RE: Kids w/ Classic Autism, PDD-NOS & Speech Delays

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Is marijuana confirmed to have a beneficial effect on seizures ? I was told to look into it for my son, but although a few states have legalized the use of marijuana as medicine, there don't appear to be any completed large scale case studies that actually prove that it is any more efficient than current AEDs. Epidiolex (CBD) is the only drug currently approved by the FDA for use in some cases of intractable epilepsy as a "compassionate act" for a small number of people at specific treatment centres.

As for oxytocin, there has been quite a bit of conflicting information reported. A Stanford University study found that there is no significant differences in oxytocin levels in the CSF of individuals with autism and NT individuals, and that these levels tended to depend on family history / genes rather than one's neurology. For example, if NT parents had high levels of oxytocin, their kids - NT or ASD - also tended to have high levels of oxytocin. Regardless, oxytocin has been implicated in social skills. An allied study - also at Stanford - found that individuals with low levels of oxytocin tended to have poor social skills, regardless of whether they were NT or had ASD.

Just another day in the life an ASD parent. Lots of studies, but not enough information.

The University of Sydney will be running one of largest clinical trials in the world on a oxytocin nasal spray for treating social deficits in ASD kids, I'd post the link but their website seems to be down?

Please post a link to the site once it's up and running.

Are you going to enroll your daughter in it ? Unless she's already going through puberty, I wouldn't worry about oxytocin's effect on menarche, menstrual cycle etc. The benefits outweigh the risk, IMO. Of course, YMMV.

The Dr did not seem concerned by my sons actual seizure events, I assume because they are predictable, consistent and short. What she was interested in was medicating to control his brain wave activity and allow him to function better. I'm not aware of any studies of the effect of medical marijuana on brain function in people wifh my sons condition, of course Anecdotally there are lots of examples of kids that have started talking days after starting on it, and children whose seizures are controlled only by MM when nothing else worked. What I fascinating is the fact that the human brain has receptors for cannibanoids and I wish there would be studies to investigate further at a scientific level. There are thousands of active substances in cannabis many of which must be useful, THC which is the reason pot heads use it and what gives cannabis a bad name is only one of those thousands.

Unfortunately the stigma over marijunana as a banned narcotic has mean't research is decades behind what it should be...

Happy birthday, James !

Thanks! We had a very low key birthday just us, the two grandmas and one uncle, a few presents and as usual had to encourage him to rip the paper open. Got him a swing, a book and a sweatshirt.

Earlier in the day Michelle turned up at his unit with a birthday cake, that was a hit; he was flapping his hands ninety to the dozen and very keen to have a piece, I think Mum turning up in the middle of the day plus with a cake was quite the pleasant suprise.

Yes please.

Six years toilet training, the last two years intensive and it seems we might be finally winning. He is going to the toilet more independently than not. Still having accidents but well less than 20% of the time.

Great news Nostromo!

Great accomplishment!

How's it going as far as school is concerned?

You mean toiletting at school? Going well there too basically the same progress.

The independance is great. Going into our ensuite and finding him sitting on our toilet having taken himself vs finding poop on the floor - just fantastic!

Today out of the blue while with my mother my son looked at his shoe and said "Shoe".

Given that it's seven years since he last uttered a word, thats quite something. Unfortunately I didn't get to hear it and no amount of coaxing him will get him to say it or anything else again.

If you are lucky to hear him again keep a tape recorder handy. My daughter went through a phase where she loved listening to the sound of her own voice and it got her to read more...

Just wanted to say hi to parents on this thread. My experience has been frustrating because most of the parents at autism gatherings events and message boards have high functioning kids with language and I don't identify with them. Many of the therapist that come to our home are clueless as to how to deal with our son. My kid is almost 4 and has little to no language. He has classic autism and adhd and resists any direction from others. When we try to get him to do things he cries and tries to escape and we know we need to work through it but we get plenty of stares. I remember going to an autism bbq where kids were playing baseball and waiting in line for hotdogs. My kid was busy observing the fan and we got him to get into the bounce house there was a line and we were told he needs to take off his shoes. It's as if we were at the wrong event. No other kid had to be restrained to take off their shoes. Even in his classroom (6-4 ratio) most kids are calm and sit for lessons while ours is running around. My point is that classic autism is its own world and being considered part of the spectrum makes parents like me isolated. To my eyes most of the high functioning kids are perfectly fine. Anyway just wanted to say hi to parents who go through he same thing.

Hi Bkdad82!

Welcome to our world!

Not sure if you are passing through but there are plenty of parents in your shoes. Feel free to share anytime as there are other parents here who can pass on tips. My only advice (and others might have sons in your age group) is to be patient but keep persisting with getting him to practice his shoe laces, speaking and socialising. Also pay no regard to other families children and their specific milestones as everybody's child is going to be different anyway...