Biomedical Autism Intervention – Oxytocin And Social Anxiety And Autism
An interesting therapy option for individuals on the Autism Spectrum can be Oxytocin. We produce Oxytocin in our bodies as a hormone and it has many different effects.
Oxytocin is produced when a woman is in labor and aides in uterine contraction and in the delivery of the baby. When breastfeeding her newborn, a woman can produce Oxytocin. It is thought that Oxytocin helps with the mother to child bonding that occurs during breastfeeding. Oxytocin is also produced in large quantities during physical contact, particularly sexual intercourse, to aide in that bonding process between two people.
Oxytocin has also been shown as an effective therapy for social anxiety. There are also a couple of other very interesting effects of Oxytocin. Oxytocin seems to also be influential in facial cue and voice cue recognition. Facial cue and voice cue recognition is important in social situations in determining whether someone's expression or tone is happy, sad, mad, etc.
A study on adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and Asperger's looked at facial cue and voice cue recognition and their responses were measured over a two week period after an IV injection of Oxytocin. They found that the individuals who received the Oxytocin injections were better able to identify difference facial expressions and voice cues. They were shown pictures and played voice recordings and had to identify whether it was representing anger, sadness, etc.
And so we see that Oxytocin can be helpful for those on the Autism Spectrum who have problems with facial cue and voice cue recognition. Oxytocin comes in a nasal spray and would need to be acquired through a compounding pharmacy. A compounding pharmacy is a pharmacy that buys these compounds in bulk and provides special formulations of the medications for patients.
Oxytocin can be given once or twice a day or can be given only when a child is facing a situation where social anxiety may be a problem. You can then just give the Oxytocin situationally as needed. Those are a few ways Oxytocin can be a valuable therapy for those with Autism who face social anxiety.
Oxytocin is produced when a woman is in labor and aides in uterine contraction and in the delivery of the baby. When breastfeeding her newborn, a woman can produce Oxytocin. It is thought that Oxytocin helps with the mother to child bonding that occurs during breastfeeding. Oxytocin is also produced in large quantities during physical contact, particularly sexual intercourse, to aide in that bonding process between two people.
Oxytocin has also been shown as an effective therapy for social anxiety. There are also a couple of other very interesting effects of Oxytocin. Oxytocin seems to also be influential in facial cue and voice cue recognition. Facial cue and voice cue recognition is important in social situations in determining whether someone's expression or tone is happy, sad, mad, etc.
A study on adults with an Autism Spectrum Disorder and Asperger's looked at facial cue and voice cue recognition and their responses were measured over a two week period after an IV injection of Oxytocin. They found that the individuals who received the Oxytocin injections were better able to identify difference facial expressions and voice cues. They were shown pictures and played voice recordings and had to identify whether it was representing anger, sadness, etc.
And so we see that Oxytocin can be helpful for those on the Autism Spectrum who have problems with facial cue and voice cue recognition. Oxytocin comes in a nasal spray and would need to be acquired through a compounding pharmacy. A compounding pharmacy is a pharmacy that buys these compounds in bulk and provides special formulations of the medications for patients.
Oxytocin can be given once or twice a day or can be given only when a child is facing a situation where social anxiety may be a problem. You can then just give the Oxytocin situationally as needed. Those are a few ways Oxytocin can be a valuable therapy for those with Autism who face social anxiety.