How Google Glass Can Help Fight Autism

Google Glass is one of the latest devices that is creating ripples in the world of gadgets and technology. One of the most interesting twists or recent developments that intrigued medical researchers is this gadget's contribution in the field of autism. Recent reports state that people can benefit, especially the autistic kids, with the help of this glass. Are you wondering how the above statement got validated? Paul Louden is one of the most prominent figures as a Google Glass explorer, who suffers from the Asperger Syndrome. It is actually his quest to find out how his invention can help the victims of this disorder.

What is the Google Glass?

The Google Glass looks like an eyewear and it is an electronic device that can get connected with your Smartphone or Bluetooth. This gadget has a small camera, touchpad, display, microphone and a battery, attached neatly inside the narrow frame. The frame spreads from one ear to the other. It is easily wearable and is also very comfortable. Clearly, this gadget is here to stay because of the kind of comfort it provides to its users.

The Views of the Medical Researchers

Medical researchers grabbed the opportunity offered by Google Glass. This device works in ways that prove beneficial for the people suffering from disabilities like vision, hearing and mobility. Not just autism, but this gadget can also help in curing other health problems as well. In case of poor health conditions, this glass can help in curbing the effects, if not preventing it completely. It is a great find in the field of medical science, broadening the scope of the medical researchers to explore more.

Google Glass - Its Uses in the Field of Autism

Some researchers went a step forward in trying to incorporate the facial recognition software into the Google Glass. This software mainly assists the autistic people to easily find or even understand the emotions of people around them. With the help of the facial analytics, this Glass can scan the face. After the scanning is complete, it sends out signals whether the person finds you interesting or not. As signals, this device flashes different colored lights. These signals help autistic people understand whether they should continue a conversation or not

Another major problem among autistic people is their tendency to forget what they should do next. This device helps to remind them about their next course of action all the time. By doing so, this glass acts as a constant guide they need, till a time when these actions become a habit that no longer needs a reminder.

Final Thoughts

Google Glass is one of the latest advancements in the field of technology that managed to touch people from all walks of life. It is a revolutionary glass, especially for the disabled. Why is it so? This is because this device assures to either benefit or cure the autistic people in more ways than one.-By Allen Wood

Autism and Holidays - 10 Tips For Enjoying Holidays With Your Autistic Child

The holidays are a special time to share with family and build memories. This can be very difficult for families with an Autistic child. You can still have an enjoyable celebration, it just means that as a parent you will have to take some extra care and be sure to plan ahead.

1. Keep Visits Short: Plan shorter visits with family and friends. This will help prevent your child from getting too tired or overstimulated. You can schedule several visits so you can still have the same quantity of time.
2. Have Fewer Visitors: If possible, keep the visitors to a few at time. This isn't always possible in a large family or where people are traveling from out-of-town. Another option is to have a quiet place for your child to retreat where they can be alone or with just a few family members.
3. Don't Force Activities: If you put too much energy into pressing an activity your child doesn't like, it will cause grief for all involved.
4. Keep Routines: If it is important to your child to go to bed or eat at a certain time, then hold to it. If it is not possible to keep the full routine, have them engage in similar activity at the regular time such as a nap, a snack, or a quiet time.
5. Divide Your Time: Spread holiday activities out to help keep your child's time and energy more balanced.
6. Shop Kid-Free: This is especially important if your child does not like crowds. The amount of activity during the holidays can be overwhelming enough for those of us without Autism.
7. Open a Few Presents at a Time: The excitement of opening gifts can get out of control and lead to overstimulation. Opening a few presents at a time can help your child enjoy their gifts even more.
8. Make Others Aware: It is important to communicate with family and friends. They may not understand the nuances of what your child needs or what is going to cause harm. There will probably be some who find fault in your methods. Remind yourself of what you know to be true about your child if a conflict occurs.
9. Focus on the Holidays: Holidays are meant to be spent with family and loved ones. Focus on your blessings and on the love you have for your family.
10. Reward Your Child's Good Behavior: This will be a positive reinforcement and may inspire your child to be on his best behavior.

Bonus Tip

Let Yourself Relax: If your child senses stress or anxiety from you they will follow suit. Remember to breathe deeply and remove yourself from the situation for a few minutes if necessary. Take some time to pamper yourself. It will help energize you to better care for you child.

The holidays with an Autistic child can be a wonderful time. Step back from your daily problems and struggles. Remember your blessings and enjoy the holidays with your family.

By Deborah Lee

Benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Therapy

Hyperbaric medicine, also known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy is the medical use of oxygen at a higher than atmospheric pressure. Hyper means increased and baric relates to pressure. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) refers to intermittent treatment of the entire body with 100-percent oxygen at greater than normal atmospheric pressure. The earth's atmosphere normally exerts about 15 pounds per square inch of pressure at sea level. That pressure is defined as one atmosphere absolute (1 ATA). In the ambient atmosphere we normally breathe approximately 20 percent oxygen and 80 percent nitrogen. While undergoing HBOT, pressure is increased up to two times (2 ATA) in 100% oxygen.

This increased pressure, combined with an increase in oxygen to 100 percent, dissolves oxygen in the blood plasma and in all body cells, tissues and fluids at up to 10 times normal concentration-high enough to sustain life with no blood at all (from 20% to 100% oxygen is an increase of 5 times, from 1 ATA to 2 ATA can double this to a 10-fold increase). 

Some of the many amazing benefits of Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber Therapy are that it : 

* greatly increases oxygen concentration in all body tissues, even with reduced or blocked blood flow;

* stimulates the growth of new blood vessels to locations with reduced circulation, improving blood flow to areas with arterial blockage;

* causes a rebound arterial dilation, resulting in an increased blood vessel diameter greater than when therapy began, improving blood flow to compromised organs;

* stimulates an adaptive increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD), one of the body's principal, internally produced antioxidants and free radical scavengers; and,

* aids the treatment of infection by enhancing white blood cell action.

The use of increased atmospheric pressure for medical therapy has intrigued many physicians and scientists for hundreds of years. Though not new, HBOT has recently gained importance for treatment of chronic degenerative health problems related to atherosclerosis, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, diabetic ulcers, wound healing, cerebral palsy, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, macular degeneration, and many other disorders. Wherever blood flow and oxygen delivery to vital organs is reduced, function and healing can be aided with HBOT. When the brain is injured by stroke, CP, or trauma, HBOT may activate stunned parts of the brain to restore function. 

Results can be dramatic. Patients with cerebral vascular disease commonly recover from complications of stroke more readily after HBOT. This is also true for potentially gangrenous legs and feet caused by blocked circulation, and for slow-healing diabetic ulcers. HBOT relieves pain, helps fight infection, and keeps threatened tissues alive.

One of the world's most experienced authorities on hyperbaric medicine Dr. Edgar End, clinical professor of environmental medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin had this to say : "I've seen partially paralyzed people half carried into the HBOT chamber, and they walk out after the first treatment. If we got to these people quickly, we could prevent a great deal of damage."

Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy helps Autism, Cerebral Palsy, MS, Parkinsons, Athletic Performing, healing of wounds, used as immune defense and much more.

By Paul S Fitzgerald

Autism Is Now Believed To Affect 1 In Every 166 People

What is Autism

Autism is a developmental disability that affects, often severely, a person's ability to communicate and socially interact with others. It is four times more prevalent in males than females.

Currently, autism is believed to affect 1 in every 166 people. The rate of people being diagnosed with autism has increased substantially over the past two decades.Although this may be in part due to improved diagnostic techniques and to changes in the criteria for autism
spectrum disorders, the majority of experts agree these changes are not enough to explain the epidemic rates at which autism is being diagnosed.

Autism Spectrum Disorders is an umbrella term that includes classic autism (also known as Kanner's autism or Kanner's syndrome), Asperger's syndrome, and pervasive developmental
disorder (PDD).

Autism is considered a spectrum disorder because the number and intensity of the symptoms people with autism display may vary widely. However, all people with autism demonstrate impairments in the following three areas: communication, social relationships and restricted
patterns of behavior.

The spectrum ranges from those who are severely affected, less able, and dependent on others to those who are of above-average intelligence and independent, yet lacking in social skills.

What Causes Autism?

Unfortunately, no one knows the answer. This is one of the primary missions of Cure Autism Now to fund the crucial and necessary research to discover the cause of autism, in order to design effective treatments and, eventually, find a cure.

Here is what is known so far:

There is a genetic predisposition for autism spectrum disorders.Some brain circuits are different in a person with autism.Serotonin, a neurotransmitter important for normal brain functioning and behavior, has been found to be elevated in a subgroup of people with autism.

Some children with autism and related disorders have biochemical and immunological problems.Many experts in the field of autism - for example Dr. Edward Ritvo of the University of California Los Angeles - theorize that there exists a genetic predisposition to autism spectrum disorders.

This predisposition, perhaps encoded within a certain gene, interacts with an as-yet-unknown environmental factor or factors and causes alterations to the immune system, the sensory nervous system, the brain and often the gastrointestinal tract as well. These changes then cause the affected person to exhibit the symptoms of autism.

Autism Does Not Discriminate

Last year I went on a 5K walk at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles benefiting Cure Autism Now. I saw thousands of children, their families and friends that are affected in one way or another by autism.

There were people from all walks of life, professional people like athletes, lawyers, doctors and people you see everyday in your own community. People with children that have autism, all getting together to raise money to help find a cure.Before the walk, I received a letter from a mother whose 4 year old son Danny has autism. She was asking for donations and letting people know about the Cure Autism Now second annual Walk-A-Thon.After reading her letter, I had a better understanding of not only what autism was, but what parents and the children with autism go through on a daily basis. Below is part of that letter. I think after reading it, you will be more understanding as I was.

Start of letter

It's Walk-a-Thon time! A year has passed so quickly. I want to share with you the progress that Danny has made.He is amazing. A year ago he couldn't even tell me he loved me. Now, when I say "I love you Danny" he yells back "I love you more!!!" I waited so long to hear those words. But what is so difficult is the fact that he doesn't know what the words mean. He says them from memory. It's like a recording. Every time I say I love you... he automatically responds with the same answer, which is very common with most autistic children.I ask him what he did in school each day and he can tell me bits and pieces, but he also repeats the same thing everyday or tells me what they did a month ago.

Autistic children have amazing memories. He can take a brand new puzzle, dump all the pieces off the board, pick up any piece without hesitation and put it in it's proper place without even thinking. His mind is incredible.I wake up in the mornings wondering what kind of day Danny
is going to have, and I pray that it's a good one. He is extremely sensitive to his surroundings. If things don't go in the same pattern that he is used to, he flips out...screaming and kicking.

I still find myself in denial sometimes. When we are out in public, I try to do everything in my power to make sure
Danny gets his way, as to not cause a scene.I remember one Friday, I wanted to take a special day and make it "all about Danny," I was going to take him to an indoor playground. It was pouring rain that Friday, but we trampled through the parking lot and into the playground and took off our shoes.Danny wanted to play the video game and another little boy also wanted to play. Danny doesn't do well when other people are in his space, so he started screaming at the top of his lungs, threw himself on the floor kicking me and anything else that got in his way.

I tried to pick him up but he was kicking so hard I could barely lift him. Every mother and child in the place was staring at me. I tried to calm him, but his screams got louder, as they always do when you try to reason with him.

As I carried Danny to the bathroom to get him away from everyone else, I heard one of the moms say to her friend..."I wish she would shut that kid up!!!" I couldn't help but break into tears.We didn't even last five minutes in public. I grabbed our shoes in one hand, Danny in the other and ran to the car in my socks in the pouring rain. I just sat in my car and cried.

I wish that woman could spend just ONE day in the life of Danny. I sometimes want to wear a sign around my neck that say "My child is autistic, please excuse the excessive noise."

Despite Danny's outbursts...he has made incredible progress. He is talking so much. Almost too much. (just kidding) He can write his name all on his own and is starting to sing songs(which he would never do before) He is a very expressive little boy...

End of letter.

After reading that letter, now when I see a child screaming and kicking in a store or someplace, and we all have, I think that the child may be autistic. It made me realize that it's not the child's or the parents fault and I should be more understanding.

The number of autistic cases is rising faster than we can count, but progress is being made. At Cure Autism Now, they are currently funding more than 15 research projects examining the causes of autism. You can go to Danny's page at Cure Autism Now and you will see a picture of Danny, who is 5 years old now and his father at last years Walk-A-Thon. You can donate what you can, learn more about autism and find out where there might be a Walk-A-Thon in
your area.

By Paul Bittle