Recognising A Child With Autism

A woman discovers that she's pregnant and she's happy. It may be the first, second or maybe tenth child she's expecting. Apart from the difference in experience, the fact that she's expecting to give birth safely is the same.
Some months later,a child (let's say a boy) is born and everyone rejoices. He doesn't look different from a regular child. The doctor and the parents have no cause to worry. He seems to grow normally; crawling at the right time, attempts walking at the right time etc. But then at 18 months, the mother notices that her child is not talking. It dawns on her that he didn't babble at 9 months and then she starts getting worried. She runs to the paediatrician and he says it's late development; boys sometimes develop later than girls. Her mind is put at rest for a while. But then she begins to notice other things; he doesn't seem to notice people around him,he does not play with the other children, and it seems he does not like to be touched, he avoids eye contact with people. She notices other strange behaviours; he flaps his hands, covers his ears, arranges things in a particular order, he does not point at what he wants but would lead a person's hand to his object of interest. She also notices that toilet training seems harder for him to grasp. She is getting more worried,but the doctor does not recognise that something is wrong.
Now he's almost 3 and things are not getting better, then the truth is revealed. Her son has AUTISM. How? Why? What did she do wrong? What did she eat when she was pregnant? Was it the age when she conceived? The doctor tells her that it's not her fault. Autism is a disorder whose cause is not known and is certainly not a parent's fault.
He tells her that Autism is a neuro-developmental disorder that affects a child's social, behavioural and communication skills. Some children actually talk and acquire some skills at the right time,but lose these skills before they are three. It is more common in boys than in girls,with a ratio of 4 boys to 1 girl. In the US, autism is found in 1 out of 88 people. Nigeria does not have documented statistics,but autism is getting more common around us...
The doctor continues to talk, but it's all a blur as she sits there crying and wondering what the future holds for her son. Will he ever talk? Will he be able to go to school like other kids? Will he live an independent life like other children? Different questions run through her mind and she has no answers.

The truth however is that her child can attain independence like every other child if she seeks help. He can go to school like other children. Therapy is available for children with autism in some states in Nigeria. And the different types of therapy available are to help the child attain maximum independence. The child's social skill can be developed, communication skills can be built and behaviour can be modified. And there's support available for parents now in Nigeria so that these parents and their children with the support of other parents and professionals, can fight the battle against autism. AUTISM does not have to stop a child's destiny.

For more information, you can join the Nigerian Autism community through Nigerians for Autism on Facebook. There is also a parent group in Nigeria called Parents Against Autism Initiative (PAAI). I also always tell parents that "Google is your friend". The internet affords you the opportunity to get any information you may be seeking and find support in the international community.

* Adelola Edema is a Special Needs Education Consultant. That means she works with children with special needs and their families. She has worked with children living with autism and other related disorders since 2009, having worked in Patrick Speech & Language Centre Lagos,The Zamarr Institute Abuja and National Society for Autism Nigeria.
She currently works in a centre for children with special needs in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. You can get more information on her blog: adelolaonautism.blogspot.com

The medicinal values of cassava

Perhaps like me you don’t think much of cassava tubers. Here are some interesting facts to consider though.

Like the palm tree, cassava is fast becoming a plant whose entirety can be used for different purposes. Its roots are known to be used to make cassava flour and tapioca, its leaves are eaten in certain communities and used for medicinal purposes, and the oil from its seeds are also useful for dermatological purposes.

Cassava seed oil is known for its antimicrobial effect on skin pathogens; scientists have discovered the oil’s inhibitory effects on certain harmful microorganisms. This inhibitory growth effect helps keep pathogenic development under control, but however depends on the concentration of the oil in relation to that of the microorganism. In some parts of Nigeria, the seed oil is used for the treatment of skin rashes, inflammations and other skin infections. The unsaturation of the oil also makes it a useful ingredient in the making of hair shampoo and liquid soaps. As a result of its derma therapeutic quality it is suggested that the oil could also be used as an aroma therapeutic agent.

To get the oil, mature green capsules which contain seeds are collected, dried for four to five days after which the seeds are removed from the capsules and then ground to extract the oil with petroleum ether.

Ethnomedicinal uses of cassava include the use of the roots of the bitter kind of cassava (Manihot esculenta) to treat malaria and diarrhea, and the leaves which are used to treat hypertension, headache and pain. Cassava paste is also known amongst the Cubans to be a cure for irritable bowel syndrome, and serves as an alternative to wheat for people who suffer from celiac disease.

However overdependence on cassava as a staple food can lead to malnutrition as cassava contains about only 1-3% of protein in the roots and 30% in the leaves. It should be therefore be complemented with a protein rich food. The cyanide content in cassava when not properly processed also makes it poisonous for consumption.

The utilization of cassava for medicinal purposes is an ongoing research by researchers who continually discover the many benefits of this remarkable root crop.

My fabulous pregnant life

Sometimes I miss being pregnant. When a lady is pregnant especially in my part of the world, she is given some level of consideration. I could never be in a line for too long, especially at the bank. The cashier would quickly attend to me and even tell me to take a seat while others remained standing. At the market I would get extra foodstuff and the women would pray for me. Some would even give me the foodstuff for free! People were just extra nice; my neighbour would cook and buy whatever I wanted to eat (all I had to do was express the craving) and I had unlimited access to her fridge. I mean I could literarily open her fridge and take whatever I wanted! And the meetings I had no desire to attend? I got excused from them!
Even though the flip side of this was that I wasn't allowed to do certain things or go to certain places because they felt I was in no position to, I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the attention and care I got.

How about we share the favours we enjoyed in pregnancy? Let's go down memory lane!

Imagine me pregnant!

I had always imagined how I would find out that I was pregnant. I would wake up one morning feeling sick, rush to the bathroom and throw up violently while my husband would be at my side rubbing my back comforting me. After I was through he would hold me and say “Are you okay? We need to get you to a doctor”. I would assure him that I was fine and that I just needed to rest. However, the sickness would persist and I would go to the doctor and he would tell me I had conceived. I would be excited, go home, cook a delicious dinner and wear something sexy, light some scented candles, set the atmosphere with good jazz music (no scrap that R and B) and wait for him to return home. He would come home wonder at all the preparation and the glow on my face and I would whisper it in his ears that we were going to have a baby. He would be ecstatic and we would make love... I’m sure you get the picture now.

Well now I can tell you it didn’t happen that way AT ALL. From the very first day I missed my period I knew I was pregnant, somehow he got to know too, we both went to the laboratory where I was tested and told I was pregnant so no surprise there at all. He merely smiled when I showed him the result so no twirling. And as for the lovemaking, the nausea had set in so that was totally out of the question. Regardless of all these however, I was excited about being a mom whether or not my dreams came true. 

So that’s my story of how I found out about being pregnant and how my spouse got to know. I’d like to hear yours, hopefully yours was more interesting!

Hello, welcome!

 

Welcome to my blog! I promise it’s going to be worth your while. This is my journal (if you like) where I  share my musings, questions and opinions based on my motherhood experiences; general phenomenon about motherhood; stories of hope (based on the experiences of mine and others); and information on African traditions and cultures as they relate to motherhood. That being said, I invite you to not only “read my mind” but also share your thoughts and experiences too. The ultimate aim is to create a community of African mothers who can come to this space and find answers, make relevant contributions and leave empowered with useful knowledge. So come on in, it is going to be worth your while!