Autism spectrum disorder

Autism(Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior. 

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development.

Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. These signs often develop gradually, though some children with autism reach their developmental milestones at a normal pace and then regress. The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent in early childhood, typically before age three.

Autism’s most-obvious signs tend to appear between 2 and 3 years of age. In some cases, it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months. Some developmental delays associated with autism can be identified and addressed even earlier. Autism Speaks urges parents with concerns to seek evaluation without delay, as early intervention can improve outcomes.

Types of ASD

There are three different types of Autism Spectrum Disorders:

• Autistic Disorder (also called "classic" autism)This is what most people think of when hearing the word "autism."  People with autistic disorder usually have significant language delays, social and communication challenges, and unusual behaviors and interests. Many people with autistic disorder also have intellectual disability.
• Asperger SyndromePeople with Asperger syndrome usually have some milder symptoms of autistic disorder.  They might have social challenges and unusual behaviors and interests.  However, they typically do not have problems with language or intellectual disability.
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS; also called "atypical autism")People who meet some of the criteria for autistic disorder or Asperger syndrome, but not all, may be diagnosed with PDD-NOS. People with PDD-NOS usually have fewer and milder symptoms than those with autistic disorder.  The symptoms might cause only social and communication challenges.

Signs and Symptoms of autism

ASDs begin before the age of 3 and last throughout a person's life, although symptoms may improve over time. Some children with an ASD show hints of future problems within the first few months of life. In others, symptoms might not show up until 24 months or later. Some children with an ASD seem to develop normally until around 18 to 24 months of age and then they stop gaining new skills, or they lose the skills they once had.
A person with an ASD might:

• Not respond to their name by 12 months
• Not point at objects to show interest (point at an airplane flying over) by 14 months
• Not play "pretend" games (pretend to "feed" a doll) by 18 months
• Avoid eye contact and want to be alone
• Have trouble understanding other people's feelings or talking about their own feelings
• Have delayed speech and language skills
• Repeat words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
• Give unrelated answers to questions
• Get upset by minor changes
• Have obsessive interests
• Flap their hands, rock their body, or spin in circles
• Have unusual reactions to the way things sound, smell, taste, look, or feel

Causes of Autism:

Autism is due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Some cases are strongly associated with certain infections during pregnancy including rubella and use of alcohol or cocaine. 

Controversies surround other proposed environmental causes; for example, the vaccine hypotheses, which have since been disproven. 

Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood.

Is there any medical cure for Autism?

We know that autism is a complex, neurological, developmental disorder, which affects the way the brain processes information, the cause of which is still unknown. Since we do not know what causes autism, we do not have a way to fix (cure) it.

At present, there is no cure for autism: there is no medication, no pills, no injections which can make the autism go away. Of course, as a parent you may read or hear about many claims of cures for autism. This may be more so in the last few years with the emergence of the internet as a 'bazaar' spreading some truly bizarre promises of cure. Being an invisible condition, it is easy for parents to be swayed to the 'right treatment' that would make their child's autism somehow 'go away'. 

Treatments for Autism:

Autism is not an illness that can be treated or 'fixed'. Instead, as mentioned earlier, it is a neurological condition, wherein one needs to teach the individual to reach his/her maximum potential using intervention and management strategies that would work most effectively with their unique learning style.

The most effective and well-documented intervention or management option for individuals with autism is a structured behavioural training programme. This intervention is based on understanding the unique learning styles of individuals with autism, making accommodations for the same, and using and adapting behavioural principles to teach.

The focus needs to remain at all times on the core areas of difficulty, i.e. communication and social understanding. Teaching appropriate play and leisure skills, and self-help skills, are equally important. Autistic children can make significant progress if the intervention is appropriate and consistent and hence, a combination of a good school and parent training is the best intervention strategy.

Early intervention, before the child is five, is especially crucial to the child's progress. This is why an early and accurate diagnosis is so important. Autistic children grow to become autistic adults, and there is a particular need for focus on teaching every skill to independence, and to provide meaningful outlets for social interaction and employment where possible.

Some of the scientifically proven effective intervention techniques include:

Treatment and Education of Autistic and related Communication handicapped CHildren Method (TEACCH) emphasizes on using skills that children already possess to enable them to become independent. Organizing the physical environment, developing schedules and work systems, making expectations clear and explicit, and visual materials are effective in developing skills and allowing people with autism to be independent of direct adult prompting.

Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) emphasizes on one-to-one sessions in discrete trial training (DTT) to develop cognitive, social, behavioral, fine motor, play, social and self-help skills. The technique involves structured presentation of tasks from most simple to more complex, breaking them down into small sub-skills, and then teaching each sub-skill intensely, one at a time. It involves repeated practices with prompting and fading of prompts to ensure success. It uses rewards or reinforcement to help shape and maintain desired behaviours and skills.

Verbal Behavior Analysis (VBA) is an addition to ABA and is also based on breaking down and teaching language in functional units unlike the teaching of language based on grammar. In addition to teaching at the table, teaching in (and with) the natural environment (NET) is important.

Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS) is built on the fact that non-verbal children with autism may attempt to spontaneously use objects to communicate. 

People with autism tend to be visual learners, and a visual means of communication can help them to understand and use the process of communication. PECS aims to teach spontaneous social-communication skills by means of symbols or pictures and the teaching relies on behavioural principles, particularly reinforcement techniques. Behavioural strategies are employed to teach the person to use functional communicative behaviours to request desired objects. The requesting behaviour is reinforced by the receipt of the desired item.

All people with autism can and do make significant progress. They become more responsive to others as they learn to understand the world around them if the intervention that they receive is appropriate, consistent and autism friendly.

Can Autistic Children attend regular schools:

There are a number of autistic children who have been integrated into regular schools. The chances depend on several factors. The most important are the individual capacity and functioning levels of the child, how early diagnosis was received, and thereafter the kind and the appropriateness of the early intervention provided to the child.

Though some children with autism can learn like their typically developing peers, most have different learning styles and the therefore teaching styles also need to be different. Most children with autism may require some accommodations in the teaching style/ environment for them to be able to learn better and to keep the schooling a positive experience. Sometimes simple changes in existing classroom techniques and environmental adaptations make teaching autism-friendly. However, in some schools this may not be understood and therefore children with autism face difficulties and many may have to drop out of mainstream classrooms after grades four or five.

Organizations that cater to the needs of children and adults on the autism spectrum:

There are several organisations all over the world who are taking care the needs of children and adults on the austism spectrum. In India there are 22 such organisations located in major cities. From speech therapy to music therapy, these organizations are using various methods to bring a behavioural change and are doing some amazing work in this field.

I give below the link for the site listing out the organisations

http://www.thebetterindia.com/21315/20-organizations-that-cater-to-autistic-children-and-adults-in-india/

Donate to the Organisations which help autistic children

We can donate to various organisations which help autistic children in different ways. Such  donations are tax deductible.

Sources:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/what-autism

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism 

http://www.autism-india.org/frequently-asked-questions.php

https://www.asws.org/WhatisAutism.aspx

Pictures: Google images

Top 10 Amazing bridges in world

The world’s most famous bridges may not be the longest bridges, tallest bridges or highest bridges, but they are the most recognizable bridges in the world by far.You can now  take a tour through the ancient spans, iconic structures and bridges with unique and interesting features.

Here are the top 10 most famous bridges:

1. Tower Bridge,London, England.

Tower Bridge (built 1886–1894) is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London which crosses the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name, and has become an iconic symbol of London.

The bridge consists of two towers tied together at the upper level by means of two horizontal walkways, designed to withstand the horizontal forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers. The vertical component of the forces in the suspended sections and the vertical reactions of the two walkways are carried by the two robust towers. The bascule pivots and operating machinery are housed in the base of each tower. The bridge's present colour scheme dates from 1977, when it was painted red, white and blue for Queen Elizabeth II's silver jubilee. Originally it was painted a mid greenish-blue colour.

Source and for other details:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge

2. Golden Gate Bridge,San Francisco

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean. The structure links the U.S. city of San Francisco, on the northern tip of the San Francisco Peninsula, to Marin County. It is one of the most internationally recognized symbols of San Francisco, California, and the United States. It has been declared one of the Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers. 

The Frommers travel guide considers the Golden Gate Bridge "possibly the most beautiful, certainly the most photographed, bridge in the world".

Source and for other details: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Gate_Bridge

3. Brooklyn Bridge,New York City

The Brooklyn Bridge looms majestically over New York City's East River, linking the two boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. Since 1883, its granite towers and steel cables have offered a safe and scenic passage to millions of commuters and tourists, trains and bicycles, pushcarts and cars. The bridge's construction took 14 years, involved 600 workers and cost $15 million (more than $320 million in today's dollars). At least two dozen people died in the process, including its original designer. Now more than 125 years old, this iconic feature of the New York City skyline still carries roughly 150,000 vehicles and pedestrians every day.

Source and for other details:http://www.history.com/topics/brooklyn-bridge

4.The Wind & Rain bridge,China

Chengyang Wind and Rain Bridge, also called Yongji Bridge or Panlong Bridge, spans the Linxi River of Sanjiang County. Built in 1916, it is 64.4 meters (73.43 yards) long, 3.4 metes (3.72 yards) wide and 10.6 meters (34.78 feet) high. Constructed with wood and stones, its surface is paved with wooden boards and both sides are inlayed with railings. On the bridge itself, there are five tower-like kiosks with 'horns' and eaves which resemble the flapping wings of birds.

Dong Village near the bridge

To one's surprise, the builders of this bridge did not use any nails or rivets. Instead, talented Dong people dove-tailed many pieces of wood. Though several decades old, it is still very sturdy. In a word, it is grand and looks like a brilliant rainbow crossing over the river.

Walking out onto the bridge, you can sit on the bench and appreciate the picturesque scenery. Looking far ahead, you will be intoxicated with what you see: the Linxi River meandering from the horizon; tea trees growing on the hills; local peasants working hard in the fields; and waterwheels turning, sending water cascading down the river.

Source and for other details:

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/attraction/guangxi/sanjiang/winds_rain.htm

5.Ponte Vecchio,Florence,Italy

The Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) is a medieval bridge spanning the river Arno in Florence. It is one of the few remaining bridges with houses built upon. The Vasari corridor that runs over the houses connects the Uffizi with the Pitti Palaceon the other side of the river.

The pedestrian bridge is often teeming with tourists and the many musicians, portraitists and other entertainers create a constantly vibrant atmosphere. The bridge is at its most beautiful at dusk, especially when seen from the Ponte Santa Trinità.

                                        Shops on the Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence. It is believed that a bridge already existed here during the Roman times. Its current appearance dates back to 1345 when it was built to replace a bridge which was destroyed by a flood. Houses were built on the bridge, a common practice in large European cities during the Middle Ages.

The Ponte Vecchio was the only bridge in Florence that survived the Second World War unscathed.

Source and other details:
http://www.aviewoncities.com/florence/pontevecchio.htm

6. Covered Bridges ("The Kissing Bridge"),Ontario, Canada

The West Montrose covered bridge is recognized as a historic site by Ontario's Archeological & Historic Sites Board. It is Ontario's last remaining covered bridge and has a 198' span across the Grand River. Visitors come from all over the world to see and photograph this picturesque bridge.

The roof over the bridge served to protect the large timbers and trusses from the elements, and this is also the reason the bridge is still standing after more than 100 years. Uncovered wooden bridges have a life span of only 10 to 15 years because exposure to rain causes unprotected joints to rot in summer and freeze in the winter; the hot sun causes the wooden planks to dry and curl. Applying oil and tar to preserve the floor made the surface slippery when wet. 

Horses fear rushing water and would often become spooked as they approached bridges. A horse will trot up to the opening of a covered bridge and clip-clop through, reassured by the side walls and the light at the end of the tunnel.

The bridge was built in 1881 and underwent major repairs in 1999. Light traffic is still crossing the bridge daily including horse and buggies. 

The bridge is often referred to as "The Kissing Bridge" because it is enclosed and the soft light provides a feeling of intimacy for the romantic.

7. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan, Scotland

Fans of the Harry Potter films will recognize this as the railway viaduct that the Hogwarts Express chugs across. It's not the only film to feature it. It 'starred' in Charlotte Gray, Monarch of the Glen, Stone of Destiny and Ring of Bright Water too. 

Built by Sir Robert McAlpine at the end of the 19th century, the viaduct is composed of 21 arches, each spanning 15 metres and has a maximum height of 30 metres offering sumptuous views down to Loch Shiel below. The railway viaduct is on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Lochaber in the Highlands and a round-trip ticket, between mid-May and the end of October, will set you back 32 pounds (around $50).

8. Si-o-se Pol, Isfahan, Iran

Si-o-se Pol, which means the Bridge of 33 Arches, has stood in Isfahan, Iran, since the 17th century. Spanning the river Zayandeh Rud, it's one of 11 bridges in Isfahan. It's one of the most famous examples of Safavid bridge design although Khadjou Bridge is considered to be more beautiful. 

There are two rows of 33 arches and its yellow brick and limestone masonry give it that buttery softness that, when the sun hits, makes it appear to melt into the river. It's a charming bridge of alcoves, where you can sit and admire the view. Or, in the tea house, sip cups of steaming tea.

9. Teufelsbrucke, Switzerland

This is the bridge that was built by the devil. Or so it is said. The story goes that the devil built the bridge and in exchange for his engineering and construction skills, he'd receive the first soul to cross it. The canny villagers sent a goat instead of a person, and, enraged by this, the devil tried to destroy his newly constructed bridge by throwing a boulder (the Teufelsstein, the devil's stone) at it. 

However, catching sight of an old woman carrying a cross, he took fright and ran away, dropping the stone as he went. Myths aside, the Teufelsbrucke spans the Reuss River high up in the Swiss mountains in the canton of Uri. It provides access to the St. Gotthard Pass. The bridge that is in use now is actually the third bridge. The first bridge (wooden and built by the devil) was built in 1230 and the second (built in the 1820s) is located close to this 'new' (1950s) concrete bridge.

10.Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France

Pont Neuf is Paris's oldest bridge - and one of its most famous - but the Pont Alexandre III is the most extravagant and highly decorated bridge on the Seine. This arch bridge (connecting the Champs-Elysees quarter with the Invalides and Eiffel Tower quarters) was built for the Universal Exposition of 1900, the great world's fair. 

Russia's Tsar Nicholas II lay the first brick (it was at a time when France was courting Russia as an ally) and it was named after the Tsar's father Alexander III. This historic monument is studded with gilded-bronze winged horses, compositions in copper that represent the nymphs of the Seine (the nymphs of the Neva in Saint Petersburg are represented downstream) and ornate lamp posts (candelabras really) that are adorned with cherubs.

Computer Mouse Tips To Know

While the mouse may seem like a trivial aspect of your computer, there are probably a lot of things you don't know about its use.  Here are some great tips on how to maximize your use of the mouse, which will increase your overall productivity on the computer.

1. Shift Key and Mouse Click In text editing programs like Microsoft Word and even on your regular webpage, you can highlight all or portion of a certain text using the Shift key and clicking on your mouse. Place the cursor (the sign of the mouse) at the beginning of a paragraph and hold down the Shift key. Click at the end of the paragraph to highlight the entire thing, or wherever in the text that you would like to end the selection. Another tip: Holding down the Alt key while highlighting text in a text editor will allow you to selectively highlight the text. This is most useful if a paragraph or other text is in a column. 2. Use the Scroll Wheel to The Max Most computer mice have a scroll wheel in between the right and left click buttons that allows you to scroll up and down the page by moving the wheel. However, this wheel can be used to do much more than just scroll! - The mouse wheel can be used as a button. Pressing down on the wheel is like clicking with a third mouse button. You can press down on a link to open the web page in a new tab in your browser. It can also be used to close a tab in the browser by clicking the wheel on an already open tab. - Hold down the Shift key as your scroll up and down in your Internet browser to quickly move back and forward between webpages. Scrolling up goes forward while scrolling down goes back. - To zoom in and out on a web page or document, hold down on theControl (Ctrl) key and scroll up to zoom in, scroll down to zoom out. - Some mouse wheels can be pushed left or right to move backwards (left) and forwards (right) on a webpage. 3. Select With Double or Triple Clicks Words can be selected by double clicking the word. If you want to highlight an entire paragraph, click the mouse button three times on the text 4. Right-Click You can use the right-click when you want to highlight text or wish to view the properties of an object. For example, if you highlight text, you can right-click on the highlighted item and copy it, then right-click anywhere else to paste it. Another tip: If you right-click text and drag it while continuing to hold the right mouse button, when you let go you will be given the option to move or copy the text. This will save you the extra step of having to right-click again where you want to paste the text. 5. Ctrl Key and Mouse Click When you hold down the Ctrl key, you can left-click to select multiple files or highlight multiple sections of text. You can also hold down the Ctrl key and use the down or up arrows to select the text. 6. Use Mouse Side Buttons Newer computer mice have side buttons on the side of the mouse (next to the usually right and left keys).  These buttons can be programmed to do most anything, but by default, the left-thumb button can be used to go back on a web page, and the right button to go forward. 7. Use Snap to Feature Windows has a handy 'Snap To' feature that will automatically move your mouse to buttons in the dialog box, such as the 'X' to exit or the '_' to minimize. For example, to close a window, you may get a prompt asking if you really want to perform the task. With the Snap To feature, the mouse will automatically move to the OK button so that all you have to do is click if you agree. To enable this feature, open the Mouse properties under the Control Panel, and check 'Snap To' under the Pointer Options tab. 8. Manage an Open Window Double-click on the top title bar of a window to maximize the window or, if it is already maximized, to resize it. Double click on the icon for the window in the top left corner to close that window. 9. Move the Mouse With Your Keyboard Instead of using a regular mouse, you can enable your computer to use the number pad instead. This trick takes some time to master, but it can make your use of the computer much more efficient. 10. Select with double and triple click  This is the most used tip but for the completeness of  this post  i have mentioned it. You can select a word by double clicking it. And if you want to highlight the whole paragraph then click the mouse button three times on any paragraph. 11. Hold Your Mouse Correctly! There is no need to hold onto your mouse for dear life! The mouse will move well with just a light touch, which will also protect the health of your wrist. This is important for those that use the computer for hours a day, because incorrect posture on the mouse, or keyboard for that matter can cause a lot of unnecessary pain. Customize your mouse Finally, if you have a mouse with more than two buttons, installing the included mouse software allows you to customize the mouse even more.  For example, if you don't use the side buttons to move back and forth in a web page, change it to something you do more often, such as switching between open windows or opening the calculator. Source: http://www.computerhope.com/tips/tip32.htm http://www.techonicals.com/2012/10/computer-mouse-tips-every-computer-user.html

Great Tips Will Help Alleviate Back and Neck Pain!

Aside from a toothache, there is arguably nothing more annoying than back and neck pain. It can weigh you down at work, leave you sore in the evening, and make it very difficult to get to sleep at night. Chiropractors know a thing or two about treating back and neck pain, and they can provide some helpful tips about what to do and what not to do to prevent/alleviate this type of pain. 

Below are some top tips from masters of the trade that will enable you to put back and neck pain firmly in the rear view mirror.

1. Correct Sleeping Posture 


Sleeping in the right positions can do wonders for back and neck pain. Experienced chiropractors recommend never sleeping on your stomach. They state that the best way to sleep is on your back with a pillow under your head and neck area and another pillow under your knees. If you're the kind of person who cannot sleep unless you're on your side, a pillow between the knees is recommended.

2. Safe Lifting Techniques

When lifting heavy objects, chiropractors suggest that you bend at the knees, avoid twisting, keep your back straight, and lift with your arm and leg muscles, not your back muscles. Keep your feet shoulder-width apart, bend at the knees, and lift as you straighten up. When taking part in repetitive lifting activities, make sure to take regular breaks so that you don't mess up your technique due to fatigue.

3. Proper Phone Use

In this highly technological day and age, everyone is on their phones, and usually practicing bad posture while they're at it. As you text, search the web, watch videos, or scan social media sites, you are probably craning your neck down in a C-shape, with your chin close to resting on your chest. Chiropractors don't recommend this. Instead, they suggest that you hold the phone out with your hands at nearly eye-level, as craning your neck down to look at a low screen for extended periods of time is horrible for neck pain.

4. Use Car Headrests

We spend a lot of time in cars, traveling from place to place. So why not spend this time giving your neck some much-needed rest? According to chiropractors, resting your head on a car headrest will bring your head into a naturally comfortable position and will release any built-up tension in your overworked neck muscles.

5. Get the Right Mattress

Chiropractors state that having a mattress of medium firmness is a lot better for back and neck health. A mattress that is too hard can be rigid and unforgiving, while a mattress that is too soft will not offer enough support. Therefore, a mattress with medium firmness is best as it can help minimize any curvature of the spine during sleep.

6. Don't Crack Your Neck

Do you often pop or crack your neck? If so, we recommend that you stop, as chiropractors are strongly against it. Though it may feel like you are relieving pressure, in reality, you're probably just making it a whole lot worse. Popping or cracking your neck without chiropractic knowledge is likely to damage surrounding joints instead of fixing them.

7. Sit with Correct Posture

Posture is very important for back and neck health, whether you're standing, sitting, or sleeping. Try to sit up straight, but also avoid crossing your legs. Chiropractors recommend sitting with your feet flat on the floor, or flat on an elevated foot rest, reducing pressure on your lower back while you sit. Furthermore, if you're sitting at a computer for most the day, elevate the screen to eye level in order to promote good posture.

8.Keep Exercising

Activity is often the best medicine for back pain. “Simple exercises like walking can be very helpful,” Wilmarth says. “It gets people out of a sitting posture and puts the body in a neutral, upright position.”

But remember to move in moderation, Flippin says. “Stay away from strenuous activities like gardening and avoid whatever motion caused the pain in the first place.”

9.Apply Ice and Heat

Heating pads and cold packs can comfort tender trunks. Most doctors recommend using ice for the first 48 hours after an injury -- particularly if there is swelling — and then switching to heat.

But "it is difficult to say if ice or heat is more beneficial,” Flippin says. “I recommend that patients use whichever they find comforting as long as their skin is protected.”

10.Use Relaxation Techniques

Research shows that practices such as meditation, deep breathing, tai chi, and yoga, which help put the mind at rest, can do wonders for the back.

“If you can induce a relaxation response, it will help reduce the perceived pain level," Moroz says.

11. See a Specialist

Developing an individualized exercise plan is essential to managing chronic back pain, says D. Scott Davis, PT, MS, EdD, OCS, an orthopaedic physical therapist and associate professor at West Virginia University.

“There is no magic aspirin that addresses lower back pain in everyone,” Davis says. “Some patients need more core strengthening while others benefit mainly from stretching and improving flexibility. Find a physical therapist, exercise physiologist, or chiropractor who specializes in back care. They will match you with the right exercise plan.”

Source of the article: 
Email received from a friend and
http://www.webmd.com/back-pain/america-asks-13/12-back-pain-tips?page=2