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Autism Spectrum Disorder |
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Female, Age 5 - Autism, Asthma, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Strabismus, and Illness Susceptibility
At the time of consultation, the patient had been experiencing 25 violent temper episodes per day with each episode lasting up to 20 minutes. The episodes consisted of ear piercing screams, combatant behavior, and the patient throwing herself onto the floor. She also exhibited 3 episodes each day of self-inflicted violent behavior which included biting her arm, slapping her head, and repeatedly banging her head against a full length mirror. Her parents advised that she also expressed at least 1 episode each day of outward violent behavior which consisted of hitting people, especially her mother to include slapping the glasses off her face. The patient continued to improve over the next 8 months. Adjustments were rendered very infrequently. Her mother reports that the patient currently exhibits the type of anger in intensity and frequency that normal children have when not getting their way, etc. The patient may rarely show some self-violent behavior with slapping her own head if she is over stimulated or very tired. Any outward violent behavior, if ever seen, is described by her mother as usual childhood behavior as when mad with a sibling. Her sleep pattern continues to be undisturbed. She continues to improve in her speech development with increased use of complex structured sentences. Her gross motor skills have improved to the point of performing somersaults and playing catch, while her fine motor skills include work with holding pencils correctly, using keys, and the ability to feed herself (even soup) using utensils. Full Research Article |
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What is Autism? According to the Autism Society of America, Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first two years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the functioning of the brain, impacting development in the areas of social interaction and communication skills. Both children and adults on the autism spectrum typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities. A 2006 randomized clinical trial demonstrated that upper cervical care showed higher efficacy than full spine care with autistic children. In this particular study, two of the children were later diagnosed as non-autistic.1 It is also common for chiropractors and manipulative therapists to report improvements in children with autism. However, most of the reports are in the form of anecdotal stories or case studies with a conclusion necessitating the need for larger controlled trials.2-5 The bigger concern is the continually increasing prevalence of this disorder, how this disorder affects the stress on the individual families, the cost of treating or taking care of these people and who will take care of this growing population when their parents and or families can no longer care for them. According to the most recent report from the CDC in February 2007 its Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report indicated that the prevalence is now 1 in 150 children equaling 280 million Americans.6 The estimated lifetime cost for treating and taking care of autism in America is $35 billion per year. Individually per year it is estimated that lower level disability costs a family $38,000 and higher level disability costs $43,000 in direct costs.7 In addition to the psychological complications there are also in many cases a number of visceral Autism Resources | |
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