Is Your Child Autistic???

Medication? For Autism? Does your nephew have other problems? There is no medication to treat or help Autism.

Jenny was on Ellen Degeneres' show yesterday. As soon as I heard her story, I immediately thought of a discussion where one Mom said my son is autistic. I had only heard of one treatment but it cost over $200,000 per year. This just seemed so simple. I thought if I could just help one child!!! I realize it might not be the right solution for all as what works for one doesn't always work for the other. It just seems like such a simple thing to try. I do believe I would try it. If it doesn't work, you are only back where you started & you haven't burnt up a year (or more) salary. I have a friend whose child is autistic, I have forwarded this to her too. I fully believe that anything that will keep you off of meds, you are much better off!!! It's like being in total control of your own destiny again!!!

Autism begets a lot of problems. The meds are mostly to control symptoms and keep him more controllable and less likely to hurt himself(or others now that heas getting bigget than both his parents)

Changing our diet would FIX a lot of problems from A to Z

YESSSSSS, you are correct. I admire your strength to completely change your diet like that!!! Some of the things you mentioned I could live without. Some I could NOT!!!!!!

You would be surprised, it is easier than you think. I know the first time I did it, I went cold turkey, and the first two weeks were hard. You do physically go thru withdrawal....which goes to show you had bad the stuff is for you. But after that is is easier. Besides Janet and I have found ways to make things that taste even better than the things we gave up. Tonight I made a chocolate cake to die for. I used whey protein, eggs, cream cheese, a little leftover ricotta, baking powder, stevia sweetener. Nothing bad, all natural. Unless I told you it was minus the white stuff you would never have known. You know there are REAL studies out there that show how corn has had a bad effect on our lives. In fact did you know the Egyptians had heart disease? After they introduced white flours and corn products into their diets and sugars society as a whole were healthier. They did die young from diseases, but mainly due to poor hygeiene. In the Myan society the poor people lived outside of the cities and lived on flours and corn products. The richer people in the cities had ample protein, and guess what, they were healthier and TALLER! So yes, diet can prevent alot of bad things.

I guess what works for one, doesn't work for all...SO TRUE!!! I'm just as sure that if you don't try, it's NOT going to work at all. I would like to thank you for ALL your input in this discussion. Not having an autistic child, I admit I have NO idea what the mothers of an autistic child have to deal with. I was just trying to share some information of hope.

The diets don't work for my son either, but what works for one, may not work for another. I know a few mom's that think the diet has helped && I know some that don't feel it works at all. I'm one of the mothers that can't see the change in his diet help. So far the progress I see in my son, I would have to say is from me spending so much time && doing therapy at home all day everyday. I know a lot of people say there is no cure, && as of now, your right, but I believe these parents that say the diet is helping could be telling the truth. It might be working for them. Who knows. Something sure is helping. && as far as Jenny.... I don't think she has ever said his Autism was 100% gone. She says it's helped in so many ways though. Like with his eye contact && so on.

Jenny did make the comment that there is no cure for autism. However, she did credit the diet with giving Evan a better quality of life.

I have never heard about this ear thing.... I'm interested in learning about that. If you find anymore info on that, please send me a link my way. My son has sensory issues && he at times can't even stand the sound of water running, dishwasher, washer && so on...

AMEN!!! Evan has been blessed with parents who love him VERY much; He is one luck little fella!!!!!!

I know that it was quite a few years ago on one of those news magazine shows. I've been looking up stuff on the internet. I am giving you the links, as I find them. I have to word things differently and it's a long search as I don't know exactly what they call it, but as I find more, I will post it. This first link is just a great website from a doctor that is really into prevention, as much as treatment. It's a link to many of the articles. http://search.mercola.com/Results.aspx?q=autism&k=autism http://www.boystownhospital.org/hearing/info/genetics/syndromes/autism.asp http://www.news-medical.net/?id=5494 http://www.dblink.org/lib/topics/cochlear-bib.htm (scroll down a bit) Do I believe that there is no cure? I am not sure, but I also believe that if there was a cure, that I am not so certain we would always know about it. Medicine is a huge industry that depends on us not being healthy, a whole other topic. I would continue to search for information, if I were you. It may not be a cure but it can be a help, if it's good for that child. I also found this quite interesting.... http://www.krysalis.net/autism1.htm

The diet is called the GFCF diet. It has been around before Jenny even came out about her son being Autistic. It isn't a cure & it wasn't something she came up with. The diet has helped children with Autism, but it's not for everyone. I don't think it has cured any child with Autism, but some parents swear it has helped a lot with eye contact & speech. As for cows milk... I have heard that as well, but that is also with the GFCF diet. My son is on the diet, we don't give him cows milk, he drinks rice milk. I havn't noticed a change, but you never know I guess. I don't think just a diet can help. I strongly believe Autistic children need therapy at home & out of home. With that said, I still feel parents should try the diet, it wouldn't hurt. Some parents give up on the diet because it is hard & Autistic kids hate change & can be hard switching foods, but everything takes work & you never know, it could help with speech & eye contact in some Autistic children. False hope? I don't know... All I can say is in my situation, we don't see a change in the diet change. I feel if my child is going to change its going to be from all the hard work from therapy.

I agree with you 100% the change will be with work and therapy and the more, the earlier, the better. My concern is people will either concentrate entirely on the diet and expect wonders and thunders and in the meantime lose valuable therapy time or they will become stressed out from so much dealing with autism and putting in the stress of a diet will only make things worse and why add to an already bad situation when the potential for a positive outcome is very low if there at all.

Thank you for the br....I'm thinking of getting Jenny McCarthy's book...if anything it sounds like an uplifting and inspirational type of book to read..and just maybe the type that one might need tissues nearby

Yes, what works for one may not work for another. One thing for sure, it's NOT going to work if you don't try it!!! The only other treatment I had ever heard of cost over $200,000/year. That is unreachable by MOST who really need it!!!I would think that with food, you can make slow changes & work in the expense as needed/required.

We have like a stretchy sling for our son. We wrap it around his chest up under his arms or sometimes over his shoulders. His therapy teacher got it for us & he loves it. I hear the pressure & weight helps them become more aware of their bodies. My son feels secure in his. It also helps some kids sleep that might have Autism/ADHD. I'll have to look into this belt. Thanks!

I haven't heard of the weighted belt, but weighted vests are good if used properly. The sensation of weight helps the child focus.

Yes, Tamara, I'm sure you would!!!

Debs - Actually children with Autism have way more problems with eating foods & trying new things. The main reason is because of their sensory issue. Autistic children have sensory problems, some higher then the other. This can cause the child to not like the feel/touch of his/her food or the smell. It's not that they are picky eaters, it's about sensory in most cases. I know an Autistic child that has never been able to adjust to any food & was tube fed for the first 2 years & is still having a hard time with food smells & texture.

Children with autism are not anymore finicky then children with out it. And you are right, about the diet-- I think much of it is wishful thinking.