Tag: health

ASD

When I was in college I wrote a paper on autism for a sociology class. I took some ribbing from my friends because they asked “Is that really a problem?” I replied “Well, it would be if there were more autistic people.” Apparently, I was ahead of my time but naive. Due to improved awareness, broader diagnostic criterai and more widespread screening , we are more knowledgeable about the extent of this condition.

Autism is defined as ” a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with symptoms that include “persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts” and “restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities.”  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of autism specturm disorder (ASD) in the United States is estimated to be one in 31 children in the United States diagnosed by age eight and one in 45 adults. There are now therapists who specialize in autism. Support groups are available. The school system in the small routine Montana town from which I recently moved had special accomodations for children with autism and ADHD, little rooms for emotional regulation when emotions seemed too big, chairs that allowed for movement.

The five common signs of autism include difficulties with social interaction, communication challenges, repetitive behaviors, sensory sensitivities and intense or unusual interests. Although “on the spectrum” is bandied about rather casually now, there are five diagnoses within the category, four rather severe to include Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, Kanner’s syndrome and pervasive developmental disorder. The higher functioning autism was formerly called Aspberger’s syndrome. All can vary in how they manifest themselves in an individual and in their severity.

It is no coincidence that I address this issue as we are currently with our grandchildren, including our oldest who was diagnosed last year with ADHD and high functioning autism. He started “flapping” at age 2, flapping his arms, one of the noticeable repetetive behaviors. But in so many ways he seemed to be developing normally that it was easy to rationalize that it was simply “being two.” Over time, however, he has demonstrated repetitive behaviors that are offputting to other children in particular, making very strange faces, sniffing people. Yet he is a bright child, a kind, gentle soul, a great big brother to his two younger siblings. He is affectionate. He interacts, makes friends. In many ways he would be indistinguishable in his behavior from other children his age. He has benefitted greatly from social skills training, one of several treatment modalities.

In some ways this serves as a followup to last week’s blog on “Outside the Box.” We live in such a diverse world. How much better we are when we open ourselves to understanding the diverse people who live in it.

“Autism is not a processing error. It is a different operating system.” Sarah Hendrickx

The invitation is open to share two cups of tea anytime at Hope’s Café or anywhere you share companionship and conversation.

May we bearers of hope, the “wait staff” at Hope’s Café, for each other and all those we encounter.  Shalom, Kate

 

Humming

When did I stop humming?  I had always hummed and sung to myself as I went about household chores until…..until what?  How can something so natural, so integral to who I am, just disappear?  I honestly can’t recall when humming/singing gradually receded or why.  But somewhere along the way I lost touch with the spontaneity which inspired that.  I do know that I began to notice this loss in the midst of the pandemic—in the slowing down of the speed of my life, in the noticeable quiet. 

So now I seek to remind myself to engage in humming.  There are certainly benefits.  Did you know athletes are trained to hum prior to and during events to minimize any negative thoughts?    Perhaps you remember little Jessica trapped in a deep well in Texas years ago, humming to herself, comforting herself and making her desperate situation more bearable. 

Making “a desperate situation more bearable” seems like a reasonable quest these days.  Music generally, can help ease chronic pain, anxiety and depression.  It contributes to relaxation and health, even improving pre-surgery stress and post-surgery outcomes and enhancing the quality of sleep.  Researchers in Finland concluded that when stroke patients listened to music for two hours a day, their verbal memory and attention improved and they had a more positive mood compared to patients who didn’t listen to music or who listened to audio books.

So I challenge you to hum in the coming week or select some music that you find uplifting.  You might pay attention to other sounds and actions that have soothing effect…..the gentle purring of your cat as you pet her; listening to the rhythmic hum of cicadas as the evening fades; noticing even the soft “swoosh” of the dishwasher as it runs.  Be creative how you respond to this challenge.  Any positive effort you make contributes to improving the emotional atmosphere and making “a desperate situation more bearable.”

 May we be bearers of hope, the “wait staff” of Hope’s Café for each other and all those we encounter.

Shalom, Kate

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