Archive for the ‘Diets’ Category
Sunday, June 16th, 2013
Advancements aside, the 21st century is experiencing the perfect storm, as far as infant development is concerned. Minor genetic variations that would have gone unnoticed in a less toxic world have resulted in vulnerability to certain presumably ‘safe’ foods, materials and the environment. Sometimes, if the stuff is harmful enough, it apparently might not even take impairment in identifiable detoxifying mechanisms.
The possible offending substances are ubiquitous, and the myriad of potential deadly combinations is infinite, making specific identification difficult. Although such discourse often turns to childhood vaccinations, that controversy only plays a part in the complicated matrix of possible poisons that lead to ASDAutism spectrum disorder.
Some may appear benign, such as the artificial sweetener aspartame. A more obvious culprit could be prozac in the water, or medications taken during pregnancy. Studies in California and Texas warn of pollution and childhood developmental problems. Plastic is in everything now. Then, there are the consequences of antibacterial (mis)management that have led to resistance and an abnormal gut-brain loop. Steroids are administered to make the animals more productive.There are new electrical fields, more powerful old ones, and increasing reliance on such energy sources. There are local energy fields in our houses and our pants and our ears. Remember that nuclear thing a couple of years ago? It was across the world, but the world is round.
This past week, the journal Pediatrics published research implicating levels of lead that were previously thought to be innocuous “…were associated with lower reading readiness at kindergarten entry. The high prevalence of elevated <LEAD> warrants additional investigation in other high-risk US populations.” Additional investigation?
Here is some of what the CDC recommended 8 months ago:
- Experts now use a reference level of 5 micrograms per deciliter to identify children with blood lead levels that are much higher than most children’s levels…
- … CDC is no longer using the term “level of concern” and is instead using the reference value to identify children who have been exposed to lead and who require case management.
- … The new lower value means that more children will likely be identified as having lead exposure allowing parents, doctors, public health officials, and communities to take action earlier to reduce the child’s future exposure to lead.
- What has not changed is the recommendation for when medical treatment is advised for children with high blood lead exposure levels. The new recommendation does not change the guidance that chelationinvolves the administration of agents to remove heavy metals from the blood therapy be considered when a child has a blood lead test result greater than or equal to 45 micrograms per deciliter.
There are so many disconnects between what we are told by government agencies, what we are fed by mega-food producers and big pharma, and what we experience as the ASDAutism spectrum disorder epidemic unfolds. Suspicions become heightened and less-than-scientific theories evolve and abound. The parents of children affected by developmental challenges continue to visit practitioners who appear clueless as regards their specific challenges. Often, doctors with broader points of view are derided and dismissed as kooky by those “in the know”.
Important information and treatment is available. Unanimity of opinions would be great, but there is a great deal more knowledge that needs to be achieved in order to make specific recommendations. “State-of-the-art” in ASDAutism spectrum disorder treatment has yet to be defined. Families are left discover the most useful course for their child suffering with an autism diagnosis. Parents can’t fix the outside environment, but they can do something about the internal one.
Tags: ADHD, advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism advice, autism advise, autism cause, autism cure, autism etiology, autism puzzle, autism treatment, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, DAN doctors, diet for autism, doctors curing autism, heavy metals, medical doctor, Pediatrician autism, vitamins and ASD
Posted in >ALL<, AD/HD, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Autism Therapies, Chelation, Diets, Earliest Red Flags, Patient experiences, Reversing autism, Speech and Language, Vaccines | No Comments »
Sunday, May 26th, 2013
Gastro-esophageal reflux (GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease-a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus) is a disorder in which the stomach contents slosh back up into the esophagus (tube that goes from the mouth down to the stomach).
When GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease-a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus happens in newborns and infants, it may be diagnosed as ‘colic’, it may be ‘silent’, or there may be problems that persist beyond the first few months. There are often a great deal of ‘spit-ups’ that occur, especially after a child is placed in the recommended face-up position. A refluxing neuro-typical child may cough or otherwise note their distress by wiggling or turning. When children start to get thicker formulas or solid foods, their symptoms can diminish and eventually disappear.
When GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease-a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus affects a person who has decreased sensitivity to pain, it may present clinically as a behavioral disorder. Affected babies may not smile or pay attention. When the situation occurs in children who are extra-sensitive, the affected baby may cry ‘for no reason’ or scream in excruciating pain. Sleep may be affected. Socialization can become difficult. When liquid refluxes up into the ear canal, infection may ensue. Antibiotics are then certain to follow.
Dr. Arthur Krigsman, a respected gastroenterologist has noted the frequent association between gastric and other symptoms with a condition called eosinophilic esophagitis, indicating inflammation in the area of question. Dr. Krigsman has written, “Reflux is a symptom, not a primary diagnosis—it occurs because something is not going right. If the intestines are unable to move food effectively from the mouth down to the anus, then it comes up as reflux. <<Low>> motility in the gastrointestinal tract in ASDAutism spectrum disorder children is so common that almost all of those I have scoped have some degree of clinical (but not necessarily histologic) reflux.”
A common treatment for this set of signs and symptoms is the prescription medicine Prevacid. This drug is in the category known as proton pump inhibitors. The idea is, if you make less acid, that won’t cause the pain associated with reflux. That implies that it’s the acid that causes the symptoms. Research notwithstanding; heartburn relief is certainly a clinical reality, given the number of GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease-a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus remedies that are sold each year. However, PPIsProton pump inhibitors - substances that affect the stomach's ability to produce acid. are supposed to address too much stomach acid, which is rarely if ever the formally diagnosed in adults, let alone children.
For pediatric relief, however, a respected multi-center group recently concluded, “This study detected no difference in efficacyHow well a treatment works between lansoprazole and placebo for symptoms attributed to GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease-a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus in infants age 1 to 12 months… lower respiratory tract infections, occurred more frequently with lansoprazole than with placebo.” Get that? Lower respiratory infections occurred MORE frequently with this PPIProton pump inhibitors - substances that affect the stomach's ability to produce acid.. Antibiotics are certain to follow, again.
What are we supposed to do about it? A 21st Century workup. The first step is to determine an accurate diagnosis before prescribing non-approved and potentially dangerous medicines. Testing whether antacids are effective is a good start. The diagnosis may be documented with a scope, an x-ray or a probe that checks pH. Then, there is testing for food allergy, which is real, at least in children. Avoidance of highly allergenic substances results in healthier bodies with improved core tone, normal gut flora and fewer aggressive behaviors. For premature infants, we neonatologists often prescribed an old standby called bethanecol, which proved safe and effective. It’s a medicine that promotes increased tone for the muscles leading into the stomach, thus resulting in symptomatic improvement in a much more physiological manner – not by altering the acidity of the contents, but by preventing the occurrence of reflux. Also, probiotics appear to promote a healthier cycle and less G-IGastro-intestinal (stomach, small intestine; large bowel) problems, from decreased reflux to improved nutrient absorption to relief of diarrhea or constipation.
Who said that it is OK to mess with the acid-base balance of the stomach, and the bacteria that live in our bodies and there won’t be increased and unknown risks to the patient? The bowel-brain connection has been established as an important entity in health for many years. A disruption of that system has created one of the groups of signs and symptoms that we presently call ASDAutism spectrum disorder.
There are many new toxins in the 21st Century, and PPIsProton pump inhibitors - substances that affect the stomach's ability to produce acid. for infant colic/reflux is one of those new protocols that has caught on without much documentation of long term safety, including checking for associations with ASDAutism spectrum disorder. Perhaps it is the GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease-a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus, or the colic of unknown cause, or PPIsProton pump inhibitors - substances that affect the stomach's ability to produce acid., or the infant who has low core tone (including the muscles of the diaphragm and esophagus), but it seems that during an epidemic as ubiquitous and devastating as autism, this association is key to our understanding and ability to help.
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism, autism advice, autism advise, autism cause, autism cure, autism etiology, autism puzzle, autism treatment, casein free, CF diet, food allergy, GF diet, Gluten free, medical doctor, oppositional behavior, Pediatrician autism, pediatrician treating autism, remove toxins, vitamins and ASD, vitamins autism
Posted in >ALL<, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Autism Therapies, Diets, Patient experiences, Sleep, Speech and Language | 1 Comment »
Friday, May 17th, 2013
The goal of biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions treatment is to optimize health in order to minimize inflammation, prevent disruptive behaviors, enable normal development, and allow the traditional therapies to take hold. This is the story of one of our parents who became a believer after getting rid of the offending nutritional fare.
After our son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, I spent about two weeks in a very dark place. As soon as I stopped feeling sorry for myself, I knew I needed to try to be as strong as I could so that I could help our son. About six weeks after our first visit with Dr. Udell, we received all of the test results for food sensitivities. My son had been a great eater (this is a story for another time) until we found out he was highly allergic to peanuts; then, after experiencing anaphylaxis at 17 months due to eggs, food became a MUCH bigger problem. He had pneumonia for the first time in February 2012, which was frightening. We were told that he suffered from Reactive Airways Disease and that he would be sick for quite a few years. I had such a difficult time just accepting this news, so I researched solutions. He was on a regimen of Singular, Xoponex, and Pulmicort in the nebulizer and, if it got severe enough, oral steroids. Our son was always ill. Sick so much that people did not believe us. This year, my son was on steroids (either oral or inhaled) from October until March, but he was still not better. One of the fill-in pediatricians proclaimed, “He is on too much medicine to be this sick!”
This past March, after our follow-up appointment for biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions treatment, we started our son on a high dose probiotic and Diflucan. At that visit, we received a long list of items for our son not to eat. My husband and I decided to dive head first into this and get rid of his beloved bananas and Lorna Doones (cookies). I was skeptical about the food changes because any time you hear the word autism, GF /CF diets are soon to follow. I am not sure if the food, the probiotic or the Diflucan changed our son but something did and he has not had any more respiratory issues. I am not a Dr. but as we noticed our son changing with all of the new protocols, he became a healthy 3 and a half year old little boy. No steroids for 7 weeks and counting.
Back to my son’s food issues. He never got back to eating fish and chicken, as he did in his infancy. He eats a lot of pouches from Earth’s Best or Plum Organics. He drinks a smoothie in the morning but, since we had to change to rice milk, we provide Silk protein drink and soy yogurt. I went to my local health food stores (the big box ones are so expensive) and found Annie’s Gluten Free Bunnies, Crunch-master cinnamon sugar crackers, Enjoy Life sugar cookies and Home Free little sugar cookies. We had to bribe him with toys to get him to try new foods, but it worked. Now, we have a few items to take when we go out, so he can feel like a normal kid.
Quick tips for giant food changes. Talk to your local health food stores and see if they can order selected products for in-store purchase. Often, they will offer a discount if you order a case or more. Check out Amazonmom.com (it’s free) where you could get discounts on baby and kids items, make sure to sign up for their ‘subscriptions and save’ programs. The pouches from Plum Organics are $1.79 at Babies R Us and they are shipped to me for $12.46 per dozen, a savings of $9.02. The Enjoy Life cookies list for $4.69 a box, but through Amazon they are $2.84. Not everything is cheaper at Amazon, but with the expense of a GF/CFGluten free and casein free dietGluten free and casein free diet/egg/nut etc. diet, every little bit helps.
Tags: ADHD, advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, Attention deficit, autism, autism advice, autism advise, autism cause, autism cure, autism etiology, autism puzzle, autism treatment, casein free, CF diet, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Complementary and alternative treatments, DAN doctors, diagnosis, diet for autism, doctors curing autism, food allergy, GF diet, Gluten free, Hyperactivity, medical doctor, oppositional behavior, Pediatrician autism, pediatrician treating autism, remove toxins, vitamins and ASD, vitamins autism
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Sunday, March 31st, 2013
30º angle
Search Engine Statistics @ TheAutismDoctor.com indicate that many readers come to this venue looking for ‘B12 shot’ information. Since you can read that first round of explanations here, I will use this post to add to our B12 frequently asked questions knowledge base.
Can you have too much? I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Neubrander‘s opinion about this at the recent MAPSMedical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs-Fellows achieve a certain level of training and participation in treating the biochemical abnormalities associated with ASDAutism spectrum disorder and other disorders. conference. He compared responders with higher-than-expected levels of vitamin B12 to insulin resistance in diabetes mellitus; where pharmacologicThe amount of a substance needed to achieve results
U-dictionary dose, rather than physiologicThe amount of a substance that the body produces to achieve an effect. U-dictionary dosages of sugar-lowering hormone may be required for optimal effects. Interestingly, drugs such as Prevacid and Tagamet, which are frequently prescribed for many ASDAutism spectrum disorder patients with GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease-a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus, can interfere with B12 absorption. Furthermore, when there are problems such as stomach and small intestine disorders, B12 levels may be reduced, reducing cognitive function.
According to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements ”no adverse effects have been associated with excess vitamin B12 intake from food and supplements in healthy individuals”. In clinical trials, vitamin B12 supplementation did not cause any serious adverse events when administered in very high doses for 3 to 5 years. When there is kidney failure, liver disease and some blood diseases, B12 levels can be high, but it’s not the other way around.
High cobalt levels (as in methylcobalamin, as in MB-12) have also been reported as possibly leading to neurologic symptoms. Some artificial implants in adults have been implicated. In one study examining metal levels, cobalt was not implicated as a factor in autism, however. Other reports did not show significantly elevated blood or hair levels in ASDAutism spectrum disorder. And, recent papers even reported a slight decrease in cobalt in ASDAutism spectrum disorder patients. Possibly, the bottom line is to measure blood cobalt in patients receiving ‘shots’ who are not responding, but getting plenty of MB-12.
What is the best way to administer MB-12? Since it is a water soluble vitamin, getting the compound into the body is pretty straight forward. Sublingual, intranasal spray, liquids, gummies and lollipops will all raise the MB-12 levels. However, excretion is very prompt and so repeated doses throughout the day (and night) would be the only similar manner to the subcutaneousUnder the skin route. There isn’t literature other than anecdotal information that documents similar improvement to the preferred route. Even the advertisements for Dr. David’s Original B-12 Patch only claim superiority to pills.
The subcutaneousUnder the skin injection is the most common, documented, successful method of administration. Our experience at the Child Development Center has been that expensive anesthetic creams such as EMLA are rarely required or even that helpful. “After the child falls asleep, apply to the skin, mark the area and wait 45 minutes?” Many a parent has fallen asleep themselves waiting for that. The idea is to get the liquid into the most likely tissue to let it leak out into the circulation, so a 30º angle with a tiny needle into the upper outer area of the buttocks is great.
If this preparation works, it should be thought of as insulin to a diabetic. For some reason, those parents, and the children, accept that reality (of shots) more freely. So, the parent who complains that “Every time we even enter the room, he wakes up,” or “It’s impossible to give it to her,” is simply in denial. If you want the child to improve, and B12 shots have a fair chance of being part of that improvement, then do what is necessary.
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism, autism advice, autism advise, autism cure, autism etiology, autism puzzle, autism treatment, b12 autism, Complementary and alternative treatments, DAN doctors, doctors curing autism, heavy metals, mb-12, methyl b12, methylcobalamin, Pediatrician autism, pediatrician treating autism, vitamins autism
Posted in >ALL<, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism Therapies, Chelation, Diets, Reversing autism | 1 Comment »
Sunday, March 24th, 2013
This past weekend marked the third Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs Conference, which was held in Costa Mesa, CA. I have made sure to attend every one. This time, I had the added challenge of traveling on my damaged and recently repaired left foot. But, thanks to the help of my beautiful and patient wife, Jackie, I managed to fly, hop, crutch and wheel across the country.
What started out as the “Defeat Autism Now!”(DAN!) movement, then morphed into the Autism Research Institute (which continues to support autism research and provide needed information and support for families and individuals with autism spectrum disorders), has finally become a full-fledged medical society “for the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders and chronic special needs.”
These courses provide the required CMEContinuing Medical Education - formal, documented courses reviewing scientific knowledge credits to attain a MAPSMedical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs-Fellows achieve a certain level of training and participation in treating the biochemical abnormalities associated with ASDAutism spectrum disorder and other disorders. fellowship certification. This educational experience prepares practitioners from all over the world to deliver state-of-the-art care. Qualified and experienced doctors and other professionals offer detailed scientific evidence and clinical information in order to further understanding and treatment. We review older therapies, some of which may still have value, the most common protocols that the participants presently utilize, and the emerging technologies that could lead to better treatment.
The advanced courses that I attended included the following discussions:
(Day 1): Hormones & Neurodevelopmental Disorders, led by Dr. Anju Usman. Covered subjects included the CNSCentral nervous system - including the brain and spinal cord, HBOTHyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - extra O2 plus extra Pressure and treatments such as galantamine, phosphatidyl serene, propanolol, cortisol, oxytocin, secretin, the endocrine system, calcium, the adrenals, and hormones. We also learned about remedies from plants, foods and other cultures.
Evaluation & Treatment of Older Children was presented by Dr. Dan Rossignol, who gave one of his stellar presentations thoroughly reviewing the scientific literature that helps support our various treatment protocols. Case presentations with enthusiastic audience participation rounded out the afternoon.
(Day 2): Gastrointestinal & Nutrition. Dana Laake (Dietician-Nutritionist) reviewed Advanced Nutritional Assessment including labs, signs and symptoms, and special diets (all of them, I think). Dr. Elizabeth Mumper immersed us in G-IGastro-intestinal (stomach, small intestine; large bowel) testing and discussed “clinical pearls” – what practitioners should look for to help patients with symptoms due to an unhealthy gut. Dr. Rossignol reviewed the pertinent literature and more clinical cases. Dr. Jeffrey Bradstreet taught us about testing and treatment options for autistic gastrointestinal disturbances. He concluded his talk with a thorough discourse about fecal transplants. No shit.
(Day 3): Cutting Edge & Novel Treatments. There were lots of experts, lots of treatment possibilities, and lots of opinions. Need I write more?
The MAPSMedical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs-Fellows achieve a certain level of training and participation in treating the biochemical abnormalities associated with ASDAutism spectrum disorder and other disorders. conferences are no boondoggle. Classes go from 8-to-6 for three days, with formal testing at the end of those long sessions. The most important functions include networking with doctors from all over and discussing cases – just like your children – from the youngest, to the most challenging and complicated. This information adds immeasurably to our individual clinical experience.
What’s new is that your children – young and old, disruptive or spaced, apraxiacharacterized by loss of the ability to execute or carry out learned purposeful movements, despite having the desire and the physical ability to perform the movements (wiki) or echolalic, unfocused and anxious, suffering from seizures or repeated infections – are being discussed, reviewed and considered as patients who deserve appropriate medical attention.
MAPSMedical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs-Fellows achieve a certain level of training and participation in treating the biochemical abnormalities associated with ASDAutism spectrum disorder and other disorders. participation grew by a third this meeting, but that is still not enough personnel to address the burgeoning patient load. It’s a great feeling to know that each year we are getting closer to the causes and cures for this ever-increasing epidemic.
Tags: ADHD, advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, Attention deficit, autism, autism advice, autism advise, autism cause, autism puzzle, doctors curing autism, HBOT, heavy metals, hyperbaric chamber, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Pediatrician autism, pediatrician treating autism, remove toxins, safety, Vaccine, vitamin b12, vitamins and ASD, vitamins autism
Posted in >ALL<, AD/HD, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Conferences, Diets, Earliest Red Flags, HBOT for ASD, Patient experiences | No Comments »
Saturday, March 9th, 2013
In addition to the previous ’frequently asked questions about autism’ blogs, and in a continuing effort to present the problems that most concern parents about their autistic child, here are some more commonly voiced queries:
Q: How can I stop those annoying stimsStimming is a repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner... known in psychiatry as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement.Stimming is a repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner...known in psychiatry as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement.?
A: First, parents need to decide why the child is stimminga repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner... known in psychiatry as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement.. As I previously described, stimsStimming is a repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner... known in psychiatry as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement.Stimming is a repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner...known in psychiatry as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement. are mostly communication, so caretakers want to better understand what the patient is trying to say. Try duct-taping your mouth, and tell me that you wouldn’t make unusual-appearing movements of the rest of your body and head, or make vocalizations.
The more annoying that the parent considers a stim, the more likely that the child will use that to gain your attention. “Is something wrong?” “Do you want something” “Let’s go over here and play with this.”
If the child is stimminga repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner... known in psychiatry as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement. because of boredom, try directing to a purposeful activity. If the stimminga repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner... known in psychiatry as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement. is due to excitement (watching the same part of a video), try re-directing to a different activity. Children are not learning when they are watching the same video over and over. Discontinuance is best accomplished by saying, “You can do that 1 more time,” or “3 more minutes,” rather than saying “Stop doing that!”
Finally, learn to pick your fights. I have witnessed behaviors that only bother one parent, don’t appear to disrupt, or aren’t even much different from what neuro-typical children do. These are the behaviors that can be ignored. Don’t forget, with time, stimsStimming is a repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner... known in psychiatry as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement.Stimming is a repetitive body movement that self-stimulates one or more senses in a regulated manner...known in psychiatry as a "stereotypy", a continuous, purposeless movement. will appear, change in complexity or character, re-appear, morph into something else and mostly disappear.
Q: Why are these biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions treatments interfering with the child’s academic situation?
A: When children are made to ‘wake up’ from their autistic fog, the world becomes more annoying, and focus is difficult. Most biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions interventions cause an initial period of difficulty for the patient. As there is increased awareness, anxiety can become a problem. Focus and anxiety highlight immaturity, and so behaviors can deteriorate.
About their child’s change in behavior, one patient complained that, “I traded black and white for shades of gray.” Hey, that’s what life is about. Two year-olds tantrum, three year-olds test your patience, and 4-5 year-olds learn to manipulate their parents. Do you really want to go back to the time when your good little boy didn’t bug anyone?
This is why biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions interventions that improve the patients’ health and well being must be combined with traditional therapies such as Speech and Language and ABAApplied behavior analysis... the science of controlling and predicting human behavior. Since Dr. Spock, there have been volumes written about how to raise a ‘normal’ child. One or two books describing what to do about a particular behavior or type of autistic child only scratch the surface of what it takes to raise ASDAutism spectrum disorder-affected children. We all know that there are many types of autisms, meaning that there are multiple reasons for the behaviors that complicate development.
Q: How can we finally get our child to use the bathroom?
A: The first step in toilet training is producing a healthy gut. If the pH of the poop is in the acid range, it’s almost impossible for a patient to NOT withhold. To test that theory, put a drip of vinegar on your rectum and see what happens. Constipation is best helped with more fluids, fiber and probiotics. If the child can’t ‘go’ after 2 days, I prefer glycerin suppositories (Miralax is a no-no). Loose, wet, frequent stools need to be evaluated for bacterial content and yeast, with appropriate treatment depending on the results of testing.
After ~3-1/2 years, I find that the best method is to take advantage of autistic patients’ love of schedules. Take the number of times that the child ‘goes’ per day and add one. So, a child who produces, say, 2 stools per day should be put on the potty 3 times throughout the day. Start with only 5 seconds and work up to 30-60 seconds of just sitting there. More time is unnecessary (and boring – leading to opposition), as is constant prodding and rewards for compliance. Same times – every day – on the potty – and voila, many children will get the idea.
I am sure that other parents and experts have their solution, so feel free to post them if you have experience with further suggestions.
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism, autism advice, autism advise, autism cause, autism cure, autism treatment, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, DAN doctors, doctors curing autism, medical doctor, pediatrician treating autism, vitamins autism
Posted in >ALL<, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism Therapies, Diets, Patient experiences | 1 Comment »
Sunday, January 27th, 2013
The disorder that we call ASDAutism spectrum disorder is treatable by various means, so is it preventable? For the time being, the most accurate answer appears to be, “It’s complicated. Maybe. Sometimes. But, it’s not how you think.” At the beginning of an epidemic, doctors are mostly looking at the trees, and the bigger picture is elusive.
A major stumbling block to better understanding ways to diffuse the epidemic is the abundance and predominance of research about genetic influence on the disorder. So, if it’s largely genetic, as has ofttimes and generally been believed, then prevention is less likely, because our genes are, sort of, fixed. However, if occasional-to-frequent, previously unrecognized, minor genetic variations have led to downstream abnormalities due to unforeseen environmental influences, that would be a situation that deserves further investigation. And finally, if what-we-call ASDAutism spectrum disorder is mostly not genetic, then the there exists an even greater possibility of preventability.
Can breast feeding reduce autism? One report of infants who received either breast milk or formula with similar supplements indicated a reduced incidence of ASDAutism spectrum disorder. Even if this finding is verified, correct formulation merely highlights that it’s the nutrition that matters, not the breast milk, per se. First, for most of the second half of the 20th century, when there wasn’t an autism epidemic, the vast majority of moms (in the US, at least) did not breast feed. Second, I treat many patients with autism whose moms are STILL breast feeding at 3 and 4+ years! (Yes, teeth and everything). Third, while there are many studies advancing the healthy consequences, there aren’t ones that target reduction of autism with breast feeding. Don’t get me wrong. I am a neonatologist and I firmly believe that human milk directly from the breast is the preferred method of feeding infants. It reduces allergies, otitis mediamiddle ear infection and other respiratory infections, and some studies claim improvement in IQ. But, I want to assure any guilty moms that personal and scientific evidence indicates that THIS was NOT the reason that their child suffers from ASDAutism spectrum disorder. Many of the affected but as-yet-unrecognized newborns have colic, GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease-a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus, hypotoniaLow muscle tone and feeding intolerances in the first place, making breastfeeding impossible or impractical.
Would alteration of the present vaccination schedule have an effect on the incidence of autism? The answer from most experts, including a recent report from the IOMInstitute of Medicine of the National Academies, is a resounding “No”. I have serious concerns about the plethora of childhood vaccinations and I am skeptical because of the dearth of prospective, randomized double-blind research assuring us that the present schedule is always safe for everyone. Furthermore, 5% of my parents report an absolute proximate association between vaccinations and autistic regression. However, I do treat many patients whose were never vaccinated and appear with autism. My biggest concerns are the overuse of antibiotics, and when pediatricians give vaccinations while a child is sick, even if the child had negative reactions to previous vaccinations, give extra ‘shots’ to make up the schedule, or do not take other comorbiditiesother medical conditions (such as diarrhea, asthma or eczema) into account. This is one area where we might see a reduction – if the experts would just listen to the parents.
The more recognition that the immune system triggers markers of ASDAutism spectrum disorder, the more we should be able to target and diminish that inflammatory reaction.The discovery about patients diagnosed with autistic symptoms who have antibodies to folic acid, which is an important prenatal vitamin for the prevention of other CNSCentral nervous system - including the brain and spinal cord abnormalities, may help identify the risk of the disorder and provide clues to treatment and prevention. Autoimmunitythe failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts as self, which allows an immune response against its own cells and tissuesthe failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts as self, which allows an immune response against its own cells and tissues seems to play an important part in this disorder, as reported last summer in the New York Times. Dr. Judy Van Der Water has discovered another type of auto-antibody, specific to fetal brain proteins, a finding which could lead to a prenatal test for some types of ASDAutism spectrum disorder. She has recommended that women get the flu shot BEFORE they consider getting pregnant, and particular attention to cleanliness and avoiding inflammation. Additionally, she emphasizes the need for pregnant moms to reduce the risk of infection and illness during pregnancy.
Dr. David Berger, a pediatric colleague who practices in a similar fashion and has assisted many families, offers his experience regarding the issue of prevention in this publication.
Obviously, research is lacking. For the present, treatment focuses on patients who already exhibit symptoms. As we identify and appropriately address the younger siblings or others with newly-identified high-risk behaviors, it appears that we can prevent the diagnosis from fully-developing in such patients. If intervention begins at the earliest red flag – before an ‘official’ diagnosis – and leads to improvement in hypotoniaLow muscle tone, G-IGastro-intestinal (stomach, small intestine; large bowel) issues, or poor health and the child never develops further evidence of ‘traditional’ autism, that is good start.
Addendum: A recent study in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported an association between the intake of folic acid and decreased risk of ASDAutism spectrum disorder in the offspring of mothers who started taking the supplement at least 4 weeks prior to conception. It has been known for years that this was an important nutrient for preventing certain CNSCentral nervous system - including the brain and spinal cord malformations, and this lends even more credence to a healthy maternal state influencing an optimal outcome. My advice on this supplement is that the recommended dose is 400 micrograms per day – more is not necessarily better (and could be worse).
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism, autism advise, autism cause, autism cure, autism etiology, autism puzzle, autism treatment, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, DAN doctors, diagnosis, doctors curing autism, medical doctor, Pediatrician autism, pediatrician treating autism, prevent autism, remove toxins, vitamins and ASD
Posted in >ALL<, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Autism Therapies, Diets, Earliest Red Flags, Reversing autism | 2 Comments »
Monday, December 3rd, 2012
Although I have previously written on this topic, an email request from one of my young readers prompted me to write the shorter version for her project:
Dear Dr. Udell,
… I am a senior at Buffalo High School in Buffalo, MN. I am researching gluten-free products and the trend in the increase of people going on gluten-free diets. Through research I have discovered a gluten-free diet may be an effective treatment for autism. I was hoping you could help me by answering the following questions.
1. Research on the effectiveness of the elimination a gluten-free diet is minimal at this point. Though the research done proves the diet could help autistic patients, do you think the little evidence is enough to place patients on a life changing diet?
2. Do you believe placing autistic patients on a gluten-free diet is helpful?
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions.
My answer:
One diet (GF/CFGluten free and casein free dietGluten free and casein free diet, for example) shouldn’t be helpful for hundreds of thousand of people.
I believe, and my practice has demonstrated, that a person-specific diet can be quite helpful. Modern Western medicine handles inflammation by the use of strong anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (celebrex, others). Such compounds have lots of side effects, so physicians cannot give them to young children for more than a few weeks at a time. The best way to decrease inflammation is to avoid it – so I test for food allergies (94 different foods) and avoid those foods to which the child is most allergic. Sometimes, gluten and casein are the culprits, often they are not the ONLY foods to cause problems.
So, if a child is more allergic to soy, e.g. than casein, and drinks soy milk products, the diet won’t appear to work.
Or, if a child is allergic to peanuts, and is eating lots of peanut butter with the GF/CFGluten free and casein free dietGluten free and casein free diet diet, the diet won’t appear to work.
Or, if a child is not allergic to gluten or casein, the diet won’t appear to help.
Another problem with gluten and/or casein is that the large protein molecules sometimes “leak” into a patient’s bloodstream, after which the liver tries to rid the body by attaching morphine-compounds. I test for those compounds (urine), and when affected patients avoid those foods, they appear less ‘stoned’ and their attention improves.
Finally, if a “life-changing diet” helps change a person’s life (makes them talk or think better) umm… isn’t it worth it?
Thanks for asking!
Regards,
Brian D. Udell MD FAAP
Medical Director
Child Development Center of America
2751 Executive Park Drive #201
Weston, FL 33331
Phone 954-873-8413
Fax 954-384-228
www.childdev.org
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism, autism advice, autism advise, autism cause, autism cure, autism etiology, autism puzzle, casein free, CF diet, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Complementary and alternative treatments, DAN doctors, diagnosis, diet for autism, doctors curing autism, food allergy, GF diet, Gluten free, medical doctor, Pediatrician autism, pediatrician treating autism, vitamins and ASD, vitamins autism
Posted in >ALL<, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Diets, Patient experiences | 2 Comments »
Sunday, November 18th, 2012
Signs and symptoms of ASDAutism spectrum disorder are the most common ailments that I treat. Often, autism is the primary diagnosis, but there are many patients who have some other essential problem; either named (e.g. Down Syndrome), descriptive (Congenitalof or pertaining to a condition present at birth, whether inherited or caused by the environment hypotoniaLow muscle tone), or no diagnosis (PDD-NOSPervasive (or Persistent) Developmental Delay, not otherwise specified), whom I help as well.
I’m not boasting when I write that almost ALL of my patients benefit from treatment, since that is what a doctor should do. Our results are no false prophecy. Better health leads to improved quality of life for patients and their families. When affected individuals achieve a well-functioning G-IGastro-intestinal (stomach, small intestine; large bowel) system, sounder sleep, softer skin, fewer allergies and less frequent illness, improved behaviors and more communication often follow. Combined with the traditional, proven therapies (including, S&LSpeech and language therapy, ABAApplied behavior analysis... the science of controlling and predicting human behavior, OTOccupational therapy... enables people to participate in the activities of everyday life, PTPhysical therapy and others), their ‘autism’ improves.
Here are some of the most common questions that arise (AFTER we get through Q’s#1&2):
Q: “How much autism does my child have?” or some other variant, including, “He’s very high-functioning.”
A: In our practice, we have four ways to document the diagnosis:
1. Thorough History and Physical examination, including a family interview and review of all previous documentation
2. Accepted objective measuring tools, such as ATECAutism Treatment Evaluation Checklist, or others as provided
3. Video documentation
4. My opinion
After each visit, the family is informed about progress, current skills, challenges and expectations.
As in any other medical condition.
Q: “What can I expect about recovery.” “How soon will we see a change in the child?” “My biggest concern is whether my child will be able to be like other kids and grow up and be able to take care of him or herself. How long will this take?”
A: Whatever the medical condition, including autoimmunethe failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts as self, which allows an immune response against its own cells and tissues conditions such as asthma, eczema or rheumatoid arthritis, it should be the same answer. “We will perform the most appropriate medical tests, then follow the most likely, safe and reasonable interventions based on how the child responds. Age and degree of involvement are important when evaluating response to treatment. To the extent that there is improvement, or at least a change, we will better know the type/degree of difficulties your child has and then that answer will become clearer.
The short answer is, “Let me see how things unfold over the next few months and I’ll be able to give you a better answer.”
Q: “Do you do chelationinvolves the administration of agents to remove heavy metals from the blood (administering chemicals by intravenous, oral or rectal routes to remove heavy metals)?
A: Even conventional scientists now agree that the toxic environment is at least as important as genetics as the cause of the increase in autism. While lead and mercury continue to be ubiquitous as neurotoxic agents, the plethora of pollutants – known and unknown – in the air, food and water may have overtaken the ‘common’ offenders as more likely culprits in the epidemic.
The body’s natural antioxidant, glutathione, appears to be a safe, inexpensive and effective way to clean up the mess. The oral preparation that is used in our practice appears to be reasonably well-tolerated and works quite well.
Q: Have you heard about… this or that… new study treatment/supplement that I saw on the Internet?”
A: This specialty is presently fraught with numerous remedies that are merely the anecdotal experiences of non-medical personnel. To be sure, the failure of the medical profession, and pediatric neurology specifically, to adequately and accurately approach the epidemic is one reason why individual research and treatment options have emerged.
Although various treatments appear on the web, the more exotic, experimental and expensive, the more their appeal, but unanswered is their efficacyHow well a treatment works or true long-term safety. Find a good developmental practitioner and leave most of the research to us.
Q: My husband (mother, mother-in-law, father, father-in-law, neighbor) thinks that the child is OK, and it’s just how I’m raising him that is the problem. They said that I (my husband, in-law, etc.) was the same way when I was a kid.
A: The first sign of The Plague is a flu-like upper respiratory infection. If it were the year 1300 and you went to the doctor with a cold, he should be thinking The Black Death, not a URIUpper respiratory infection (cold, flu - NOT usually caused by a bacteria).
It’s 2012. When an infant today presents with Red Flags such as loss of words, problems with eye contact, or repetitive behaviors, we should be doing everything possible for that child to make sure that autism does not develop.
The common thread is my belief that I’m treating a medical condition and therefore the usual workup and course of action applies. We could go all over the world, seeking cures that are unproven, because we believe that medical science has failed. But, having experienced thousands of visits and tens of thousands of patients over 4 decades, I believe that we can still stick to reasonable science.
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism, autism advice, autism advise, autism cause, autism cure, autism etiology, DAN doctors, diet for autism, doctors curing autism, medical doctor, oppositional behavior, pediatrician treating autism, remove toxins, vitamins and ASD, vitamins autism
Posted in >ALL<, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Chelation, Diets, Earliest Red Flags, Patient experiences, Reversing autism, Sleep, Speech and Language | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012
It is exciting to report that this past weekend I attended the First-Annual-Second-Level training sessions for the newly forming Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs, in Orlando. I won’t describe each presentation, as I have done in previous posts, other than to report the highlights.
For more than eight hours per day, for three days, we were immersed in everything from basic science, to research, to charting, to legal issues, to diagnosis, workup and treatment. The participants are a part of a truly elite group of medical professionals who are willing to work together to help parents find the correct medical care for their special needs child.
As I listened to some of the lectures this time, I was familiar enough with the information to think about how the material applied to children in my medical practice; specifically, who might respond better to some particular medications or supplements. Then, I would consider other patients who might benefit from particular blood and/or urine testing. Occasionally, I was alerted to possible negative reactions that I hadn’t heard about or procedures that I wanted to experience. After several years of attending similar seminars, I could pick out the other doctors who had similar philosophies, and we traded clinical information.
The most talked about topics were:
1. Memantine. This is a drug used to help people with Alzheimer’s disease to think and perform daily activities more easily. There was a fair amount of clinical experience among the participants, so trying this medication in selected patients seems to be worth a try. Additionally, there is apparently a more rigorous soon-to-be-published study that will give valuable information about its use.
2. Oxytocin. It’s getting more buzz, and it appears to be safe. It’s efficacyHow well a treatment works in this condition remains to be seen, however. I heard various opinions on whether its use resulted in any real improvement, especially in eye contact and socialization.
3. The most common topics throughout the conference were inflammation, gut health, how the central nervous system is affected in ASDAutism spectrum disorder, mitochondrial dysfunction, diet and the environment.
Networking with the other members is always a key factor to our enjoyment at such seminars. Lecturers included such autism luminaries as Drs. Dan Rossignol, Martha Herbert and Arthur Krigsman. It was great to meet Sandy Haines, our executive director, who used to work for Microsoft (and you could tell by the way she has organized and tidied up this nascent organization).
Earlier, I overheard a prospective society member inquire about the rigors of joining MAPSMedical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs-Fellows achieve a certain level of training and participation in treating the biochemical abnormalities associated with ASDAutism spectrum disorder and other disorders., including whether there might be formal testing in the future. I later told Sandy that she didn’t need to waffle about her response. “The answer should be ‘hell yes,’” I said. I’m proud to have taken the time to master the basic sciences and learn from from the experience of really smart medical professionals. We should be taking this opportunity a couple of times per year to discuss these enormous problems and all possible medical solutions. I’m proud to take a test to prove my knowledge.
It helps separate me from the Internet.
Tags: ADHD, advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism advice, autism advise, autism cause, autism cure, autism etiology, autism puzzle, autism treatment, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Complementary and alternative treatments, DAN doctors, diagnose autism, diagnosis, diet for autism, food allergy, GF diet, Gluten free, Hyperactivity, medical doctor, remove toxins, vitamins and ASD, vitamins autism
Posted in >ALL<, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Asperger's Syndrome, Conferences, Diets, Reversing autism | No Comments »
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