Chaka Khan pumps up the volume on autism awareness
By John Morgan, Spotlight Health, with medical advisor Stephen A. Shoop, M.D.

R&B singer Chaka Khan's distinctive voice has sold millions of records and earned her eight Grammy Awards. But now Khan wants you to pay attention to her feet.

Chaka Khan will march for autism research this Saturday.
"This Saturday April 17 I will be hosting Walk Now in Los Angeles to help raise money for autism research," says Khan, who is best known for her hit I Feel for You. "I'll be walking with my nephew Tallon who has autism."

Khan's five-year-old nephew is one of many children with autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder that adversely affects early brain development, often causing communication difficulties and problems with social interactions.

The CDC estimates that 1 in 250 people have autism. But according to the California Department of Developmental Services the number of individuals with autism may be as high as 1.5 million. Autism is four times more prevalent in boys than girls.

April is National Autism Awareness Month, and Khan is using her feet and her voice to call attention to both the growing epidemic of autism and the need for more research to help find a cure. The Walk Now event will be held by Cure Autism Now, a leading advocacy group that will use the proceeds to fund research into better treatments and ultimately a cure for the disorder. Founded in 1995, Cure Autism Now has dispersed more than $18 million to researchers.

"I'll also be performing so it should be a great day to come down and really support this important work and these wonderful children," Khan says. "We have to find out the cause because so many kids are being diagnosed with autism. A cure is so important."

But in the absence of a cure Khan points out that there is plenty of hope and says that it starts with awareness.

"One additional hardship is often autism is misdiagnosed," Khan notes. "Some parents initially think their child is fine but perhaps a little slow developing or maybe having emotional problems when in fact they need to look into the problem further. Early diagnosis is important, because there are some treatments that can be helpful."

Since autism is considered a spectrum disorder, treatment depends on what the child's disabilities are. Some children can have very mild autism while others can be seriously impaired and unable to communicate or interact socially at all.

"In general, we use behavioral therapies called applied behavior analysis – this is used for teaching a child specific tasks like learning colors or numbers," says Anshu Batra, pediatrician in private practice in Los Angeles and an autism specialist. "Another therapy is called floor time. This is relationship-based play therapy which helps develop a warm, related child, because many autistic children have a hard time interacting socially."

Batra says other therapies include speech therapy and occupational therapy.

"Specifically we employ something called sensory integration," Batra explains. "We know that children with autism have a sensory system that is awry. They sense things differently – they hear, smell, feel things differently. They can be hyper-sensitive to these sensory experience or they can be hypo-sensitive. We try to help balance these extremes if possible."

Khan says her nephew gets speech therapy and behavior therapy.

"He's coming along and it's helping," Khan says. "He is gifted and beautiful and so full of life. There is something very spiritual about him. I want people to know that you don't give up."

"There is a lot of research ongoing but we still do not know why children with autism perceive things so differently," Batra adds. "That is why we need more research."

Questions & answers

Batra also notes that many autistic children are often allergic to many things and can sometimes benefit from special diets, particularly gluten-free diets.

"We have Tallon on a special diet, no sugar and no flour," Khan says. "We tend to treat more holistically than by using medications."

But medications are helpful for many children and adults with autism.

"These medications treat the co-morbid symptoms — some of the other disorders that we know often accompany autism, like ADHD and OCD," Batra says. "Certain stimulant medications can help treat the symptoms of ADHD and help the child stay more focused. Some of the SSRIs can also help some of the symptoms like OCD."

Money can also help.

More funding will hopefully enable researchers identify the cause or causes of autism, which has exploded in the past decade. In California, autism has increased 238% in the last 12 years, according to Cure Autism Now.

"I don't know how to explain why we're seeing so many kids with autism," Batra says. "There is definitely a genetic vulnerability in certain people. But there is a second hit somewhere and we just don't know where it's coming from. It could be infection, perhaps the vaccinations, it could be ultrasounds, or mercury in fish – we really just don't know. There is lots of speculation."

One thing that experts do agree on is early intervention.

"Early intervention is the key," Batra emphasizes. "The sooner we start treating kids the sooner and faster we can start closing the gap. If your child has autism, there is hope. There are better outcomes now. We didn't have that hope in the past."

Khan is hoping the walk raises one million dollars for research. Participants can still register by calling (888) 8 AUTISM or visit the Cure Autism now Web site.

"We hope everyone will join us for Walk Now to help us find a cure for autism," says Khan, who is recording an album of standards. "We all need to become more involved in the crises that are confronting our children. It really does take a village. So come join the walk and support our future."

Chaka is way cool! All respect 2 her.
It would B awsome if she's release a smash album 2
show all the over-hyped Rn'B acts she still got it.
1 can only hope./peace Manki