CAN A SPECIAL DIET WORK FOR YOUR CHILD?

I remember hearing about diet for children with autism at the Wow Divas Autism Awareness Seminar in 2011. Since that time, I have tried to read up on the benefits of diet for people on the spectrum.

In 2012 I read a book, Facing Autism by Lynn M. Hamilton; the author talked about how the GFCF (Gluten Free, Casein Free) diet and supplements helped her son, among other things (You need to read that book).

Cover Page for the book, Facing Autism

Recently, I met a nutritionist, Ijeoma Ugwu. Talking with her, I appreciated more, the effect on diet for people on the spectrum.

For many years, there has been a debate, if children on the autism spectrum need to be on a diet. Why bother suffering a child and restricting diet? You tell parents not to give sugar to the child, and they will say they pitied the child and gave the child juice, sweet, biscuit, cakes etc. For some parents, it’s the thought of segregating the child that makes a special diet a no-go area for them. Many children are picky eaters, so what happens when the only thing the child can handle is what the nutritionists say are bad? I know children that eat only rice, nothing else; what can the parents do?

From my interaction with Mrs. Ugwu, and some parents who have taken the diet route, children whose diets have been tailored to meet their needs have shown a lot of progress in speech, and behaviour. She said that nutrition can help to address hyperactivity, poor gross and fine motor skills, and seizures. According to Mrs. Ugwu, nutrition affects symptoms from the cellular level. For example, hyperactivity can be a result of yeast overgrowth, and that can be addressed through proper diet. Some children show poor gross motor skills, so they may have challenge in chewing food, holding pencil, or they get tired easily. This may be as a result of Mitochondria dysfunction, and this can be addressed through proper diet.

As a parent of a child on the spectrum, I am sure that you have heard about diet, but you may not have considered it before now. A mother told me recently that the doctor that diagnosed her son said that they should stop giving him sugar, but somehow she and her husband still give him sugar. Another father said that the autism centre that the son attends told him to stop giving him sugar, but the boy was taking a soft drink as he told me. I guess many parents don’t bother with diet because they don’t know how much effect it will have on their child.

Although children with autism respond to different treatments differently, there have been so many testimonies of children responding better to therapy, as their diet is changed. Last year, a child I worked with showed huge progress, and paid better attention during therapy after her parents agreed to stop sugar. Although she was still a bit hyperactive, she learnt to be calm while in class or in her one-on-one sessions, and that made therapy more fun and effective. But somehow she started “snatching” her sister’s drinks, and the behaviour just changed.

Many parents can testify that their children get more hyperactive or aggressive after they eat a particular meal. It is therefore important that parents begin to consider the option of removing food that may not be good, and introducing food that is good to the child’s diet.

If I have not said it before, let me say it now, sugar is not good for your child. Giving the child sugar is not giving the child a taste of the good life, it is harming that child. The nutritionist is the one that can tell you exactly what your child should eat or not, but I know that fruits and vegetables are good. Mrs. Ugwu said that the greener the vegetables, the better. Turmeric, garlic, onions are better options than seasoning cubes for cooking. It is better to use your chicken or meat stock to season your food than the processed seasoning cubes (maggi in Nigerian language).

I don’t know if my post has convinced you to consider changing your child’s diet, at least I hope it encourages you to speak to a nutritionist. I’m sure Mrs. Ugwu will not mind you sending an email, and I believe that she will respond. You can reach her on brainfood.gut@yahoo.com.

Have a beautiful December.

IN OTHER NEWS: COULD YOUR CHILD'S LEARNING BE DISTURBED BY DYSLEXIA

#LongPostAlert#

This is my second “In Other News” post. I promised to be a voice for other children with special needs, and this time it’s for children with Dyslexia.

I watched “Like Stars on Earth” an Indian movie in 2011, and it kinda brought Dyslexia home for me. I had read an article in a Newspaper in 2009, about a Nobel Prize winner who had Dyslexia.

Carol Greider

Carol Greider had won the 2009 Nobel Prize in Medicine with 2 other people. They had discovered Telomerase, an enzyme that plays an important role in the division of cells, and which has a real potential to fight cancer and age-related diseases. The Nobel Prize was not her first award; she had won The Albert Lasker Award in 2006, an award for works in sciences.

Who would have thought that a lady with this much accolade struggled through elementary school because she had a disorder that made reading and speaking difficult? Spelling words, sounding letters, putting letter sounds together to form words were a challenge for her. She had challenges with speaking; sometimes the wrong words will come out of her mouth while she was thinking of another word.  Carol Greider had Dyslexia just like that little boy in Like Stars on Earth.

Dyslexia is a type of learning disorder that affects reading, spelling, writing, and sometimes speaking. Children with dyslexia may be able to understand instructions that are verbal, and have difficulty with written information. The child may find it easy answering questions orally, but may not be able to write the answers on paper. They may read and write slowly, write letters the wrong way (e.g confuse “b” for “d”), spell poorly, confuse the order of letters in words. Some children with dyslexia see the words moving on the book (at least they say so). Dyslexia does not only affect the child in writing, reading or spelling; many people with dyslexia struggle with planning and organization, have difficulty with sequence of direction. I remember that the little boy in the movie could not throw ball in a particular direction.

Dyslexia usually becomes obvious when the child starts school and starts writing, about age 5, but it can be noticed earlier in pre-school children. Just like autism, a toddler with dyslexia can have delayed speech (reasons you cannot assume that every child that talks late has autism). These children may have difficulty pronouncing long words, or may jumble up words- for example saying “beddy tear” instead of “Teddy bear”; may not understand rhyming words like “sit” and “hit” especially in Nursery rhymes; learning alphabets can be a challenge for the child.

Just like autism, dyslexia is a lifelong disorder, so the child does not outgrow it. Having a child with these difficulties can be disturbing for a parent, or teaching such a child. Learning disabilities cannot be beaten out of a child; you cannot wait it out and expect learning to get easier. Some people assume that comparing the child to other children will motivate the child to be better, rather it will make the child rebellious. As a parent, you therefore cannot leave your child’s condition to chance.

The first way to help your child is by speaking to the school if they have a Special Education Needs (SEN) Department. In Nigeria, not all schools have a SEN department, so you may have to get the help of a Dyslexia professional. But that is not all; like I always say, the bulk of the work lies on the parents. You have to work to help your child;

-         Spend time reading to your child. This will build the child’s interest in books and improve vocabulary and listening skills.

-         Read books together with your child. You can discuss the book, to improve comprehension.

-         Don’t get bored reading the same book to your child “a thousand times” (that’s just figurative) if he likes it, it will reinforce his understanding and get more familiar with the written text.

-         Encourage your child to read alone so he can get more independent and fluent.

-         Reward your child’s progress in reading, writing, spelling, speaking. Make learning fun, as it is already harder than it should be for the child.

-         As the child grows older, you can introduce the use of computers, as it makes spelling easier; there is usually the spell checker. Computers also usually have text-to-speech apps, helping your child maximize his oral skills.

-         Remember to work directly with the professional that is supporting your child. It is all about team-work.

Carol Greider is not the only dyslexic person that has succeeded in her career of choice; Whoopi Goldberg, the actress has dyslexia; Steven Speilberg, the guy that directed many movies including Transformers is said to be dyslexic; Richard Branson of the Virgin Group (you know Virgin Airways na); Anderson Cooper, a News anchor on CNN is said to be dyslexic. The list includes Tom Cruise, Leonardo Da Vinci, Patrick Dempsey, and Jennifer Aniston. On Wikipedia alone, there are so many people and what they do.

A Dyslexia suspicion and diagnosis is not the end of the world. With your support, your child can be successful.

I wish you all the best, and Happy Dyslexia Awareness Week.

Please share this post to create awareness, you don’t know the child or parent you may be helping and giving hope to. Thank you.

YESTERDAY WAS WORLD TEACHERS DAY

I really wanted to post something yesterday; it was a day celebrating teachers and as a teacher I wanted to celebrate myself. First of all, I studied Education in the University, and I have spent the last 6 years actively teaching children with special needs, training autism professionals, and teaching parents how to help their children with autism. Why should I not be excited about World Teachers Day?

But somehow, I did not get near my laptop until night time. It was such an active day for me, as I had an opportunity to attend an event for teachers.

October 5 2016 did not just give me a reason to celebrate, it raised questions in my heart. How far have we come in building and equipping children with autism and other special needs conditions? How many teachers can work with these children? How many people are willing to work with them? How available and affordable are trainings in Nigeria for  people interested in working with these children? (I know how much I have spent on getting trained. And there's still so much to spend). What does the future hold for the person interested in teaching these children, either in a mainstream school or in a special school?

Yesterday, I also met a Disability Advocate, the founder of Benola (a Cerebral Palsy Initiative), AVM Femi Gbadebo. Yesterday was also World Cerebral Palsy Day, so talking about CP in relations to Education also raised concerns on how can we get people who are first of all willing to teach children with CP and other disorders?

I cannot imagine where my life would be now if there were no teachers. I cannot remember the teachers that taught me in Nursery class, and I remember faintly those that taught me in Early Primary. I think the only ones I remember from Primary School are the people that taught me from Primary 3 upwards, but I am so sure that I would not be where I am today if all those people did not teach me. How would my life have turned out if nobody was willing to work in a school?

Maybe I will not feel like I was missing anything, but I definitely will not be where I an today; and I am grateful for where I am today.

What is the essence of my long speech? (You ask). First of all I celebrate teachers that are giving their time to train children with special needs. Secondly, I hope that celebrating World Teachers Day will not just be about celebrating the people that taught us, but also encourage people to show interest in the education of the next generation. The next generation includes children with special needs; autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral palsy, visual impairment, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, and many more. I pray that more people will become willing to teach these children with special needs in Nigeria.

Although this is belated, allow me to say Happy Belated Teachers Day to all teachers that work with children with special needs and all who will be inspired by our work to get involved and join us in teaching these wonderful children.

SPECIAL NEEDS TRAINING NEAR YOU

Sometime in May I joined a group of people on a walk to create special needs awareness in Ikorodu. I wrote here on the blog about that walk, which was organized by Pison Therapy Center, Ikorodu.

People walking to create special needs awareness

I mentioned on the blog that the walk was the first of many programs that they have planned for creating special needs awareness and solutions for families with children with special needs. On Saturday September 3, they will be hosting another event; this time it is a training.

Explaining autism and other special needs disorders to someone on the street

Pison Therapy Center is bringing to Ikorodu, seasoned professionals in autism therapy and support, to train parents, teachers, caregivers, health personnel, and other interested persons on helping children with autism and other disorders. The center caters for children with neuro-biological disorders like Autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral palsy, Hydrocephaly, Learning disabilities and other related disorders, so the training will cover aspects that concern training and raising children with such disorders. There will be training on behaviour management and building communication skill in children with these special needs. At the training, you will learn the purpose of unpleasant or maladaptive behaviours, and what to do to stop or redirect them. You will also learn how to develop expressive communication skills in a child with speech limitations.

Special needs awareness

Do you live in Ikorodu? Even if you don’t, it does not matter, you can still join us and learn. Join us on Saturday September 3, at Block 6, Flat 8, Jubilee Estate, Ikorodu by 10am for this training.

I will be there. Will you be there?

MENTAL HEALTH: AUTISM AND ANXIETY

May is Mental Health Month! It is very important to consider the mental health of individuals on the autism spectrum. For this reason, I decided to learn about anxiety as it relates to the mental health of individuals with autism.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome

Just as neurotypical people have anxiety disorders, some children and adults with autism have anxiety disorders as well

Anxiety disorder can present as social phobia, separation anxiety, panic attacks, excessive worry/rumination, obsessive compulsive disorder or a phobia such as extreme fear of spiders or loud noise etc.

Symptoms may include difficulty concentrating, thinking constantly about the worst outcome, difficulty sleeping and becoming preoccupied with or obsessive about one subject or object. Physical symptoms may include excessive thirst, stomach upsets, pounding heart, headaches and dizziness.

They say about 30 percent of people living with autism have anxiety disorders. Unlike regular people, because of limitations in communication, people with autism may not be able to say that they have anxiety disorders; some may not identify the feelings as anxiety, but there are ways to recognize anxiety in people with autism, whether they can say it or not.

As a parent, you are expected to know your child well, so you should notice if there’s an increase in the expression of challenging behaviours. There may be an increase in meltdowns or tantrums; ritualistic behaviours like arranging toys in a line; stimming behaviours such as flapping, spinning, rocking; insist on routine and sameness; preferring to stay alone more than before; self-injury behaviour such as hand biting, head banging, or pinching. Some individuals with autism may become more aggressive because of anxiety disorder. Another possible symptom of anxiety disorder may be loss of sleep; so if your child is losing sleep for reasons you cannot explain, it may be a symptom of anxiety disorder.

Anxiety in people with autism is treated the same way as in regular people. Although medications can be given for anxiety, the more acceptable form of treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). If you as a parent suspect that your child may have anxiety disorder, you need to speak to a psychiatrist. Do not feel embarrassed to see a psychiatrist about your child’s needs, you are getting the help that is needed.

Alongside whatever treatment the psychiatrist may give to the child for anxiety, parents need to recognize that they have a role to play in helping their child overcome the fears and other effects of anxiety. Encourage your child to be brave and overcome his/her fears by rewarding any effort at being brave, so when the child does something he/she is afraid of, reward that child and don’t just ignore it, or acknowledge it as “one of those things”. It is also important to discuss the fears of the child; you can develop social stories to teach the child how to address the fear. As a parent, you know your child more than anybody else, it will therefore be easier for you to recognize the things or situations that trigger anxiety in your child. Recognizing these triggers will help you work with your child to address anxiety.

Like every symptom or comorbidity you deal with in your child with autism, dealing with anxiety will require patience and consistence. Do not give up; you need to be strong because your child depends on your strength. Work with the psychiatrist, and know that with your support it will only get better.

MENTAL HEALTH: AUTISM AND ANXIETY

May is Mental Health Month! It is very important to consider the mental health of individuals on the autism spectrum. For this reason, I decided to learn about anxiety as it relates to the mental health of individuals with autism.

Anxiety is a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome

Just as neurotypical people have anxiety disorders, some children and adults with autism have anxiety disorders as well

Anxiety disorder can present as social phobia, separation anxiety, panic attacks, excessive worry/rumination, obsessive compulsive disorder or a phobia such as extreme fear of spiders or loud noise etc.

Symptoms may include difficulty concentrating, thinking constantly about the worst outcome, difficulty sleeping and becoming preoccupied with or obsessive about one subject or object. Physical symptoms may include excessive thirst, stomach upsets, pounding heart, headaches and dizziness.

They say about 30 percent of people living with autism have anxiety disorders. Unlike regular people, because of limitations in communication, people with autism may not be able to say that they have anxiety disorders; some may not identify the feelings as anxiety, but there are ways to recognize anxiety in people with autism, whether they can say it or not.

As a parent, you are expected to know your child well, so you should notice if there’s an increase in the expression of challenging behaviours. There may be an increase in meltdowns or tantrums; ritualistic behaviours like arranging toys in a line; stimming behaviours such as flapping, spinning, rocking; insist on routine and sameness; preferring to stay alone more than before; self-injury behaviour such as hand biting, head banging, or pinching. Some individuals with autism may become more aggressive because of anxiety disorder. Another possible symptom of anxiety disorder may be loss of sleep; so if your child is losing sleep for reasons you cannot explain, it may be a symptom of anxiety disorder.

Anxiety in people with autism is treated the way as in regular people. Although medications can be given for anxiety, the more acceptable form of treatment is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). If you as a parent suspect that your child may have anxiety disorder, you need to speak to a psychiatrist. Do not feel embarrassed to see a psychiatrist about your child’s needs, you are getting the help that is needed.

Alongside whatever treatment the psychiatrist may give to the child for anxiety, parents need to recognize that they have a role to play in helping their child overcome the fears and other effects of anxiety. Encourage your child to be brave and overcome his/her fears by rewarding any effort at being brave, so when the child does something he/she is afraid of, reward that child and don’t just ignore it, or acknowledge it as “one of those things”. It is also important to discuss the fears of the child; you can develop social stories to teach the child how to address the fear. As a parent, you know your child more than anybody else, it will therefore be easier for you to recognize the things or situations that trigger anxiety in your child. Recognizing these triggers will help you work with your child to address anxiety.

Like every symptom or comorbidity you deal with in your child with autism, dealing with anxiety will require patience and consistence. Do not give up; you need to be strong because your child depends on your strength. Work with the psychiatrist, and know that with your support it will only get better.

Creating Awareness in Ikorodu!!!

I am looking forward to May 30!!!  I know it’s a holiday, but that is not why I look forward to it. I don’t look forward to the day because I can wake up late and forget about Lagos traffic, not at all. I look forward to joining Pison Therapy Center and Patrick Speech and Language Center, for Special Needs awareness in Ikorodu on May 30, 2016.

                                     

                                                                  

Pison Therapy Center is a special center in Ikorodu, established to meet the needs of children with neuro-biological disorders like autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral palsy, Hydrocephaly, Learning disabilities and other related disorders in that environment. At that time it was established, there were no centers in Ikorodu that provided such service, so people with these children put them in special schools that were far away from Ikorodu, which made educating their children with special needs cumbersome. Because of the stress involved, some parents just kept their children at home, or put them in regular schools that are not equipped to meet the need of the children. Since 2012, Pison Therapy Center has been in Ikorodu to help children with special needs and their families.

                                                  

Patrick Speech and Languages Center on the other hand is a center for people living with autism and related disorders. Situated in Ikeja GRA, the center provides therapy and support for children and adults. Patricks has been on the forefront of autism awareness in Nigeria, and training of professionals that provide special education for people with autism.

                                         

Patrick Speech and Languages Center creating autism awareness

On May 30, Pison Therapy Centre is organizing a walk in partnership with Patrick Speech and Languages Center, themed Hope Alive. The purpose of the program is to create awareness about special needs around Ikorodu. Many people see these children and they do not understand the challenges, they assume that the child is spoilt or untrained. This program will help to educate the community, and religious organizations about these disorders, and how they can help create an inclusive society for these people with special needs.

I will be joining them for the walk, and I hope you can join us too. The road show will start from Ojubode in Ikorodu. Everybody will converge at Beats Pharmacy at Ojubode by 7am, from where we will move to Ojogbe to Ota-ona, and back to Ojubode.

This program is the first of many programs that Pison Therapy Center will hold in Ikorodu to create awareness about special needs and finding help for children with special needs.

I look forward to being there and seeing you.