What is Rett Syndrome

What is Rett syndrome?

Rett syndrome is a disorder of brain development that occurs almost exclusively in girls. After 6 to 18 months of apparently normal development, girls with the classic form of Rett syndrome develop severe problems with language and communication, learning, coordination, and other brain functions. 
Early in childhood, affected girls lose purposeful use of their hands and begin making repeated hand wringing, washing, or clapping motions. They tend to grow more slowly than other children and have a small head size (microcephaly). 
Other signs and symptoms can include breathing abnormalities, seizures, an abnormal curvature of the spine (scoliosis), and sleep disturbances.
Researchers have described several variants of Rett syndrome with overlapping signs and symptoms. The atypical forms of this disorder range from a mild type, in which speech is preserved, to a very severe type that has no period of normal development. A form of Rett syndrome called the early-onset seizure variant has most of the characteristic features of classic Rett syndrome, but also causes seizures that begin in infancy.

ABA Therapy Helps Children with Autism

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is based on the idea that by influencing a response associated with a behavior may cause that behavior to be shaped and controlled. 

• ABA is a mixture of psychological and educational techniques that  are utilized based upon the needs of each individual child. Applied Behavior Analysis is the use of behavioral methods to measure behavior, teach functional skills, and evaluate progress.

• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) techniques have been proven in many studies as the leading proven treatment and method of choice on treating individuals with autism spectrum disorder at any level. 

• ABA approaches such as discrete trial training (DTT), Pivotal Response Training (PRT), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Self-Management, and a range of social skills training techniques are all critical in teaching children with autism.Ultimately, the goal is to find a way of motivating the child and using a number of different strategies and positive reinforcement techniques to ensure that the sessions are enjoyable and productive.
  
  

• In all ABA programs, the intent is to increase skills in language, play and socialization, while decreasing behaviors that interfere with learning. The results can be profound. Many children with autism who have ritualistic or self-injurious behaviors reduce or eliminate these behaviors.

• They establish eye contact. 
• They learn to stay on task. 
•  Finally the children acquire the ability and the desire to learn and to do well. 
• Even if the child does not achieve a “best outcome” result of normal functioning levels in all areas, nearly all autistic children benefit from intensive ABA programs.

 
Sources:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/autism/detail_autism.htm
http://www.brighttots.com/aba_therapy
http://autismlab.ucsd.edu/
http://www.autism.org.uk/
http://www.autism-society.org/site/PageServer
http://www.autisminternationalfoundation.org/