Brain Scan (mapping) info March 10, 2011

The scans are long and full of numbers and acronoyms.. here's what it breaks down as, in ways we can use and understand:

Most of the scans compare the perecentage difference between right/left brain waves.. the scans show the average range difference, then show Jordan’s difference in percentage and what that translates to for him

Most exciting and special is, The % change between Alpha EO to EC - average is 50%- Jordan's waves are 132% to the right, which translates as Highly creative - they have dubbed this "the artists Signature" Talking with the doctors, they have told me, that once his spinning thoughts, stress tolerance etc is manageable for him, he'll have the ability to access that! He'll be able to be slow enough to fully Create! To fully recognize and use his amazing given abilities! We're very excited!

1. Eo to ec alpha - avg – 30% jordan is 8.7 - this translates to poor retention of information and short term memory

2. Theta amplitude – average is 12-13% - jordan is 20.09 – this translates to hard to focus

3. UT theta/Beta – average – 2.2 – jordan 2.94 – again poor retention/comprehension

4. Alpha peak frequencies – under 9.5 – mental sluggishness (jordan is 9.4 & 8.6 on either side)

5. Theta/SMR – if over 3 (jordan is 3.04 not far from average but we’re starting at 3, so it still significant) inability to sit still, to calm the body, sleep disturbances

6. Theat /Beta EO – average is between 1.8-2.2 – jordan is 1.22 (significantly lower than average) – shows poor stress tolerance, racing thoughts, anxiety, inefficient self-“quieting”

7. Theta/Beta (EC) average is under 2.2 – one side is 2.28 (close) other side is 2.56 (significant difference) – deficiencies in retrivival of information, impulse control, emotional volatility

8. Theta/Alpha (EC) average 1.2-1.6 – one side 1.74 / other side 1.69 – problems with organization, sequencing, sustained focus, task completion, staying on task, talkativeness

9. F4/F3 Alpha- should have an average difference of 15% - jordan’s is 27.9 difference – translates to oppositonal, defiant and socially aggressive or socially indifferent behaviour, associated with emotional disregulation

10. F4/ F3 Theta – average difference is 15% Jordan is 24.15% - emotional volatility or restricted emotional range

11. Delta EC – average under 9.- jordan is 11.19 cognitive deficits such as problems with concentration, forgetfulness, comprehension

12. HiBeta/Beta – average is a difference between .45-.55 – Jordan is .69 – it says above .55 – stubbornness/ Obsessive compulsive tendencies OR Obsessive compulsive disorder, preservation in ASD

I’m not sure which part translates, but they also told me that it seems that in Jordan’s brain, when someone/self asks his brain to focus/concentrate – it goes immediately to daydream.. like the wires are crossed between daydream/create & concentrate..
“jordan get to it.. clean your room “ suddenly becomes “ la la la.. Mario…lego… creations…”


We've begun Neurofeedback, this shows his brain how to focus, shows his brain how efficent it can be when it is able to focus. The brain wants to be running optimumlly, so the more it's shown the more it strives to get there on it's own. We have 2 sessions, and I have had 2 instances that I know for sure, he would have had a much harder time (meltdown) in the past. We will complete 15-20 sessions, and see how happy his brain can be.

"They should have Autism too"

On our way to a play today, "Munscha Mia" at Carousel Theatre on Granville Island, we were reading Robert Munsch books on the way.

We read Down the Drain, then began "Stephanies Ponytail'

In Stephanies story - Stephanie wants a ponytail, wears it to school.. everyone calls her ugly (agh!) then the next day they all copy her and wear ponytails. Each day Stephanie does a different type of ponytail.. kids call her ugly.. then they copycat her the next day.

I commented to Jordan..those are the sheeple son, those are the ones that follow what everyone does, without discovering and being what is special in them. It's good to be following your own path, show your creativity, be unique and original...


"They should have Autism too" was his reply!

Later he explained, when asked.. he wishes they could have autism, so they can be creative and be themsevles, not copycats..

Beautiful son, I think your right.. more autism might just make a better world! thanks for sharing your thoughts. you rock!

My favorite time of Day..

Usually a little frazzled, tired at almost bedtime, I wasn't fully listening when Jordan said..

"Mom do you know what my favorite time of day is?"

No, I don't Jordan, what is it?

"Morning Snuggle!" (Suddenly I feel more energized!)

"Mom, do you know what my second favorite time of day is?"
( I was truly expecting him to say something about Mario for this one)

"Nighttime snuggle time, but morning snuggle is #1."

What a way to make your Mom feel good my beautiful amazing son. So we went off to read and have a nightime snuggle. Life is sooooo good!

Reminders to me from Jordan

Like many households, we've got some coughs and aches and pains over here. Tries patience, makes tasks feel bigger than they are.

I was in the kitchen, ready to unload and reload dishwasher, opened it up to find they were all dirty still! Agh. Counters already full, I didn't even have room to empty the dirty stuff! Frustrating! I began my "quiet" complaining.

My son in the living room, as always is talking away to me, unknowing if I'm listening or not. Then " mom, you HAVE to see this"

"Jordan you know I'm busy in the kitchen right now, you can bring your book in here"

"No.. you MUST come and see this star wars set" (he's reading the lego Star wars collection encylopedia)

"Jordan, I'm busy in the kitchen, and having a very hard time"

"MOM!"

"Jordan, I'm having a hard time, it is not kind of you to ignore someone having a hard time and insist they come pay attention to you. If you want me to come look, You will first need to either - offer to help the person in need,offer words of sympathy or an offer to hug it out. And I returned to the kitchen.

"MOM - what's a word of sympathy?"

And that stopped me. Once again, I'd forgotten ! Assumed he knew what to say, that he'd heard me say it and knew how to apply it.

For years, I'd helped him thru lifes situations, giving him the words, saying them out loud so he could repeat them and learn them, why did i think that was done?

thank you Jordan! I am in awe of your loving heart. As soon as I'd mentioned there was something you COULD do to help, you asked how in your own way. You wanted to help me, I'd just forgotten to give you the tools to do so.

"Jordan - words of sympathy would be something like "I'm sorry your having such a hard time right now" And so he repeated it back and gave me a hug too!

Thank you son, I do feel better now. Thanks for the reminders.

I love that he'll be predictable

Jordan's away, and the "I miss him" feelings are growing. Days are brighter with his hugs. He's been away this long weekend and he'll be back in 12 hours.
6 AM.

That's early for both of us. In our "normal" life, he wakes at 7AM, stumbles in my room, wakes me and we snuggle til we're done ~ hugging, pillowfighting, laughing our good mornings.

I Love knowing in 12 hours he'll be home, and he'll hug his dad bye, and run to my room to snuggle, til we're done.

Love him.

Update - as predicted... he did! I grabbed the camera to share with you.

I Love Snuggling

I feel bad for some of my friends. They also have boys nearing their tweens, they're 8,9, going on 10, and those boys are growing up and going their own way already. I am grateful that time is not here for me yet. (*I'm also grateful that I'm open to the fact that the time might not come.. 85% of autistic people live with parents/caregivers)

My son and I awake at 7 each day, actually he wakes at exactly 7 each day, comes to my room and wakes me up as he crawls in with me.

"Good morning mommmy" and we lay there and snuggle. We talk about dreams we had, plans for the day, fun we had yesterday. We hug and we laugh, hug some more, laugh some more. Sometimes we have tickle fights, sometimes I have to listen to another Mario commentary, but I don't mind. Sometimes we lay there for 10 minutes, sometimes a whole hour passes! And.. not to make you jealous.. but we also have night time snuggles/reading time too!

I think of my friends, how their hugs are declining. Their kids want to run out the door and away from them, more often than they want to be with them.

I couldn't handle it. I think. I can only know what my world has given me, what I've become accustomed to.

Perhaps if Jordan wasn't "Jordan" I'd be a soaps watcher, perhaps he'd be in a public school, perhaps we'd both eat at Mcdonalds (god forbid) perhaps we'd both be 800 poundsand love corn dogs, and not know how great gardening is ~ Perhaps WalMart, presciptions, fast food, gas guzzling vehichles, and personal care products!!!!!

Even worse...perhaps we'd never have experienced what a close parent/child relationship is and how amazing it can be.

I wonder alot now, how different my life would be, had my child been born NT (neurologically typical) I honestly, think it would not be this good!

I hope for you, parent of the NT.. that you can hold onto that love, that it remains close to you and that even if they run out the door more often than not, that you can still feel the love I get to feel every day. I hope your child stops to hug you on the way out..


Another reason why I love Autism <3