psychologists, and other professionals who can address the learning disability while celebrating the child's natural gifts.

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Autism Society - The Autism Society is proud to be active supporters of House Bill 3276

The Autism Society is proud to be active supporters of House Bill 3276

April 12, 2013
By Autism Society

Earlier this week, Autism Society President and CEO, Scott Badesch, travelled to Austin, Texas to testify before the Texas House of Representatives.  Mr. Badesch testified in support of House Bill 3276, which will provide insurance coverage for autism screening at 18 and 24 months and remove the age restrictions currently in place for autism coverage.

HB 3276, introduced by Autism Society Board Vice Chairman, Congressman Ron Simmons, aims to remove barriers and improve access to autism screening and services.   

Mr. Badesch remarked following his testimony; “This bill represents an important step in removing barriers for those potentially affected by autism.  As we know, early screening, diagnosis, and access to appropriate services is vital for individuals to achieve the highest quality of life.  We at the Autism Society are proud of our Board Member, Congressmen Simmons and leadership the role he has taken on this important issue and will do all we can to actively support the passage of HB 3276.”

via autism-society.org

Autism Society - A Message from the Autism Society President and CEO

A Message from the Autism Society President and CEO

April 19, 2013
By Scott Badesch

As Congress and President Obama begin discussions on the development and actions on Fiscal Year 13/14 federal budget, we will certainly hear the concerns voiced by many that there is just no money available to do what everyone wants the federal government to do.   The same concerns are heard at the state and local government level. Certainly, that is true, but I often wonder how our government entities establish priorities for support when it comes to helping those in need.

Many of us will suggest that the government must determine the value of helping people in need as its highest priority.  Others will argue that money spent today will save money in the future; these are all good and needed government discussions.  But the reality is that how government defines priorities certainly doesn’t always relate to rational processes of budgeting and decision making. For example, we always find government money for airport expansions, so that planes can fly in and out of a city on time with little wait to take off or land. But, we can never seem to find money for helping people who are on waiting list as long as eight or more years for services.  Does the government prioritize individuals’ times on the plane before an individual with developmental disability who waits several years for services ?

We always justify giving tax breaks to build sports stadiums and bring businesses into a community, based on an argument that in the long term more tax dollars will be earned as a result of the investment.  But, we know that is often not true.  What we do know is that if we use government dollars to invest in early treatment options for people living with autism, money is not only saved in the long run, but people are helped.  Despite these facts of reality, government always finds money to invest in sports stadiums and business development, but rarely in young children living with autism.

So, how can we change this type of thinking?  Some will argue we have to become more involved in the political process.  Some will argue that the voices of the many are often drawn out by the voice of the few who are powerful and influential.  That all is often true.  But, the reality of the autism community is that we often are our own worst enemies.

I spend a good amount of time meeting with staff and elected officials in Congress and working with the President’s staff who are all good and caring people.   But, in almost every visit I make to advocate for an action by government, the person I meet with will ask how the position we advocate for relates to an almost totally opposite position sought by another autism groups. One group advocates exclusively for research funds, another exclusively for more to address concerns regarding vaccines, some only advocate for funding for services for children, some advocate only for funding for services for adult’s, some restrict their advocacy and argue for greater civil rights enforcement and self-advocates rightfully advocate for inclusion of their important and needed voice.  All this is good, but sooner or later we have to ask why the Autism Community can’t define priorities that we all promote and then use the volunteers and supporters we have to advocate those positions to their elected officials.  We can and should do that, but I often find it to be difficult, if sometimes not an impossible task.   Our passion for what we want is so strong.  We just need to make sure that passion is best used to get what is needed.

For me, we must assure that the voice of those who have an autism diagnosis are heard and valued at the highest level.  I believe that is what occurs within the Autism Society system.  I also can’t understand how we can ask people to wait eight or more years for needed services at the expense of any other advocacy position.   Research is so important but when funds are limited, we have to determine the needed balance of service funding with research.  We have to stop spending money on funding incidence rates, when we don’t have the funds to help  “one” of the 1 in 88 or 1 in 50, whichever incidence rate finding you support.

What we all want is needed. We need more research, we need to settle the concerns regarding vaccines and we definitely need help for children, families and adults affected by autism.  I would suggest now is the time to have that occur, because as long as that doesn’t occur, we  won’t have the needed funds for research, needed funds for services, we will continue to have people waiting several years for services and questions will remain on the cause of autism.

We can and now must do what is needed to get our collective voices heard and not lost in the national, state and local discussion.   Visit your local or state Autism Society and become a member.  Get involved, there is no better way to care and help address these issues than thru the Autism Society.

via autism-society.org