I work in a nursing home. The patient population is largely composed of older folks, with the occasional mentally handicapped adult mixed in. Among the latter, there is a 50-something gentleman who suffered a traumatic brain injury a few years ago and apparently functions at approximately the level of your average two or three-year-old. He is able to communicate verbally up to a point but his language skills are comparable to those of a toddler, he can feed himself, use the toilet, comprehend and engage in simple games, etc. Whenever you have to care for other people, there are some who are more or less difficult to deal with, and some with whom you develop a closer bond than others — this guy is definitely of the second distinction. I adore him, but only as one would adore a very charming, but totally innocent little kid. He is by far the sweetest, most endearingly earnest and unassuming patient I have ever had. He never shows aggression (except occasionally towards himself out of frustration, but never anyone else), and he’s always trying to get a smile out of me, even if it’s just by casting a dubious sideways glance at me when I say something silly. He is strangely adept at just this sort of thing, and actions like this are indicative of a level of understanding beyond what he is outwardly capable of expressing in any other way, which brings me to my main question: Could it be possible that he ISN’T as brain damaged as he appears to be? In light of his very reserved and civilized behavior, I cannot completely discount the small possibility that he is somehow less incapacitated than anyone believes, and is capable of far more advanced, adult-like thinking than we are giving him credit for. Sometimes I SWEAR, his cognitive ability is close to that of a normal adult, but his physical awkwardness and his inability to verbally express himself belies that, and the thought of it is enough to bring me to tears. All of the doctors on the staff here insist that although he’s exceptionally personable and empathetic, he is incapable of more advanced cognition and his status will likely never improve. I wish I could agree, but I am becoming more and more doubtful.

Nobody ever comes to visit this poor man, and he was basically left alone in his room and ignored until I started working here about a year ago and came to notice how different he was from the other patients. Supposedly, he was beaten nearly to death by some creeps who wanted to rob him, but before that incident he was like a sports columnist for a newspaper or something completely decent and normal like that. I can’t imagine why he never gets any visitors — he must have had family or friends out there somewhere. He is so sweet and easy to deal with that I find myself making excuses to interact with him. All of the other staff members at the facility now joke that he is "my boyfriend" because it’s obvious he is enamored of me — supposedly the first thing he does now when he awakens is to inform the nurse on duty that "Mary be here soon" or "Mary on her way" repeatedly, likely as a way of seeking reassurance that I am indeed on my way. If I am off, he tells everyone he can that I am "to the beach", because I guess that’s where I usually tell him I’ve been. I would give ANYTHING to be able to take him places or spend more time with him, because he doesn’t deserve to sit in this dreary, depressing place day after day, where everyone is basically waiting to die. But I’m scared to say anything to anyone anymore because I’m afraid they’ll think I have some sort of inappropriate attraction to him, even though I am only interested in giving him the opportunity to have a chance at a worthwhile life. In spite of his injuries, it remains apparent that he was a very good looking guy, he still is, he has very sad blue eyes and a big smile and he’s just a total charmer, which adds to the suspicion that we have some sort of secret romance going on. I think it’s mostly just an inside joke here, but stuff like that is usually rooted in reality in some way, so I don’t want to push it.

So if you wanted to cut to the chase, I am curious to know if anyone out there has encountered someone who was thought to be very brain-damaged but wound up being much less so than was formerly believed. If so, how did you figure this out? Were you able to prove it to the doctors in charge of their care?
(cont.) Do you think I should ask to take him out or to at least spend more time working with him, or will it look bad to the rest of the staff? I’d hate to think my baseless paranoia is depriving him of having a better life.

(I have no idea where to ask this! Also, this is my friend’s account, so before you email her about being a "troll", those are HER initials, not mine… thanks)
Due to his disabilities he is more like a kid than a father figure, but I do see your point. He absolutely DOES NOT DESERVE to sit in here for the rest of his life!!!

There are many people, if not most people, who have poor communication skills, who are assumed to be much less intelligent than they are. How you find this out is to spend time with him, listening to him, helping him write down his thoughts. You might try a laptop computer to see if he can type independently.

Of course spend time with him if you want. On your own time you can interact with patients on a professional basis on a volunteer basis. If he wants to go out with you – take him. Start with something very close by and a short time period and build-up. Partly to be sure he is just as easy to care for when out and about and also to be sure he understand that you are doing this as his friend.

I used to pick up an elderly man who had no speech to take him out for coffee. I used to read him the newspaper. People thought I was stupid for doing that as they thought he didn’t understand – but he would point to the articles he wanted me to read.

I work in a nursing home. The patient population is largely composed of older folks, with the occasional mentally handicapped adult mixed in. Among the latter, there is a 50-something gentleman who suffered a traumatic brain injury a few years ago and apparently functions at approximately the level of your average two or three-year-old. He is able to communicate verbally up to a point but his language skills are comparable to those of a toddler, he can feed himself, use the toilet, comprehend and engage in simple games, etc. Whenever you have to care for other people, there are some who are more or less difficult to deal with, and some with whom you develop a closer bond than others — this guy is definitely of the second distinction. I adore him, but only as one would adore a very charming, but totally innocent little kid. He is by far the sweetest, most endearingly earnest and unassuming patient I have ever had. He never shows aggression (except occasionally towards himself out of frustration, but never anyone else), and he’s always trying to get a smile out of me, even if it’s just by casting a dubious sideways glance at me when I say something silly. He is strangely adept at just this sort of thing, and actions like this are indicative of a level of understanding beyond what he is outwardly capable of expressing in any other way, which brings me to my main question: Could it be possible that he ISN’T as brain damaged as he appears to be? In light of his very reserved and civilized behavior, I cannot completely discount the small possibility that he is somehow less incapacitated than anyone believes, and is capable of far more advanced, adult-like thinking than we are giving him credit for. Sometimes I SWEAR I look into his eyes and I can see a spark that shouldn’t be there. I worry that his cognitive ability is close to that of a normal adult, but his physical awkwardness and his inability to verbally express himself belies that, and the thought of it is enough to bring me to tears. All of the doctors on the staff here insist that although he’s exceptionally personable and empathetic, he is incapable of more advanced cognition and his status will likely never improve. I wish I could agree, but I am becoming more and more doubtful.

To make matters worse, nobody ever comes to visit this poor man, and he was basically left alone in his room and ignored until I started working here about a year ago and came to notice how different he was from the other patients. Supposedly, he was beaten nearly to death by some creeps who wanted to rob him, but before that incident he was like a sports columnist for a newspaper or something completely decent and normal like that. I can’t imagine why he never gets any visitors — he must have had family or friends out there somewhere. He is so sweet and easy to deal with that I find myself making excuses just to interact with him. All of the other staff members at the facility now joke that he is "my boyfriend" because it’s obvious he is enamored of me — supposedly the first thing he does now when he awakens is to inform the nurse on duty that "Mary be here soon" or "Mary on her way" repeatedly, likely as a way of seeking reassurance that I am indeed on my way. If I am off, he tells everyone he sees that I am "to the beach", because I guess that’s where I usually tell him I’ve been. I would give ANYTHING to be able to take him places or spend more time with him, because he doesn’t deserve to sit in this dreary, depressing place day after day, where everyone is basically waiting to die. But I’m scared to say anything to anyone anymore because I’m afraid they’ll think I have some sort of inappropriate attraction to him, even though I am only interested in giving him the opportunity to have a chance at a worthwhile life. In spite of his injuries, it remains apparent that he was a very good looking guy, he still is, he has very sad blue eyes and a beautiful smile and he’s just a total charmer, which adds to the ridiculous suspicion that we have some sort of secret romance going on. I think it’s mostly just an inside joke here, but stuff like that is usually rooted in reality in some way, so I don’t want to push it.

So if you want to cut to the chase, I am curious to know if anyone out there has encountered someone who was thought to be very brain-damaged but wound up being much less so than was formerly believed. If so, how did you figure this out? Were you able to prove it to the doctors in charge of their care? Do you think I should ask to take him out or to
(cont.) Do you think I should ask to take him out or to at least spend more time working with him, or will it look bad to the rest of the staff? I’d hate to think my baseless paranoia is depriving him of having a better life.
I definitely see our relationship as being a lot like a mother and child, and in no way do I feel like there is any romantic possibility there, believe me. He is totally innocent of that kind of thing and I’d rather keep it that way.

Firstly, I would trust the doctors (the plural is, for me the swinger) whilst it is possible that there is more going on there, it is more than likely a complex series of reactions learnt as a result of observing his surroundings. The kind of responses you talk about are normal for someone sufferring from the level of brain damage you have described, if he was a child of 2-3 this would be perfectly normal. However, if he was more aware than first thought then he would be unlikely to show it at all.

That said, there is no harm in treating him like a normal human being (beyond medical treatment obviously) because everyone benefits from conversation, even if they don’t understand it. I know you have already confirmed that nothing illicit is going on, but I cannot stress enough that it must stay that way. He is in every way a child, to whom you are now his surrogate mother.

Seek the doctors advice, but a walk (even wheelchair bound) through a park or along the beach would make his life all the better. Shame on your more childish colleagues.

In short, he is brain damaged with little likely going on behind the scenes, but that is no reason why someone should prevent you for caring for the human being he still is. Life is finite

I work in a nursing home. The patient population is largely composed of older folks, with the occasional mentally handicapped adult mixed in. Among the latter, there is a 50-something gentleman who suffered a traumatic brain injury a few years ago and apparently functions at approximately the level of your average two or three-year-old. He is able to communicate verbally up to a point but his language skills are comparable to those of a toddler, he can feed himself, use the toilet, comprehend and engage in simple games, etc. Whenever you have to care for other people, there are some who are more or less difficult to deal with, and some with whom you develop a closer bond than others — this guy is definitely of the second distinction. I adore him, but only as one would adore a very charming, but totally innocent little kid. He is by far the sweetest, most endearingly earnest and unassuming patient I have ever had. He never shows aggression (except occasionally towards himself out of frustration, but never anyone else), and he’s always trying to get a smile out of me, even if it’s just by casting a dubious sideways glance at me when I say something silly. He is strangely adept at just this sort of thing, and actions like this are indicative of a level of understanding beyond what he is outwardly capable of expressing in any other way, which brings me to my main question: Could it be possible that he ISN’T as brain damaged as he appears to be? In light of his very reserved and civilized behavior, I cannot completely discount the small possibility that he is somehow less incapacitated than anyone believes, and is capable of far more advanced, adult-like thinking than we are giving him credit for. Sometimes I SWEAR, his cognitive ability is close to that of a normal adult, but his physical awkwardness and his inability to verbally express himself belies that, and the thought of it is enough to bring me to tears. All of the doctors on the staff here insist that although he’s exceptionally personable and empathetic, he is incapable of more advanced cognition and his status will likely never improve. I wish I could agree, but I am becoming more and more doubtful.

Nobody ever comes to visit this poor man, and he was basically left alone in his room and ignored until I started working here about a year ago and came to notice how different he was from the other patients. Supposedly, he was beaten nearly to death by some creeps who wanted to rob him, but before that incident he was like a sports columnist for a newspaper or something completely decent and normal like that. I can’t imagine why he never gets any visitors — he must have had family or friends out there somewhere. He is so sweet and easy to deal with that I find myself making excuses to interact with him. All of the other staff members at the facility now joke that he is "my boyfriend" because it’s obvious he is enamored of me — supposedly the first thing he does now when he awakens is to inform the nurse on duty that "Mary be here soon" or "Mary on her way" repeatedly, likely as a way of seeking reassurance that I am indeed on my way. If I am off, he tells everyone he can that I am "to the beach", because I guess that’s where I usually tell him I’ve been. I would give ANYTHING to be able to take him places or spend more time with him, because he doesn’t deserve to sit in this dreary, depressing place day after day, where everyone is basically waiting to die. But I’m scared to say anything to anyone anymore because I’m afraid they’ll think I have some sort of inappropriate attraction to him, even though I am only interested in giving him the opportunity to have a chance at a worthwhile life. In spite of his injuries, it remains apparent that he was a very good looking guy, he still is, he has very sad blue eyes and a big smile and he’s just a total charmer, which adds to the suspicion that we have some sort of secret romance going on. I think it’s mostly just an inside joke here, but stuff like that is usually rooted in reality in some way, so I don’t want to push it.

So if you wanted to cut to the chase, I am curious to know if anyone out there has encountered someone who was thought to be very brain-damaged but wound up being much less so than was formerly believed. If so, how did you figure this out? Were you able to prove it to the doctors in charge of their care?
(cont.) ? Do you think I should ask to take him out or to at least spend more time working with him, or will it look bad to the rest of the staff? I’d hate to think my baseless paranoia is depriving him of having a better life.

(I have no idea where to ask this — also, I am using a friend’s account, before you email her about "trolling", etc., that’s her initials up there…)

I know of a boy who was diagnosed as Autistic within the first few years of his life. Generally, Autistic people cannot talk, which led scientists to only speculate about their brain patterns; if they could think and if they had feelings, etc. This boy – who was from India – had a very patient and loving mother. This mother spent every waking moment with the boy, trying to figure out what has eluded scientists all these years. She constantly talked to the boy, pointing out things and telling him the names for everything. She kept his mind continuously occupied and focused. By the time the boy was in his adolescent years, he could type and write with a pencil. The boy wrote about how he felt and he also wrote poems. He was interviewed by Dateline (don’t quote me on that) and he was able to understand and respond correctly to their questions. The constant mental stimulation from his mother kept his mind from turning into "a vegetable" as he put it. After his story went public, a center for children with disabilities started to adopt the constant stimulation idea, and had success within six weeks with the majority of their patients. They were able to get many to type and do basic math. Until then, doctors and scientists would never have dreamed about being able to communicate with (let alone teach) an Autistic person. So yes, you SHOULD spend quality time with this man. He deserves a chance, and you could even perhaps make a breakthrough in the medical field. It would deffinitly make a difference to this man, because I would guess that most people do not spend time with him, and if he is not as slow as people think, then it probably hurts his feelings that he is so alone. No matter what people tell you (he is too far gone; he will never get better; he cannot understand you) remember the story I told you, and know that ANYTHING is possible with a little time and effort.

I work in a nursing home. The patient population is largely composed of older folks, with the occasional mentally handicapped adult mixed in. Among the latter, there is a 50-something gentleman who suffered a traumatic brain injury a few years ago and apparently functions at approximately the level of your average two or three-year-old. He is able to communicate verbally up to a point but his language skills are comparable to those of a toddler, he can feed himself, use the toilet, comprehend and engage in simple games, etc. Whenever you have to care for other people, there are some who are more or less difficult to deal with, and some with whom you develop a closer bond than others — this guy is definitely of the second distinction. I adore him, but only as one would adore a very charming, but totally innocent little kid. He is by far the sweetest, most endearingly earnest and unassuming patient I have ever had. He never shows aggression (except occasionally towards himself out of frustration, but never anyone else), and he’s always trying to get a smile out of me, even if it’s just by casting a dubious sideways glance at me when I say something silly. He is strangely adept at just this sort of thing, and actions like this are indicative of a level of understanding beyond what he is outwardly capable of expressing in any other way, which brings me to my main question: Could it be possible that he ISN’T as brain damaged as he appears to be? In light of his very reserved and civilized behavior, I cannot completely discount the small possibility that he is somehow less incapacitated than anyone believes, and is capable of far more advanced, adult-like thinking than we are giving him credit for. Sometimes I SWEAR, his cognitive ability is close to that of a normal adult, but his physical awkwardness and his inability to verbally express himself belies that, and the thought of it is enough to bring me to tears. All of the doctors on the staff here insist that although he’s exceptionally personable and empathetic, he is incapable of more advanced cognition and his status will likely never improve. I wish I could agree, but I am becoming more and more doubtful.

Nobody ever comes to visit this poor man, and he was basically left alone in his room and ignored until I started working here about a year ago and came to notice how different he was from the other patients. Supposedly, he was beaten nearly to death by some creeps who wanted to rob him, but before that incident he was like a sports columnist for a newspaper or something completely decent and normal like that. I can’t imagine why he never gets any visitors — he must have had family or friends out there somewhere. He is so sweet and easy to deal with that I find myself making excuses to interact with him. All of the other staff members at the facility now joke that he is "my boyfriend" because it’s obvious he is enamored of me — supposedly the first thing he does now when he awakens is to inform the nurse on duty that "Mary be here soon" or "Mary on her way" repeatedly, likely as a way of seeking reassurance that I am indeed on my way. If I am off, he tells everyone he can that I am "to the beach", because I guess that’s where I usually tell him I’ve been. I would give ANYTHING to be able to take him places or spend more time with him, because he doesn’t deserve to sit in this dreary, depressing place day after day, where everyone is basically waiting to die. But I’m scared to say anything to anyone anymore because I’m afraid they’ll think I have some sort of inappropriate attraction to him, even though I am only interested in giving him the opportunity to have a chance at a worthwhile life. In spite of his injuries, it remains apparent that he was a very good looking guy, he still is, he has very sad blue eyes and a big smile and he’s just a total charmer, which adds to the suspicion that we have some sort of secret romance going on. I think it’s mostly just an inside joke here, but stuff like that is usually rooted in reality in some way, so I don’t want to push it.

So if you want to cut to the chase, I am curious to know if anyone out there has encountered someone who was thought to be very brain-damaged but wound up being much less so than was formerly believed. If so, how did you figure this out? Were you able to prove it to the doctors in charge of their care?
(cont.) Do you think I should ask to take him out or to at least spend more time working with him, or will it look bad to the rest of the staff? I’d hate to think my baseless paranoia is depriving him of having a better life.

(I have no idea what section to ask this in, BTW)

The one thing I know from doing biological psychology is that the brain is a strange and mysterious thing and no one actually really know exactly how it works, or how much it can recover after a traumatic incident. It functions a lot on what is called redundant systems, which means there can be incidences where the main system is compromised, but eventually a redundant system can bring back more functionality over time – maybe not as slickly, but enough to get the job done. What is also possible is that 1) this can improve over time as more functions are rerouted but it can be very slow 2) very different functions of the brain can be effected by an injury leaving a mish-mash of higher cognitive skills and basic skill left.

It would not surprise me that he either has some areas of cognitive skills that are preserved – it depends where the damage took place. He evidently has some of the abstract concepts such as time preserved as well as recognition. It’s very difficult to say with brain trauma if things will improve or not – often it is the worst case scenario, but it can’t be said for certain.

In terms of helping him, perhaps if you can show you want to explore something that would also be counted as something like professional development for you – like a skills set. If he can’t read any more he might be able to access one of the communication forms such as Makaton (Writing with symbols) that they use in SEN schools. If you perhaps suggested you could try and learn that or other "techniques" as you have a rapport with him as well, that should be an acceptable professional rationale.
Otherwise, you could potentially organise something which is not limited to just him, or suggest other people take him out too. I would ask! Nothing to lose!

I work in a nursing home. The patient population is largely composed of older folks, with the occasional mentally handicapped adult mixed in. Among the latter, there is a 50-something gentleman who suffered a traumatic brain injury a few years ago and apparently functions at approximately the level of your average two or three-year-old. He is able to communicate verbally up to a point but his language skills are comparable to those of a toddler, he can feed himself, use the toilet, comprehend and engage in simple games, etc. Whenever you have to care for other people, there are some who are more or less difficult to deal with, and some with whom you develop a closer bond than others — this guy is definitely of the second distinction. I adore him, but only as one would adore a very charming, but totally innocent little kid. He is by far the sweetest, most endearingly earnest and unassuming patient I have ever had. He never shows aggression (except occasionally towards himself out of frustration, but never anyone else), and he’s always trying to get a smile out of me, even if it’s just by casting a dubious sideways glance at me when I say something silly. He is strangely adept at just this sort of thing, and actions like this are indicative of a level of understanding beyond what he is outwardly capable of expressing in any other way, which brings me to my main question: Could it be possible that he ISN’T as brain damaged as he appears to be? In light of his very reserved and civilized behavior, I cannot completely discount the small possibility that he is somehow less incapacitated than anyone believes, and is capable of far more advanced, adult-like thinking than we are giving him credit for. Sometimes I SWEAR, his cognitive ability is close to that of a normal adult, but his physical awkwardness and his inability to verbally express himself belies that, and the thought of it is enough to bring me to tears. All of the doctors on the staff here insist that although he’s exceptionally personable and empathetic, he is incapable of more advanced cognition and his status will likely never improve. I wish I could agree, but I am becoming more and more doubtful.

Nobody ever comes to visit this poor man, and he was basically left alone in his room and ignored until I started working here about a year ago and came to notice how different he was from the other patients. Supposedly, he was beaten nearly to death by some creeps who wanted to rob him, but before that incident he was like a sports columnist for a newspaper or something completely decent and normal like that. I can’t imagine why he never gets any visitors — he must have had family or friends out there somewhere. He is so sweet and easy to deal with that I find myself making excuses to interact with him. All of the other staff members at the facility now joke that he is "my boyfriend" because it’s obvious he is enamored of me — supposedly the first thing he does now when he awakens is to inform the nurse on duty that "Mary be here soon" or "Mary on her way" repeatedly, likely as a way of seeking reassurance that I am indeed on my way. If I am off, he tells everyone he can that I am "to the beach", because I guess that’s where I usually tell him I’ve been. I would give ANYTHING to be able to take him places or spend more time with him, because he doesn’t deserve to sit in this dreary, depressing place day after day, where everyone is basically waiting to die. But I’m scared to say anything to anyone anymore because I’m afraid they’ll think I have some sort of inappropriate attraction to him, even though I am only interested in giving him the opportunity to have a chance at a worthwhile life. In spite of his injuries, it remains apparent that he was a very good looking guy, he still is, he has very sad blue eyes and a big smile and he’s just a total charmer, which adds to the suspicion that we have some sort of secret romance going on. I think it’s mostly just an inside joke here, but stuff like that is usually rooted in reality in some way, so I don’t want to push it.

So if you want to cut to the chase, I am curious to know if anyone out there has encountered someone who was thought to be very brain-damaged but wound up being much less so than was formerly believed. If so, how did you figure this out? Were you able to prove it to the doctors in charge of their care?
(cont.) Do you think I should ask to take him out or to at least spend more time working with him, or will it look bad to the rest of the staff? I’d hate to think my baseless paranoia is depriving him of having a better life.

(I have no idea what section to ask this in, BTW)

The one thing I know from doing biological psychology is that the brain is a strange and mysterious thing and no one actually really know exactly how it works, or how much it can recover after a traumatic incident. It functions a lot on what is called redundant systems, which means there can be incidences where the main system is compromised, but eventually a redundant system can bring back more functionality over time – maybe not as slickly, but enough to get the job done. What is also possible is that 1) this can improve over time as more functions are rerouted but it can be very slow 2) very different functions of the brain can be effected by an injury leaving a mish-mash of higher cognitive skills and basic skill left.

It would not surprise me that he either has some areas of cognitive skills that are preserved – it depends where the damage took place. He evidently has some of the abstract concepts such as time preserved as well as recognition. It’s very difficult to say with brain trauma if things will improve or not – often it is the worst case scenario, but it can’t be said for certain.

In terms of helping him, perhaps if you can show you want to explore something that would also be counted as something like professional development for you – like a skills set. If he can’t read any more he might be able to access one of the communication forms such as Makaton (Writing with symbols) that they use in SEN schools. If you perhaps suggested you could try and learn that or other "techniques" as you have a rapport with him as well, that should be an acceptable professional rationale.
Otherwise, you could potentially organise something which is not limited to just him, or suggest other people take him out too. I would ask! Nothing to lose!

I did some research on some of the nootropics, especially L-Theanine and Alpha GPC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJSCaNZffpk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-theanine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-GPC

A big negatory! Drinks to do make you smarter no matter how much hype there is.

Asperger syndrome is named for the Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger who, in 1944, described children in his practice who lacked nonverbal communication skills, demonstrated limited empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy.[3] Fifty years later, it was standardized as a diagnosis, but many questions remain about aspects of the disorder.[4] For example, there is doubt about whether it is distinct from high-functioning autism (HFA);[5] partly because of this, its prevalence is not firmly established.[1] The diagnosis of Asperger’s has been proposed to be eliminated, replaced by a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder on a severity scale.[6]

The exact cause is unknown, although research supports the likelihood of a genetic basis; brain imaging techniques have not identified a clear common pathology.[1] There is no single treatment, and the effectiveness of particular interventions is supported by only limited data.[1] Intervention is aimed at improving symptoms and function. The mainstay of management is behavioral therapy, focusing on specific deficits to address poor communication skills, obsessive or repetitive routines, and physical clumsiness.[7] Most individuals improve over time, but difficulties with communication, social adjustment and independent living continue into adulthood.[4] Some researchers and people with Asperger’s have advocated a shift in attitudes toward the view that it is a difference, rather than a disability that must be treated or cured

I am looking for an Online support Group for Adults like myself who have this disorder that that is compeletly free.. My biggest problem it seems is that its not common in Females Please Help!

I’m an adult female with Asperger’s syndrome too. I think you might benefit from visiting the discussion forums at http://www.wrongplanet.net . Those are discussion forums for people with Asperger’s syndrome and other autism spectrum disorders. There are people of both genders and all ages there. There is, among other things, a forum just for women. I have found the Wrong Planet forums useful. They are not a typical support group, but you can still find support, information, tips and advice and get in contact with other adults who are in the same situation as you. The Wrong Planet forums are completely free.

Keeping the memory in good condition is a vital part of the brain’s function. In not only work, but all aspects of our lives, our actions greatly depend on a lot of information we retrieve from our memory bank. Such information can either be short term (such as specific tasks that we have to do) or long term (such as the ability to drive a car or repeat an instruction we read from a book). While long-term memory may come spontaneously without too much effort when the need arises, short-term memory requires recalling information from the accumulation of things stored in our memory. This is why you need to keep your memory in great shape to achieve efficiency in your daily endeavors:

1. Keep your attention focused on the needed information to be stored in your memory bank. Even with distractions around you, stay focused on the subject. The more concentrated you are on the information, the better the chances of retaining it in your memory.

2. Utilize the most ideal sense or senses when gathering the information. This what we call acuity in sensing our environment. Be aware of the color or details of a picture, or the particular sound or smell of the thing involved. All our bodily senses are attuned to collect information depending on the circumstance at hand. While our sense of vision may be the most used in gathering information, our senses of hearing, smell, taste, and touch are equally important and helpful in remembering things, situations, and information about something or someone.

3. When you’re not sure that the information you are about to remember would really be retained by your brain, it would be better to write the information. This could be proven effective especially in gathering very long and tedious information like lecture notes or a personal interview. Just be sure you don’t forget that you have a note at hand; and of course, don’t misplace the note.

4. Maintain a balance diet. A well-proportioned diet will result to a conditioned memory. Oily and sweet foods may cloud the memory. If you cannot completely eliminate a bad diet, gradually cut down your intake of these memory-inhibiting foods. Doing it gradually cushions the effect of withdrawal symptoms and you’ll get adjusted to the new lifestyle you are creating. This is not only beneficial to the memory, but we can say you’re on your way to a healthy life. Drinking lots of water brings lots of advantages to your overall health, and memory is not an exception.

5. Don’t deprive yourself with enough rest and sleep. Having enough sleep does not condone laziness; oversleeping does. So don’t feel guilty resting or sleeping as long as it is not overdone. You need it badly to keep you revitalized from the tiresome demand of work.

6. Take time to relax. Breathe deeply if you must. Keep your thoughts organized before acting on them. Keep away from stress and anxiety. It may be impossible to completely eliminate stress since it is part of our challenging generation, but try to keep it down as much as possible. Stress may bring your memory into its inefficient level. Avoid the habit of saying to yourself that you might forget things, because you’re more likely to if you do. This just builds your anxiety level up to its panic mode.

7. Stay positive, creative, and energetic. Your memory needs to be within a circle of various things. Things that come in various shapes, sizes, and colors can motivate your creativity. This is a positive way of discovering your surroundings in all its variations and diversities. Avoid being enclosed within the four walls of your room just like you’re a prisoner. The only time to be enclosed is when you have to rest or sleep. Don’t be a couch potato. There’s a very exciting world out there waiting to improve your memory.

The very best time to improve your memory is between infancy and adolescent. As we grow old, memory starts to fail. But a strong memory that we can develop during the prime years of our lives will definitely enhance us to be good thinkers. This can be done by continuously exercising our memory through reading and other cognitive activities like the habit of solving crossword puzzles. The more you do these, the better memory retention is developed.

As far as health is concerned, high blood pressure can lead to stroke and heart ailments. It also results to poor memory retention. Memory function declines when blood pressure is high. Researchers have observed that people with normal blood pressure, especially at midlife, have a higher cognitive function. Concentration, decision-making, and remembering functions falter as a result of high blood pressure. What is healthy for the body is likewise healthy for the memory.

Jennifer Stromsteen
http://www.articlesbase.com/self-improvement-articles/maintaining-your-memory-in-top-condition-469038.html

One thing to keep in mind is that our metabolism and animals’ are different. There are some supplements that are fine for a human but can cause damage to a cat or dog. Always consult your vet before giving vitamins or supplements to your dog or cat.

Remember, vitamins and supplements for your pets shouldn’t be used to replace seeing a vet. Your pet cats and dogs should have regular checkups and be taken to a vet if they appear to be ill. You should make sure you always inform your vet of any type of vitamins or supplements you are giving your pet.

This is especially true if you cat or dog is being treated for a condition which requires medication. This is because some medications will act adversely when taken with other types of medication or supplements. Always consult your veterinarian and ask for their recommendations before starting your pets on vitamins or herbal supplements.

Listed below are some of the common vitamins and supplements that are being given to pets to promote health and treat ailments.

Glucosamine and Chondroitan- These are well known and are commonly prescribed by veterinarians to treat pets who are suffering from arthritis and joint pain. They are known to help rebuild cartilage and thicken joint fluid which cushions and protects the joints.

Milk Thistle- This has been used for pets with liver problems such as hepatitis. It is suppose to protect liver cells from toxins.

Ginger- This has been used in Chinese medicine for centuries as an anti-inflammatory and also for stomach problems. It has been known to help animals with car sickness and with digestive problems, including diarrhea and gas.

Vitamin C- This vitamin is a powerful anti-oxidant which is said to help combat the aging process and cancer. It has also can be used for hip dysphasia, arthritis and urinary tract problems.

Echinacea- This supplement is said to improve the immune system and helps to fight off infections and diseases.

Slippery Elm- The bark of this tree is used to help the digestive system in pets who suffer from upset stomachs and constipation.  It has also been known to be used as a cough suppressant.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids- The oils from cold water fish have been known to be beneficial to pets. They have been used to aid in treatment of heart disease, cancer, allergies, arthritis and kidney disease.

Choline- This supplement can be helpful to pets that have cognitive disorders and seizures.

There are certain vitamins that seem to help different parts of your pet’s body. For example Vitamin A is used for healthy skin and coat.  Vitamin E helps to ease the discomfort of arthritis and cancer. Vitamin D is essential for bone development, and nerve and muscle functions. Vitamin B helps with growth and metabolism.

Make sure you read the directions thoroughly and always give the recommended dosage to your pet. You might want to consult with your vet on the dosage for your particular pet. Remember, even though a vitamin or supplement is considered natural that doesn’t necessarily mean it is safe. Always closely monitor your pet after you have given them any new type of vitamin or supplement to watch for signs of an allergic reaction. The items listed above are just a few of the different varieties of supplements available for use on pets. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on which type of product will work best for your four-legged companion.

To make sure your pets stays healthy and will enjoy a long life, you might want to consider buying pet insurance in case there will be unforeseen medical expenses in the years to come. You have health insurance on the rest of your family and for peace of mind you might want to get pet insurance on your four-legged companions.

Karen Corey
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/common-natural-supplements-and-vitamins-for-pets-712119.html