All posts by Sumana Rao

Don't worry about the people in your past; There's a reason they didn't make it to your future.
Understanding Autism

Understanding Autism

Autism is a mental condition, present from early childhood, characterized by difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people and in using language and abstract concepts.

What may cause autism?

There is no known single cause for autism spectrum disorder, but it is generally accepted that it is caused by abnormalities in brain structure or function. Brain scans show differences in the shape and structure of the brain in children with autism compared to  other children.

  • According to research findings and studies Genetics may play a significant role because ASDs occurs more frequently in certain families and in patients with other genetic problems (fragile X syndrome or tuberous sclerosis).
  • Some toxins or drugs may play a role -research says this. For example, valproic acid, halidomide, and infection exposure during pregnancy increases ASD risk in the infant.
  • Remember: Vaccines do not cause autism.

Symptoms of Autism

Symptoms of Autism

Early detection of Autism: What parents to look for in child

Early detection of Autism

Diagnosis: Early detection by doctor

Social Skills

Evaluation of ASD children: Medical diagnosis

Evaluation of ASD children: Medical diagnosis

Treatment: School Evaluation

School Evaluation

Treatment of Autism:

Pet may help autistic kids

Living with Autism children

Living with Autism children

References:

  • http://www.autism-society.org/
  • http://www.medicinenet.com/

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: April 1, 2016
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Pets may help autistic kids

Treatment of Autism

  • Medication: Although there is no medical treatment for ASDs, there are treatments for some ASD symptoms. Talk to your child’s pediatrician and discuss about the therapy.   Caution for parents: Close observation is required to monitor the child’s response to any medication.
  • Sensory Integration: Children with ASD may be extremely sensitive to sensory stimuli like lights, textures, taste, odors, sounds and touch. They may panic when they see blinking lights, strangers and may get excited in sharing things or  to new unfamiliar settings and disinfectants.  Some children can be trained to adapt and may show improvement in their behavior.
  • Assistive Technology: For non verbal children with autism there is technology help available. A computer tablet, a computer, or phone app with programs especially designed to engage children with ASD are available.
  • Generally, autistic kids love animals especially dogs – see whether your child is comfortable with a pet.
  • Diet for autism children: A balanced diet with proper nutrients can help to keep good stamina and health of autism children. Talk to your doctor about the good and they will be able to help you or may guide you to a good child nutrition advisor.

Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Treatment of Autism: Special Evaluation

Treatment: School Evaluation

Children Act of 1975 requires free and appropriate public education for all children, regardless of the extent and severity of their handicaps while amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act of 1986 extended the requirement for free and appropriate education to children aged 3 to 5 years. Parents are advised to check with their individual school administrators to determine what programs best fit their child. There are two ways in which a child can be evaluated under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act:

  1. The parent can request an evaluation by calling or writing the director of special education or the principal of the child’s school.
  2. The school system may determine that an evaluation is necessary. If so, they must receive written permission from the parent before conducting the evaluation. – An evaluation should be conducted by a multidisciplinary team or group, which must include at least one teacher or other specialist with specific knowledge in the area of the suspected disability.

See more about school evaluation here: http://www.autism-society.org/what-is/diagnosis/school-evaluation/

Image courtesy: http://www.kars4kids.org/


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Diagnosis: Early detection by doctor

Diagnosis: Early detection by doctor

Diagnosis: Early detection by doctor: A neurologist, behavioral pediatrician, clinical psychologist and a neuropsychologist can diagnose autism.

Diagnosis of social skills: At first glance, some people with autism may appear to have an intellectual disability, sensory processing issues, or problems with hearing or vision. To complicate matters further, these conditions can co-occur with autism. However, it is important to distinguish autism from other conditions, as an accurate and early autism diagnosis can provide the basis for an appropriate educational and treatment program (source: Autism society).

  1. Inability to look another person in the eye, even the eyes of their parents.
  2. Their communication is more like robot without much or no facial expressions or gesture.
  3. They often focus on objects and do so intently, virtually ignoring other people or other stimuli for long time periods.

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Evaluation of ASD children: Medical diagnosis

Evaluation of ASD children: Medical diagnosis

There are no medical tests that can help in evaluating the ASD in children. A brief observation in a single setting cannot present a true picture of someone’s abilities and behaviors. It needs many visits with specialists and helpers.

The evaluation that has been accepted and used by the specialists is the following three criteria:

  1. Impairments in social interactions
  2. Impairments in communication
  3. A restricted and repetitive range of interests, behaviors, and activities

Differential diagnosis:

Some conditions may have symptoms similar to autism; therefore, professionals must be diligent when determining a diagnosis and its treatment. There are other disorders that manifest behaviors similar to those of autism and/or are more prevalent in individuals with autism:

See more here: http://www.autism-society.org/what-is/diagnosis/differential-diagnosis/

Image courtesy: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/


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Early detection of Autism

Early detection of Autism: What parents to look for in child

Early detection of Autism: What parents to look for in child –  Infants under age one year may exhibit following behavior.

  1. Will not make eye contact
  2. Will not respond to parent’s voice
  3. Will not babble or point by 1 year of age
  4. Will not respond to their name
  5. Will not smile or laugh in response to any funny expressions

At age of two : Some children may exhibit any or all of these symptoms

  1. They may regress or lose language skills.
  2. They may simply have no single words by about 16 months
  3. No two-word phrases by 2 years.
  4. Lack of interest in any pretend games
  5. Ignoring or acting detached from whatever is of interest to others.

Image courtesy: http://indiapulse.sulekha.com/


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on:
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Focusing Minds

Focusing mind

Mental clutter, hyper-mind, head on overdrive—we’ve all been there. Here is some soothing relief.

Try these simple suggestions for slowing things down.

Your concentration and memory will improve, you will gain greater perspective on your life, and you’ll be able to think more clearly and with less effort.

Learn to relax your mind as you relax your body, to reap the benefits of less stress, and gain a more calm and mindful awareness of the present moment.

You will be surprised how easy it can be.

1. Witness your thoughts. No one can stop thinking entirely; it is impossible. If you start trying not to think, you only end up thinking about how to stop thinking! What you can do, however, is to withdraw from your thoughts and become more of an objective spectator.

2. Picture your mind as a blank canvas or a dark sky. Allow your thoughts to come and go, but resist the urge to follow each one. Your brain will eventually slow down and you will feel less pressured.

3. Count. If you find it difficult to let go of your thoughts, try counting slowly as you breathe. Watch your thoughts and try to resist following them. Turn your attention to the count as you breathe out.

4. Pay active attention. As you work and think, try to keep your attention on the task at hand. Be strict with yourself and each time your mind wanders, return it to the task. As you keep refocusing your attention, your “mind stillness” will improve.

5. Still your body. One sign of fragmented attention is fragmented movement. For example, when you are at the theatre, it is easy to tell if others around you are fully attentive to the performance. People who sniff and sigh, move their heads this away and that, and wiggle in their seats are having some difficulty concentrating. Rapt attention is usually accompanied by still body posture.

6. Find a comfortable position and don’t allow yourself to move. Concentrate on what you are doing or watching, drawing your attention away from physical distractions, and focus your thoughts on your task. After a while, you will notice that you fidget less and feel less physical discomfort. You are now channeled into mental exertion.

7. Interest your mind. Try to find interest in projects to help you concentrate. Taking up a new hobby can be a tremendous help. You should also try to find something interesting even in the dullest chore. If you are at a gathering, find someone and start a conversation. Be inquisitive and you might discover you have similar interests.

8. Open the mind. Just as strength, stamina and flexibility must be incorporated in your physical routine, the mind needs new and absorbing challenges to give it a change from its everyday journey. Notice something new on the same way home that you might not have noticed before. Buy a magazine on a subject you normally wouldn’t look at, read it, and open yourself to new possibilities.

.

Reference: Annie Bond at http://www.care2.com/greenliving/8-tips-to-focus-your-mind-how-to.html#ixzz3ansz8G2k

Image credit: https://www.pexels.com/photo/buddha-carving-circular-face-433558/ (Free for commercial use)


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: March 30, 2016
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Bloated Tummy

Bloated Tummy? Foods that can cause bloating and Some Remedies

Abdominal bloating is a condition in which the stomach feels full and tight due to buildup of gas in the small intestine. This can make the stomach area visibly swollen. Many times, bloating is accompanied by other symptoms like cramps, belching, pain, diarrhea, shortness of breath and lower back pain.

A number of factors can cause bloating. The main reason is the buildup of intestinal gas. Other causes include constipation, peptic ulcers, anorexia, anxiety, smoking, water retention, trapped air, overeating, indigestion, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

A good way to relieve bloating is to encourage passing gas and a bowel movement. But if you are not able to get rid of bloating, then try some simple home remedies.

Cruciferous Vegetables 

Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale are also high in raffinose so they can cause gas and bloating. But they’re also high in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants so they’re a good part of a healthy diet. Your digestive system will adjust over time so start with smaller portions and work up. Steaming your cruciferous veggies might also help reduce some of the bloating.

Carbonated Beverages

Carbonated beverages, such as soft drinks and beer can make you feel bloated because you’re essentially swallowing air. You’ll probably get some relief by belching, but you might still feel some bloating for a while after. Chewing gum, sucking on hard candy and eating or drinking too fast may have a similar effect.

Greasy Foods

Eating a meal that’s high in fat can also make you feel bloated. Fats slow down the rate at which your stomach empties into the small intestine. So while eating some fat is fine, eating a large greasy meal might make you feel miserable. There is not much to do, but wait until the bloating passes and watch your portion sizes next time.

Legumes :Dry beans and lentils

Dry beans and lentils are high in a fiber called raffinose and eating them in large amounts can result in a lot of gas formation. Legumes are high in nutrients  so they should be part of a healthy diet. Avoid excess gas by starting with small portions and slowly build up the amounts you eat. Alternatively, try a digestive aid such as Beano.

Foods Sweetened with Alcohol Sugars

Foods sweetened with alcohol sugars, such as sorbitol, mannitol, and xylitol can cause you to feel bloated because you do not digest them well so bacteria in your digestive tract ferment them. Alcohol sugars are used in sugar-free gum and candy as well as some “low-carb” foods.

Dairy Products

Milk and dairy products can cause discomfort and bloat for people who have lactose intolerance, which s the inability to digest milk sugar (lactose). It is especially common in Native Americans, African-Americans, Asians, and Latinos. Drinking lactose-free milk or taking lactase pills with your dairy products can help alleviate the symptoms = but please speak with your health care provider first.

Whole Grains

Whole grains are good for you because they are rich in fiber and nutrients. But the fiber, along with the starch, can make you feel a bit bloated if you over-do it. The good news is that your digestive system will adapt to the extra fiber and the gas and bloating should decrease over time.

Chewing gum

Who knew that chewing gum could be contributing to the fact that you are feeling bloated? However, there are two possible reasons that there may be a connection:

  1. Intestinal gas can be produced by bacteria interacting with certain foods. Those bacteria seem to love artificial sweeteners that end in -ol (such as sorbitol) — sweeteners that are found in many sugar-free chewing gums.
  2. Intestinal gas can also come from swallowed air, and air gets swallowed when we chew gum.

Controlling bloating:

1) Increase potassium: The more salt you consume on a given day, the more potassium-rich foods—asparagus, citrus fruits, melon, tomatoes—you should eat.

2) Get off the couch: In many people, exercise stimulates the bowels, ending constipation.

3) Down 8 glasses of liquids each day: Fluids help flush waste out of your system and reduce water retention. Coffee can have the added bonus of contracting the colon, helping you to go.

4) Sip peppermint tea: Peppermint is great for soothing churning stomachs and easing gas pains. It’s essential oil contains menthol, which has an antispasmodic effect of the smooth muscle of the digestive track.  Research suggests that enteric-coated peppermint-oil capsules also help with stomach pain.

5) Ginger is a tummy tamer -whether you are nauseas, struggling with the stomach flu, or suffering from indigestion, chances are you have been given ginger in some form to help calm your upset tummy. It is capable of performing its wonders because of several different chemical components it possesses. Two chemicals-gingerols and shgaols- relax the intestinal track and ease any inflammation, while the root in its entirety act as a carminative-that is it prevents the formation of excess gas, or helps expel it.

6) Eat pumpkin: Gas is usually caused by improper food digestion, which is why high fiber foods (like beans) often times create some issues with flatulence. Fiber is hard for us to digest, so it passes through our gut in bulk.

7) Chew cumin seeds: Roasted or raw cumin seeds relieves gas and bloating.

8) Drink buttermilk with asafetida and cumin powder: Add little salt for taste. This one is always a winner.

9) Skip the Salt: Salty foods are another group of food to avoid. Salty foods can contribute to water retention and therefore make you feel bloated. More importantly, you need to know that the health problems associated with excess salt intake can go far beyond feeling uncomfortable in your clothes. Excessive salt intake can increase your risk of heart problems, as well as other serious health conditions.

References :

1) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/

2) http://www.top10homeremedies.com/

Image credit: Image by Darko Djurin from Pixabay

3) http://nutrition.about.com/

Image courtesy: http://hena.us/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/bloated.jpg


Author: Sumana Rao | Posted on: March 29, 2016
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