Celebrities reveal their family struggles with autism

By

Melanie Vanderveer

Celebrity Jenny McCarthy has recently gone public with her story and struggles. Everywhere you look lately, she is there speaking of her struggles with autism afflicting her son, Evan, 5, who was diagnosed at age 2 and a half.

Her book, “Louder than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism” that recently hit book shelves tells what she has gone through in the past three years and what has worked for her and her son.

She also was recently on Oprah Winfrey’s show, along with Holly Robinson Peete. Both hosts shared stories about how autism has affected their families.

One thing that has done wonders for McCarthy’s son was a serious change in diet. She started a gluten free/casein free diet as well as a no sugar diet with her son and saw almost immediate changes for the better. She also put her son on medication to eliminate the candida in his body and that has also had positive changes.

McCarthy recently was on the TV show, The View, and said, “I did want to acknowledge and confirm the fact that my son does, indeed, have an autism diagnosis.” She also told viewers, “I am willing to talk about it, and go deep with the emotional feelings.” She also spoke candidly with Larry King on CNN.

Rumors have been swirling around for quite some time that John Travola and Kelly Preston’s oldest child, Jett, also has a diagnosis of autism. They do not talk about it because their religion, scientology, will not allow it. So for now, it remains just a rumor.

There are very few people in the public eye that seems willing to tell their stories so it is certainly refreshing, to say the least, that a celebrity is sharing their story and struggles with this disorder.

Like McCarthy, Robinson-Peete has also recently started speaking of her son’s autism diagnosis. Her oldest child, Rodney Jr., or RJ, was diagnosed at age three and is now 9. He has come a long way since the initial diagnosis, thanks to the varieties of treatments. He has progressed so well that he currently is mainstreamed at his school.

He was diagnosed as a mid- to high-functioning autistic child. At that time, there was not the amount of resources as there are now so finding help wasn’t as easy.

Robinson-Peete’s fellow actress and friend, Tisha Campbell-Martin, also has an autistic son. When Robinson-Peete needs support, she finds it in the form of friends, Campbell-Martin and McCarthy. They find the support they need in each other.

The key seems to be the idea of support. Lack of it and resources may mean less effective treatments and outcome. If you are touched in some way by autism, find a support system and join in.

There is support in every state and area. In our area, the Pocono Autism Society is a great support system for anyone in need of some support.

Jennifer Ann McCarthy was born on November 1st of 1972 in Chicago, Illinois and James Eugene Redmond Carrey was born January 17th of 1962 in New Market, Ontario. These two are among the many celebrities making a difference when it comes to helping children. In May of 2007 it was announced that Jenny’s son had autism. In June of 2007 she became the lead spokesperson for the organization Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) and helping raise awareness for autism. On September 17th of 2007 Jenny’s book “Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism.” Along with her boyfriend Jim Carrey, they have gone on a worldwide crusade in the search for a cure for autism as well as working with several children’s foundations.

Dads Use Touch Therapy with Autistic Children

For children with Autism, massage may provide relaxation, stress reduction and calm muscle spasms. Over time, touch therapy also helps the child to become more accustomed to tactile stimulation and aides in body awareness. Often by incorporating massage therapy into daily routines, children with Autism experience decreased issues with sleeping.

Research has demonstrated that this type of intervention may promote more on-task and social relatedness behavior during play, they show less erratic behavior, and are more attentive after receiving massage therapy. This nurturing, healthy touch, along with regular sensory integration, can be beneficial in reducing inattentiveness, touch aversion and withdrawal.

Considerations when massaging children with Autism

For many children with Autism, there is susceptibility to sensory overload, and they may lack feeling or awareness. So, it is important to begin lightly and gradually work deeper, while being very aware of all cues the child is giving you. For some of these children they may not use the same verbal skills as other pediatric clients, so it is imperative to be mindful of all non-verbal communication as well.

Seeing the great need to provide touch therapy for children with Autism is one reason I specifically developed my Pediatric Massage training. In this training we not only discuss approaches for providing touch therapy for children with Autism, but children with many varying special healthcare needs.

During my recent North American Touch Tour, I have provided training, education and guidance to new pediatric massage therapists throughout the U.S. and Canada who have already reported finding a valuable response with children and families affected by Autism and Autism spectrum disorders.

Practical tips for practitioners

As a practitioner working with children with Autism, be prepared to take it slow. You may not introduce massage at your first session together and this is normal. Start out by trying to make the child feel comfortable and introduce tactile stimulation by allowing the child to choose various items to touch and feel. You want to give the child the opportunity to participate in the session as much as possible. Be aware and observe cues which indicate permission to touch. You may not receive direct eye-to-eye contact or a verbal “Yes”. Vary your pace and pressure while recognizing the child’s individual needs. Deeper pressure is better received by many children who have been diagnosed with ASD. Skin-to-skin contact may not be immediately well received by the child with Autism, so consider providing touch over clothing or cloth, and beginning with the hands and feet may be more comfortable.

What about the Parents?

Many times parents feel frustrated at trying to provide appropriate loving and nurturing touch for their child, only to receive little or no reaction. Many children with Autism show characteristics such as impairments in social interaction, impairments in communication (both verbal and non-verbal), restricted interests and repetitive behavior. A child with Autism typically does not express any words of love, share hugs or show any facial expression in response to pleasure.

When working with children with Autism, it is important to involve parents by showing them techniques they can practice, as well as a variety of ways to introduce tactile stimulation throughout daily activities. The parents should be invited to sit in on your session, as long as both the parents and child are comfortable. Teaching parents massage therapy and nurturing touch techniques can be helpful in encouraging this healthy bond between child and parent.

Some big misperceptions about Children with Autism

It has been long believed that a child with Autism is incapable of forming attachment. However, research has demonstrated that these children do attach to their parents, but still remain incapable of acting on this attachment or responding appropriately.

Many times it is believed that children with Autism will not make eye contact and cannot react to receiving touch in a positive way. This is not always the case. There have been times when I am working with a child and they do make eye contact. I often fine, that once I have given them some freedom to choose the types of touch they wish to receive, and the position they wish to be in during a session, they respond with a smile. A reaction not always witnessed by those who are with the child on a daily basis.

Children with Autism have sensory malfunction and dysfunction of the tactile system making them averse to certain sights, sounds, smells or touch. Given that children with Autism have been reported to be opposed to physical contact, it is interesting that many massage therapists, and parents, are finding great success in the use of massage therapy with children who are Autistic, or considered to be on the spectrum.

How Massage Therapy Benefits Autistic Children

The massage therapy is a well-loved session of many. Celebrities, public officials, workers, students, and people from all walks of life succumb to their cravings to experience the soothing effect that massage promotes. Imagine a day of hard work, stress, and pressure. Wouldn’t it feel so nice to be subjected to the therapeutic human touch? However, it has been found out that massage doesn’t only benefit the normal individuals. Studies show how helpful and therapeutic it can be to the autistic children. This may be new to you but it is a fact. After all, these children also deserve the best that life may offer.

Autism Explained

Autism is a kind of brain disorder which normally gets tracked when the child is aged 2. The symptoms become recognizable at such a tender age basically because he falls short in developing the language along with the pertinent social interaction skills. Children should be able to start saying a few words and socializing. If they don’t, then there is a reason for the parents to start panicking. Among the common indicators of autism are withdrawal from the surrounding people and some other abnormal behaviors. There are some people who believe that this is a circumstance that can be cured while some strongly refuse to accept this possibility. Whatever is the case, concerned parents normally travel far and wide to discover the proper alternatives and treatment to address such condition.

Autism’s Impact on Parent-Child Relationship

There is nothing more painful for the parents than to see their children being heaped on with a very challenging disorder. They usually end up thinking that their children are innocent and that they don’t deserve it. Who deserves such illness after all? It is truly heartbreaking. A child who is said to be autistic fails to understand the difference between what is acceptable and what is not. He is unable to express his thoughts and feelings by means of words, gestures, or even facial expressions. He has his own world wherein no one can penetrate. Thus, there is no parent-child relationship that gets bonded.

Again, studies reveal that an autistic child can get attached to his parents yet he fails to react and respond properly. Many of these unfortunate children are even confronted with the tactile and sensory issues so they don’t readily respond to the sounds, sights, touches, and smells. They often seem oblivious with what is going on.

The Role of Massage in Cases of Autism

A large number of autistic children are being subjected to the therapeutic method of massage. In fact, many therapists and parents are finding out good results so far. These children react positively to massage and they are able to establish their connection to their parents because they love being touched by them. However, there is an exception. Not all autistic children respond in a similar way.

It is advisable that parents learn the basic techniques and a lot other methods which they may use prior to starting with the massage session. The mood of the child has to be set by letting the word “massage” sink into his consciousness. It has been discovered that those children who are given the therapy show lesser unacceptable behavior and are turning socially attentive. They are less likely to withdraw from their environment too.

Autism may be very frustrating but give the massage therapy a chance too. It can do wonders on the child.

Understanding The Right Autism Treatment For Autistic Children

Autism is often misunderstood. Autism treatment, particularly in the areas of language and social skills, is extremely important and should be started early on to help increase the chances of developing language and social skills. With the mainstreaming of classrooms, it is important to make a few special adjustments for autistic students. Autism treatment doesn’t require drastic changes to be made. In fact, changes are usually not a good thing when it comes to working with autistic children.

A set routine where the child knows what to expect next is an important part of autism treatment. Changes are difficult to process and can cause increased anxiety and even behavioral outbursts. Keeping a tight schedule will help the child to feel safe.

If the classroom becomes chaotic, the autistic student may need to regroup in a safe, quiet setting. A time out area is made for this. This time-out area is not a punishment, it is a place that the autistic child feels safe and is able to calm down and relax when their world has been turned upside down.

Autistic children have impaired abilities when it comes to social skills. This includes the ability to communicate effectively in many cases. An autistic child thinks quite literally and doesn’t always have a good command of language skills. Words do not necessarily come easily or even have meaning. While we are able to express our thoughts and feelings in words, an autistic child thinks in a more concrete form; pictures/images express the thoughts and meanings that an autistic child experiences.

Pictures or note cards can be used as visual aids to help autistic children communicate. When speech is achieved, visual aids may still be needed. If the child gets frustrated or just can’t put what needs to be said into words pictures create an easy, less stressful way to communicate.

Another way to help increase communication skills is to pay attention to what is said. Autistic children often have episodes of echolalia, a form of repetitive speech. Most of the time a repeated phrase has been related to something and it is what is easily said, although it is not necessarily what the child is trying to tell you. It becomes your job to figure out what those words mean. Perhaps it is the feelings that are evoked when they hear their favorite cartoon character say a phrase. Taking notes will help you to keep track of what phrases are used in which context, and soon you should be able to see a pattern.

When you are working with autism in the classroom you need to watch for patterns the student has. These patterns may not mean anything to you or even make any sense to you but they are important to the child. If you want to assist the child to gain social skills as well as language, you need to encourage speech. Starting with sign language is often helpful.

Keeping a structured classroom and structure in the home environment is the most important element of autism treatment. Try not to get frustrated, because when you are frustrated the autistic child’s frustration will increase. If you need to you can take a time out. Use pictures and images when you can to help the child develop language. Positive reinforcement and praise go a long way when used in Autism treatment.

Autism Treatments

If your child has been diagnosed with autism, you will want to know all you can about the treatments for the syndrome. There are different treatments available to treat the child with autism. Some parents are worried that their children will be given dangerous medications. It is not necessary to treat autistic children with dangerous medications. Some children might need medication for their symptoms, but there are others that do not require medication. There are other treatment plans available for autistic children that do not require medication. Many parents will try to treat their autistic children with a natural treatment plan, while others stick with the standard treatment. Here are some of the different types of treatments that are available for autistic children.

Medication
There are different kinds of medication that is used for the treatment of autism. The medications are generally for the different problems that an autistic child will have. Autistic children can have anxiety problems and there are medications that are used for that symptom. For children who are having severe behavior problems, the medications used are generally antipsychotic. The medications that are used are not a cure for the autism, but only a way to control the symptoms. The medications that are used can often come with some horrible side effects. It is necessary for the child to be watched very closely while they are taking them.

Occupational Therapy
The use of occupational therapy for autistic children is to help them learn to be more independent. They will learn how to dress themselves and bathe. There are many things in daily life that an autistic child will have to learn to do on their own. Safety issues are a major concern in occupational therapy. The children will learn to keep themselves safe in the home and outside.

Physical Therapy
Autistic children will sometimes require physical therapy because of the problems that many have with their muscle tone. This can also help autistic children develop their motor skills as well. There are some health problems that can be associated with autism and physical therapy can help to alleviate the problems.

Behavior Therapy
This type of therapy will teach the autistic child what kind of behaviors are appropriate and which are not. Generally behavior therapy involves a reward system for when they behave appropriately. The autistic child is taught how to behave in social situations. The therapy will involve the children and the child in their home. The parents must be taught how to handle their child’s inappropriate behavior.

Speech Therapy
This type of therapy is used to help the autistic child learn to communicate. There are autistic children who do not speak and they will need to learn how to communicate with other people. They will also be taught how to recognize and respond to body cues and non-verbal cues from other people. Autistic children who do not speak can learn to sign or use pictures to communicate. The therapist will be trying to teach the autistic child who does not speak to speak.

This is only a partial listing of the types of therapies and treatments that are available for autistic children. There will be children who require all of the therapies and some children only require a few. The doctor will help to devise a treatment plan that meets the needs of the individual child.

Managing Your Life With An Autistic Child

Life with an autistic child can be confusing and challenging as well as a joy and pleasure. Autism is short for autistic spectrum disorder, which is a neurological disorder. There are various levels and forms of autism. These levels may vary from a mild case of high functioning autism called Asperger’s Disorder, to more severe levels such as Rett Syndrome, which most often affects females on to a rarer form of autism called childhood disintegrative disorder or CDD.

Since every individual is different, symptoms of autism will vary from child to child. The most influential factor of being an autistic child is that of communication, both verbally as well as non-verbally, while other core symptoms may include problematic social relationships and interactions, intense focus on a specific object as well as limited interests in activities and play.

Although autism is present at birth, diagnoses of most children occur within the first three years of life. Adolescent and teenagers may seem to fall behind in their abilities to understand and relate to others, while they may also develop problems with anxiety, depression, or epilepsy. Autistic adults may or may not be able to live and work on their own, depending upon the severity of their condition.

There is an estimation of one out of every 150 children with autism; boys are more likely to have the disability with 1 in 94 boys with autism. With new cases, being diagnosed approximately every twenty minutes or 67 children per day. However, pinpointing a specific cause of autism is still a mystery and there is no known cure.

Living with an autistic child can at times be frustrating and challenging, however children with this disorder do function better when keeping with a regular schedule or routine within a safe environment. Sometimes language skills are problematic, at those times it is best to remember that issues such as repeated phrases have meaning for the child and not spoken to agitate the parent.

At times, it may seem that there are no strong emotional attachments concerning these children, but at these times keep in mind that autistic children simply have problems with these situations and should be encouraged to join in, while respecting that they become uneasy when large crowds and noise confront them. It is much easier to cope with autism if you remember that these children are different in their personal perception of the world we live in. Coping means trying to remain patient, while communicating with them simply and clearly, and although they may not seem to notice some things, they just might be paying more attention than is perceivable by others and that they have feelings as well as anyone else.

There are various means of coping with your own feelings while raising an autistic child. Some things you might like to try are allowing yourself the time to heal; talking about your feelings to someone you trust or even keeping a journal. Maintaining your own schedule is vital as well as joining a support group. There are various types of therapies that are helpful for relieving the stress felt by the child and its family.

Every autistic child has some individual level of difficulty relating to interacting with others, communicating or behavioral problems, which influences them in various ways. However, with early intervention and various treatments or programs, some of them are able to function independently while others may always need support in their working and living environments.

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