Virtual Reality and TBI

One recent treatment that has been used with individuals with TBI is virtual reality. Virtual reality (VR) applications “allow the user to interact with, and become immersed in,
a computer-generated environment that simulates a real world environment.” As of right now, there is little research to support the success of virtual reality in treating TBI, but there is much anticipation that virtual reality will be a successful way of achieving positive outcomes in patients with TBI. Some of these outcomes include: assessing level of functioning in real-life situations, and being trained with consistent repetitions. For more information on this topic, please see sections 1, 3, 4, and 5 of this article. It discusses some of the benefits and potential issues concerning this treatment option. Do you think that virtual reality is a viable option for those with TBI?

Our group feels that because there have been so many advances in technology, virtual reality treatments will soon become an option that is affordable and very helpful to those with TBI. As technology becomes more advanced, virtual reality may certainly allow for great advances in the treatment of TBI, and could lead to vast improvements in the cognitive and life skills areas of a student with TBI. Although there still needs to be a lot of research done on this particular treatment option, we feel that it is certainly something that needs to be further studied in order to fully tap its potential as a treatment for those individuals with TBI.

Blame the Teletubbies

Recently, an economist from Cornell University named Michael Waldman has discovered a “link” between watching too much TV at an early age and autism. Read a news report regarding his ideas here.
Many parents have reacted negatively to this, as is evidenced in Barbara Fischkin’s article, which you can read here.
In another article, however, the actual results of research are conveyed.

What is your view? Do you think watching TV influences a child’s diagnosis of autism?

We think that there is not enough evidence to show a causal relationship between TV and autism. While research would suggest that the two coincide, it does not necessarily mean that all children who watch a lot of TV at a young age will have autism, nor that all children diagnosed with autism have watched a lot of TV. We agreed with the possibility that the third article presented when it stated, “that watching a lot of television before the age of three can trigger the development of autism in children who are already at risk for the disorder.”

We also think that Waldman’s cure of his child is bogus.

Autism and Medication

Yet another possible treatment for children with autism is medication. On the one hand, some parents feel they have seen vast improvements in their children's behavior since they have been on medication; on the other, some parents refuse medication, feeling that it would just be "doping up" their children.

This articleaddresses both sides: it is a mother talking about her personal experience with her child that has autism spectrum disorder. She talks about how she was very hesitant to use medication, especially because other parents would say it was just "doping" your child up so you don't have to deal with them. Eventually she medicates her son and sees drastic results that are good. She concludes by saying " individuals who are not familiar with these situations please reserve your judgement until you know more about each situation." (Britany Barnes)

This video details that the most common drugs used to treat autism, the SSRI series, which mostly consist of anti-depressants. In this video they state that these drugs have no proven effect on the effects of autism. A worried mother details her worries and concerns of possible side effects. It also features a doctor from Seattle Childrens Hospital. He outlines his disappointment in not seeing ANY results within his examination of the drugs effects. (Shelly Peterson)

This article is a mother's experience of refusing to medicate her autistic son. She believes intensive therapy will be the thing that helps her son learn to communicate, and she is a believer in the gluten-free casein-free diet. Her stand is that medication only treats symptoms of autism and she would rather give her son the resources to cope with his disability instead of medicating him. (Lauren Stevenson)

Our group feels that, for the most part, medication is ineffective--it only masks the problem. Parents should medicate their child only if necessary, and that medication should be used only temporarily and used along with teaching techniques (e.g. self-modeling).

In your opinion, is medication an effective treatment for children with autism? Under what circumstances should it be given?

Pre-Natal Scanning for Down's Syndrome

Pre-Natal Scanning for Down’s syndrome:

Scans are available during pregnancy that can tell you if your baby is at risk of being down with Down’s Syndrome. Doctors believe that it is a great advantage as it can help prepare parents for the expected health problems at birth, and know that extra care will be necessary. Some people believe that it leads to a greater amount of abortions as people do not “want to deal” with a child with disabilities. They believe it to unethical.

This article is about a parent of a child with Down’s Syndrome. She talks of the challenges other people’s opinions on the subject make. People ask her is she was “tested” during her pregnancy, and she has so poignant words to say on the subject:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101701311.html

This web page has information about Pre-natal Screening and testing and why it should be done, read the sections labeled Preamble, and Screening tests:

http://www.ndsccenter.org/resources/position1.php

This web page has information about pre-natal screening and some of the issues scroll down to the 3^rd to last paragraph starting with “The screening tests establish”:

http://www.dreamessays.com/customessays/Critical%20Essays/5371.htm

We agree with the doctors who say that screening can lead to better medical care, and preparedness on the parent’s part. It would help the parents prepare with the financial, emotional, and physical demands that a child with disabilities is liable to bring. However, it does bring some people to make some decisions that we do not agree with. There is also the fact that screenings do not tell you for sure if your child will have the disease so it give you a false positive reading. Health insurance does not cover pre-natal screenings so we would be more inclined to have the screenings performed if they were covered by insurance seeing as they are rather expensive.

Considering the testimonial article and the pro and cons presented, do you think that pre-natal screening is an asset to pregnancy? Should it be required for all pregnancies?

Internet Safety

Post what you have learned from the Internet Safety Video assignment.

• Discuss one point you like/agree with, and one point you dislike/disagree with, and why. (2 points)
• Length should be about 1/2 page in length (approximately 100 words).

Health Care and Severe Disabilities

For a person who has a disability, or who has a family member with a disability, health care is really important. The need for medical attention among the disability community is usually higher and more consistent throughout the years, it is generally more expensive, harder to obtain, and sometimes, the solutions provided are even undesirable.
Ari Ne’eman talks about some instances where this has been the case and passionately defends the special needs population. Specifically, he mentioned the Community Choice Act, which was supported by Obama during his campaign, and how that would help people with disabilities get the health care they need. Unfortunately, according to Ne’eman, Obama is not following through, and Ne’eman calls for the integration of disabled citizens and the non-disabled citizens.
Read his article here: http://specialneeds08.blogspot.com/2009/08/disability-and-health-care-firsthand.html
This debate has recently been outside the walls of the White House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsKkAAzZgNQ
More information on Obama’s health care plan can be found here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/health_care/plan/

Do Ne’eman and Laurna have a reasonable argument? Are the disabled being treated differently under Obama’s new plan?

I think that Ne’eman and Laurna’s concerns are valid. It is imperative that we ensure coverage for people with disabilities and the concern becomes even more real if that person is close to us. I know, as a future mother, that I would want to take every precaution to make sure that my child will have access to all the care he would need – without too much extra cost on my part. However, after reading President Obama’s plan, I feel that enough support is being given to those with special needs and that it would not be unreasonable difficult to obtain the needed coverage. Taking into account Ne’emans concerns, I also believe that there is a need for individualization in the process. Each individual needs to be considered on a case by case basis to determine what their specific needs are and the best way to satisfy those needs.

Gary McKinnon

Read the following articles about Gary McKinnon, a man from the UK diagnosed with Asperger's, and his legal involvement with the United States:

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/160039.php

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/31/gary-mckinnon-loses-extradition-appeal

Given what you know and the following article describing the implications of Asperger's, (http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/aswhatisit.html) what do you think should be done regarding Gary MicKinnon's situation? Is it fair to extradite him? Should he be held responsible for his actions?

This seems similar to the discussion involving traumatic brain injury we had a few weeks ago, yet it is much clearer that Gary McKinnon was known to have Asperger's before he committed the crime, thus it is very likely that it could have influenced his actions to some extent. Any ruling in the United States will probably be more severe than one that might occur in the United Kingdom because the US is the victim in the situation. However, if Gary McKinnon is shown leniency for the sake of his high-functioning disability, it will set a precedent that could lead to some serious future implications. Convicts in the future could fake disabilities or people with actual disabilities could be exploited and used to do illegal things because those that exploit them feel confident that they won't be punished.

We feel that, because Gary's offense was repeated many times over again and because of the high-functioning nature of Asperger's, he must suffer some consequences. Because the ruling in the UK found it appropriate for Gary to be extradited, we feel that the government should follow through with extradition and trial. While this may seem harsh considering his circumstances, we feel it will teach him that there are serious consequences for serious actions--just like we would use consequences to teach our kids in the classroom--as well as setting necessary precedent that will protect others in the future.

Chelation Therapy

Mercury was commonly found in vaccinations a few years ago. There have been many controversial issues debating whether mercury is a cause of autism. Some parents have resulted to using chelation as a form of therapy to help “cure” their children of autism. Many have felt that their child has benefited from the therapy. Chelation is "the administration of chelating agents to remove heavy metals from the body. For the most common forms of heavy metal poisoning — those involving lead, arsenic or mercury — the standard of care in the USA dictates the use of dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)." (Wikipedia) However, some doctors find it dangerous and possibly deadly. This drug can remove essential nutrients from your body and cause possible kidney failure.

Through our research we have found these sites related to chelation therapy.

This site explains what chelation’s function is, and its possible risks.

http://www.ehow.com/about_5403420_chelation-therapy.html

Scroll down this webpage to part 2 to find a video related to chelation

http://www.dmsachelation.com/autism/

Use this information to answer the following question.

What would you do as a parent of a child with a severe case of autism? Would you result to trying to solve the disability by using chelation as a treatment?