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Autism Spectrum Disorder If a person is autistic, they think in a different way than most people. They have trouble feeling emotions, speaking, and being around other people. There are different kinds of autism. Ben has Asperger's syndrome, which means that he is just a little bit autistic. He can't tell how other people feel by looking at their faces. He likes to keep to himself and not be touched. Ben has trouble thinking about more than one thing at a time. It is hard for him to understand jokes and make friends. Sometimes Ben does things that other people think are strange. The kids in the Able Crew understand this and just find other ways to play with Ben. Ben is very smart. Most people who have autism are smart, and often they are very creative. He likes "things" better than people. It is difficult for people with autism to grow up because they may be afraid to leave their parents. People who have autism spectrum disorder have it all of their lives. Some people learn to act more like others, so that it is easier for them to get along. It is good for Ben to be with the other kids of the Able Crew. Their understanding makes him feel more comfortable. Source: http://www.cdipage.com/ |
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Cerebral Palsy Riona has cerebral palsy. It is caused by damage to the brain that makes the person's body movements and muscles not work right. Children with cerebral palsy may not be able to walk, talk, eat or play in the same way as most others. Sometimes a leg or other part of the body moves when the person does not want it to or they can have seizures. Your brain uses electricity that your body makes. A seizure is when too much electricity goes through the brain. There are different kinds of seizures. If someone has a small seizure, they may just stare into space and not know what is happening around them. If someone has a big seizure, the person falls down and their body shakes all over. When this happens, the person doesn't know that it is going on. They can hurt themselves during the fall or by bumping into furniture as they shake. They may throw up. You cannot and should not try to make a person stop. The seizure will stop by itself. The only thing to do is turn them on their side if they throw up, so that they don't choke. When it is over, the person wants to go to sleep, and this is a good thing for them to do. Cerebral palsy is not a disease or an illness. You cannot catch it from someone who has it and it doesn't get worse. Children who have cerebral palsy will have it all their lives. People who have cerebral palsy can get help to move from medicine, canes, walkers, surgery or wheelchairs. For More Information: The Origins of Cerebral Palsy Source: http://www.ucp.org/ || http://www.about-cerebral-palsy.org || http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003200.htm |
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Learning Disabilities Nodin has several learning disabilities. He has trouble in school. He can't remember what he reads or is told very well. He may see words or letters backwards. Sometimes he gets information all jumbled up. He might say one word when he thinks he is saying another. His brain just does not use what he hears or sees in the right way. It may also mix up what he tries to say. Sometimes Nodin trips and runs into things. He often finds himself in other people's way. Nodin also daydreams more than most people. There are different types of learning disabilities - ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and processing deficits. People are born with them. They do not go away but people can learn to work around them. Nodin gets extra help in school so that he can learn in different ways. He also takes medicine that helps him. Sometimes he uses a tape recorder to help him remember what he hears. He can get schoolbooks on tape, so he can listen as well as read. He is very smart and creative. Nodin doesn't look like he has a disability, so some people think that he is strange or not very smart. This makes him feel sad. Nodin knows that he is smart and his friends and family are proud of him. When other people see how hard Nodin works and all of the good things that he can do, they understand that he is very able. Source: http://www.ldonline.org |
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Bipolar Disorder People who have bipolar disorder are sometimes very, very happy and feel like they are on top of the world. They get a lot of work done. They might feel that nothing can hurt them, and do things that are dangerous. They talk too fast and may get angry if someone gets in their way. It's hard for them to fall asleep. After some time goes by, they suddenly feel sad for no reason. They may not care about anything or anyone. They may be angry and not want to do anything. They sleep too much and feel aches and pains that are not real. They may be so sad that they want to hurt themselves. People who are bipolar are too happy and then too sad. They have a hard time keeping friends, learning at school, or keeping a job. They might see or hear things that are not really there. Bipolar disorder is caused by something in the brain, but we are not sure what. It seems to run in families. You cannot catch it. It usually does not start until the person becomes a teenager. Medicine and talking with a doctor can usually help people to lead happier lives. Some people just feel sad all of the time and not happy. This is called depression.
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Schizophrenia People who have schizophrenia hear voices in their heads that are not real. They may see things that are not there. At times they can not tell what is real and what is not. They may think that other people can read their minds or control their thoughts. They might think that people want to hurt them. People with schizophrenia are often afraid and want to be alone. Sometimes they don't make sense when they talk or they may talk to someone who isn't there. They may act very strangely, which makes others afraid of them. They almost never hurt anyone; they just look scary. People with schizophrenia usually start hearing the voices when they are teenagers. Sometimes it only happens once and never again. For other people it happens over and over again. It can be helped with medicine, but the voices never go away completely. No one knows just why people get this. It does run in families. Not very many people have this disorder. Source: http://www.neuroinitiative.org/mod-htmlpages-display-pid-4.html || http://www.schizophrenia.com/ |
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Anxiety Disorder Everyone feels anxiety at some time, this is normal. It is how you feel when you have to do something that you are afraid of. Your heart beats fast; you may feel dizzy or sick. You may shake or feel like crying. People, who have an anxiety disorder, feel like that when there is nothing to be afraid of, and they feel that way very often. They have trouble sleeping, get angry easily, and sweat too much. They may have panic attacks. When this happens, they may feel their heart pounding, chest pains, and feel dizzy and sick. They may have trouble breathing, shake, start choking, and feel too hot or too cold. They feel like they are going crazy. This may scare them so much that just thinking about it can cause another attack. Anxiety problems happen to many people and there is medicine that helps it go away. You can also practice new ways of thinking and exercises to help the anxiety go away. Source: http://www.mentalhealth.org/publications//allpubs/ken98-0045/default.asp |
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Lyme Disease Lyme disease may may effect the brain in many ways, the most common of which is a disturbance in thinking (cognition). Other symptoms that occur frequently include headache, mood swings, irritability, depression, and marked fatigue. This page will describe some of the typical and less typical features of neuropsychiatric Lyme disease in adults and children. Lyme Disease is transmitted by a very tiny tick infected with Borrelia burgdorferi. Some of the symptoms include:
Columbia-lyme.org | Lyme Diease Research Center | Government Medline |
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