 | My Common |
By the time of birth, the interruption in development of the
neocerebellum has already occurred, and no amount of wishing is going
to change that. Then, aggravating factors such as toxins and complex
organic compounds act to further lower the individual's maximum level
of functioning. In time, the autistic brain does develop at a much
steeper rate than what is otherwise expected, even to the point of
almost catching up with its non-autistic counterpart. (1)
Thus, as the autistic individual gets older, coordination among
the various areas of the brain improves, allowing for better
attention shifting. However, the deficiency of Purkinje cells
continues throughout life, apparently, leaving the individual
vulnerable to repeated flooding of information picked up by the
various senses. The frustration continues.
The sensible approach, then, would be threefold. First would be
to increase the rate of development of the brain and immune system.
Second would be to minimize those factors that adversely affect daily
functioning. Third would be to lower the level of frustration by the
individual. One well-duplicated finding in autism research is the elevated
serotonin levels found in blood cells, thus indicating a deficiency
of this valuable chemical available for use in the brain. (3)
Thus, one component of this common sense approach would include
the family of prescription drugs known as SSRI's, or Selective
Serotonin Reuptake-Inhibitors.
To be effective, though, the vigorous playing should meet the
same general guidelines as any other aerobic activity. (See http://www.cooperaerobics.com/
for more information.)
Whenever I hear of a new therapy for autism, my first response is
always to question why such an approach should work, given what we
currently know of how the human body functions. After all, the body
is a very logical set of machinery. I have also known that if there
were three constants in autism, it would be (1) the core of the brain
has suffered a setback in its development, and now must work to catch
up with the rest of the body; (2) the autistic individual suffers
high levels of stress on a constant, almost continuous basis; and (3)
everything is inter-related. Obviously, the membrane would have to be
quite pliable for this kind of development to occur. Like in any
other kind of "office" setting, not much gets done when things get
too cramped. The neocerebellum is hindered even further in its
functioning, and the resulting frustration is expressed in terms of
autism-related behaviors.
I also find it interesting that Dr. Upledger notes that stress
frequently correlates with a lack of pliability in this same ever-so-
valuable membrane. (7) Having autism myself, I have
had to cope with high levels of stress my entire life. I treasure my
ability to be high-functioning most of the time, but even that has
its downside in that it makes me acutely aware of my sensory-related
pain. I have noticed, throughout my childhood and teen years, a
recurring tightness in my skull that always seemed to precede times
when my sensory-related problems were at their worst. In all my years
of searching for a way to cope, mostly by trial and error, one of the
few things I found to really help lessen the sensory torture was to
just stand in the shower and let the hot water beat down on the back
of my head. Perhaps that was my own version of this kind of therapy.
I never have understood why therapy should be expensive to be
effective. Science has long known that candida albicans, like most other
yeasts, eventually changes forms as it matures, from being a more-or-
less harmless yeast to a destructive fungus. It is thought that
ordinarily the immune system, as well as other intestinal flora such
as acidophilus, keeps the yeast colony in check. However, if the
immune system is underdeveloped, or does not function properly any
other reason, the yeast gets overpopulated, some of it maturing into
fungus. In that form, it grows roots, puncturing the intestinal
lining in the process. It is thought that these fissures would allow
some foods, particular gluten, an opium-like protein found in wheat
and barley, to get into the circulatory system only partially
digested. (9)
Thus, one solution would be to modify the diet to exclude gluten
and lactic acid, the worst offenders, to decrease intake of simple
sugars. Candidiasis centers typically recommend biotin and
acidophilus. (10)
It is thought that the medical basis lies in the inability to
adequately filter out information received through each of the
senses. I think of my brain at such times of confusion as being like
a freeway crowded with reckless and non-law abiding drivers, causing
massive traffic jams. Why, mail trucks would have difficulty getting
through in such a case, and so do my conscious thoughts.
In a crowded store, for instance, my brain seems to want to
process what each person is saying, causing my mind to become dazed.
In autistic children, this cognitive confusion often leads to use of
poor judgment, aggression, echolalia, inappropriate laughter, social
awkwardness, choppy sentences, and inattentiveness.
My senses would sometimes become dull to the point that I could
not clearly see or hear, and the world around me would seemingly
cease to exist. The sensory flow would seem to become confused as
well. Oftentimes, I would be aware that my body hurt somewhere, but I
would be unable to pinpoint what was hurting, even to the point of
being unable to distinguish between whether the distress is
kinesthetic or aural in nature.
I classify volume stress according to the sense involved.
Auditory stress would involve crowd noise or multiple sources of
sounds (such as when the TV is going, the stereo is playing, and
people are talking concurrently.
So how does one cope? A preventive measure would be to
mechanically limit the amount of sensory data coming in, i.e.
sunglasses. Another coping method would be to allow for a period of
sensory deprivation, thus giving the brain time to recuperate. An
example of this would be a dark, quiet room.
Auditory stress would involve crowd noise or multiple sources of
sounds (such as when the TV is going, the stereo is playing, and
people are talking concurrently. To cope, I like to use foam ear
plugs or rolled up cotton balls, especially if the noise is expected.
Later, when I'm alone, I like to spend a few minutes alone relaxing
in a quiet, unlighted room. (sensory deprivation)
Visual stress would be the result of lighting that is bright,
particularly if there is considerable contrast. Personally, even the
small amount of light during night time is often too much, and I
typically wake up in the mornings with my eyes being tired and sore.
Since lighting is so necessary for everyday activities, light-related
stress is so subtle that often autistic individuals themselves may
not realize this as a source of their frustration. Fluorescent bulbs
compound this problem with their constant flickering, especially when
the lighting is relatively bright.
I also like to wear high quality, ultraviolet filter shades when
outside, especially if the sun is particularly bright. I try to keep
inside lighting at a relative low level -- bright enough to read by,
but not so bright that I can spot every speck of dust in the air!
When the system doesn't function properly, it causes the
individual to have severe fine motor coordination problems. For such
an individual, it is difficult to perform even mundane tasks,
especially writing. It is like an office that has gotten shuffled
around to the point that every worker is confused as to what his job
is supposed to be. Children with the disorder, many of whom were also
autistic, were frequently misunderstood, and thought to be stubborn
or lazy.
Fortunately, through the work of Dr. Jean Ayres in her work at
UCLA, much of that has changed. Likening it to a severe traffic jam
on some busy city intersection, she was able to show that it can be
both diagnosed and treated, using some of the same occupational
therapy techniques commonly used with adults.(11)
Perhaps she should have called it "Sensory Reintegration" except
that when shortened, SI definitely sounds better. At any rate, what
it does is it causes one to be able to sense things much better. I
think of it as a way of reintegrating the sensory system, which
really is every bit as complex as the immune system.
Incidentally, unlike some allergies, desensitization is not
possible in autism. Taking a child to a crowded mall does not result
in making the child less sensitive to crowd noise; it only worsens
the problem. One solution would surely include music therapy. Ever since the
days of David and King Saul, harp music has been known to promote
emotional and physical wellbeing, but only recently has science
figured out how it does. Recent pilot studies indicate lowered levels
of the stress hormone cortisol, even for weeks afterwards, and
heightened levels of melatonin, the hormone so important for better
sleep. (12)
Perhaps not a panacea, music is being studied for potential
benefits by the medical community. It is thought to be able to
influence brain wave frequencies. While everyone feels occasional
anxiety, autistic individuals feel it to a much greater extent due to
their mental rigidity and to their hypersensitivy to light and noise.
Thus, while such music is beneficial to everyone, it is especially so
for those who are autistic. Interestingly, recent studies show that
as little as thirty minutes of exposure to harp music will increase
IgA antibody levels in the body by 20%. (13)
Cancer researchers are also looking at music for its ability to
reduce stress hormones cortisol and interleukin in the body. (14) Other types of music, particularly Baroque, have
also been noted to have beneficial health effects.
My taste buds are so sensitive, even as they are in so many
autistic individuals. In the case of children with autism, they are
not going to like bland foods (rice); nor are they going to like
aromatic foods with the "wrong" flavor (liver). I've found avoidance
to be a good strategy.
Undesirable scents can be frustrating because they tend to be
continuous in nature; thus, the frustration level in the autistic
individual may build until he or she cannot handle it anymore. I just
avoid the insulting odors whenever possible.
Autism is a complex disorder with
many inter-related initial causes and even more aggravating factors.
Thus, any effective approach to dealing with the autism syndrome must
address this complexity. Like negative synergy, the various inter-
related components work together to not only cause the disorder
initially, but also to adversely affect daily functioning, causing
the disorder to be so very troublesome to all concerned, especially
to the one with the disorder. There is no one-size-fits-all approach
to autism, but only general guidelines based on the various factors.
I. Factors that Influence the Rate of
Development
1. The Serotonin Connection
Many experts
feel that an adequate supply of serotonin is vital for early brain
development, as well as proper functioning throughout life; thus, a
program of exercise early in life could possibly increase the rate of
development for those who are developmentally delayed. (2)
2. The Amount of Physical Activity Connection
Several
independent studies, including one done using autistic patients,
confirm that prolonged physical exercise decreases the level of
serotonin found in blood cells, thereby increasing it in the brain.
The author of that study reported a significant decrease in negative
behaviors as a result. (4)
II. Factors that Influence the Level of Functioning
1.The cranial pliability connection
It is not often that I
support a therapy of any kind without having extensively tried it
first, but such is the case with what is known as CranioSacral
Therapy, or CST. Though the therapy has been around since the early
1900s, it wasn't until recently that the mechanism for it was even
partially understood. Medical science knew the techniques worked, but
not how or why. In early 1970, Dr. John Upledger discovered, quite by
accident, that ordinarily the dura mater, the membrane encompassing
the brain, is not only pliable, but actually moves around in a
rhythmic manner. Dr. Upledger later noted that whenever this membrane
ceased to be pliable, a variety of nervous system-related disorders
and conditions would inevitably erupt. (5) Dr.
Upledger also notes "the manual stretching of the restrictive dura
mater by the use of CranioSacral Therapy techniques has provided
impressive improvement in autism." (6)
2.The yeast-turned-fungus connection
There are
many inter-related aggravating factors that can make the disorder
more troublesome for everyone involved. Some of these are simple to
deal with, others are not. One such factor involves yeast
overpopulation. Yeast is so much part of our living environment that
virtually everyone comes into contact with it only moments following
birth. Though its role in digestion is unknown, other than its
ability to ferment sugar, it is ordinarily harmless. (8)
3. Short Term Volume stress aka crowd noise, bright lights
Connection
One factor, I term "volume stress, is when one is
inundated with so much intricate detail or too many sources of
related data for the brain to process very easily, and it also
involves all the senses.
III. Factors Affecting Frustration
1. Sensory
Dysfunction
After long periods of sensory dysfunction, the
entire nervous system seems to dysfunction, causing severe motor
coordination difficulties. Sensory integration is a process by which
the brain takes incoming information from each of the senses, adds it
to information already stored in the memory, and makes meaningful
responses.
2. Resistance to Change
One source of
frustration in most people's lives is any type of change, especially
if unexpected. What makes the autistic individual different is the
degree of resistance to change, due mostly to the rigid, machine-
like, thought processes. The need for rituals arises out of needing
to see structure and orderliness in the environment -- families,
neighbors, etc; otherwise, the individual perceives only chaos, and
overreacts. This perceived lack of structure comes in various forms,
including boredom.
2. Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity by necessity
includes all of my senses, such as when seemingly harmless sounds
becomes painful. Hearing sensitivity, for me, includes clicking
sounds or loud booming sounds, especially if such sounds go on for
long. To cope, I like to using foam ear plugs or rolled up cotton
balls to decrease the volume. Otherwise, I try to reduce the noise
level in various other ways. I use plastic dishes rather than
stoneware. I avoid small room with big echo problems. I lay things
down gently rather than drop them. I also like to spend a few minutes
alone relaxing in a dark, quiet room.
(1) Hashimoto, Tokiashi, et. al. (1995)
Development of the brainstem and cerebellum in autistic patients.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 25, 1-18.
(3) McLean, J. (1996). Factors influencing cortical
development [Online]. Available HTTP:
http://aorta.library.mun.ca/med/research/cortical.htm.
(3) Gilman, S. Collaborative Linkage Study of Autism
[Online]. Available HTTP: http://www.nemc.org/psych/autism3.htm
(4) Schmidt, G.J. (1989) Aerobic exercise
related to functional aerobic capacity, repetitive/interfering
behavior, and platelet serotonin concentration of individuals with
autism. (Dissertation)
(5)Upledger, John E.
(2000). Discover CranioSacral Therapy. [Online]. Available HTTP:
http://www.upledger.com/discover.htm
(6)Upledger, John E. (2000). Autism - Observations,
Experiences, and Concepts. [Online]. Available HTTP:
http://www.upledger.com/Clinic/autism.htm
(7)Upledger, John E. (2000). Autism - Observations,
Experiences, and Concepts. [Online]. Available HTTP:
http://www.upledger.com/Clinic/autism.htm
(8)
The Candida Albicans Mystery [Online]. Available HTTP:
http://ephca.com/ca_mys.htm
(9) Crook, W.
(1997) Frequently asked questions. [Online] Available HTTP:
http://www.yeastconnection.com/faq1.htm
(10)
(1997) Candidiasis. [Online] Available HTTP:
http://aidsinfonet.org/516-thrush.html#anchor50580
(11) Sensory Integrative Dysfunction in Young Children
[Online]. Available HTTP:
http://www.tsbvi.edu/Outreach/seehear/fall97/sensory.htm
(12) The News-Times Health News Science is proving what
many already believed: the power of song [Online]. Available HTTP:
http://www.newstimes.com/archive97/may1297/heg.htm
(13) Information about Research and Study on Easy
Listening Music [Online]. Available HTTP:
http://harplandmusic.com/health.htm
(14)
Music Therapy - New Directions in Research [Online]. Available HTTP:
http://www.music.msu.edu/notes/fall1997/page02.htm
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* "Ponderings" is an editorial feature I publish online on various autism-related issues. Check back here for future articles and please do recommend this site to all your friends. :)