| Children and adults with autism are unable to relate to | | | | people with autism develop, communicate, and |
| others in a meaningful way. They have difficulty | | | | become more independent. |
| developing relationships or understanding other | | | | Diet and Nutrition High doses of vitamin B6 and |
| people's feelings and often develop strange | | | | magnesium have been found to be helpful in |
| obsessions or odd behavior patterns. Autism is | | | | improving sleeping habits and attention span, |
| believed to be a brain development disorder, and | | | | decreasing hyperactivity, irritability, and aggression in |
| while there is no cure there is hope. | | | | autistic people. |
| Autism is rare, affecting every two to four children in | | | | Consult a qualified practitioner/therapist for: |
| 10,000, and nearly three times more boys are | | | | Massage Hand and foot massage (with or without |
| affected than girls. It is also more common in higher | | | | essential oils) can help autistic people learn to enjoy |
| social classes. Most cases present themselves before | | | | positive touch and be calm. Carers can be taught |
| the age of two and a half or earlier. Although the | | | | how to massage. |
| cause is unknown, it has been linked to epilepsy (10 | | | | Music Therapy Trained therapists have had good |
| to 15 percent of sufferers develop epilepsy) and later | | | | results using music to communicate with autistic |
| schizophrenia (there is some indication that autism | | | | children and help them express themselves. |
| may be a form of schizophrenia, although it does not, | | | | "Holding" Therapy When combined with other |
| as yet, respond to the same medication). | | | | treatments, holding - where the parent insists on |
| Most sufferers remain educationally subnormal, | | | | comforting an unwilling child - has been found to be |
| although some have an isolated special ability, for | | | | effective in improving the behavior patterns of |
| instance, with numbers or music. | | | | autistic children. Families will find that they need |
| Treatment | | | | support and advice from experienced therapists |
| There are a vast range of approaches that can help | | | | when attempting to use this form of therapy. |