We have had K on his anti-seizure medication now for just over 4 months and so I thought I should update the original post on this topic.

Many of the initial side-effects have completely disappeared and he tolerates the medication very well, sometimes even wanting to administer it to himself (we call it his “orange” as he takes the orange flavoured liquid), with none of the potential stomach upset or very serious rash that can occur. Continue reading →

I was recently looking at some home movies and photos from 2005 and 2006 and it is interesting that K walks with his heels down in, what appears to me, a normal heel-toe gait. I had completely forgotten this fact. His toe walking has become so deeply ingrained in my images of him and who/how he his that I had become convinced that he had always walked this way. I need to look back at more footage and try to see when we can start to see the change and see if we can corroborate that time with anything else that happened. These images of him standing and walking flat footed is in fairly striking contrast to how he walks today perpetually up on his tip toes, with the right foot being much more pronounced. Continue reading →

It’s happened. I have reached “Autism saturation”. Now, this should not be misinterpreted as a sense that I have attained wisdom, truth, or understanding. All of which would be admirable no matter how unlikely. I think what I am feeling is the result of being immersed for too long in too many different aspects of autism. Obviously, one cannot retreat for any length of time from life, and this is absolutely not something I want. K is doing so well lately that it is a real treat to see him (and the rest of the family of course) and see and hear what has happened that day. Continue reading →

On Thursdays I have the pleasure of taking the kids to school. Though it can be frustrating, as any parent with young kids will attest (ASD or no ASD), to get the 2 of them out of the house so that we are not late, it gives me a very limited glimpse into what it is like for Tracy and my mom (who is our primary source of childcare when we are at work) on a daily basis. I really do enjoy it, when my compulsion for punctuality does not get in the way because it gives me the chance to see the two of them in a different environment away from the house. Continue reading →

There is a listing on the US National institute of Health website about currently recruiting studies that focus on different aspects of autism. I only scanned the list briefly but found many topics of interest as they directly relate to information I have read previously or, more importantly, they relate to some of the interventions we are trying with K.

Many involve investigating the usefulness of drug therapies, but interspersed are investigations that, if performed correctly, will address much of the anecdotal evidence that is related time and again in parental testimonials. Continue reading →