Autism can be successfully treated
Autism Can Be Successfully Treated
For years they have been treating children with different physical problems such as: autism, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, hyperkinesis cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, etc. The effects on the family of any exceptional child can often be devastating. Families have been shattered by the experience. The effects on siblings are also overlooked. I have not been directly affected by this disease, but am very close to loved ones in which deal with this life challenge every day of their lives. Recently, the ten year old brother of this precious autistic child, age 5, when asked about the change in his brother stated, now I have a brother, he plays with me. He takes my toys. He talks to me. He never did this before.” Today, there has been much success in treating infantile autism. Over the years the definition of autism has changed enormously. During my early years of practicing in the field of psychology for an organization called Opportunity Health Services focused on children with special needs, we would see 3 or 4 children that met the criteria of autism. Through the years, we saw at least 1,000 who have been labeled such. Today, any child that doesn’t function normally or is delayed ion speech is labeled autistic. It has become an epidemic. The diagnosis of autism is growing almost exponentially. During the last 30 years, a billion dollar industry has sprung up over autism. We now have specialized physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech therapists. There are psychologists who specialize in mild, moderate or severe autism. There are numerous descriptions and names given to children based on their level of functioning. Society is defining an allergic-biochemical problem with the resultant behavior and not by the cause of the problem. Worse, as a result of this, parents are given no hope that their child will ever function normally. We are closing the door of life and opportunity on these
For years they have been treating children with different physical problems such as: autism, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, hyperkinesis cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, etc. The effects on the family of any exceptional child can often be devastating. Families have been shattered by the experience. The effects on siblings are also overlooked. I have not been directly affected by this disease, but am very close to loved ones in which deal with this life challenge every day of their lives. Recently, the ten year old brother of this precious autistic child, age 5, when asked about the change in his brother stated, now I have a brother, he plays with me. He takes my toys. He talks to me. He never did this before.” Today, there has been much success in treating infantile autism. Over the years the definition of autism has changed enormously. During my early years of practicing in the field of psychology for an organization called Opportunity Health Services focused on children with special needs, we would see 3 or 4 children that met the criteria of autism. Through the years, we saw at least 1,000 who have been labeled such. Today, any child that doesn’t function normally or is delayed ion speech is labeled autistic. It has become an epidemic. The diagnosis of autism is growing almost exponentially. During the last 30 years, a billion dollar industry has sprung up over autism. We now have specialized physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech therapists. There are psychologists who specialize in mild, moderate or severe autism. There are numerous descriptions and names given to children based on their level of functioning. Society is defining an allergic-biochemical problem with the resultant behavior and not by the cause of the problem. Worse, as a result of this, parents are given no hope that their child will ever function normally. We are closing the door of life and opportunity on these