I have just started corresponding with another mum who has a two and a half year-old son with autism.

She said something quite interesting about the brain which trigger my interest to find out more about the brain and how to stimulate them to encourage speech and motor skills for Alex. Here are her exact words ....

"My cousin who lives in South Africa was born with ADHD (but not autism) 24 years ago - one of his most important treatments to get him talking (he had no words at 2 years old) was a combination of physical and occupational therapy. My uncle mentioned that it was the same side of the brain that deals with co-ordination that also deals with communication. He said by getting a child physically active and working on co-ordination, that side of the brain is getting supplied with more oxygen (which in turn aids the communication aspect). I wonder if there is some foundation in that. We bought Stephen a trampoline hoping that the exercise on that would increase oxygen to the communication side of the brain, and he's not doing bad with his speech though still doesn't make his own sentences using separate words."

Looking at the map of the left and right brain, it seemed that the right side controls the left hand and vice-versa. The speech and language area are on the left side of the brain whilst the music, emotion and repetitive behavior are on the right side. I could see the connection here, Alex prefers using his left hand (at least that's what I observed) more, hence, he is quite musical (he could repeat the song/music after hearing them once or twice), very very loving and very repetitive (action such as teeth-grinding, hand flapping/flickering) having saying that, he doesn't do them so often (or am I immune to them).

It's worth investigating and to learn more. I am being philosophical again here, but when you think about it, and think really positively about it - "when what seemed like a bad thing happened to your life, there is always a good thing that follows (blessing in disguised)".

A.S.D. may not be curable (because no one know what causes them, hence there are no cure) but we will not let this drag us down to the self-pity level. We will learn more and help our son to understand things at his pace - he will eventually get it.