Comments on: Changing All the Time

By: Johnny Seitz

Johnny Seitz — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 00:14:08 +0000

I am an autistic adult. I was born with classic autism (head banging type
child) because of this I know about families wrapping themselves around a
disability. Stroke, like autism is a family affair. I am also a bit of a
savant, my gift understanding the human body.
4 years ago, a doctor asked me if I would apply my skills to a patient of
his, Dick Clark who was reaching the six month point in his recovery. You
can read the rest of the story from the cover story Stroke Connection
Magazine. I work everyday with stroke survivors. My disability is my gift
and my compassion comes from my own dealing with the rest of the world
around the disabled individual.

Here is a youtube video of what I do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yb90Uyy_VuI

By: You want to see freakish athleticism? Meet Jarron Gilbert « Athletic Team Sports

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 20:25:39 +0000

[...] Changing All the Time (autismvox.com) [...]

By: Norah

Norah — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 22:01:19 +0000

Heheh, toilet flushing, how I hate it. Used to press the button and run out of the bathroom as quickly as possible, usually not quick enough, sometimes the haste made me not press the button deep enough and I’d have to go back (argh). Actually the sort of high-pitched sound of the water in the tank refilling is even worse for me than the roar of the flush.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:09:57 +0000

Phil, dkmnow,

I had always thought of it as a fascination, never as a way of learning to deal with the world.

By: Karen

Karen — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:19:17 +0000

I simply have to comment about this one. Several public restrooms have extremely loud toilet flushes. I sure it varies between restrooms. (ever take notice?) My son has to hold me tightly after he pushes the handle so it doesn’t bother him as much when it flushes. This has been a issue when we have to use the restrooms when out in public. Don’t even talk about fire drills!

By: Jen

Jen — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:47:34 +0000

It’s also interesting to me just how differently our kids react not only to supplements, but to medications. One of my children has done extremely well on Melatonin for sleep problems, where it sends another child into what’s pretty much a clinically manic phase. Now we’re finding that after a couple of years the daughter that has taken melatonin well is responding much better to chamomile for sleep problems, while it makes another of my children vomit (I know- vomiting from chamomile?)

I was a pretty educated herbalist for years (which I used on myself and other adults, NOT on children), and I think that it’s extremely important that if you want to try new supplements (of any kind) on your child, it should be done under a doctor’s supervision (preferably a doctor who does not sell that supplement). There is a huge percentage of people out there who seem to think that vitamins, supplements, and herbs or herbal extracts are not medicines or can’t do any harm because “they’re natural”, but although some of them are effective, some of them can be injurious to the child if you don’t know exactly what you are doing. It’s rarely a good idea to google something and then say “I’ll try it” without adequate medical supervision- best case scenario it’s not going to do anything bad, worst case scenario you’re going to buy something that can actively make your child sick, or actually set back their progress. Doctors who are selling supplements themselves are rarely a good resource, in my experience.

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:38:38 +0000

@Tyler, off-key singing (mine) bothers Charlie too and I do think he likes the muffled sounds under water. No interest in taking a bath but some really long hot showers!

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 13:08:27 +0000

When we gave our son magnesium, there was an immediate increase in self-injurious behaviors; many of those supplements did not have a good effect on him. It’s been interesting to see my son learn to accommodate for his needs.

By: Jo

Jo — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 07:03:01 +0000

I read that sound sensitivity is linked to magnesium deficiency. Look up “hyperacusis and magnesium”. Certainly autistic kids are deficient in many things, possibly due to poor absorption.

“Homegrown acupressure” – loud sounds cause physical pain – he is trying to relieve the pain.

> He hated the lawnmower and the vacuum yet the toy lawn mower and the toy vacuum were his favorite toys. I can ask him about this dichotomy but I am not sure he can explain it.

Simple – the real things are too loud, the toy ones are not.

The variable hearing sensitivity may be explained by fluctuating levels of magnesium.

If you prefer therapy, auditory integration therapy has been known to reduce hyperacusis. There are many other therapies available as well. Do seek out treatments instead of tossing around theories about why your child covers his ears.

By: dkmnow

dkmnow — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 05:19:27 +0000

Phil has got it nailed down, exactly.