What to do after detecting autism in children

The symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can sometimes be difficult to spot at earlier stages. These include problems in language comprehension, delay in speaking, abnormal tone of voice, inappropriate social interaction, and poor eye contact. It may even take another person to suspect something. According to neuroengineering expert Dr. Curtis Cripe, parents should have their children tested for ASD if they suspect anything because catching it at an early stage can make a big difference.

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Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, parents should prepare. And, more importantly, they shouldn’t let the disorder intimidate them. They should find the time to learn all about ASD, what changes in their lifestyle are expected, and what can be done.

Also, some parents tend to blame themselves because of the genetic anomaly of ASD. Your child is still the same blessing you had since day one and nothing changes that fact. It’s not the end of the world and there are truly wonderful stories out there regarding people with ASD and the leaps and bounds they are able to make despite the situation.

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Lastly, some parents look at ASD as a life-threatening disease like cancer. However, it is a brain disorder, not a disease and many proven therapies can help. While it is indeed life-changing, Dr. Curtis Cripe believes that it doesn’t mean that your child should be treated anything other than a loved one growing up and discovering the world, just like any other kid.

Dr. Curtis Cripeis a multidisciplinary neuroengineer and aerospace engineer whose diverse work background includes software development, bioengineering, addiction recovery, psychophysiology, psychology, brain injury, and child neurodevelopment. To know more about Dr. Cripe and his expertise, visit thiswebsite.

Common neurodevelopment problems affecting children.

A child’s brain is constantly in continual development, growth, and tremendous changes and connections because it is frequently stimulated by the environment where it develops. There are a number of disorders from abnormal brain development or damage at an early age, and depending on the time the damage or abnormality occurs, the impact and effects will largely vary.

Autism This developmental disorder appears in the first three years of life, affecting the brain’s normal developing of social and communication skills. Patients process information in the brain and develop at different rates in every ear. Those diagnosed with autism have persistent difficulties in areas such as social communication, motor or verbal behavior, and sensory behavior.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) This childhood mental condition usually takes place before age seven and involves impaired or diminished attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. A child with this problem could lack attention to detail and the ability to sit still. He or she might talk excessively, has excessive energy, or interrupts in other people’s activities, to name a few.

Learning disorders Dyslexia is a reading disorder marked by an impaired ability to recognize words, poor comprehension, and slow reading. Dysgraphia is a writing disorder where there may be problems in writing specific words or writing in general, while dyscalculia is a calculation disorder in the basic arithmetic skills such as addition and subtraction.

Anxiety disorders Here, children worry excessively about many things, from school to their health to their future in general. These may include social phobia, antisocial behavior, and panic attacks, and the anxiety or depression may persist into adulthood.

Dr. Curtis Cripe is a multidisciplinary neuroengineer who currently heads the Research and Development Division of NTL Group, for advanced technology for brain and cognitive repair. Read more about neurodevelopment on this page.

The different therapies for autism

Individuals with autism belong on a large spectrum. In fact, no two people with ASD are alike. It is also a well-known and universally-accepted fact that there is no cure for ASD. There are, however, different kinds of therapies that can vastly improve the quality of living of a person with autism. Here are some of them.

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Behavioral therapy

Applied Behavior Analysis or ABA helps a child with his everyday activities and how they relate to people. ABA also shows a child how to do things on their own at home, such as using the toilet, pouring water for themselves, and preparing their own meals. As such, ABA therapy is best done at home.

Speech therapy

Children on the spectrum often have trouble communicating. This is especially true for those classified as nonverbal or those with severe ASD. Speech therapy doesn’t necessarily teach these kids how to talk, but rather how to communicate via signs and signals. A popular method is having a set of pictures at home. Children point to the objects if they need or want to do something.

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy or OT helps with the cognitive and physiological functions of a child. OT assists in fostering the brain and motor function coordination which kids with ASD have trouble with. This kind of therapy helps with the most basic movements such as climbing, walking, crawling, pointing, and others.

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Dr. Curtis Cripe is a neuroengineer with a background that includes the treatment of learning and neurodevelopmental disorders. He currently leads the Research and Development department of the NTL group. For more on Dr. Cripe and the NTL group, follow this Facebook page.

Seeing Into The Spectrum: Advanced Neuroimaging Technique Said To Predict Autism

There used to be no predicting whether babies less than two years old will develop autism or other developmental disorders later on. But an advanced MRI technique being studied by researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is showing promise in decoding how different regions of the brain interact in babies at high risk for autism.

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Functional connectivity MRI, or fcMRI, reveals a correlation between connections among certain areas of the brain and the likelihood of autism.The researchers focused on infants with siblings diagnosed with autism, as this set is assumed to be high-risk. The fcMRI, scanning 230 different regions of the brain associated with specific abilities such as language and social behavior, was conducted on them in their sleep when they were six months old. The scans were studied alongside other clinical information in the formation of predictions.

The study, published in the June 2017 issue of Science Translational Medicine, supports the idea that the brain undergoes changes before behavioral symptoms of autism manifest at two years. It then grouped neuroimaging results among a population of 59 six-month-old infants into autism and non-autism predictions. It also identified almost a thousand brain connections that are predictive of autism.

The confirmation of the study’s predictions was compelling. Eighty-two percent (9 out of 11) of infants predicted to develop the disorder went on to have autism. The study also correctly predicted all the infants who will not develop the disorder.

The predictive promise of neuroimaging in the early identification of neurodevelopmental disorders is seen to support recommendations for early intervention, which mitigates the behavioral symptoms of autism.

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Dr. Curtis Cripe is a neuroengineer with a diverse multidisciplinary background that includes software development, bioengineering, addiction recovery, psychophysiology, psychology, brain injury, and child neurodevelopment. To learn about the basics of neuroimaging and other neuroengineering techniques, visit this webpage.