Guide To Autism And Diets

By Susan Zeppieri

Nourishment assumes a huge part in one's wellbeing and development. The soundness of babies, kids, and moms can all profit from better nourishment, as could the probability of creating non-transmittable sicknesses at any point like diabetes and cardiovascular illness, as well as the time span they live. The fundamental advantage of any unique eating regimen is typically the abatement or disposal of handled, pre-bundled feasts, like those with dyed flour, refined sugar, fake flavors, varieties, and additives. All in all, changing to a more regular eating regimen is related with better wellbeing results.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Susan Zeppieri
• Release date: Oct 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215771280

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

An overdue query in autism science: What, exactly, is autism? | Spectrum | Autism Research News

Nutrition plays a significant role in one's health and growth. The health of infants, children, and mothers can all benefit from better nutrition, as can the likelihood of developing noncommunicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as the length of time they live. The main benefit of any special diet is usually the decrease or elimination of processed, pre-packaged meals, such as those with bleached flour, refined sugar, artificial flavours, colours, and preservatives. In other words, switching to a more natural diet is associated with better health outcomes.

It can seem like a difficult and overwhelming effort to get your youngster or a youngster you are watching to eat healthfully. Kids can be pretty fussy at times, and for the overwhelming part, they don't place a high value on veggies and other healthful foods. It is feasible to persuade your child to consume wholesome foods, and you may even make them enjoy it.

Most kids must go through a finicky eating phase. Even while it can be a trying period for parents, this is a relatively common phase that most kids grow out of without any long-term negative impacts on their health or development. In actuality, the majority of kids will grow up to eat a variety of healthy foods. 

However, eating can be a very complicated process for a youngster with autism. Helping your youngster to eat healthfully involves a lot of trial and error. You'll need to keep experimenting and preparing foods in various ways until you learn what nutritious foods your youngster like and dislikes.

Many parents just weren't aware of the numerous strategies that may be utilised to encourage their children to eat healthily. You can employ as many of these strategies as you like because a child's healthy development depends on sufficient nourishment. 

Undernourished children are more likely to have major health issues later in life and may have life-threatening deficits like autism or anaemia. A happy child is one who is healthy. We will study about diets for children with learning difficulties, particularly autism, in this ebook.

CHAPTER 1:

KIDS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

A general term for a variety of learning issues is learning disabilities or learning disorders. Intelligence or motivation is not issues with someone who has a learning handicap. Learning disabled children are not sluggish or stupid. In actuality, most are equally intelligent as everyone else.

Simply said, their brains are wired differently. They process and receive information differently as a result of this difference. The most typical forms of learning difficulties include issues with speaking, listening, writing, reading, and math. The prospect that your child does have a learning disability can be difficult to accept. Nobody wants to watch their kids go through hardship.

It's crucial to keep in mind that the majority of children with learning impairments are just as intelligent as everyone else. All they require is instruction that is specific to their individual learning styles.

Definition

The term learning disability refers to a diverse range of conditions characterised by severe challenges in learning and using skills in math, reading, writing, speaking, listening, and reasoning.

Causes

While the scientific community is divided on the precise origin of learning problems, some factors have been discovered to be common among those who have learning disabilities.

There is still more research being done in these domains and theories has not been definitively proven. The following are some of the prevalent theories:

Genetics

Learning problems are thought to run in families, according to observations. Children in the family may also experience learning disabilities if someone in the family has had them in the past. One argument against this is that kids might merely be mimicking what adults do.

The growth of the brain

According to a second view, problems with the child's brain development both before and after birth may be related to learning impairments. The development of the brain can be impacted by things like inadequate oxygenation, prenatal starvation, and even premature birth. Learning difficulties may result even from minor head injuries that interfere with brain development.

Environment-related Factors

Children and infants are especially vulnerable to environmental variables, which can include everything from pollutants to nutrition. These elements may also affect the brain's learning centres and result in learning problems.

Learning disabilities' warning signs and symptoms

You can spot a variety of indicators if your youngster is struggling with their academics.

Age of Pre-School

A child who has trouble with buttons, zippers, and tying shoelaces

Pronunciation and rhyming word challenges

Having trouble coming up with the right word

Difficulty learning the alphabet, numbers, days of the week, or shapes

Trouble following instructions or learning procedures

Issues with scissors, crayons, and line-drawing techniques

Ages 5-9

The challenge of combining sounds to form words

Difficulty keeping track of time and the order of events

Consistent spelling errors

Problems understanding math ideas

Trouble recognizing simple words when reading

Issues connecting letters to their associated sounds

Difficulty learning new skills quickly

Ages 10-13

Organizational problems; most likely has a disorganized workstation or bedroom

Open-ended questions can be challenging, especially on tests

Poor writing

The same word appears in the same document with various spellings

Challenges with reading aloud and distaste for exams

Issues understanding both reading and math ideas

Trouble keeping up with class discussions and poor participation

Types of learning disabilities in children

Learning disorders come in a variety of forms and impact various parts of the brain. Each one acts differently and has an impact on various learning areas.

Disorder of Auditory Processing (APD)

This condition affects how the brain interprets or processes auditory stimuli coming to the person. The brain won't be able to identify the difference between similar but distinct sounds in words, as well as where the sounds are coming from and in what order. These people could have trouble blocking out background sounds.

Dyscalculia

The ability of the brain to understand numbers and math symbols is impacted by dyscalculia. People with this disease will struggle to understand the order of the numbers, count, and have problems telling the time.

Dysgraphia

This impairment has an impact on writing, and you will see poor handwriting with uneven word spacing. Fine motor skills are impacted by dysgraphia, which is also likely to have an impact on spelling, the capacity to think and write at the same moment, and space planning on paper.

Dyslexia

The disorder dyslexia affects reading comprehension and language-related comprehension abilities. In fact, a Language-Based Learning Disability is another name for it. Reading, writing, comprehension, memory, spelling, and even communication are all impacted by this disease.

Disorder of Language Processing

An example of this disorder is auditory processing dysfunction. Here, the brain has a hard time giving meaning to a collection of sounds that would normally make up phrases, stories, or even individual words. All that this condition affects is language comprehension.

Learning Disabilities Not Verbal

When someone has this disease, they typically have strong verbal abilities but poor motor skills, translate to higher, and social abilities. Understanding non-verbal clues like body language and facial expressions is impacted by this condition.

Visual Motor Impairment

Individuals with dysgraphia or nonverbal learning impairments frequently exhibit this problem. The person will struggle to understand the meaning of the information that they notice. Their capacity for copying or drawing is likewise impacted. Other difficulties include having trouble cutting, gripping the pencil or pen excessively tightly, and having trouble noticing minute variations in printed letters or shape.

DISORDER IN AUDITORY PROCESSING

A distortion in how a person's brain interprets what they hear is caused by auditory processing disorder (APD), a condition of the auditory (hearing) system. Despite difficulties with hearing-related tasks, it is not a form of hearing loss. Auditory processing disorder is a problem of the auditory system at the level of the brain, in a region known as the auditory cortex. Both toddlers and adults can experience auditory processing disorder, often known as central hearing disorder (CAPD). Only an audiologist is qualified to test for it and make a diagnosis.

Symptoms and signs

Auditory processing disorder symptoms and signs differ from person to person. Many of these symptoms are frequently linked to other well-known diseases, including ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, speech and/or language problems, and ADD/ADHD. A child with APD frequently presents with a variety of symptoms.

APD symptoms that are widely mentioned include:

•  Profound inability to understand speech, especially in noisy environments

•  Difficulty following verbally delivered, multi-step instructions in the absence of visual clues

•  Distracted easily by loud or unexpected sounds

•  Having trouble paying attention during lengthy lectures or other periods of listening

•  Trouble recalling and/or efficiently summarising verbally provided information

•  Comparatively difficult reading, spelling, and/or writing skills to their peers (performs consistently below grade level)

•  Difficulty comprehending or following abstract concepts

•  The misinterpretation or delay of jokes, idioms, and metaphorical language

DIAGNOSIS

A referral to audiology can be made by the child's paediatrician to start the evaluation process when a parent or teacher suspects that a youngster may have problems with auditory processing. A child must meet a number of criteria in order to be qualified for testing due to the complexity of APD.

A kid needs to:

•  Age of minimum 7 years

•  Possess normal hearing, speaking, and language abilities.

•  Possess normal intelligence, or at least close to it.

Additionally, some co-occurring disorders prevent a kid from being eligible for testing.

Typical exclusion criteria for children from APD testing include:

Disorders on the Autism Spectrum

Down syndrome (down)

Developmental problem or delay

A low IQ or intellectual handicap

Serious speech and language impairments, such as stuttering, apraxia of speech, etc.

Hearing loss in any kind or degree

Due to the similarities between APD and other disorders, it is necessary to conduct a very thorough evaluation of the child's prior developmental, educational, and medical history in order to determine whether they are eligible for testing. A youngster who is being tested for APD must take part in a number of listening tests that gauge various aspects of the auditory system. The child must devote a lot of time and effort to this testing, which can run up to two hours. Each test's data are collated and evaluated to see if an APD diagnosis is warranted.

TREATMENT

The child's family and school are given an individually tailored list of suggestions by the audiologist after receiving a diagnosis of APD in order to assist the youngster succeed. As each kid and diagnosis is unique, great care is taken to ensure that the child's specific needs are satisfied.

Several suggestions are as follows:

In-class seating arrangements that are specific and purposeful

An FM system, which helps the teacher's voice be heard over the noise in the classroom

Written or visual instructions to go along with spoken instructions

A particular emphasis on auditory processing abilities in a therapeutic setting

Is it Curable?

Up until about age 13, when the auditory system is thought to be more developed and adultlike, the parts of the brain involved for auditory processing capabilities continue to grow and develop.

It is possible that a child who was identified with APD before the age of 13 may essentially grow out of APD because of this slow maturation. Additionally, if a youngster is receiving treatment for APD, his or her auditory processing abilities might also advance.

For these reasons, it is advised that adolescents with APD who are diagnosed before the age of 13 undergo re-testing every 1-2 years until they turn 13 in order to track any alterations or advancements in their auditory processing abilities.

DYSCALCULIA

In general, dyscalculia is a brain disorder that makes it very difficult for people to understand arithmetic ideas and numbers. Children who have this disorder must work very hard just to acquire and memorise simple number facts. The youngster may be performing well in other courses, but math can be challenging for them. These and other elements may cause these kids to become more anxious and have low self-esteem.

CAUSES:

Although no specific reason for dyscalculia has been identified, some potential factors include:

Genetics and heredity: Some families are prone to dyscalculia. According to studies, a child with dyscalculia frequently has a parent or sibling who also struggles with math.

Brain development: Dyscalculia may be connected to brain development. Dyscalculia may be brought on by specific variations in the volume, thickness, and surface area of various brain regions.

Situation: Pregnancy is a banned time to use alcohol. There is frequently a connection between dyscalculia and alcohol use while pregnant. Low birth weight and early birth may also be contributing factors.

SYMPTOMS

Even if the majority of kids struggle with math, there are some signs that shouldn't be disregarded. If a child has trouble counting or has poor number awareness that is the first sign that they may have math problems.

Dyscalculia symptoms include:

Inadequate knowledge of mathematical symbols and numerals (+, -, *).

A problem doing simple math operations including addition, multiplication, multiplication, and division.

A problem with schedules.

Poor mental computation abilities.

A challenge with routine operations like checking the change.

Being unable to maintain score while playing.

Even with the aid of a compass, have a poor sense of direction.

In severe circumstances, these symptoms could result in a fear of math or mathematical tools. Types:

Children might have a variety of dyscalculias. Some of them are linguistic in character, while others deal with issues with carrying out mathematical operations.

Failure to develop the necessary abilities for an operation.

Intermediate: Unable to manipulate symbols and numbers.  Verbal: There is a problem naming the quantity of objects.

Operational: An issue with carrying out mathematical procedures.

Graphical: Issues with writing numerals and mathematical symbols.

The effects of dyscalculia extend beyond your child's aptitude for math. Since arithmetic abilities are used frequently in a variety of settings, including the workplace, the playground, and the kitchen, a child with dyscalculia may have a variety of difficulties.

Social skills: Your child's self-esteem may suffer if they consistently perform poorly in math class. They are unable to engage in extracurricular activities or make new acquaintances outside of school.

Direction: A dyscalculic youngster may have problems following directions. He or she might find it challenging to read maps or follow instructions.

Physical coordination: Dyscalculia impairs the coordination between the brain and the eyes.

Budgeting: A dyscalculia child may have trouble balancing a chequebook and making expense estimates.

TREATMENT:

Currently, dyscalculia has neither a treatment nor a cure. There are, however, therapies, methods, and treatments that might benefit your child.

To start, employ a variety of tactics to assist the child in learning math. Recognize and comprehend the aspects that are challenging.

Recognize the child's learning style. Using actual objects may be beneficial if the youngster learns best visually.

Recognize the connections between math abilities. Starting with the most fundamental level of counting, adding, and subtracting, teach the youngster these skills. Once the youngster has mastered these abilities, they can advance to multiplication or subtraction.

Educational therapy: Assists children with a variety of learning & attention disorders in creating coping mechanisms.

Speech therapy: For children who struggle reading and speaking the mathematical language?

Children who struggle with visual-spatial skills can benefit from occupational therapy.

Play games with arithmetic components to make math more enjoyable and comfortable for your child.

Parents should be aware that dyscalculia is a learning disability that can be overcome at any time. A youngster with dyscalculia must be worked extremely hard and through many obstacles in order to overcome them and succeed in arithmetic.

DYSGRAPHIA

A learning condition called dysgraphia is characterised by issues with writing. It is a neurological condition that can affect both adults and children. The reason of dysgraphia isn't always known, though in adults it occasionally happens after a stressful incident. People with dysgraphia frequently use the wrong word to convey what they're trying to say in addition to writing words that are difficult to read.

SYMPTOMS

Dysgraphia is frequently indicated by unintelligible handwriting, but not everyone with sloppy handwriting has the condition. If you have dysgraphia, it is still possible to have tidy handwriting, albeit it may take you a lot of time and effort. The following are some dysgraphia symptoms frequently seen:

Inaccurate capitalization and spelling

a blend of print and cursive letters

incorrect letter spacing and sizing

trouble copying words

Sluggish or laborious writing

having trouble picturing words before writing them

unique writing body or hand positions

a firm grip on the pen or pencil that causes hand cramps

keeping an eye on your hand while you write

reading aloud as you write

leaving out words and letters from sentences

Dysgraphia's additional side effects

Dysgraphic individuals frequently struggle to focus on other tasks while writing. Because so much focus is being paid to writing down every word, it might be challenging to take notes during class or a meeting. There could be other things said that are missed. Because of their sloppy handwriting, students with language disorder may also be accused of being sloppy or sluggish. This may lower one's sense of self-worth and cause worry, a lack of self-assurance, and unfavourable attitudes toward learning.

DYSGRAPHIA CAUSES

In the majority of cases, problems with orthographic coding are to blame for the initial manifestations of dysgraphia in children. Children and adults who have dysgraphia have a more difficult time organising and following out the writing process, and they struggle with writing sentences, letters, and even solitary letters. This is a feature of working memory that enables you to permanently remember written words, as well as the way your hands or fingers must move to write those words. You are not incapable of reading, spelling, or recognising letters and words. Your brain has trouble comprehending words and writing, instead.

SYMPTOMS

Other learning difficulties are frequently present in dysgraphic children. For instance, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) may increase the incidence of dysgraphia. That's because both the ability to write and read are intimately related to attention. Learning difficulties in oral and written language (OWL) and dyslexia are two additional conditions connected to dysgraphia. Other signs include having trouble recalling words and ordering them correctly in a phrase.

DIAGNOSIS

An IQ test and an evaluation of the child's academic performance may be a part of the diagnostic process. Examining particular schoolwork is another option.

TREATMENTS

A handwriting tutor may be useful in enhancing your handwriting abilities. Therapeutic exercises could consist of:

A novel manner of holding a pencil or pen to facilitate writing.

using modelling clay

Writing letters on a desk with shaving cream.

putting lines inside mazes

playing connect-the-dot games

Treatments methods must take into account any additional health problems or learning difficulties that might be present. For instance, medication may be required to treat ADHD. Some persons can write better thanks to motor skill training and occupational therapy. Others continue to struggle with it throughout their lives. A few classroom management techniques to consider are:

a designated student who takes notes in class

using a computer to take notes and complete other tasks

Rather than written tests and tasks, use spoken ones

more time for assignments and tests

Printouts, recordings, or digital copies of the instructor's lesson or lecture notes

Writing instruments having specific grips to make writing simpler, such as pencils.

using graph or wide-ruled paper

Don't give up if you believe that the dysgraphia treatment you or your children are receiving is insufficient. Look around your neighbourhood for potential resources or additional therapists.

DYSLEXIA

Due to issues recognising spoken sounds and understanding how they relate to letters and words, dyslexia is a learning impairment that makes it difficult to read (decoding). Dyslexia, often known as reading difficulty, affects the parts of the brain that handle language.

People who have dyslexia typically have normal IQ and vision. With tutoring or a specialised education programme, the majority of dyslexic youngsters can achieve academic success. Additionally crucial is the role of emotional support. Despite the fact that dyslexia has no known cure, the best results come from early diagnosis and treatment. Sometimes a person with dyslexia is not diagnosed for a number of years and doesn't get help until they are an adult.

SYMPTOMS

Before a child starts school, dyslexia symptoms might be challenging to spot, but some warning signs may exist when your child is old enough to attend school, his or her teacher the initial person to spot a problem. The illness can range in severity, but it frequently manifests itself as a youngster begins to learn to read.

Before class

Early warning signs of dyslexia in children include:

Talking too soon

Gradually learning new words

Issues with word formation, such as misplacing similar-sounding words or inverting sounds in