Autism Interventions: JEOPARDY!®

It may not be as glamorous as dragging your autistic child to Mongolia to ride horses, or to swim with dolphins and other large, powerful and dangerous sea animals but it is inexpensive, safe and ... effective. Conor goes to bed at Eight Zero Zero (8pm) every night. He would sit and watch the clock move toward 8 every evening. We encouraged him to watch the clock on the TV Guide channel for awhile but the same commercials (Your Huggable Car Dealer, Jim Gilbert Wheels n Deals) play over and over and provide little variety for Conor.

Lately we discovered something new (but old) for Conor as he waits for Eight Zero Zero - JEOPARDY!® . And it has been a blessing. On our local networks JEOPARDY!® is available from 7:30 to 8:00 pm and Conor loves it. Conor knows that Alex Trebek is the host and he sits quietly, and attentively, watching the show with its catchy musical themes, large letters and numbers and colorful but not annoying stage set. I don't know what, or how much, Conor learns from watching Jeopardy but it can only be positive. The level of language used in the show is excellent with an incredibly wide ranging vocabulary and nuggets of information. And there is no need to worry about inappropriate images or language.

Horses in Mongolia, swimming with dolphins, Lupron? Not a chance. ABA for sure. Trail walks and local family swims too. And with a little bit of JEOPARDY!® on the side. If nothing else Conor obviously enjoys watching the show. It's safe, inexpensive, he watches it calmly with Dad, and we both look forward to Seven Three Zero.

autism

Autism Treatments: Will Experimental Stem Cell Treatment Help?

While the autism world buzzes over the Chicago Tribune's demolition of the Geiers and the Lupron treatment the need for evidence based treatments that might cure autism disorders remains unfulfilled and largely ignored by the medical research establishment. ABA is a solidly evidence based intervention which can help autistic children make substantial communication, intellectual, behavioral and adaptive skills gains. But the demand for a complete cure for autism disorders remains and as long as it does some parents will seek out non-evidence based treatments for their child's autism. Of course, treatments can not become evidence based unless experiments are undertaken. Hopefully, as in anything involving children, the best interests of the individual child involved will always be considered of primary importance.

13WHAM.com of Rochester reports that the parents of a Rochester, New York boy with autism are beginning their own autism "experiment" with stem cell treatment. WHAM.com reports that the Patterson family are taking their autistic son to Peru for stem cell treatment. The experimental treatment will cost $25,000. The Pattersons will be accompanied by Dr. Burton Feinerman:

"Dr. Burton Feinerman, a Mayo Clinic trained cellular therapy specialist, is working with the Pattersons. He has used the stem cell procedure on children who’ve had strokes, brain injuries and other neurological problems. "

WHAM.com reports that the Pattersons have been assured that the procedure is safe although they have been no guarantees of success. Hopefully the procedure is indeed safe for the Patterson boy. The presence of a Mayo Clinic trained cellular therapy specialist, with actual experience in stem cell procedures, during the treatment suggests that it will be. Hopefully too the necessary steps will be taken to ensure that, whatever the outcome for the boy involved the results will have some scientific value, will be of some use in assessing the merits of this particular form of autism treatment, whether those results show promise ... or not.

autism