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Autism, a complex developmental disability, is generally believed to be a genetic disorder. But Dr. William Walsh, a senior scientist at the Pfeiffer Institute, believes he has isolated a biochemical cause, based on analysis of blood, urine, and hair samples from 503 autistic children. His pioneering research attributes autism to the inability of a protein-metallothionein-to balance the body's metal metabolism. In this program, Dr. Walsh discusses...
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Chad is mesmerized by trains. Mikki's passion is washers and dryers. And for Derek, life is a game show, where he is the host and anyone within listening range is a contestant. While these boys might seem like any other children, their intense obsessions are early symptoms of Asperger's syndrome. In this program, ABC News correspondent Jay Schadler reports on that neurological disorder, which makes normal interactions with peers virtually impossible....
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Children with autism turn into adults with autism: an obvious fact, but one that remains inadequately addressed by society. Through the uplifting stories of Paul deSavino and Jamie Hoppe, two adults with autism who enjoy the support of their parents, life coaches, and others dedicated to their well-being, this ABC News program looks at America's overall unpreparedness in helping such adults pursue fulfilling lives. Psychologist Peter Gerhardt; Jen...
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In its strictest sense, the term art brut refers to art created outside the boundaries of official culture and often focuses on the work of people who live in mental institutions. This program focuses on the art of Josef "Pepi" Hofer and several other artists with mental retardation and similar disabilities as it captures them in workshops and at a showing and award ceremony at The House of Art, Munich. Although not designated as art therapy, the...
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Research has shown that some children with autism who are enrolled in a curriculum of applied behavioral analysis at a young enough age can be mainstreamed right into the public school system. This ABC News program profiles two children with autism who receive this intensive form of therapy and discusses the mixed results of it. Although the degree of improvement attributable to ABA varies from child to child, any gains, large or small, are of immense...
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Found in both children and adults, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is looked upon by some as having a physiological cause while others see it as a psychological disorder. This program offers diverse and candid opinions from both sides of the debate. Is medication the best treatment, or is behavior modification combined with increased structure and discipline the preferable course? A classroom teacher, a social worker, a behavior specialist,...
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Dekel Shekarzi, a 21-year-old who defines himself as an actor, a poet, a dancer, and a romantic in love with love itself, is defined by many others not by who he is, but by what he was born with: Down's syndrome. This engaging documentary follows Dekel in his everyday life, which is anything but "everyday. For him, faith, hope, and willpower have fused together to fuel his dreams. Film of Dekel on stage and at home, candid interviews with his family...
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To talk with 10-year-old Dillon Kelley, it is not readily apparent that he has a form of mental retardation. But that does not stop his 4th-grade classmates, who discern that he is unlike them without understanding why, from teasing and shunning him. In this program, ABC News anchor Ted Koppel compassionately presents Dillon's story as an opportunity to better understand the genetic disorder called Fragile X syndrome. Through anecdotes, Dillon's family...
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Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder need not miss out on crucial educational opportunities. This program describes new medical strategies designed specifically for parents struggling to keep ADHD from controlling their households and limiting the prospects and happiness of their children. It also focuses on the challenges of parents who, in addition to their children, are diagnosed with the disorder. While presenting concerns that...
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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder is characterized by developmentally inappropriate impulsivity, inattentiveness, and, in some cases, hyperactivity. In this program, therapists, teachers, parents, and patients offer their insights into living with and overcoming AD/HD. The benefits of a treatment approach combining ongoing psychological assessment, specialized classes, and carefully monitored use of Ritalin or similar medications are cited....
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Millions of children in America are being diagnosed with learning disorders and depression. While many say medications such as Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Prozac are the answer, others recommend counseling, social skills training, or dietary changes. How does one distinguish between a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and a kid who is just being a kid? This program offers parents, teachers, and caregivers a balanced look at options for...
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John Davidson, first diagnosed with Tourette syndrome as a youth, is now in his mid-40s. He looks back on the preceding decades with a mixture of sadness about his lack of a life partner and pride at what he has been able to accomplish. Greg Storey, whose tics emerged in 2001, is now a teenager with most of his life ahead of him. To be sure, his future holds numerous challenges, but Greg seems for the most part undaunted. This program (a follow-up...
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Secluded in upstate New York, a facility known as Camp Tic-a-Palooza welcomes young people with Tourette Syndrome. This ABC News program profiles several camp attendees, focusing on the challenges, triumphs, and emotional impact of living with TS. Ten-year-old Sid's symptoms include frequently sticking out his middle finger. Amanda displays a menagerie of vocal tics, often hissing, barking, or roaring at others. More troubling are 13-year-old Isabella's...
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David Vandenbrink seems like a normal, bright, articulate 21-year-old man. There is little to suggest, on the surface, that while in his mother's womb he suffered permanent brain damage. David suffers from fetal alcohol syndrome or FAS, a condition that went undiagnosed for the first eighteen years of his life, causing confusion, anger, and pain for him and his adoptive family. The damage from FAS can be subtle or severe, resulting in a wide range...
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Reudiger Gamm performs complex arithmetic instantly and without help-his brain stores numbers like a calculator. Orlando Sorrel remembers exactly what he was doing on any date, at any hour, and can accurately predict the day of the week thousands of years in the future. Kim Peek-the original "Rain Man"-has read 12,000 books and hasn't forgotten a single word. What lies behind these astonishing abilities? This program explores recent research into...
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Without remorse or empathy, psychopaths control, even kill, others for personal profit. But every psychopath starts out as a child. Using interviews with forensic psychologists, child psychiatrists, and a 17-year-old named Jonathan who is serving a sentence for first-degree murder, this powerful film elucidates the factors that can transform children into psychopaths. Dr. Elliott Barker, founder of the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty...
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Nick van Bloss possesses astonishing musical talent. He is also afflicted with Tourette's Syndrome. As this program illustrates, the two are often linked, leading those born with the disorder to view it as both a curse and a gift. Nick's journey-taking him from the humiliating loss of his career as a concert pianist toward a more self-assured acceptance of his condition-is not only inspiring; it is also a highly informative look into the diagnosis,...
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Mute until the age of nine, Stephen Wiltshire learned to communicate through realistic, richly detailed drawings. Alonzo Clemens sculpts clay animal figures with great precision, even though he can barely form a sentence. Matt Savage faced extraordinary developmental problems as a child but has become a teen prodigy among jazz musicians. What is the relationship between creativity and autistic behavior? Why does slow learning-such as the young Albert...
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Filmed successively in 1978, 1988, and 1997, this award-winning program tracks Lily, a person with Down syndrome, from childhood into adulthood. 'Lily: A Story about a Girl Like Me' introduces Lily at age 10 and in third grade, where, as a pioneer for mainstreaming, she is filmed coming to terms with both academic and social pressure. 'Lily: A Sequel' catches up with Lily at 20, with scenes of her triumphant graduation from high school and of her...
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Bridget, 15, cannot go near her own parents because she fears they are somehow "contaminated." Rocco, 9, dissolves into tears whenever he tries to leave for school-consumed by anxiety over what could happen once he steps outside. Michelle, 13, spends hours in the shower. These children, along with about one million others, have OCD. This edition of Primetime tracks the treatment of Bridget, Rocco, and Michelle as they attempt to reclaim their lives...