Introduction by Yuval Levental: I am a person on the autism spectrum who advocates for treatment or a cure, because the evidence for autism as being positive is meaningless in most cases. I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Michigan State University and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from ESIEE Paris. Through researching the cause of my autism, I have developed interests in physiology, cellular biology, and neuroscience. In the quest for a cure, I have successfully progressed by attempting to introduce more potassium and less sodium in my diet, and have recently undergone Botox which mitigated my symptoms. Additionally, I like to spread awareness of arguments against Neurodiversity through social media and Wikipedia. Other hobbies of mine include recreationally solving complex math puzzles, traveling, eating new foods, and learning about different cultures.
++++++++++++++++++++++
A background of my search for a cure for autism can be found in my last article (https://corticalchauvinism.com/2017/08/16/yuval-levental-plastic-surgery-and-autism-the-final-treatment/).
I found a plastic surgery clinic called the Visage Clinic in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its surgeon, Dr. Marc DuPéré, was rated as one of the best plastic surgeons in Toronto, and it is one of the less common clinics that does contouring, which involves shaving bone from the forehead to create a more streamlined appearance (https://www.visageclinic.com/cosmetic-surgery/brow-lift.cfm).
It took me a while to get a consultation with them, which was at the end of September. However, they also requested that I should get a CT scan of my skull and sinuses to see how thick the forehead bone was relative to my sinuses. They said that if the frontal bone was too thin, they would refer me to a facial reconstructive surgeon.
Recently, on October 31, I had the CT scan. Here is a partial copy of the report:
They also did a small CT scan of my brain, but found nothing significant.
In short, as I suspected, my frontal sinus cavity is prominent and «bulging forward». Another problem is that they found membrane thickening and other problems/abnormalities with my sinuses. However, they do not seem as significant, though they should be inspected. I suspect that the abnormal shape of my sinuses could be causing those problems, but I do not know for sure.
There were over a thousand images, but here is a sample of them:
Left: Cross section of the side of my skull. Right: Cross section of the side of a typical skull. Notice that my frontal sinus is significantly greater in size than the typical skull’s frontal sinus. Right image is from https://wickedangel920.deviantart.com/art/Sagittal-Section-of-Skull-363496856
Left: Cross section of the side of my skull. Right: Cross section of the side of a typical skull. Notice that my forehead bone protrudes out far more than a typical skull’s forehead bone. Right image is from http://bit.ly/2CHhIkL
Another cross-section of the side of my skull.
Left: The front of my skull. Right: The front of a typical skull. Notice that my nasal bone is much shorter heightwise than the typical nasal bone. Right image is from http://www.abaphysicaltherapy.com/2011/10/what-is-craniosacral-therapy/
360 Degree horizontal rotation of my Skull
As I have mentioned before, I am still somewhat convinced that the shape of my skull is causing excessive muscle tension around my forehead and nose. However, I will need to send the images and reports to the Visage Clinic, and they will determine what is best for me. I am not sure if I will undergo the surgery if it is offered.
Addendum 11/22/17: The following link shows a skull X-ray series of Yuval: https://imgur.com/a/DyO5G
Cortical Chauvinism 
As you are focusing on the forehead as a critical area, have you explored Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS)? It is now available in Canada and the EU. http://www.monarch-etns.com/faqs
Me gustaMe gusta
Thank you, but I do not need it. I am doing fine with the botox and potential surgery for now.
Me gustaMe gusta
You explained your ideas about the muscle stress to me, but one thing I don’t get is how the stress comes to be. The muscle and the bone grew side by side, right? How does the shape put tension on the muscle? I understand the bone may be bigger, longer, or shaped differently, but does the muscle not grow in a conforming shape? Where in your opinion does the stress come from?
It’s great that you have seen moderation of autistic disabilities, but I’m afraid I cannot understand the mechanism from the explanation presented.
You presented the idea that you derived benefit from the botox, and I don’t quite see how that mechanism would work, but you clearly saw a connection and you perceive a change. Is there a precedent that gave you that idea? Someone else who benefited from a similar therapy? I’ll check back for your further thoughts
Me gustaLe gusta a 1 persona
Thank you for your response. You say that the muscle grows in a conforming shape, but according to Hooke’s law, which applies to any elastic body, the «stiffness» of the elastic body, in this case the muscle, is always constant. The law also states that changing the distance that the muscle is stretched over changes the force that the muscle exerts. Changing the distance therefore changes the muscle tension. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooke%27s_law). Botox reduces the tension that the muscle exerts.
The precedents were a study showing that autistics have different facial features, and the tension that I felt on my own face. (https://spectrumnews.org/news/facial-features-provide-clue-to-autism-severity/). This might not be much, but it would take time to acquire enough resources, and I didn’t have much time.
I’m not sure if someone else benefitted from this specific therapy. The closest I know is that cognitive stimulants like ritalin might have a similar effect.
Me gustaMe gusta
The study showed they gravitated towards different facial features, not that they all have them like down syndrome. Similar research shows similar tendencies in bipolar, ADHD, schizophrenic, and even regular people with learning disabilities.
Draw a circle, this is typle, draw a circle where 1/3 falls outsides but the other 2/3rds falls within. You have a few regular people outside the circle, a bunch of people with autism also outside the circle, but the majoritiy within, the only difference is they gravitate away from the very center or core of the first circle.
Your facial features described seem similar to female patients with bipolar, (a mood disorder involving highs and lows).
There are even non autistic people with very abnormal facial features which yours pale in comparison to (cough, Sarah Jessica Parker, cough cough).
By far the biggest difference is an absence of wrinkles, or a smooth face from a lack of facial expressions and low muscle tone. But this is more of a result of something in autism than a core feature. I’ve seen patients with ALS or psychotic disorders who have flattened facial affect that share this smooth flat expression.
Me gustaMe gusta
Also the studies use CHILDREN. One of them even made sure to specify that. Many physical anomalies are repaired or corrected during puberty. Plus some of the patients may have syndromes of which autism is a side effect. Did they account for idiopathic cases?
Like I said, the biggest if only the most noticiable at all is a lack of wrinkles/smooth face from low muscle tone or possible flat facial affect.
Me gustaMe gusta
I see what you mean, but in earlier articles, I also mentioned that I experienced sensory overstimulation on my face. That’s why I suspected that the shape of my face causes this overstimulation.
So far, botox has reduced the sensory overload, and I can function much better. My thoughts and actions are far more fluid than before.
Me gustaMe gusta
Well it’s a novel and interesting observation. What’s important is that you feel it worked for you, and good for that, I say. I understand the muscle force changes with distance but I would not have thought that would matter. Maybe it does. We just never know sometimes.
Me gustaMe gusta
Pingback: Yuval Levental: Vitamin D and Autism | Cortical Chauvinism·
Very interesting! My autistic son had a septoplasty and nasal turbinates reduction for chronic congestion when he was about 19 years old. The surgery relieved his congestion and gave him a heightened sense of taste for two weeks (I had been sprinkling cayenne pepper over most of his food so it wouldn’t taste “bland”). Two weeks post surgery, his sinus congestion and inability to taste “bland” food returned.
Me gustaMe gusta