OLG Autism,Portharcourt.Nigeria

05/06/2025

With Jossie Emp Inobaya – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

05/06/2025

With Fache Christopher Emmanuel – I just made it onto their weekly engagement list by being one of their top engagers! 🎉

21/04/2025

AUTISTIC KID AND MIRROR...

Mirrors can be beneficial for autistic children in several ways, including improving motor skills, fostering social interaction, and even helping with self-awareness. However, it's important to be mindful of individual differences and sensory sensitivities when introducing mirrors to autistic children.

Benefits of Mirrors for Autistic Children:

Motor Skill Development:
Mirroring movement activities, where the child imitates the caregiver's movements, can help improve gross motor skills, coordination, and physical awareness.

Social Interaction:
Mirroring interactions can facilitate social responsiveness and build relationships by encouraging children to engage with others.

Self-Awareness:
Mirrors can help children develop a sense of self and identity, as they learn to recognize their own reflection.

Mirror Neuron Function:
Mirrors can help activate mirror neurons, which are involved in understanding and imitating the actions and emotions of others.

Learning through Imitation:
Mirrors can be used to teach gross motor imitation skills, which can be particularly helpful for children with difficulty imitating others.

Sensory Exploration:
Some children with autism enjoy the sensory experience of looking at their own reflection or exploring their surroundings in a mirror.
Important Considerations:

Individual Differences:
Not all autistic children will respond to mirrors in the same way. Some may be highly engaged, while others may be uncomfortable or even avoid looking at their reflection.

Tips for Using Mirrors with Autistic Children:
Start Slowly:
Introduce the mirror gradually and allow the child to explore it at their own pace.

Observe Their Reactions:
Pay attention to the child's cues and adjust the activity accordingly.

Create a Safe Environment:
Ensure the mirror is in a safe and comfortable location, and that the child feels secure.

02/04/2025

The world 🌍 Autism Day.
"Advancing neurodiversity is crucial for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)".

Autistic individuals contribute uniquely to society, bringing diverse perspectives, creativity, and innovation. Recognizing and valuing neurodiversity fosters more inclusive communities where individuals with autism can thrive.

However, many face challenges in accessing education, employment, healthcare, and social support due to systemic barriers and misconceptions.

By strengthening inclusive policies, support networks, and awareness efforts, we can create environments that empower autistic individuals to reach their full potential while ensuring their rights, dignity, and well-being.

This lesson explores how advancing neurodiversity is crucial for achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing the need for inclusive policies and practices to ensure that autistic individuals and other neurodiverse people can thrive and contribute to a sustainable future.

19/03/2025

Reye's syndrome
Also called: Reye-Johnson syndrome.

A rare but serious condition that causes confusion, swelling in the brain and liver damage. Children recovering from a viral infection such as chickenpox or flu or who have a metabolic disorder are most at risk, especially if they've been taking aspirin.
There's no specific treatment for Reye's syndrome beyond supportive care and aggressive monitoring for complications.

Symptoms
Requires a medical diagnosis
Early symptoms include diarrhoea, rapid breathing, vomiting and severe fatigue. Symptoms such as confusion, seizures and loss of consciousness need emergency treatment.

People may experience:
Whole body: fatigue, fever, lethargy, or low blood sugar

Gastrointestinal: vomiting or diarrhoea
Also common: delirium, excess sleepiness, mental confusion, coma, decreased level of consciousness, dilated pupils, headache, hyperventilation, seizure, or swelling

Treatment consists of supportive care
There's no specific treatment for Reye's syndrome beyond supportive care and aggressive monitoring for complications.

Palliative care
Monitoring in the intensive care unit, Mechanical ventilation, Intracranial pressure monitoring and Intravenous therapy

Medications
Diuretic and Vitamin.

19/03/2025

Turnpenny-Fry syndrome (TPFS)

TPFS is a rare genetic disorder characterized by intellectual disability, developmental delay, facial dysmorphism, and skeletal abnormalities, caused by mutations in the PCGF2 gene.

What it is TPFS: is a syndrome, meaning a collection of symptoms that occur together, caused by a genetic problem.

Cause:
The syndrome is caused by mutations in the PCGF2 gene, which is involved in cell development and function.

Symptoms:
Individuals with TPFS may experience:
Developmental delay
Intellectual disability
Facial dysmorphism (distinctive facial features)
Skeletal abnormalities
Other possible findings include feeding problems, constipation, and a range of brain, cardiac, vascular, and skeletal malformations.

Facial Features:
Specific craniofacial features include frontal bossing, sparse hair, malar hypoplasia, small palpebral fissures and oral stoma, and dysplastic ears.

Diagnosis:
The diagnosis is made through clinical evaluation and genetic testing, specifically looking for mutations in the PCGF2 gene.

Management:
Management involves a multidisciplinary approach, addressing the specific needs of the individual, including developmental therapies, medical care for associated conditions, and genetic counseling.

19/03/2025

Sp**m-Associated Antigen9 Syndrome (SPAG9)

Is a protein that is a member of the cancer-testis antigen family and is involved in various cancers, particularly in promoting tumor growth, metastasis, and drug resistance.
a rare genetic disorder characterized by both developmental and neurodegenerative features, including intellectual disability, speech delays, and cognitive decline, along with potential brain abnormalities.

Genetic Basis of SPAG9:
SPAG9 syndrome arises from mutations in the SPAG9 gene, which is involved in brain development and neuronal survival.

Symptoms:
Affected individuals may experience:

Intellectual Disability: Limitations in intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior.

Speech Delays: Difficulty with language development.

Cognitive Decline: A decline in cognitive abilities over time.

Brain Abnormalities: Neuroimaging may reveal microcephaly (small head size) and atrophy (tissue loss).

Other Features: Some studies have linked SPAG9 mutations to a syndrome with coarse facial features, albinism, cataracts, and developmental delay.

Research and Future Directions:
Researchers are studying the mechanisms by which SPAG9 mutations lead to neurological dysfunction.

Long-term follow-up studies are providing valuable insights into the natural history of the syndrome.

SEE The findings could potentially lead to new therapeutic interventions for this rare syndrome and potentially for broader neurological conditions.

04/09/2024

Mrs Habila, a nutritionist for autistic children was at OLG port Harcourt. She educated parents and staff on the importance of the right diet for children on the spectrum. She also shared her personal experience of how dieting has helped her son improved greatly. She advised parents to be patient while their kids are on diet as it is not like rocket science. She encouraged parents to give organic food to their kids rather than processed food.
Parents were quite impressed and willing to give it a try.

16/04/2024

OLG Health Foundation And Autism Centre Port Harcourt 2024 W.A.A.D. CELEBRATIONS
In commemoration of the world Autism day, the owner of Evangeline's care and wellness foundation Mr. Ikpoki came with his team to visit and celebrate the 2024 world Autism Awareness day with the children and staff of OLG health foundation and Autism centre port Harcourt.
They were received by the management, staff and children of OLG port Harcourt. A brief tour to our facility was done. The tour was to enable Mr Ikpoki see the renovation previously carried out by Evangeline's care and wellness foundation.
After the brief tour, Mr Ikpoki and his team had the opportunity to watch one of our kids carry out hand-eye-coordination activity. They were further told the aims behind the activity. He also chatted with some of the kids who are a bit verbal.
He asked questions and the manager and staff responded appropriately to his questions.
Mr. Ikpoki commended staff of OLG for their commitment towards providing care/services to the children and also encouraged the staff to keep up the good work. He said his foundation will do more in terms of training and providing necessary support that will help us have positive impact on the children.
The kids were given refreshments and gift packs from Evangeline's care and wellness foundation.
Evangeline's care and wellness foundation aims at providing capacity development support through trainings for therapist/caregivers and also creating an inclusive environment for special need children.

05/04/2024