Beyond Medicine: Building An Autism-Friendly Society

People with autism spectrum disorder, or ASD, exhibit a common trait. They have difficulty in social interaction, specifically with communication, due to their behavior. Children with ASD are guided by parents, therapists, and teachers in learning life skills. However, social skills are a different matter altogether. And this gets more serious as the child grows to be an adult.

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Adults with ASD may show affection or even the desire to communicate with people around them, but in an unconventional manner. Sometimes, when they try to reach out and their efforts are not reciprocated, they could get frustrated and subsequently have a meltdown. This may be a normal occurrence in his household, where the people around them know how to deal with such an incident, but out in the world, the situation is an entirely different matter.

In building an autism-friendly society, the first step as with all undertakings of this nature, is education. From advertisements to free workshops and seminars, community members have to work together to teach people about ASD and how people with the disorder should be approached.

Identification cards are also a big help. Many children with ASD have ID cards on their person, whether pinned to their clothing or attached to their necklace, saying that they’re a person with disability (PWD).

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Local governments should work hand-in-hand with non-profit organizations in creating facilities in which people with ASD can be taken care of during their free time or when their guardians are at work. These and many more programs are steps in creating a society that helps those with ASD lead normal lives as possible.

Curtis Cripe, Ph.D., founded the Crossroads Institute to help individuals suffering from brain-based dysfunctions. Learn more about Dr. Cripe and his work by subscribing to this Twitter page.

Common Causes Of Forgetfulness

Most people associate forgetfulness or memory loss with the stereotype of age and the associated onset of dementia or the dreaded Alzheimer’s disease. But there’s more to forgetfulness than growing old. And the happy news is that often the causes of memory loss are treatable.

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One is the use of medications. Certain blood pressure pills, painkillers, and antidepressants can cause forgetfulness because they keep one sedated or to control mood swings. The best advice here is to talk to your doctor if you feel that a particular drug is causing you to forget things so that you can be prescribed an alternative.

The second most common cause is general lack of sleep, which can be a consequence of anxiety. These go hand-n-hand in leading to poor memory. The brain ceases to function properly when one is sleepless, leading to poor decision-making and an inability to focus and recall. In the same vein, too much worrying will lead to blocking the formation of new memories.

Drinking alcohol is also a prime reason for forgetfulness, particularly short-term memory loss. Those who drink too much will have moments when they “blacked out” and can’t remember how they even got home. Sometimes alcohol can interfere with the ability to recall even when the effects have worn off.

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Finally, the serious disorder that is depression may cause people to forget. If you are having trouble with finding pleasure in things you’d normally enjoy, or feeling less sociable and having not much drive, you’d feel detached and unable to focus on new experiences and thoughts. Seek immediate help from a psychologist if the symptoms are present.

Dr. Curtis Cripe is the director of research and development for the NTL Group. He has published two peer-reviewed papers and wrote two book chapters on neurotherapy and neuroengineering. More insights on neurology here .