Setbacks …

In November of last year, I took Marc to hospital on three consecutive days during a time when he had a 48-hour EEG. We had to wait until this week before his neurologist met with us to give us feedback and agree a future plan of action.

We arrived and entered the consultation only to be told, “The EEG had not been sent to the appropriate department to report on!”

Oh my word! Why does life have to be so challenging, and supporting our son be so difficult. It was escalated and “in due course” we will get a letter, but the opportunity to discuss any changes was lost.

I became more irritated when the neurologist, a specialist in epilepsy, suggested that some of Marc’s traits may not be epilepsy related.

“What? How can you say that?”

I was told that from what the neurologist had seen from the EEG – even though it had not been analysed – there was no recorded abnormal electrical activity in his brain at the time.

Even I know that an EEG only traces activity on the surface of the brain, and not deep within the brain. That requires a different more intrusive test. I also know that a standard EEG will often not pick up certain seizures such a Absences or activity from the Hypothalamus.

I know what our son is going through every day and what we need to do to support him. I also know what previous neurologist have told us and do not know why that knowledge and the detailed records that I keep is just being dismissed.

A case of ‘Computer says No and so its dismissed’ if ever I heard it.

Why does it need to be such a battle?

I have demanded a second opinion and raised my dissatisfaction at such a delay in the EEG being properly reported on, as you would imagine.

World Autism Acceptance Week 2nd – 8th April 2024

“Share, connect and engage with supporters to help increase autism acceptance and awareness. Join the online conversation.” National Autistic Society

This week, there is a focus on fundraising to raise vital funds and help create a society that works for autistic people. That much is true, but in my experience, the focus this week and every week needs to be on creating awareness of what autism is, how it affects the individual with the condition, and how it impacts those around them.

There remains a widespread media focus on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum, with individuals explaining how they navigate the world, their relationships, their attention to detail and how they work with their condition. 

There remains an absence of media coverage of the more severe aspect of the spectrum. An estimated 60% of individuals with autism are imprisoned or in trouble with the police, not through anything done wrong but more a misunderstanding of words used: Echolalia, sensory-triggered meltdowns, and a lack of social interaction skills.

Similar aspects of autism lead to isolation, depression, and anxiety—a sense of futility and worthlessness. A person with autism, suffering from sensory overload, cannot walk the length of a shopping mall without either curling up in a corner somewhere, trying desperately to hide from all the stimuli or falling into a rage triggered in defence of the sensory attack.

A person at this end of the autism spectrum can suck the life and optimism out of their souls and that of those who are around them and fall into a spiral of misery akin to Dante’s Inferno.

Awareness and understanding of these conditions can help people recover their minds and well-being and bring peace to their world.