10/26/2018 0 Comments Falling on the spectrumRecently, I have been watching a Netflix series called “Atypical.” The show is centered around a boy with autism and focuses on his interactions with family, friends, and the world around him. The episodes depict behaviors that an individual on the spectrum may exhibit. Essentially, this coming of age feature gave inspiration for today’s disorder. What is autism?Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a developmental disability that expands over a broad range of people. signsSome early signs of ASD include:
What Causes it?There is not a set cause for autism. However, autism can be traced to genetic and environmental influences. These factors do not necessarily imply that a child will develop autism, but they heighten the risk of the disorder. The following characteristics will generally make one more susceptible to developing autism: Genetics
The following can decrease the risk of autism:
These factors only highlight what can increase or decrease risks of individuals to develop ASD. the brain & AutismAlthough like many other disorders, autism does not have a specific cause, the brain of individuals with ASD differs slightly than a typical brain. In 2014, research on brain tissue showed that individuals with autism had an amplitude of synapses within the brain. Synapses are connections in the brain that bridge gaps between nerve cells and allow impulses to be transmitted along neural pathways. What the excess in synapses tells us is that synaptic pruning in autistic brains did not occur as effectively. Synaptic pruning is the elimination of synapses that are not used. In a newborn’s brain, an overload of synaptic connections are formed between stimuli. However, not all of these connections are regularly used, which leads to the pruning and cleaning of extra synapses. Additionally, in this study from Columbia University Medical Center, researchers found some correlation to the inefficient pruning. The brain cells of individuals with autism contained damaged fragments and did not have enough components that are linked to autophagy. Autophagy is the self breakdown and elimination of one’s body tissue; this is linked to the synaptic pruning. takeaway 🎈Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability that can occur from infancy to adulthood. Some early signs are linked to a disinterest in socialization and the formation of relationships. Additionally, some factors linked to genetics and environment can increase or decrease an individual’s risk of developing autism. The biology of the brain of an individual with ASD goes through less synaptic pruning than a typical developing brain, which results in more neural synapses than usual. links
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10/19/2018 0 Comments not an easy readSo far, we’ve explored speech disorders that deal with expressive components of language. This week, I wanted to change that pattern and focus on a well-known specific-language disorder, dyslexia. What is dyslexia?This is one kind of language-learning disorder that causes difficulty in reading, interpretation, or understanding symbols. The International Dyslexia Association offers the following definition of dyslexia: ""Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge." Dyslexia is most often associated with a person’s poor ability to read, however, it interferes with more than just reading. Everyday activities can become more difficult for someone with dyslexia because of how frequent words are used in one’s day to day life. Although dyslexia affects how language is processed, it does not inhibit an individual’s overall intelligence and cognition. Dyslexia falls on a continuum, where patients range from low functioning to high functioning. This neurobiological disorder is more common than any other type of learning disorder, with 5-10% of Americans exhibiting symptoms. SignsWhat Causes It?The cause of dyslexia varies on the different types. These types include:
Take Away 🎈Dyslexia is a very broad language disorder and can be narrowed down into more specific types including primary, secondary/developmental, trauma, visual, auditory, and dysgraphia. Each individual with dyslexia experiences it in a different degree. Dyslexia is not limited to poor reading but affects day to day life . Some signs to look out for include frustration in reading, difficulty spelling, trouble pronouncing, and low self esteem. Dyslexia is very common in the American population, and although it affects the language of an individual, it does not affect their overall intelligence level. Links10/12/2018 0 Comments apraxia of speechLast week we talked about stuttering and learned that it is a speech disorder. In continuation, Apraxia of Speech, also known as AOS, is a problem that inhibits messages during production from the brain to the mouth. What is Apraxia of speech?Apraxia of Speech is when an individual knows what they want to say but is unable to generate their intended message. AOS can be seen in two main forms:
signs & symptomsSome signs of AOS include:
what causes it?Apraxia of speech is a motor speech disorder, which means that intent is present but proper placement and planning of articulators is inhibited. This inhibition occurs somewhere during the expressive part of language and can sometimes be linked to brain trauma or genetics. The exact cause is unclear but previous knowledge on expressive language may give us a hint to the area in the brain that is affected, the Broca’s area in the left hemisphere. However, this is only speculation, apraxia of speech is said to develop from multiple factors and can very from person to person. take away 🎈Apraxia of speech can be acquired, arise later in life, or developmental, occur from birth. This disorder results from an inexact cause, but it causes an interruption between the brain and the mouth. This makes the disorder a motor planning disorder, since the individual knows what they want to say but the placement and articulation of their speech does not match up with their intent. It is very important to realize that this disorder occurs because or motor difficulties and not the weakness of muscles or inability to process information. links10/4/2018 0 Comments diD I stutter?I wanted to start this week with stuttering. This is familiar to all of us, whether are nerves take over onstage or we lose our train of thought. However, stuttering can take over a person's life, causing it to go from a common error to a speech disorder. What is Stuttering?Stuttering is a speech disorder that interrupts the flow of speech, causing disfluencies. However, stuttering can occur without being deemed as a disorder depending on the disfluencies and the frequency at which the stammers occur. Stuttering can be very sporadic, where a person can go from fluent speech one day, to stuttering significantly more the next day. The frequency of stuttering can depend on emotions, environment, and many other factors. Signs & symptomsSince everyone stutters, how can you differentiate between “typical speech” and “atypical speech?” Some disfluencies are linked to normal speech, while other disfluencies are often signs of stuttering. Typical Disfluencies:
What causes it?Stuttering will typical surface between ages two and six years old. During this time, children may also go through times of disfluency; but if stuttering persists after six months, you may want to find treatment. There is not a set cause of where stuttering comes from but some potential factors that may make someone higher at risk include:
The Brain & StutteringPeople who stutter tend to use more of their right brain instead of their left brain for language. As discussed in previous posts, the left brain is the more dominant half for language and speech. However, those with stuttering have different connections along the left motor cortical and sensory regions of the brain. Additionally, the white matter in the left hemisphere of the brain in stuttering adults is said to decrease around the sensorimotor cortex, and brain volume on the right side is said to increase. This idea implies that the brain is rewiring itself by using its right side to compensate for its left. Another study that supports the idea that the right hemisphere of the stuttering brain is required for language was introduced by Martin Sommer. Essentially, fluent speakers and disfluent speakers were asked to tap their fingers in time with clicks that were played through headphones. First, the researchers stimulated the left side of the brain for both groups and found that the fluent group’s tapping became off, while the disfluent group remained unaffected. They then switched the stimulation to the right hemisphere of the brain where the fluent talkers tapped accordingly, while the disfluent taps became off. This study further illustrates the point that the brain in those who stutter is wired differently than fluent speakers, making it hard for those who stutter to convey their thoughts eloquently. Why therapy?If a child of someone you know shows signs of stuttering, especially at a young age, seeking out help can make huge impacts in that person’s life. Factors support the trend toward early intervention for children who show early signs of stuttering. These factors include that a wait and see attitude is more risky than the cost of treatment, recovery rates with treatment routinely exceed the rate of spontaneous recovery, and waiting to initiate treatment for the child who stutters is associated with more time in treatment. Take away 🎈Stuttering is a speech disorder that causes disfluencies. There are certain disfluencies that are linked to normal speech and other disfluencies that may be signs of early stuttering. More research has been found that the brain of a stuttering adult tends to use the right hemisphere for speech as oppose to the left hemisphere. This can cause those who stutter to know exactly what they want to say but struggle to get the words out. Early intervention is shown to be less risky later in life and should be considered if a child persistently stutters. links |