detection | secondary brain damage

Detection

--pre-autistic behaviours
Infants who seem to avoid eye contact, dislike being held close, do not babble, make repetitious movements or sounds, and neither imitate or initiate interactions may exhibit what could be called pre-autistic behaviours. Pre-autistic behaviours are those which signify concerns about an infant's ability and willingness to relate to other people. Without treatment, such behaviours can become entrenched and may result in a future diagnosis of an autistic spectrum disorder.

--early detection of pre-autistic behaviours
We specialise in early detection of pre-autistic behaviours (as early as 3 months) followed by appropriate interventions especially designed to individual cases. We also train health visitors and paediatricians in identifying the early signs of alarm. Parents are often the first to see the signs.

  • They realise that their baby:
  • lacks what would seem to be normal reciprocity;
  • seems slow and avoids contact with their eyes and body;
  • is too calm and seems too content and happy by themselves; or
  • makes noises and movements which seem out of place and disassociated.

    • --early intervention
    Parents should insist on getting skilled and specialised help as soon as they or involved professionals feel concerned. Evidence shows that early interventions can protect developing babies from possible fixation onto autistic behaviour. Therapies exist to facilitate proper communication and contact. Early intervention with the right therapy can be extremely effective in developing cognitive and emotional capabilities which otherwise would never find expression.

    Secondary Brain Damage
    --relationships and connections
    In early life, as nerve-cell connections in the brain are still growing rapidly and large scale pruning is taking place, first experiences and early traumas might also result in secondary brain-damage if the avoidant behaviours become a habit and get etched too deeply into the neurological pathways. As with first experiences, all of the pre-autistic babies subsequent experience gets layered on top, and being excessively quiet, or avoidant, can quickly become not only a way of life, but the only way of life the growing baby knows and needs in order to feel safe.

    --no relationships, no connections
    The PET scan (below-left) is of the brain of a normal child showing regions of high (red) and low (blue and black) activity. At birth, only primitive structures such as the brain stem (centre) are functional. In regions like the temporal lobes (top), early childhood experiences wire the circuits. The PET scan (below-right) of the brain of a Romanian orphan, who was institutionalized shortly after birth, shows the effect of extreme deprivation in infancy. The temporal lobes (top), which regulate emotions and receive input from the senses, are nearly inactive. Such children suffer emotional and cognitive problems. Whilst an extreme illustration it clearly highlights the value of early intervention.

    CARE-giving and SCARE-giving have phsyical consequences.

    brainimgleft
    "CARE- giving"
    The physical consequences of CARE giving

    brainimgright
    "SCARE- giving"
    The physical consequences of SCARE giving