Autism Spectrum Disorders

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KC Parent – April 2011

4/1/2011 12:00:00 AM

What is it?

Mary Anne Hammond, a Kansas City Education Coordinator for Autism and Related Disorders says, “Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD’s) are complex, biological, developmental disabilities that affect social interaction, behavior and communication.” The three classic disorders of ASD’s are listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
Autistic Disorder - (“classic” autism) have significant language delays, social and communication challenges, and unusual behaviors and interests. They may have intellectual disabilities.

Asperger Syndrome –have milder symptoms of autistic disorder, such as social challenges and unusual behaviors and interests. They typically don’t struggle with language or intellectual disabilities.

Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) – (atypical autism)
These kids meet some, but not all, of the criteria for autistic disorder or Asperger syndrome. They usually have fewer and milder symptoms.

Common symptoms

  • Social interaction – poor eye contact, lack of interest in peers, doesn’t show affection, doesn’t respond to parent’s smile, lack of joint attention (looking at objects parents are looking at or pointing to), and doesn’t bring toys/objects to parents to share interest.
  • Communication – little or no babbling, repeats words or phrases, doesn’t respond to his name, cannot hold a conversation with others, no longer uses previously spoken words.
  • Behavioral – repetitive behaviors, no fear of common dangers, lack of imaginative play, difficulty changing routine, abnormal interests, high pain tolerance, may be overly sensitive to surroundings.

What Causes ASD?

Hammond says, “We do not know, but have learned there are many (potential) causes: environmental, biologic and genetic factors.” Since 1998, when the British Medical Journal (BMJ) published a report, stating immunizations may be linked to the development of autism; numerous families have chosen to ignore the government’s standard recommendations for childhood immunizations. The BMJ has now retracted that report, and states the research data is fraudulent and the physician who falsified the research has had his medical license revoked.

Treatment Presently there is no cure. However, there are management tools available for families to maximize learning and lessen the symptoms of autism. Nemours reports, “Finding the right program and getting early help is key. People experience great gains with the appropriate treatment and education.” Applied behavioral analysis, speech therapy, occupational therapy, sensory integration therapy, and some medications to treat the symptoms, can be beneficial. For more ASD information, refer to www.nichd.nih.gov/health.

Stacey Hatton is a proud mother of two girls, a pediatric nurse and freelance writer.

Getting mixed signals

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The Kansas City Star newspaper

STACEY HATTON COMMENTARY

March 30, 2011

I have a longtime preoccupation (OK, obsession) with road signs.

No one is going to dispute that there are a plethora of questionable road signs. But how can there be so many signs that are inappropriate and grammatically challenged?

According to a reputable source — the Five Man Electrical Band’s official website, which, I might add, has six men on the opening page — “sign, sign, everywhere a sign.” There is, however, no mention of road rules or standards in their lyrics. They were of no help and I need some answers.

My number one sign obsession is the common and oddly distributed stop sign. This beloved sign didn’t always look as it does today. In the beginning of the stop sign’s life, it was merely a white piece of sheet metal with black lettering. History reports the sign was manufactured in yellow with red lettering and “cat eye” reflectors in the 1940s before turning into the red fabulous signage it is now. Riveting information!

But when did the stop sign start showing up everywhere? What in the heck qualifies a stop sign to be a stop sign? Are all stop signs created equal? Is there a difference between these signs on public versus private property?

Is a 4-inch diameter, petite, hand-painted stop sign that a carpenter was hired to carve out of plywood for an apartment complex parking lot the same as the 30- by 30-inch sign at the end of the block?

I decided to go to the top of the road sign food chain. After a brief conversation with a pleasant DMV officer, he said he had never been asked about the equality of stop signs and didn’t know the answer:

I asked, “It’s not in the Kansas Driver’s License Manual?” The bible of the roadways doesn’t address this?

“No, Ma’am. You might want to talk to the police.”

“Thank you,” I whispered while disguising my voice and quickly hanging up the phone.

After several pep talks and repeatedly running through my mind whether I had any unpaid parking tickets, I mustered up the courage to call a local police department.

I spoke with the command officer of Overland Park’s traffic safety division, Capt. Mike Imber, to verify the laws for private property stop signs, and he said every city is different.

Overland Park police cannot enforce infractions for “pseudo-stopping violations” on private property, but police in neighboring cities can.

What I’m saying is, if you are rolling through the squatty mini stop signs at your local grocery in Leawood, you better quit it. Ticket-ville for you!

Another traffic sign I have seen at the entrance of a local cemetery could be interpreted as inappropriate. Apparently, this road is not a through street because it reads, “Dead End.” Really? It’s a cemetery!

However, my number one grammatically challenged sign is: “Slow Children at Play.” Now that is just rude! The person who designed this sign needs a grammar refresher course. Wouldn’t you be offended if you had one of these signs in your family’s yard? Count of hands, please.

So the moral of this story is…OK, there really isn’t a moral. However, if I’m traveling through Leawood — and I highly recommend all drivers do the same — I’ll be sure to stop, look and listen before rolling through their cute, mini traffic signs on private property. It’s a jungle out there!

Stacey Hatton is a pediatric nurse and freelance writer. Her humor blog can be found at http://nursemommylaughs.com.

Teething Specialists: A Dentist, Pediatrician and a Mom Walk up to a Teething Child

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KC Baby magazine (Spring 2011 issue)

3/15/2011 12:00:00 AM

Tips for your Teething Tot
Dr. Donna K. Thomas, DDS, at Pediatric Dental Specialists, has several offices in Kansas City.

Q: When does a baby’s first tooth usually come in?
A: Between 6 1/2 and 7 months is the norm, but it can vary. As early as 3 months of age up to 15 months is still considered within normal limits.

Q: How many deciduous (primary) teeth are there, and in what order do they come in?
A: Typically the two lower central incisors are the first to erupt, followed by the maxillary central and lateral incisors, then the lower lateral incisors. Next to come through are typically the first primary molars, canines and finally the second primary molars. Usually, the primary dentition is complete by age 3.

Q: After the teeth have erupted, what should parents do to clean them?
A: I recommend brushing the tooth or teeth with a small soft toothbrush. I feel this is more appropriate than just wiping with a wash cloth once the teeth erupt. No toothpaste is necessary at this age. As more teeth erupt, a non-fluoride “pre- or toddler toothpaste” is useful until the child is able to understand the concept of spitting or not swallowing, which is usually around 3 years of age.

Q: When should a child come in to see the dentist for the first time?
A: We recommend all children be seen around 12 months of age or within six months of the eruption of the first tooth.

Dr. Christine White, MD, a pediatrician at Johnson County Pediatrics in Shawnee Mission, KS, has been in private practice since 2000.

Q: How do I know my child is teething?
A: Symptoms of teething may include swollen gums, which can make the child irritable and decrease their appetite a bit. They tend to drool more and they chew on their fingers or anything else they can get in their mouths.

Q: Are there symptoms on which pediatricians and parents disagree related to teething?
A: Parents often believe that teething causes high fevers, runny nose and diarrhea. In reality, a teething child may have a 99 to 100 degree temperature. If it’s over 100.5, there is something else going on. The teething child’s stools may be a slight bit more runny than normal, but a significant change is likely due to some other cause. Teething does not usually cause nasal congestion or discharge.

Q: What do you suggest to parents to ease teething pain?
A: To ease teething pain, I usually recommend putting a wet washcloth in the freezer for about 30 minutes and then letting the child chew on that. Firm rubber teething toys, not liquid filled toys that could rupture and leak fluid, are also a good option.
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) are good choices, especially when the child is trying to sleep and has no distractions—which makes the pain seem worse. I don’t recommend Baby Orajel as a first-line therapy, because if too much is used, or it is used too often, there could be negative side effects. These could include a decreased gag reflex with an increased risk of aspiration, and possibly seizures. The homeopathic teething tablets must be used with caution. They contain a very small amount of belladonna, which at certain levels, can cause symptoms such as lethargy, seizures, difficulty breathing, agitation and difficulty urinating. These tablets should be used sparingly.

Jen Lee is an Overland Park mom with an actively teething daughter.

Q: What’s a parent’s biggest teething frustration?
A: The symptoms are not always easy to figure out. Is it a “bug” or a tooth coming in? It also seems like a long process – they can have symptoms and no tooth shows up. Then symptoms go away…and in comes the tooth.

Q: What symptoms does your child experience?
A: My baby gets extra tired and cranky and gets awful diarrhea.

Q: What works?
A: Medicine doesn’t work with this baby. I usually use a wet rag or something cold. I also bought (Vulli’s) Sophie the Giraffe Teether. She loves to the hold the legs and really chew on the head! I also have friends whose kids love the Infantino Vibrating Teether.

Stacey Hatton is a pediatric RN, freelance writer and mother of two non-drooling girls.

What’s Your Poison?

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In honor of National Poison Week, I thought it fitting to celebrate our own personal favorite poisons.  What first comes to mind when you hear the word “poison?”  Is it a fine crisp Chardonnay or the ever-popular 80’s cologne, Poison? Could it be the “American (hair) band,” Poison, or Alice Cooper barking raspy lyrics with the same shared title?

P o i s o n…

(dream music crescendos)

Imagine this:  A couple get out of the house for a romantic date. Babysitter is sober, alert and appears sharp enough to make good decisions.  You are so glad to be sans children and feel a sense of accomplishment as you close the door to the car and back out of the driveway.

Your special someone (insert name here) has a reservation at the swankiest restaurant in town and you are dressed to the nines.

“Your table will be ready in just a few minutes, Mr. (insert same name).  You can wait in the bar while it is being cleared,” says the hostess flashing her youthfully white and perfect smile.
Feeling his hand on the small of your back, gently guiding you to the bar, you attempt to elegantly hike yourself up on a too high of a stool for the dress you are wearing.  1-2-3-and-a hoist!  Looking around the bar, no one saw that.  Good. Still looking radiant and sexy, and having completely forgotten about your children for several moments, a HAWT young stud bartender leans in close and whispers to you…

“What’s your poison?”

(music comes to a screeching stop)

Poison!  I forgot to tell the babysitter where the number for Poison Control is!  Did I put the lid back on the Tylenol tightly and return it to the shelf where the kids can’t get to it?  That moron of a babysitter wouldn’t give the kids any medicines without calling first, would she?  OMG…I haven’t checked the expiration date on the Ipecac lately!!  What if it doesn’t work?!

“Ma’am?  (pause) Do you need more time to order?  I can get you a drink menu if you need…”

“I’ll take a Vodka and soda on the rocks – hold the soda.”

Turning to your date, “Honey, save my seat, I need to call the babysitter!”

Have a safe National Poison Week without any calls to Poison control.  You can get the number for your area at:  1-800-222-1222 This will work ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES. For more information, contact the American Association of Poison Control Centers –www.aapcc.org.

HEALTHYCHILDREN.ORG GIVES AWAY FREE CAR SEATS

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Just when you start thinkin’, “Enough with the car seat talk!!!” a freebie contest starts, well, yesterday, for a FREE CAR SEAT!!  Woo hoo! If one of you wins, I want to hear about it! ~ Nurse Mommy

AAP News Release

For immediate release

HealthyChildren.org, the official American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Web site for parents, offers registered users a chance to win a free car seat courtesy of Safety 1st in the Safe Ride Sweeps.

Registered users may enter once a day beginning March 21, 2011 through March 31, 2011. Five winners will be selected daily. Winners will be notified in April 2011 and may choose an infant, convertible, or booster seat as their prize.

Parents can find important information about the proper use of car seats in Car Safety Seats: Information for Families. This HealthyChildren.org article has been updated to reflect the new AAP policy that recommends children remain rear-facing until age 2, or until they reach the maximum height and weight for their seat. It also advises that most children will need to ride in a belt-positioning booster seat until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall and are between 8 and 12 years of age. For more information about the new AAP policy statement, visit the Hot Topics news area on HealthyChildren.org.

For more information, contact the AAP Department of Communications at 847-434-7877 or commun@aap.org.

(Source:  American Academy of Pediatrics, March 21, 2011.)