April is Autism Awareness Month. It is a special opportunity to increase awareness and understanding of the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States. In March 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a report indicating that autism has increased to one in 88 children. Autism is more common among boys (one in 54) than girls (one in 252). These are very alarming statistics that should concern all of us. We should pause for a moment and consider that your family may not be affected by autism now; however, with the number rising each year, autism may eventually impact someone in your own family child, grandchild, niece, nephew, cousin, sibling, neighbor or friend.
What is autism? Autism is the most common type of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Other types of ASD include Aspergers and Pervasive Developmental Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
Autism typically appears before three years of age and affects normal development of the brain. Social interaction, communication, cognitive function and behavior are negatively impacted. When we hear autism, we think of the movie Rain Man. But in reality, not every child functions like Rain Man. No two children with autism are alike. Autism is a spectrum disorder where the child may be mildly to severely affected and their learning abilities vary from gifted to severely challenged.
Why is autism rising? Good question, but no one knows for sure. While there is a genetic predisposition to autism, there may also be environmental factors that trigger the onset of autism. Environmental factors of concern include exposure to toxins such as mercury, exposure to arsenic and other chemicals in pesticides, prenatal exposure to certain medications, and prenatal nutrient deficiencies.
How is autism treated? Children do not outgrow autism, nor are they cured from autism. Early diagnosis and intervention may lead to dramatic improvement in autistic symptoms. Effective treatments have brought a new hope in the autism community. Treatment includes medication, behavioral programs, special education services, occupational therapy, sensory integration therapy, speech-language therapy, complementary and alternative medicine, nutrition therapy and numerous other therapies such as art, music and hippotherapy. Treating autism is like putting together pieces of a puzzle. There is no cookie cutter approach. Every child is unique and responds to a different variety of treatment approaches.
Can nutrition help children with autism? Absolutely! Children with autism tend to have very poor diets, eat mainly carbohydrate foods, limit their diet to less than ten different foods and prefer a diet of chicken nuggets, french fries, potato chips, juice and goldfish crackers. They usually refuse to eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains and most meats. Mealtime is typically a frustrating experience for both the child and parents.
I have been blessed with the opportunity to help hundreds of families whose children are diagnosed with autism. First, we start with basic mealtime strategies to expand the childs diet and make mealtime a more pleasant experience. Next we start the child on a high-quality vitamin and mineral supplement to resolve nutrient deficiencies, then an omega-3 fatty acids supplement to enhance brain function. I suggest a three month trial-response of the gluten free casein free diet to determine if the child is a positive responder or not.
Research released in September 2011 indicates that children with autism have intestinal abnormalities that impair their ability to digest and transport carbohydrates. Parents will need guidance from a registered dietitian on how to modify their childs carbohydrate intake to improve bowel problems.
What should you do if you think your child may have autism? Talk with your childs doctor and ask for a referral to a developmental pediatrician.
The Autism Society of America (ASA) is an invaluable Web-based resource for families and professionals seeking reliable information on autism. ASA provides information on autism causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. Their Web address is autism-society.org.
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Autism Society of America, specialists among resources