Wanted to know if anybody has had good results with biomedical treatments? My son is 3 years old and was diagnosed at the age of 2 1/2 years old. He is in school and is getting a lot of therapy but I want to try everything possible to get on his way to recovery.
RUN, don't walk, to www.tacanow.org
This is the place for families of autism to get the answers, support, and whatever else you can think of. Run by families of autism, not people in big expensive offices that don't even know what it is like to have a child on the spectrum.
You are right to be looking for this now. TACA offers real help now.
Some people have tried chelation treatments to strip heavy metals from the blood, but it stips other important elements and is quite dangerous. I've even read of children dying from the treatment - so don't get suckered into it.
Fish oil (or Omega 3's from other sources) is good for many things in the body, including nerve and brain function. I think everyone should take it, but it is especially important for children and those with autism. My daughter loves Barlean's liquid lemon swirl which is purified so the fish oil has no mercury or chemical sometimes in fish because of our polluted waters. Some people have reported benefits from it with their autistic children. (My daughter doesn't have it, but my friend's daughter does).
Here is info from Andrew Weil, MD site - www.drweil.com - he is a source I trust who uses both conventional and proven alternative therapies. In fact, he started an entire program of integrative medicine at Arizona University:
What therapies does Dr. Weil recommend for autism?
Some studies suggest that autistic behavior may stem from allergies or intolerances to the proteins in milk (casein) and in wheat and other grains (gluten). Limited research does show that some children with autism can't break down these proteins completely. Instead, fragments known as peptides get into the bloodstream and central nervous system before eventually being eliminated from the body. Several groups of researchers have identified these peptides in urine samples from children with autism. Some of the peptides are chemically similar to morphine and, in theory, may be the agents that cause autistic behavior.
It is well worth trying a gluten-and-casein-free diet to see if it helps a child with autism. Ample anecdotal evidence attests to marked improvement in some youngsters after foods containing gluten and casein were removed from their diets. Parents interested in exploring dietary approaches should read, Is This Your Child? by Doris Rapp, M.D.
Dr. Weil also recommend making sure that children with autism get sufficient omega-3 fatty acids. Recent research indicates that supplementing the diet with these beneficial fats can help address autism as well as depression, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Good food sources of omega-3s include wild salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines and bluefish. Omega-3 sources other than fish are few: walnuts, flaxseeds, hemp seeds, and the oils extracted from them, and, to a lesser extent, soy and canola oils and specially fortified eggs.
Children with autism can also benefit from probiotics, products containing the helpful bacteria that normally inhabit the human digestive tract. Probiotics can decrease leakage of large molecules from the gut that can trigger immune reactions with effects on brain function.
I have seen lots of progress in my 3 1/2 year old son by using Communicating Partners. http://jamesdmacdonald.org/Articles/MacDonaldStart.html
This is a very parent friendly "therapy" that has done more for my son than anything the system offered.
I thought about biomedical, but after reading the many accounts of children on these therapies, I decided that I wasn't going to put my child through that. And he's doing great without it.
This is such an emotional situation. Please don't rush into anything. Give your son some time to mature and progress before adding anything new. He may do fine with minimal intervention.
I would look into listening therapies and movement therapies. We did auditory integration therapy (AIT) with our son - it's a listening therapy - and the effect was profound. EnListen is another that is really helpful. Movement therapies, such as primary reflex integration therapy, also have profound effects. Here are a couple sites you can find out more:
Listening therapies: http://capdsupport.org/CAPD/listening-therapies-for-capd....
Movement therapies: http://www.moveplaythrive.com/
From the research I've done there is very little scientific evidence that biomedical treatments work. I would make sure you see the scientific double-blind studies, not just listen to mom's and dad's. The best thing for your child is to work with the school and get a good occupational therapist involved. I have a 10 year old that has just started to thrive in school after many years of intervention through the school. It will always be a struggle. Just love your child for who they are and don't spend your time and money on unproven methods.
