April is a special month for a couple of organizations who are seeking new ways to fight afflictions.
April is Awareness Month for both the Parkinson’s Disease and Autism camps.
Parkinson’s is a chronic degenerative disease that touches daily living issues such as movements, speech, mood, rest, eating, drinking and perception. As it worsens, it robs a person of independence through increasing complications and can even result in premature death.
There is no know cause or cure, but research into Parkinson’s is ongoing. There are over 100,000 people in Canada who struggle with this disease and its complications with an average of 10 people per day being diagnosed with the condition.
Finding a cure is the prime motivator for Parkinson’s Canada.
There is an Estevan Parkinson’s support group which meets the first Thursday of each month from September through June. Those interested in the group are asked to watch for posters at various locations throughout the city for the time and place of these gatherings.
More information on the disease can be obtained by visiting www.parkinson.ca.
Autism Awareness Month was brought to the attention of local residents by the Sun Country Health Region that noted they have an Autism Spectrum Disorder Program that works with a team of professionals to help children suspected of being autistic go through the diagnostic process and then works directly with diagnosed children and their families to learn new skills to deal with the disorder.
Autism is a growing problem in Canada. One in 68 children will be diagnosed with the spectrum disorder in the United States, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control. That compares with only one in 150 who received that diagnosis in the U.S. 15 years ago. The numbers (ratios) are believed to be similar in Canada.
The facts the surround autism notes boys are five times more likely to have autism than girls and it is present in all races, ethnicities and socio-economic groups. Symptoms of autism can be recognized in babies and toddlers.
Symptoms include delayed speech and language development (no babbling as a baby); no stringing sounds together to make words around the 12-month period; not responding to their name, socially withdrawn from others, meaning the child would rather play alone. The child may have highly specific, focused interests to a point that very few other things are of any interest. The diagnosed child will be rigid with their routines and picky about food.
Early intervention is a key toward providing assistance.
The Sun Country Autism Program supports those suspected of having autism from birth to 19 years.
Referrals to the program come from parents (with consent), schools, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, public-health professionals or physicians.
More information concerning autism is available from the health region by phoning 1-306-842-8665.