Randomized Comparative Clinical Study to evaluate the effect of Ashtanga Ghrita and Panchabhoutika Ghrita Pratimarsha Nasya on Speech in Autistic Children

Childhood is the period of physical, cognitive and social development that begins at birth and continues through early adulthood. Autism is one of the neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication; restricted and repetitive behaviour. About 1 in 100 children in India under the age of 10 have autism, and nearly 1 in 8 has at least one neurodevelopmental condition. Speech, language and communication skills are crucial to overall development of children. Being able to speak clearly, process speech sounds, to understand others, to express ideas and  to interact with others are fundamental building blocks for a child’s development.Children with Autism have difficulty in developing language skills, both in terms of comprehension and communication. They often have difficulty in communicating verbally and non-verbally. Speech impairment in autistic child, may lead to impairment in his/her socialization, education and behavior. Speech impairment affects social life negatively by affecting familial relationship and also interaction with children of their own age. It also has a negative impact on education leading to lowered academic expectations, limitations on teacher-child relationship. Because of behavioral changes of autistic children, parents find it difficult to take them to the social gatherings and send them to the normal school. Speech therapy may seems to promise more than it can deliver. Although this is by far the most desirable choice, some children may not easily acquire intelligible vocal speech. Autism is considered as the state of Jadatva (inertia) with Tamo avarana (covering with darkness) of Buddhi (intelligence), Manas (mind) and Vagindriya (sense organ of speech). Ayurveda mentions certain Yogas(formulations), which promote intelligible vocal speech by stimulating Vagindriya in Shiras. Among them Ashtanga ghritha  and Panchabhoutika ghrita , are few formulations which are said to enhance Vak, Medha, Smrithi etc.  As Nasa (nasal cavity) is the nearest route for Shiras, the drugs administered through Nasya will have a quicker effect on Vagindriya and helps in improving the 2 components of Vak. This study is an effort to evaluate the effect of Ashtanga ghrita and Panchabhoutika ghrita Pratimarsha Nasya on speech in autistic children.