Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum
by Julia Moor
A Monthly Summary of News and Events
Vol. 6 No. 9 - September 2003
This newsletter is sponsored by EEG Spectrum International Intl, Inc.,
a leader in providing clinical service and training professionals.
Past issues are available at start.eegspectrum.com/Newsletter/
Information on how to subscribe or cancel a subscription appear at the end.
The opinions related in this newsletter reflect those of the author only.
Copyright (C) 2002 by EEG Spectrum International Intl, Inc. All rights reserved.
|
|
|---|
All links at: http://news.yahoo.com/fc?tmpl=fc&cid=34&in=science&cat=brain_research
Estrogenize that brain. Like a fanatic it is out on a limb and needs some moderation. Too male, it needs more female to pull it to the center.
I came upon this idea in the middle of the night a fews nights ago and left a note on the kitchen table for my wife that read: "JD's cure: We're going to turn him into a girl (somewhat)." So let's make like amphibians, changing our children's sex at will.
Some nudging towards the female mind is all I suggest. What could be the harm with that? And there are two broad estrogen-delivery schemes available to all of us: food and drink. So simple, why has it been overlooked? There is a dearth of literature on the role of sex hormones in autism. Only 11 papers on testosterone, 6 on estrogen - what am I missing? Or has everyone else missed the obvious? Estrogen seems like a promising therapy: it interacts positively with oxytocin, the social reward molecule, and high doses of estrogen inhibit dopamine production, the endogeneous neurotransmitter I always imagine in cocaine-like lines which is involved in both mental and physical hyperactivity of all forms. Not all autistic children are probably hyperactive, but mine attached to the proper equipment could power a dozen city blocks.
Increasing estrogen (its circulation or some metabolic efficiency) should increase the verbal aspect of an autistic mind, reducing his or her maladaptive and immense overreliance on visual and spatial coding -- and all things male. From what little I know about estrogen, it appears there are two forms, and one is bad (just like everything else on this planet, including cholestorol) so the eventually dosing may be tricky, but I expect good results. We'll see.
Even if it is wrong (broadly or narrowly), what would be the real concern of side effects in children? Increase the foods in his or her diet that contain estrogen and remove those that inhibit estrogen. The loss of berries will be the biggest obstacle in my household.
Foods Containing Natural Estrogens (from http://www.holistic-online.com, accuracy not verified) Alfalfa, Animal flesh, Anise seed, Apples, Baker's yeast, Barley, Beets, Carrots, Cherries, Chickpeas, Clover, Cowpeas, Cucumbers, Dairy Foods, Dates, Eggs, Eggplant, Fennel, Flaxseeds, Garlic, Hops, Licorice, Oats, Olive oil, Olives, Papaya, Parsley, Peas, Peppers, Plums, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Red beans, Red clover, Rhubarb, Rice, Sage, Sesame seeds, Soybean sprouts, Soybeans , Split peas, Sunflower seeds, Tomatoes, Wheat, Yams,
Estrogen Inhibiting Foods: Berries, Broccoli, Buckwheat, Cabbage, Citrus Foods, Corn, Figs Fruits (except apples, cherries, dates, pomegranates), Grapes, Green beans, Melons, Millet, Onions, Pears, Pineapples, Squashes, Tapioca, White rice, White flour,
Now this dietary approach is probably a modest measure until a tailored delivery system for each child can be developed. Estrogen patches, with the appropriate doses, will probably be the eventual way to go.
So in short, autism is an endocrine disorder with neurological consequences, not a neurological condition. So make an autistic boy a girl (or autistic/Asperger girl even more feminine). If they start to throw like a girl, maybe you've gone too far :-)
(Wish us luck.)
-DK
News & Reviews
NEW BOOKS
Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum
by Julia Moor
Sleep and Epilepsy: the Clinical Spectrum
Magnetic Stimulation of the Human Nervous System
Souls: Beneath & beyond Autism
Antiepileptic Drugs
Neurological Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience
From Goals to Data and Back Again:...Developmental Intervention for Children With Autism
Growing Up With Epilepsy: A Practical Guide for Parents
Primer of EEG With a Mini-Atlas
Clinical neurophysiology of epilepsy.
:
Computerized seizure detection and prediction algorithms, particularly for intracranial EEG electrodes, holds much promise.
How can brain activity and hypnosis inform each other?
:
Argues for using hypnosis in the study of brain mechanisms of conscious experience.
Increased frequency of rolandic spikes in ADHD children.
:
The frequency of rolandic spikes in children with ADHD is significantly higher than expected from epidemiologic studies. How ADHD symptoms are related to this features is unclear.
Depression and neurocognitive functioning in mild TBI
:
Depression-related scales of both the MCMI-II and MMPI-2 are independent of cognitive performance, despite the prevalence of depression in mild injury.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of OCD
:
No difference was seen between rTMS and sham TMS using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale or the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.
Daily methylphenidate use slows the growth of children
:
Height differences between treated children and sibling controls after 2 y treatment across broad range of doses (10-80 mg per day) suggest grow-suppressive effects of methylphenidate is greater than suspected.
High-frequency electromagnetic fields on human EEG
:
Cellular phones may reversibly influence the human brain, inducing abnormal slow waves in EEG.
Upcoming CoursesA Pathway to Brain Regulation - Neurofeedback helps improve neuroregulation. It's used by health care professionals for ADHD, depression, anxiety disorders, LD, mood disorders, and behavioral problems. This 4-day course, Neurofeedback in a Clinical Practice, provides the basis for using Neurofeedback clinically. - *28 CEs
Our course is a hands-on experience right from the start. Attendees consistently say this format is a very good way to learn Neurofeedback. "Neurofeedback should be viewed as one of the three essential or primary forms of intervention - psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, and Neurofeedback. In my experience, Neurofeedback is every bit as important and powerful as the other two forms of treatment." - Dr. Laurence Hirshberg of Brown University Medical School, a psychologist specializing in Developmental Disorders and Autism. Contact Karie Kramer, our training coordinator, for more information 818-789-3456 ext 847 or see www.eegspectrum.com/Training *EEG Spectrum International, Inc. is approved by the APA to offer continuing education to psychologists. ESII maintains responsibility for the program. |
Conferences for Neurofeedback Clinicians & Researchers | ||
|---|---|---|
| CONFERENCE | LOCATION | DATES |
| SNR - http://www.snr-jnt.org | Houston, TX | Sep 18-21 |
John Gruzelier's talk on Memory, Music and Attention: Validating Neurofeedback suggested how neurofeedback will become a force in peak performance training of artists (validating Rae Tattenbaum's endeavors in this domain). Wolfgang Klimesch's talk focused in independent alpha frequency and the possible physiological basis of the theta rhythm. It was a joy to have to learned mensch's be drawn into the field.
Numerous workshops of high quality pervaded the proceedings. Finally, Donald Bars, always an entertaining and enlightening speaker, showed the utility of combining the discriminatory power of visual EPs and QEEG analysis.
For more information, see http://www.isnr.org/2003/main2003.htm