Editor,
Apropos the news report, “ Ray of Hope for Autism patients”( ST Jan 23,2020), through your esteemed daily, we would like to share some evidence based facts on the management of Autism Spectrum Disorder. As rightly stated in the report, Autism is an incurable neuro-developmental disorder. But, with proper therapy, most children do well and function in the society they live in. What is this therapy? It is a multi-disciplinary approach, family-centred training programme which includes a team of developmental paediatricians/ psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, speech therapists and special educators. There are different models of therapy programmes all over the world. All these programmes involve training of the child with involvement of the care takers who then continue the therapy at home. These programmes include assessment of a child’s developmental level, his/ her behaviours and their management; assessment of the various sensory issues these children may have, helping them to learn and live independently, and helping with social interaction and communication, including speech. Yes, training a child with autism is long and painstaking, but success of most programmes and outcomes depend on the consistency with which these children undergo therapy.
Medications may be required on occasions to control symptoms like aggression, repetitive movements that impair normal functioning, hyperactivity, or associated problems like sleep disturbances. Special diets like gluten- free casein-free diets have been claimed by many to be beneficial but evidence is still lacking.
As regards to stem cell therapy, to the best of our knowledge, till date, there is NO SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE of its use in Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Indian Council of Medical Research has already released guidelines for indications for stem cell therapy. And autism is NOT listed as an indication. Moreover, a position statement forwarded by the Indian Psychiatric Society (dated January 17, 2020) “strongly condemns the use of stem cell therapy in psychiatric conditions, particularly autism, until such a time that further research evidence substantiates the same”.
Yours etc.,
Dr. K. Rapthap,
Dr. Samuel P.Oommen
Developmental Paediatrics Unit,
Christian Medical College Vellore,
Editor,
From whatever is in the public domain, it is understood that BJP is trying to make polarisation as the plank for the Delhi State Assembly polls, primarily against the AAP, which is in good saddle. The sound-bytes of Anurag Thakur, and Parvez Varma, the MoS & MP respectively, is to be seen in this light. The party has also pushed Amit Shah as the face of BJP versus Arvind Kejriwal, going back on its own words some time back that the party would fight the elections under the leadership of Narendra Modi; and therefore, the party had not named any Chief Ministerial candidate earlier. The party’s election manifesto release function was led by Nitin Gadkari, and not by the ones directly connected to the State polls. Obviously, the BJP seems to be jerky, and trying to regain some lost ground especially after the setbacks in Maharashtra, Jharkhand, and even Haryana.
One remembers that Amit Shah in 2015 had thundered in election rallies in Bihar that if BJP does not win Bihar, there would be celebrations in Pakistan. Apparently, the wheel has turned again, and BJP is dangerously, repeating old tricks for electoral gain, at the cost of social harmony and national interests.
Yours etc.,
D Bhutia
Guwahati
On hanging of rapists
Editor,
This refers to media reports that Delhi Court deferred hanging of Nirbhaya convicts. It is sad that people made a hue and cry over the deferment of hanging of the four Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case convicts by the court on Friday. In a civilized society like ours( we should be proud of our judicial system) where even the most hated convicts of Nirbhaya gangrape-murder case getting a last minute reprieve of their execution shows the court’s concern even for the most condemned person. It may be worth noting that the Delhi Court judge ordered that if an appeal or an application is made by only one convict, the execution of sentence shall be postponed in the case of co-convicts as well.
Meanwhile, Asha Devi, Nirbhaya’s mother has lamented that the courts and the governments are bowing their heads before these criminals. While sympathizing with her and agree that it is natural for her to be revengeful, here the court cannot speak or act like her because it stands for everyone- the guilty and the innocent. Moreover, most heinous acts like rape or murder are committed by people who have not experienced love, compassion and kindness which are otherwise infused into their minds by institutions like family and schools in the rudimentary stage.
Why do certain misguided youths perpetrate the most heinous acts? It’s because they might have experienced violence themselves. Hence when we cry for hanging of those convicts, there is an institution called the judiciary which will decide what the right punishment is for the offenders. The guiding principle behind rules and procedures and evidence guiding our courts is, ‘let a hundred guilty be acquitted, but one innocent should not be convicted.’ So, the court requires time to eliminate all doubts one by one and complete all other formalities including disposal of pending applications of the convicts before sending them to the gallows. After all, it is this civilized institution of the people, which is entrusted with the great responsibility of executing ‘four people’ who are accused of raping and killing Nirbhaya.
Yours etc.,
TK Nandanan,
Via email