Rescuing my son: Hugs Therapy

There are behavioral symptoms have been reported for many parents with a child with autism and sensory processing disorder (SPD). These behavioral symptoms affect them to build "relationships"and being social. Parents report their kids do not like to be touched, hugged or held. Many children with autism or SPD dislike affection or don't show affection.

My son is affectionate and one of his favarate person in this world always has been his Daddy. I have even written in this blog about how much attached Tommy has been to his Daddy since he was a newborn. Because my husband built a "relationship" with him since Tommy was in the womb. Well, things began to change since last year. Tommy wasn't the same affective little boy as before. He began to dislike give hugs or kisses, Tommy was getting insulated from us.  When My husband commented to me a couple of weeks ago: "I think Tommy doesn't like me anymore." This broke my heart because I know Tommy is affectionate, but due to his sensory issues he shows this behaviors.

About two weeks after my husband's comment, on March 25, something wonderful happened: Tommy spontaneously began to show affection for us. We went to local store and we sat Francis and him on a double seat shopping cart. He began to hug and kiss his little brother to the point Francis was annoyed. Every time, I took Francis out the shopping cart, he was signing and trying to say 'my turn' -his turn to hold the baby. But the best of old, he spontaneously hugged and kissed his daddy. My husband told me, Did you see that? He hugged me and kissed me! My husband also said: "I think it is the first time after the hospitalization Tommy has spontaneously hug me. He also gave me a kiss and a hug me while we were waiting on line to pay. When we came back home, Tommy was playing in the backyard climbing in a little climber he has, my husband was sitting at the kitchen table and Tommy suddenly yelled "DAD!", my husband wasn't looking at him at that moment, so my husband looked at him right away. It seems he wanted my husband paying attention to what he was doing. After this, I heard Tommy yelling "Daddy" when my husband wasn't looking at him. This warmed our hearts! 


Scientist research support the theory that people with autism and autistic like have lower levels of oxytocin hormone, known as the cuddle hormone or the moral molecule as it is called by  Neuroeconomist Paul Zak, who "shows why he believes oxytocin is responsible for trust, empathy and other feelings that help build a stable society." Please see the video below where Paul Zak explained the founding of his experiments about oxytocin. 

“Oxytocin connects us to other people; oxytocin makes us feel what other people feel.

 And it’s easy to cause people’s brains to release oxytocin. 

Let me show you. Come here. Give me a hug.”

~ Paul Zak

There a lot more research to do to prove oxytocin will be an good treatment for autism or sensory behaviors, but it seems there is hope. Currently, there are some physicians who are already administering oxytocin to children as young as 2 years old. Personally, I am convinced the best ways to realized oxytocin are non-invasive ways such as: hugs, kisses and massages.  Those help me to create a bound with my son, which I don't think I will get it by using the nasal spray. Before watching Dr. Zak video, I increased my dosage of hugs to Tommy because I felt it could help me to build a stronger relationship with my son, which would allow me to teach him as before. In the last two months, Tommy and I has gotten closer. We still have our little fights, but not as before. We are having more fun by just freely playing around and Tommy is staying longer when is time of structure play. I am encouraging Tommy to give hugs to our relatives and friends. I would also like to encourage family members and professional working with Tommy to help me increase the oxytocin dosage, with a simple tight hug to greet or praise him. This simple gesture tells him: YOU ARE LOVED, YOU ARE INCLUDED!

Squeak, Squeak, Squeak!

Squeak, Squeak, Squeak! it is all what you hear when my son walks. In my search for finding something that could motivate Tommy to walk last year, I found out about the squeaky shoes, which has become one of Tommy's walking helper beside the orthotics.

Shoes are more than just something that cover my son's feeds because they provide support to the base of his body, which are the main body part for a proper body alignment. An unbalance body alignment can pull the joints out from the right alignment causing a rubbing/wearing process in cartilage, which can in some cases lead to hip and knee replacements. The unbalanced condition can cause sore back and sore joints and even right up to the neck. People with Trisomy 21 tent to have unbalance body alignment due to they usually develop flat feet because of their joints and muscle weakness. I always look for "Quality" shoes when making a decision what shoes my son should wear.

Benefits of Squeaky Shoes:

• Physical Therapists are currently using squeaky shoes with toddlers and young children to encourage a proper walking pattern. When the child walks properly, the muscles in feet and ankles develop properly, resulting in a good body alignment. These are quality shoes that are light-weight and flexible with squeaks in the heels, which are removable, giving an audible feedback that aids the child in knowing when he/she is walking correctly.
  
• The squeak sound is a great encouragement for crawlers to begin walking and for toddlers and young children to walk properly in order for the shoe to squeak (the baby or toddler must walk heel-to-toe).
• These shoes also allow visually impaired parents to hear the squeaky steps of their child or when you are in big crowd you always know where your child is.
  
• Pediatrician-recommended soft-soled exterior for young developing feet and these shoes meet this feature, they have soles bend and move easy after each squeaky step.
• These shoes are wide enough which allow the feet grow naturally and they are ideal if the child wears walking devices (orthotics) because there is still enough room for the feet be comfortable.

Squeak shoes are more than just shoes for me because Tommy began to walk a few days after he wore his first squeaky shoes. They were a great motivator for him to walk. They are also helping my son to develop a proper body alignment and walking pattern. Tommy began to walk with a narrower base in a short period of time I believe because of this shoes. We have still to strength his ankles for him to be able to walk with a complete narrow base, which will come with time. Meanwhile, we have fun when Tommy wears the squeaky shoes.

See the video of Tommy with his brand new

Navy with White Stripes Tennis Shoe

that we got for him last months.

Squeaky shoes are available at http://wesqueak.net/

Massages increase muscle awareness

During my pregnancy, I knew about the massage therapy to improve muscle tone. It was one of my first questions when I had the meeting with my EIP coordinator. She recommended to talk the physical therapist who will be able to provide the guidence for baby massages.

The study Children with Down syndrome improved in motor functioning and muscle tone following massage therapy describes massage therapy as "a passive treatment that requires little, if any, physical demands on the individual receiving the therapy."

According to the Mayo Clinic, "Massage therapy techniques can decrease swelling and impaired joint mobility, ease muscle spams and muscle tension, and increase circulation to promote healing. Massage also can reduce pain and improve muscle tone. Specialists at Mayo Clinic recognize that many complementary and alternative medicine treatments such as massage can promote physical, mental and spiritual wellness."

During our Physical Therapist's first visit we talked about massages for Tommy. She explained to me several techniques. She also said that the best and simple way to give massages in in firm circle motions. A year later, his PT suggested  to give massages with a vibrating hand massager because he could get more awarness and sensory input in his muscle. 

We gives massages to Tommy in the morning and before he goes to bed. We gives massages on all his body from head to toes. We have two vibrating massager, one is for me and the other one is for him. While I am giving massages around his body, Tommy plays with his purple massager. When is time to massage his hands we practice opposites (On and Off) by turning on and off the massager, therefore he has to isolate his index finger.  I also use this time for language development because I talk about the body parts.  I explain to him that we can blink our eyes, we can smell with our nose, we can smile with our mouth and we can hear with our ears.  I do facial expressions and he tries to copy me. In this way, it is easier for the child to understand the difference of each part of the face.  I also sing "head, Shoulders, Knee and Toes" and he like this song. He has fun with this silly games.

According to the book "Bright from the star" by Jill Stamm, PH. D., 'To a baby, touch is a physical requirement that she needs to both receive and to use every single day. "as critical a nutrient as a vitamin", says Bruce Perry, M. D., PH.D., a child psychiatrist who is leading expert on brain development and childhood trauma... Touch tells the brain, "you are wanted organism!" This stimulates the development of both physical and emotional systems.' Therefore, massage therapy provides the benefits of skin-to-skin contact. This book has a good guidance of how to give baby massages.

I am not good giving massages, but I try to do my best. I am thinking to take some classes to improve my massage techniques. 

La Ventana De Los Cielos

La Ventana De Los Cielos was founded by Venezuelan singer/songwriter Ricardo Montaner and his wife, Marlene Rodriguez Miranda in 2005. This organization is located at the beautiful ranch they bought in Homestead, Florida. The organization helps children with different abilities such as autism, Down syndrome and its endless. They do it through art and animals interaction therapies.

I grew up singing Ricardo Montaner's songs. I currently keep listening to his music trough the iTunes. My favor songs are "Tan Enamorados", "A Donde Va El Amor ", "La Cima del Cielo", "Me Va a Extrañar", "Déjame Llorar" and "Será". He is a great singer/songwriter and a wonderful person who is working for kids with different abilities like my baby boy.

My husband and I would like to plan a family vacation to Florida when Tommy gets older. We will go to Disney World and "La Ventana De Los Cielos". Then, we will have a complete trip without being worried about Tommy's therapies.

Check their website, "La Ventana De Los Cielos" (the webiste and photos are really cool).