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Autism
is a condition caused by a disruption of cerebral metabolism
often clearly related to brain injury. The
child’s information processing becomes fragmented. This
includes motor function which is impaired by the abnormality
in higher brain centres.
Conventional
approaches focus on the child’s cognitive symptoms reflecting
problems with receiving processing and responding to information. Help
is provided by different types of management that attempt to
train children to make the best use of their existing understanding. Movement
abnormalities are ignored unless these are severe enough to be
labelled cerebral palsy. The
evaluation looks more deeply into the chain of events caused
by the brain injury and metabolic disturbance and how they frustrate
recovery.
The
Scotson evidence shows that as a result of brain injury or abnormality,
autistic children have abnormal respiratory mechanics. This occurs
as a consequence of the respiratory system’s attempts to
meet the increased demands of the cerebral metabolism particularly
at the time of the cerebral assault. Respiratory organisation
is also affected as an indirect result of the damage to higher
brain centres.
These
problems prevent a normal electrical picture of the muscular
skeletal function function as well as visual and auditory information
from reaching the brain which in turn prevents the normal growth
or restoration of neurological systems.
The
restless repetitive fragmented movement and disorganised perception
also exhausts the weakened respiratory system and the general
and cerebral metabolism. By correcting respiratory mechanics
The Scotson Technique begins to reverse the effects of autism.
The
Scotson Technique:
1.
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Restores
the normal internal pressures of the thorax and abdomen
so that the shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle open out
to normalise limb insertion and so limb movement.
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2.
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Enhances
cerebral processing.
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3.
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Reduces
deep fatigue and begins the gradual recovery of normal
metabolic processes.
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The
result is the brain regains the capacity to organise the development
of growth and structure along increasingly normal lines.
As
the abnormal movement of the autistic child reduces and cerebral
metabolism improves cognitive function becomes better organised
allowing an improvement in the reception, processing and output
of information.
How
can the gentle exercises be performed on an over-sensitive,
hyperactive or excitable child?
Autistic
children don’t always like to lie down for very long.
Fortunately:
1.
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The
exercises can be done while the children sleep.
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2.
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For
many reasons autistic children do well with only short
periods of the prescribed respiratory exercises interspersed
with 5 minute’s rest.
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3.
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At
the centre parents can practice the techniques on each
other and on our therapists as well as on their children.
This allows parents to perfect their exercise technique
without having to worry about how to keep their children
still, and longer periods of therapy become possible.
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As
a result of the therapy, the children steadily improve and become
calmer.
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