John Travolta's son, autism and Scientology

[Taximom]

That is true but it also should be noted that many autistic children are just overweight. Some are not well coordinated and being active is difficult.. also some are obsessive about food and it would be difficult to control their diet (especially at 14) without riskin a HUGE tantrum and you do not want a mansized 14 YO having one of those.

When we thought my daughter had Angelmans Syndrome (still do but not enough genetics testing out there) we ran across another genetic disorder that was on the same chromosome that caused children to eat and eat and eat. I can't remember the name, but there have been publicized cases of parents having to lock the cupboards and fridge etc to keep the children from eating everything in site. I wish I could remember the disorder/syndrome...but I can't. It wasn't related to Autism at all, btw.

Travolta's son could have anything out there, and he may even be undiagnosed. Even with the best doctors and all the money in the world, nobody may truly knows what he has. Poor guy. I wish them the best.

 

[Spazkat9696]

When we thought my daughter had Angelmans Syndrome (still do but not enough genetics testing out there) we ran across another genetic disorder that was on the same chromosome that caused children to eat and eat and eat. I can't remember the name, but there have been publicized cases of parents having to lock the cupboards and fridge etc to keep the children from eating everything in site. I wish I could remember the disorder/syndrome...but I can't. It wasn't related to Autism at all, btw.

Travolta's son could have anything out there, and he may even be undiagnosed. Even with the best doctors and all the money in the world, nobody may truly knows what he has. Poor guy. I wish them the best.

You may be thinking of Prader Willi it's Chromosome 15

 

[Jeana (DP)]

That is true but it also should be noted that many autistic children are just overweight. Some are not well coordinated and being active is difficult.. also some are obsessive about food and it would be difficult to control their diet (especially at 14) without riskin a HUGE tantrum and you do not want a mansized 14 YO having one of those.

Actually, its very easy to control a child's diet. Don't buy the stuff they shouldn't eat. If its not in the house, they don't eat it.:angel:

 

[csds703]

Actually, its very easy to control a child's diet. Don't buy the stuff they shouldn't eat. If its not in the house, they don't eat it.:angel:

It's not always what's in the house.
I have a SIL who is very obese. She tells me that her mom went out of her way to try and control what she ate as a kid. She just went to her friends houses and pigged out.
Her weight issues are also tied in to her mother issues. SIGH.

 

[csds703]

Thank you Ticamom for clarifying I misunderstood but like I replied to Jeana if the child is Autistic treatment for obesity is not as doable as some may think (although of course that is a case by case basis)

My nephew had gained weight from his meds, and was heavy NOT OBESE.
When he hit puberty he cared more about how he looked. He is now making better choices for himself about how much and what to eat, as well as being more physically active.
Once he found activities he liked and could keep up with it became easier.
Autistic kids do get frustrated easily.

 

[Amraann]

Actually, its very easy to control a child's diet. Don't buy the stuff they shouldn't eat. If its not in the house, they don't eat it.:angel:

I would agree with you about any healthy child.
But part of autism is often wierd eating patterns in many cases if its not in the house your correct they won't eat and by that I mean AT ALL.
Or they will resort to eating non-food items.

I have known several autistic children who would go through phases of only eating certain colored foods.
Richie went through a "white" food stage..
Last year there was a young boy in his class who would only eat white foods ........ Every morning he would eat oatmeal ..... You could offer him candy, cookies (just name a child's favorite food) and he would refuse it.
Oatmeal and that was IT.
That particular child would not throw a fit he simply would not eat.
ON the same token I have known autistic children who would have earth shattering tantrums if denied a food they wanted.
I don't know if I can explain to you the caliber of the temper tantrum I am talking about. Its simply not like a simply two-four YO well maybe it is but when your talking about a 14 YO its an entirely knew ball game.

Imagine the damage a 4 YO having a raging fit could do of they were almost the size of an adult.
Actually I don't know many 4 yo's who would smash their head against the TV or a window or a Solid wood door until it broke.
I do know autistic children who would do this with no regard for their own safety and seemingly without regard to the pain.

Food Bribery is sometimes the only option. (I say that as it refers to an autistic child not one without) And I am not well informed with other disorders.
There is often no medications to alter these behavoirs or it takes years to find one or a combo that work and then in 2-3 years they outgrow it.
There is no cure for autisim and not all children respond to the therapy's that are few and far between offered.
What else could you do besides give in and give them whatever food they wanted??

 

[philamena]

Actually, its very easy to control a child's diet. Don't buy the stuff they shouldn't eat. If its not in the house, they don't eat it.:angel:

Those words of wisdom should be a bumper sticker. :clap:

 

[Taximom]

You may be thinking of Prader Willi it's Chromosome 15

That's it, Spazkat! Thanks. :blowkiss:

 

[Taximom]

Actually, its very easy to control a child's diet. Don't buy the stuff they shouldn't eat. If its not in the house, they don't eat it.:angel:

I didn't allow my oldest (now 22) to have pop, caffiene, or junk food but the middle and high schools she went to had vending machines filled with the stuff until a few years ago. They may not have pop now, but they still have juices and sports drinks which I don't allow in high volumes either. And bags of chips, fritos etc. She told me later about sneaking it all before I picked her after school.

I do agree with not buying the stuff for your home. That's probably half the battle. Although we had some of that at home once in a while, because I hoped that it would keep her from sneaking elsewhere! That worked out well! :doh:

Now I'm working on the next 3 children. So far so good!

 

[Mr. E]

I didn't allow my oldest (now 22) to have pop, caffiene, or junk food but the middle and high schools she went to had vending machines filled with the stuff until a few years ago. They may not have pop now, but they still have juices and sports drinks which I don't allow in high volumes either. And bags of chips, fritos etc. She told me later about sneaking it all before I picked her after school.

I do agree with not buying the stuff for your home. That's probably half the battle. Although we had some of that at home once in a while, because I hoped that it would keep her from sneaking elsewhere! That worked out well! :doh:

Now I'm working on the next 3 children. So far so good!

Just to jump in here, and I'm not talking about autistic children so I'm sorry to go off topic, but I don't really have a problem with my own kids getting snacks from the snack machines at school. We don't generally bring junk food into the house, so I think that they've learned a bit about moderation outside of the house (they are currently rising 6th and 11th graders). So while I know kids who eat nothing but junk and fast food on a day-to-day basis, if my kids indulge at school, I found that they stick to one soda or one bag of chips from the machine, not a constant flow all day long. My husband was running errands with them today while I was at work, and they knew that lunch would be late. So he told them to get a snack from a machine. They decided, on their own, to split a candy bar. I firmly believe that if you teach and model good eating habits at home, they will take those habits with them into the world. Again, I am sure it is different with special needs children.

 

[OneLostGrl]

That's it, Spazkat! Thanks. :blowkiss:

Please keep in mind though, as I mentioned in an earlier post, that people with Prader Willi have distinctive physical features such as Almond shaped eyes, short stature, small hands and feet and funky lower lips.

Most people with Prader Willi are mentally retarded and all have incomplete sexual development as well.

 

[Lauren]

I saw on a tv show that the Travolta's were thinking of having another child. I also saw that kelly,john and Ella were going to be in a movie and that Jett had other interests.

My niece is autistic and how hard it can be. Bless that child if he has this
disease.

 

[OneLostGrl]

Here are a couple of newer pics of Kelly and Jett-

http://www.supload.us/free/kelly_jett2.jpg/view/
http://www.supload.us/free/kelly_jett.jpg/view/

 

[Tricia]

I have learned so much reading this thread. Thank you all.

If Jett does have autisim and if his autisim causes the large tantrums that Amraan pointed out, then this poor kid could really cause some major problems.

The trouble is their religion is so wacky does anyone doubt if Jett had autisim that Scientology wouldn't recognize it?

Personally, I saw the pictures of Jett that were linked above a while ago. Something tells me this poor kid has something wrong with him. I know it might seem mean for me to say but my gut tells me something is there.

 

[Amraann]

I have learned so much reading this thread. Thank you all.

If Jett does have autisim and if his autisim causes the large tantrums that Amraan pointed out, then this poor kid could really cause some major problems.

The trouble is their religion is so wacky does anyone doubt if Jett had autisim that Scientology wouldn't recognize it?

Personally, I saw the pictures of Jett that were linked above a while ago. Something tells me this poor kid has something wrong with him. I know it might seem mean for me to say but my gut tells me something is there.

Actually Tricia I am glad you said it first
I see it as well.. There is no way to tell based on two pics if its autism but I agree its is DEFINATELY something.
The second picture shows his eyes. You can see something there.
Also In the first picture you can see him tugging on his shirt.. that nervous type of thing I see often in my own son.. and is common in children with many different disabilities.

 

[txsvicki]

I haven't seen the pics of Jett being so overweight, but John Travolta has gotten pretty hefty so maybe part of it's just inherited and part from not being very active due to the autism.

 

[Amraann]

I haven't seen the pics of Jett being so overweight, but John Travolta has gotten pretty hefty so maybe part of it's just inherited and part from not being very active due to the autism.

Another point to not forget that disabled or not MANY MANY children gain weight upon hitting puberty and lose it later.

I know my own BIL went through a phase when he was very chunky and by age 17 he was a med. height lean teenager.
I think that is common. Also Jett is not a tiny teenager, in the pictures he towers over his mother.

 

[Malapoo]

It's sort of an odd "fatness" at least at a glance - his legs are pretty stout, but his arms, what I can see, don't look "huge". He looks like he has a bigger "trunk" then his extremities and his face/neck are fairly bloated looking as well. But I believe there are some hefty ones in Travolta's family, so it may just be Travolta fat. I remember a picture of some of the sisters and they were chunky. But he also doesn't look happy and carefree as you'd expect a youth to look in what seems to be a vacation like setting.

 

[Mygirlsadie]

Do any of you know if the Travolta's have ever said that Jett actually has something wrong with him? Alot of people are saying Autism but Autism does not have a certain ''look''..like for example Downs Syndrome..you know what I mean? My 9 year old son was diagnosed Autistic and he looks just like any other 9 year old little boy most people don't know he has Autism unless we tell them.

 

[Amraann]

Do any of you know if the Travolta's have ever said that Jett actually has something wrong with him? Alot of people are saying Autism but Autism does not have a certain ''look''..like for example Downs Syndrome..you know what I mean? My 9 year old son was diagnosed Autistic and he looks just like any other 9 year old little boy most people don't know he has Autism unless we tell them.

My son is the same way. I believe it was their neighbors who said that Jett was autistic. That is where that came from.
I can see from the pictures (the second link in onelostgirls post) that there is definately something.