Archive for the ‘HBOT for ASD’ Category
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 »
Sunday, July 22nd, 2012
The first challenge that parents encounter when faced with a child who may not be developing in a typical fashion is getting a correct diagnosis. One doctor says “PDD-NOSPervasive (or Persistent) Developmental Delay, not otherwise specified,” another claims “Just a speech delay and some ADHDAttention deficit - hyperactivity disorder,” and yet another specialist suggests ”Let’s wait and see.” We are knee-deep into an autism epidemic, Ladies and Germs! If your child produces few words by 15 months (or displays a loss of words), has problems with eye contact or socialization, exhibits repetitive behaviors and has signs of core hypotoniaLow muscle tone (central weakness), you are dealing with the red flags that signal ASDAutism spectrum disorder.
The top Google searches for what to do about your suspicions include an inaccurate (at least, dated) list of signs and symptoms, an accurate reference article by the NIH, a parent guide that offers good advice, a fairly helpful (but less-than-practical) step-by-step guide, a webMD primer, and several columns expressing sympathy and empathy. What they all seem to have in common is the advice that parents need to learn everything they can in order to help their child. While that is an admirable and helpful pursuit, isn’t it more common, when a family member is struck with a complicated medical condition, that a trusted medical professional is pursued in order to assist in the best course of action? Doctors take note – you have been left out of the loop.
Where to start:
1. Forget about all of the other opinions and seek a physician who understands that “high risk” for autism means close observation and initiating therapies to address the developmental condition ASAP. If the child is simply a “late bloomer,” so what? Unfortunately, this is often the most difficult step. Generation Rescue’s website is a good start, and the emerging Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs is working on providing significant resources.
2. Parents desire to do everything they can, within reason, to help their child. In an abundance of caution, initiating intervention at the earliest possible age can be therapeutic at best and reassuring at least. ’Kick-starting’ speech and language and/or assisting developmental milestone acquisition with physical therapy are some great ways to get started. The family will become more comfortable about the diagnosis, understand ‘the journey’ better, and will frequently get to observe some quick improvement.
3. A popular reflex after searching the web is for parents to give the gluten-free/casein-free diet “a try.” Talk About Curing Autism offers a great deal of helpful information on this intervention. While this step may be important, there are some pitfalls that accompany this decision. If a child who is put on a casein-free (milk protein) diet is very sensitive to soy, the diet may not appear to be ‘working’, if there was a change to soy milk. Likewise, if the child is eating lots of peanut butter, for example, and is allergic to it, the diet may not appear to be helping. Finally, if the child has no problem with dairy or wheat, the diet won’t be helpful. Also, dietary intervention sometimes takes time (months) and patience before improvements can be seen in communication or behavior.
4. If you haven’t done step #1 yet, it belongs here: Find a competent autism practitioner who understands and has TREATED autism (not just diagnosed it). If you don’t do this step, you are getting into territory which can result in little improvement, significant regression, or a sense that you are not doing “everything that can be done.” An appropriate medical workup should include a blood count, liver, kidney and thyroid function, nutritional health, and gastrointestinal testing. Blood, urine and stool samples may be required in order to gather such valuable and pertinent information about the patient.
5. Make sure that the child’s overall medical condition is clear. Simply because the child appears healthy, don’t forget that they are relatively non-verbal, resistant to pain and have a narrow range of expressive behaviors. How do we really know if the child is healthy unless appropriate lab work has been collected and reviewed so that your child is in top shape? I had a patient last week who was mildly anemic. Now, it may not seem like much, but, why worry about HBOTHyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - extra O2 plus extra Pressure (which is an expensive and resource-intensive intervention that brings oxygen to distant tissues), when all a patient may have needed was a bit more iron in their diet? Similarly, gut-related signs and symptoms are rampant in ASDAutism spectrum disorder, and an astute practitioner needs to ferret out and treat such maladies.
6. Follow a protocol. This is one of the most difficult parts of the initial treatment, because apparent regression can follow even the most uncomplicated interventions. For example, the negative behaviors that may result from bacterial or fungal ‘die-off’ when strong probiotics are initiated is frightening to families and requires coaching and counseling in order for the patient to achieve G-IGastro-intestinal (stomach, small intestine; large bowel) balance. This step alone has discouraged too many parents from continuing biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions intervention. As we increase cellular energy with supplementation, I frequently advise parents, “The side effect of giving a patient more energy is that the child will have more energy!” For aggressive or disruptive children, this is no small matter and there may need to be some changes or additional supplements to handle that alteration. In practically all areas of medicine, following protocols and altering them as things change is the hallmark of a successful course of action.
That’s it. Just a few steps that should be taken once the diagnosis is entertained to insure that, by today’s standards, everything that CAN be done is being done for your potentially-affected child.
Tags: ADHD, advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism, autism advice, autism advise, autism cause, autism cure, autism etiology, autism treatment, casein free, CF diet, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Complementary and alternative treatments, DAN doctors, doctors curing autism, GF diet, Gluten free, hyperbaric chamber, medical doctor, vitamins and ASD, vitamins autism
Posted in >ALL<, AD/HD, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Earliest Red Flags, HBOT for ASD, News-Maybe-Worthy, Patient experiences, Reversing autism, Vaccines | No Comments »
Saturday, May 12th, 2012
This is dedicated to all of the incredible Mothers who deal with ASDAutism spectrum disorder and the associated symptoms every day. You are not alone.
We’re not seeking miracle cures, just miracles.
I wish that I had more time for
My affected child, the other kid(s), my husband, myself.
Something is just not right with my child, I wish we could figure it out.
If he would only get ready in the morning, Such a battle.
If she would just say “yes” once in a while.
If they will just stop fighting all of the time.
If he could only remember what he just read.
If he would only have some friends.
The family doesn’t’ seem to understand our problems.
We haven’t taken a vacation since…
If she wasn’t so disruptive in school.
If we could just figure out how to get him to focus.
He keeps saying the same thing over and over.
Those ‘stimsStimminga 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 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.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 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 driving us crazy.
If we could all only get a good night’s sleep.
He has had diarrhea ever since I can remember.
He eats so little, I’m afraid he’s not getting enough.
She seems to be sick all of the time.
The rashes don’t ever seem to go away.
When do you think she will say “mama”?
There used to be some words, but now there’s not even eye contact.
She doesn’t ever play with us.
I wish she would stop biting her arms.
I wish he would stop hitting his mom.
When do you think he will be able to crawl?
She couldn’t stand until she was 3.
I don’t know what he wants.
If the doctors would only figure out what is wrong. If they would only listen.
How is my child going to make it in: preK, K, first grade, middle school, high school, life?
We’re not looking for miracle cures, just miracles.
©TheAutismDoctor.com
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, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Complementary and alternative treatments, DAN doctors, diet for autism, doctors curing autism, medical doctor, vitamins autism
Posted in >ALL<, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Asperger's Syndrome, HBOT for ASD, Holidays & Vacations, Patient experiences | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 30th, 2012
The condition currently designated as ASDAutism spectrum disorder is epidemic. Reports about the alarming numbers abound, but it doesn’t seem to stick. “Is there really an increase in actual cases?” is the most common question that I get asked about my medical practice, even by professionals. From my perspective, media reports and journal articles can’t stop “exposing” the recent increase in measles – 3 times as many cases as last year. The rise in such a preventable infectious disease is regrettable and dangerous. However, it isn’t necessarily occurring in non-vaccinated children, it represents a couple hundred cases – not tens of thousands of patients – and no child has died (or suffered reported permanent damage). That contradiction leaves some families with an autistic child feeling lost and neglected by the conventional medical community and so they seek ‘miracle’ cures.
Stem cells have been successfully transplanted into corneas since 2003. In 2005, the FDA approved, and in 2006, “Neurosurgeons and physicians at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, Oregon Health & Science University… performed the first transplant of purified human fetal neural stem cells into the brain of a study participant…” who suffered from a rare, inherited brain condition. The material came from dead human fetuses, in the hope that the new tissue would replace a missing enzyme in affected patients. In that study, performed on 6 patients, a billion stem cells were directly transplanted into the patients’ brains and steroids were administered for a year. Although the safety of the project was demonstrated, the ability of the new tissue to reverse that condition has not been documented. Research was discontinued and the company that makes the product hopes to perform the procedure on less-sick patients in the future.
Compare that carefully controlled study to the procedures that are offered at the various Stem Cell Transplant Centers that reside outside the US. Such protocols use cells of various origin (fat, blood) and various injection sites (lumbar puncture, veins) with various additional medications (antibiotics, steroids) on various patients (ages, sex, level of ASDAutism spectrum disorder).
Stem cell therapy is experimental and only in its earliest stages of proficiency. Specifically for ASDAutism spectrum disorder, which is an enigmatic, multifactorial, multi-system condition with a widely variable presentation and outcome, there is no research to document improvement and only anecdotal evidence that it is either helpful or safe. A conclusion – a scientific one – CANNOT be reached with this level of information. So, the family that chooses this endeavor is working on faith, the (limited) experience of others, and luck when it comes to “the best course of action.”
In addition to betting on “whether” the treatment might “work” (as always, don’t expect miracle cures, just expect miracles), the concerned parent must consider:
1. The cost of Stem Cells and implantation (>$20,000), as influenced by:
a. Which cells lines will be harvested and grown?
b. How the cells are delivered to the patient (artery, vein, spinal fluid)?
c. Other medications, laboratory testing, procedures, or anesthesia if necessary?
d. Complications, and there are never no complications.
d. Insurance – not covered!
e. Travel, including hotel stays.
2. Alternatives
a. Conventional - this should be the first therapy once an autism diagnosis is established or suspected. It includes a neurologic evaluation, a thorough medical evaluation, appropriate laboratory testing and follow-up. This should be followed by Occupational, Speech and Language, Physical and Behavioral Therapy as it applies to your child’s level of function.
b. Biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions – this will assist many patients, especially the younger ones, toward recovery or significant improvement, especially when accompanied by conventional therapies.
c. HBOTHyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - extra O2 plus extra Pressure – this therapy may be chosen by many parents as an earlier adjunct to the other biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions techniques or when they see their child continuing to fail to meet social, academic and developmental milestones and demonstrate significant behavioral concerns.
d. Other – including RDIReference Daily Intake - nutritional info for real-world application, Listening therapies, NAET, Sensory therapies, Neurofeedback, Hippotherapy...a type of occupational therapy using horses...sometimes combined with other therapies, etc.
3) Opportunity costsopportunity costs are not restricted to monetary or financial costs: the real cost of output forgone, lost time, pleasure or any other benefit that provides utility - very important in autism treatment. $20,000 = 3 months of 25 hours/week proven or combination therapies; 4 weeks of summer camp for 6 years; more than 1 year of assistance services (cleaning, caring, tutoring) in your home; 1 used, low pressure HBOTHyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - extra O2 plus extra Pressure chamber on eBay; 75 high pressure, high oxygen HBOTHyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - extra O2 plus extra Pressure ‘dives’ in a safe, reliable, clean Center; 4 MNRI™ conferences, many years of neurofeedback, lots of NAET, or ten years of care at The Child Development Center of America (that’s me), including labs, supplements and medications. That dollar figure also equals the low estimation of 1 year of extra costs for each child with Spectrum Disorder.
4) Risks, which will be covered at the conclusion of this series.
In the US, a cord blood bone marrow transplant to treat sickle cell disease costs approximately $250,000 to $500,000. Since stem cell transplantation for ASDAutism spectrum disorder is not being studied at any US institution, parents seek care in Mexico and other Central America countries, Europe, China, South Korea and the Ukraine (more to follow, I’m sure). Depending on the CenterThe Child Development Center of America
Brian D. Udell MD
Medical Director
www.childdev.org, costs vary, starting at over $15,000 (various sites, parent’s information) for treatment alone (not including travel). Patients are required to remain for between 1-2 weeks for follow-up.
That concludes some basic background information that ought to be considered in order to make an informed decision about this complicated topic. The next post will sum up all of this and offer some advice.
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism advice, autism advise, autism cure, autism etiology, autism puzzle, autism treatment, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Complementary and alternative treatments, DAN doctors, diagnosis, medical doctor, oppositional behavior, safety
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Monday, April 23rd, 2012
Previously, I discussed the potential that stem cells can exhibit to differentiate into useful tissue. Families interested in curing, reversing or overcoming symptoms of their child’s autism with this technology ought to be knowledgeable about whether the process works for other medical conditions. Unarguably, even by those who perform the procedure for autism, the evidence is in it’s earliest stages.
Current Stem Cell transplantation that is medically utilized (United States):
Stem cells are useful when bone marrow requires rejuvenation after chemotherapy or radiation to wipe out cancer cells.
Pretty close to acceptance:
Heart attacks with cardiac damage
Ongoing investigations include:
Bladder repair / replacement
Retina repair
Cornea replacement
Strokes
Spinal cord repair. FDA approval for a study. A recent citation entitled, Human Umbilical Cord Blood Stem Cells Infusion in Spinal Cord Injury: Engraftment and Beneficial Influence on Behavior actually refers to rodent recipients.
Central Nervous System Conditions such as Multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s Disease
Evidence (not necessarily experience) lacking:
Autism Spectrum
Cerebral palsy
Brain injury
Other Central Nervous System Conditions (e.g., Alzheimer’s)
The information will advance at a rapid rate, so my advice is to discuss the information as it pertains to your child, with a knowledgeable, independent and trusted practitioner.
1. Only consider human trials. We’re talking about a loved one here. A recent Cancer Research article was entitled, Human Neural Stem Cell Transplantation Ameliorates Radiation-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction. Although it looks very promising, the procedure was performed on rats. I can’t help thinking how easily someone with a vested interest in influencing a particular outcome might use that headline in order to justify or provide evidence of stem cells’ efficacyHow well a treatment works.
2. Surf wisely. Do your own research. Since much of that involves the ‘net, you are observing edited presentations of patients who are only like your child in their families’ desire to help heal their child. Are the images you watch of male or female children? What are their ages, and other co-morbid medical conditions? Did they present after vaccination (as always, an impossibility according to the AAPAmerican Academy of Pediatrics), like your kids, or were the children atypical since birth? Did they have GERDGastroesophageal reflux disease-a condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the esophagus, or frequent antibiotic usage, or abnormal stooling since they came home from the hospital? What other treatments, such as antibiotics or steroids, were given with the transplant? Anecdotal evidence is very difficult to evaluate from youtube.com or parental testimonials. Editing is the whipped cream that can convince hopeful parents to take the plunge (and often, music is the cherry-on-top).
3. Learn when Stem Cell Treatment didn’t work. The first questions I ask when presented with any autism protocol are, “Who didn’t get better?”, and of course, “Who got worse?” These procedures are being performed in foreign countries. Even if, as is the usual contention, the criteria for certification or cleanliness are as stringent as they are in the US, the reporting agencies may not be. Centers should provide well documented outcomes and transparent (and reproducible) statistics. Follow up studies are scant. Since I know that many parents have grave concerns over administering oral melatonin to assist sleep, I can’t imagine how those families deal with this level of investigation.
I am always interested to learn from patients who have had the procedure performed on their children, some multiple times, and some who are looking to do it again. In the limited population that I have examined, the children appear to respond the same as with most biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions treatments in that the more affected the child, the more treatment(s) is required. I have not yet noted more improvement than in those children who were treated with less complicated biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions interventions.
Next up: Choosing a Stem Cell Center
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, 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, doctors curing autism, HBOT, medical doctor, remove toxins, safety, Stem Cell Therapy, Vaccine
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Tuesday, April 17th, 2012
Stem Cells Microscopic View
Parents search the world for answers when their child has a complicated medical condition. The more exotic, enigmatic, or frankly, hopeless the situation seems, the farther that journey takes them. When families consider a medical procedure as complicated as Stem Cell Transplantation, they need to be well informed from an independent – but not necessarily adversarial – source, in order to decide a) a whether to proceed with such a therapy and b) the optimal center for the treatment. Imparting that knowledge in a few concise posts is the goal of these next few blogs. It took me 5 posts to fully explain and give advice about Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment; my point being, if someone tried to explain such a complicated topic to you with LESS than that amount of information and thought, you didn’t get enough information, or think about it enough.
Stem cells have the potential to differentiate into other cells; to become skin cells to repair a severe burn, bladder cells if that organ is diseased or removed, or neurons in the case of spinal cord injuries. In the earlier years of this research, there was a controversy because this particular type of tissue could only be harvested from embryos (very young fetuses), since that would be the greatest source of this type of material. However, the cells can now be extracted from bone marrow, fat, blood (from another person, from yourself, and the umbilical cord at birth), and amniotic fluid and then kept alive and grown in the laboratory. With the appropriate stimulation factors, the desired type of cell can then be ‘born’.
That background information is particularly paramount when considering this type of procedure for autism because the GOAL of this therapy is to stimulate neural pathways which have not developed or developed incorrectly in your child’s brain. So, when choosing a person’s own stem cells, two essential issues are, “Won’t those cells have the same problem as the child?” or “if something is going on with the child’s system, won’t it also affect the new population of cells?”
I have spoken to practitioners of this therapy who answered, “No, the damage may have really occurred at some other time, so these cells will do the trick.” I guess if you are talking about a child who regressed after a vaccination (though that’s impossible according to AAPAmerican Academy of Pediatrics), and you have frozen the child’s cord blood cells, you could argue that pre-damaged cells could perform the new tasks – as long as there is no ongoing systemic problem (with the immune system, for example).
If you choose abdominal adipose tissue from the patient (belly fat – a popular new development), you are assuming that those multi-potent stem cells do NOT contain the same “error” in transcription (making a protein from the DNA, pictured), in order that the new cells will overcome the poorly functioning ones. 
By choosing the cells of other people, the patient is risking tissue acceptance by the their own immune system.
This discussion has only scratched the surface of such a complicated treatment. In addition to considering the desired source of the stem cells, the follow up questions include:
Where to put the cells
How the cells are gonna get to where you want them to go
Who you can trust to perform it
The cost, including opportunity costsopportunity costs are not restricted to monetary or financial costs: the real cost of output forgone, lost time, pleasure or any other benefit that provides utility - very important in autism treatment
EfficacyHow well a treatment works, best provided by anecdotal experience at this time
The risks, mostly unknown at this time
Research, experience and recommendations
So far, my advice on the procedure is to find a good Special Needs Pediatrician. Work on exploring sources of reducing inflammation and addressing cellular energy which has been disrupted by this condition. Unless I uncover some fantastic information in my research, there are many other good treatments to be considered when the child is first diagnosed. For severe developmental delays which remain resistant to present protocols (conventional and alternative), “stem cell therapy” will often surface as an option for the concerned parent and should be considered with a trusted clinician.
This background information will serve as the introduction to my next blog about the present state-of-the-art of this controversial ASDAutism spectrum disorder treatment.
Tags: advice, ASD, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, 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, GF diet, Gluten free, HBOT, Hyperbaric, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, medical doctor, vitamins and ASD
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Tuesday, February 28th, 2012
At the time of this post, there were over 80 million Google pages which answered to a Search request for “Autism”. There were 9 million pages for “Autism Cure”. We can’t cure autism yet; we can treat it, however, quite successfully. Such a point-of-view confers this site a lower listing on that search topic. However, there were 18 million pages for “Autism Doctor” and TheAutismDoctor.com appeared as the first result. I am very proud of that, because it means that people are reading and starting to trust my opinion about this childhood epidemic. My Google rating comes from my readership, not Search Engine Optimization Services.
Somehow, conventional medicine and pediatricians have dropped the ball on this important condition. Where else is a parent going to find information about their child’s condition, especially when professionals appear so clueless?” I just read about … fill in the topic… on the Internet and I wanted to know what you think,” is one of the most commonly asked questions in my practice at The Child Development Center of America. This article will cover what I consider to be the good, the bad and the ugly when it comes to the ‘net and ASDAutism spectrum disorder:
The Good:
I get to treat patients from all over the world. Are you kidding me? This is the greatest honor that any doc could ever have. So, that’s a plus.
Getting important information out to the public so efficiently couldn’t be accomplished before the Internet. There’d be no ‘TheAutismDoctor.com’!
The web contains a great deal of important and correct information about ASDAutism spectrum disorder. Especially when confronted by pediatricians who continue to exclaim, “He’s a boy (premie, like-his-Dad, only-child, spoiled-by-grandma, etc.)… they talk late,” the www helps parents who remain concerned about their child’s development. The diagnosis of autism is often reached by searching for answers about why your child lacks eye contact, or has lost words, or “doesn’t play like the other kids.”
Also, this is my way of venting my frustration about ASDAutism spectrum disorder (have I said ‘epidemic’ too many times?); a modern medical condition which has profound effects upon families, patients, and our educational and healthcare resources – present and future. This method of communication adds to the body of clinical experience by reporting how children change and develop with various interventions. Evaluating those 80 million of pages can best be done by a real doctor, however.
The Bad:
Misinformation is rampant. There are treatment protocols that could harm your child, have not been adequately evaluated, or lack reliable data. There are therapies that could deplete your resources at the expense of treatments that have been proven to help your affected child.
All information appears equal at this i-level. Just ’cause a person learns about architecture doesn’t make them an architect. I have previously admitted that the traditional pediatric community seems to share a large part of the blame by not listening to parents and exhibiting a lack of intellectual curiosity that this problem demands. Once a parent finds a trusted physician, protocols are best handled at that level of expertise. “Can’t you do treatments every 3 weeks instead of every 2?” seems a silly question for a cancer specialist, right? ASDAutism spectrum disorder is a mystery that has only a few really successful interventions. If a patient is going through several therapeutic interventions at the same time, it is really rolling the dice as far as what outcomes you should expect.
All parents want more. Just like for neuro-typical kids, you want more communication, academic achievement, maturity, friends, etc. Amid a myriad of valid, but conflicting information that awaits more thorough research, there are many websites promising miraculous and instantaneous symptom reversal with nearly-scientific explanations and elaborate video testimonials from actual parents. Furthermore, the more that the treatment seems to cost, from thousands-to-tens of thousands per treatment – the more it entices serious consideration by some couples. OK, doctors have been wrong about some stuff. But we’re not all ignorant about childhood development and physiology.
The Ugly
I got hacked recently! Even my little blog that is just trying to disseminate the truth. The user doesn’t need to provide an email address or fill in a survey, and no money is exchanged. There are no advertisements. Who would want to disturb this outlet? Anyway, I purchased a virus checker and an infection cleaner and changed all of my passwords to encrypted terms that I’ll never remember… so that I will have to keep hitting “forgot password” and wait for that email that tells me that it’s OK to access my own information. Which, apparently, someone in Russia is able to do! But, I’ve digressed…
On the ‘www’, therapies that are unwarranted because of risk, cost, or efficacyHow well a treatment works appear equal to more sustainable treatment protocols. If I may offer a bit of old-pediatrician advice: that risk thing… you gotta take it into account, and not just say, “I’ll do anything for my child!” The ability for the dishonest to seek out desperate families is greatly aided by web capabilities. People who are maybe even well meaning, or have helped another child with some other treatment protocol. Plus, perhaps it worked or perhaps it didn’t because you didn’t see / examine that child when a diagnosis was made. So, that’s basically the lowest level of information (scientifically) that you want to evaluate. It’s not invalid, it’s just not YOUR kid.
The scrutiny with which a parent considers the information that is presented by multiple sources of information, including their (regular) pediatrician, their (conventional) specialist, therapists, the child’s grandparents, teachers, books, publications, conferences, research and the web need to be included in order to arrive at the most helpful experience for your child.
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, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Complementary and alternative treatments, DAN doctors, doctors curing autism, Hyperactivity, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, medical doctor, oppositional behavior, Vaccine, vitamin b12, vitamins and ASD, vitamins autism
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Monday, November 14th, 2011
By reporting the highlights of the various conferences that I attend, I have found that 1) it helps me to recall and imprint the information and 2) it helps families who weren’t at the conference to gain knowledge which might be of value for their child. Although this is in no way equal to having attended, this summary will also guide readers about where to look on the Internet to read more about these topics, and/or to attend future seminars.
Dr. Dan Rossignol was a major presenter this year. He spoke about Folate Receptor 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 in Autism Spectrum Disorders. The resulting relative folate deficiency could be a significant contributing factor to many cases of autism because of reduced brain metabolism and energy production. In his inimitable style, Dr. Rossignol presented about a thousand scientific papers discussing his position, and it certainly seemed to make sense from where I sat. Suffice it to say that a) cow’s milk might contribute to the problem, b) giving folic acid to pregnant moms may not be the correct form of the vitamin, c) there are both blocking and binding antibodies and so 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 plays a large part and d) folinic acid (the active form of folate) may ameliorate the situation.
Dr. Rossignol’s other lecture was Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Seizures and ASDAutism spectrum disorder. First, I love seeing the cartoon of the electron transport chain that produces cellular energy (can’t get enough of that one) and Dr. R has perfected this in his presentation. The point of his lecture is that, although ASDAutism spectrum disorder patients don’t necessarily have full-blown mitochondrial disease, there appears to be a great deal of dysfunction in the cell’s ability to make and store energy and so there are downstream symptoms that appear very much like autism. Again, lots of supporting evidence was presented as well as treatments – many of which are the same energy enhancing therapies that we already utilize in the biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions protocols. Speaking ever faster, then Dr. R gave an hour lecture – in 15 minutes – about the occurrence of seizure-like activity (if not actual seizures) which may contribute to many autistic symptoms.
Also, along with Drs. Usman and Berger, Dr. Rossignol directed a very thorough ‘question and answer’ session. The topic of hyperbaric oxygen was covered in some detail, especially the research experience that showed positive responses to this controversial therapy. I was a bit disappointed that Dr. R did NOT cover the CARDCenter for Autism and Related Disorders HBOTHyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - extra O2 plus extra Pressure study which was not able to conclude the same positive results as his research, which was funded by the makers of the chamber. However, for the parents who attended this session, they got to ask really specific questions about their children and the physicians were quite forthcoming with their advice.
Scott Smith, a physician’s assistant and one-time colleague of Drs. Rossignol and Bradstreet, presented a very informative lecture about P.A.N.D.A.S., which is an autoimmunethe failure of an organism to recognize its own constituent parts as self, which allows an immune response against its own cells and tissues syndrome whose symptoms closely overlap those of autism. His point was that testing, diagnosis and treatment are similarly related in the two entities, and that we can learn a lot about ASDAutism spectrum disorder from studying patients who suffer from the debilitating symptoms of P.A.N.D.A.S., including severe OCDsObsessive - Compulsive Disorders, tics, behavioral disturbances and regressions in cognition and language.
Dr. William Shaw, the Director of Great Plains Laboratory gave a very enlightening presentation about cholesterol deficiencies which may occur in ASDAutism spectrum disorder patients, resulting in decreased brain structure and function. He discussed the importance of the Sonic Hedgehog protein (yep, it’s named after a game character), a major signaling protein which could be altered in the presence of low cholesterol and therefore lead to symptoms, including autism. Cholesterol is also important in the binding of serotonin and oxytocin, which have also been implicated in ASDAutism spectrum disorder symptomatology. Oxytocin was discussed a lot during the conference – not much to report other than anecdotal improvements.
Dr. Anju Usman’s lecture was Autism and the Autonomic Nervous System. There was more evidence about the benefits of oxytocin, especially when combined with secretin (which was a popular ASDAutism spectrum disorder therapy several years ago). The importance of cortisol and a normal biorhythm was presented, especially when disturbances occur and the autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic) becomes unbalanced, resulting in many symptoms which autistic individuals experience. Just hearing Dr. Usman calms the listener – I’m sure that her families appreciate her wonderful demeanor.
Dr. Elizabeth Mumper of the Rimland Center gave a wonderful talk about starting therapy for the autistic child. I mention this because any parent (or professional) who is new to the ASDAutism spectrum disorder puzzle will gain a great deal of knowledge by attending one of her lectures.
Dr. Andrew Wakefield gave a presentation about his upcoming book, Waging War on the Autistic Child. Look, I love hearing Andy speak (that British accent is so compelling) and he got a really raw deal from the medical community. But, I’m not sure if perhaps he has jumped the shark?? You know, gone overboard with a presentation about how one family got screwed by the government, school system and complicit, ignorant, unyielding doctors who didn’t agree with how one set of parents were raising their children. What else is new? I would like to see Dr. Wakefield focus more on what we CAN DO about it – the science and the research that will force change through knowledge.
The most illuminating presentation, I found, was by Raun Kaufman, a recovered autism patient. His dad, Barry Neil Kaufman, wrote the book, Son-Rise, which documented the journey. Raun was dynamic, entertaining and informative. His organization, The Autism Treatment Center of America, provides expertise and education so that parents can actually help their kids out of their autistic world by entering it and enhancing interactions which can then be generalized to other areas in their lives.
But the best thing about this weekend’s conference? It was the sound of laughter coming from parents and squealing of kids in the swimming pool. I couldn’t stay to hear Dr. Julie Buckley’s lecture about Caring for the Caregiver, but I bet relaxing and having fun must be part of her prescription.
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism advice, autism advise, autism cause, 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, HBOT, heavy metals, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, medical doctor, oppositional behavior, remove toxins, Vaccine, vitamins and ASD, vitamins autism
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Thursday, August 18th, 2011
Yesterday, I examined a beautiful little 32 month-old girl who appeared moderately challenged by her autism. By watching the child and listening to the parents’ story, I became fairly certain that there were biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions interventions that would have a positive effect on improving the youngster’s health which would ultimately lead to changing her behavior for the better. That’s a mouthful, however I’m not so certain that the complex information that I’m trying to impart is always coming out of my mouth correctly.
So, there I was, defending my protocols and remedies (which the father had already acknowledged as leading the family to my practice) and I wondered, “Why do I feel so uncomfortable with my usual explanations?” The answer? Because modern views about autism, its cause, and cure, and even the epidemic proportions of the problem itself remain under question. When a patient is given protocol A or B to follow at home, it involves some very serious discussions which should lead to an understanding that the parent displays before this practitioner will let it go. Or, I won’t be as successful.
A physician is responsible for educating the parents of a juvenile diabetic about sugar levels, insulin injections, lab results, diet and activity. Complicated problems sometimes require complicated explanations. The family won’t be able to ask their local pediatrician about this type of therapy. ASDAutism spectrum disorder is a complete mystery to many of those guys and gals. The neurologist claims that all complementary and alternative interventions for such a “genetic” disorder are useless. That might be true if the epidemic that we call Autism was the same disease that they read about in medical school. The Internet represents a tangled web about ASDAutism spectrum disorder, for sure.
Here are some facts about the present state-of-the-art regarding medical autism interventions:
Fact: If autism is a medical condition, a medical doctor should be in charge of the recovery.
Fact: Just because “there is no literature to support” a given treatment protocol, doesn’t mean that it isn’t worthwhile.
Fact: Conventional therapies (especially behavioral) are the most proven methods of assisting recovery. We need to combine the various traditional and biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions interventions in order to produce the best results. Any treatment that automatically excludes another – at this time of great ignorance – is, well, ignorant.
Fact: Some medicines don’t taste or smell very good. In fact, they’re darn horrendous. Kids don’t always know what’s best for them.
Fact: No one wants to give their child a ‘shot’. Parents do what we have to do.
Fact: There are negative behaviors that may initially result from many of the biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions interventions. These include bowel and/or bladder problems, rashes, unusual or more disruptive behaviors, sleep disturbances or interference with traditional therapies or school. A competent practitioner can help the family through such trying times.
Fact: Once on the path to recovery, patients do not just ‘regress’ back into autism. When symptoms arise, the doctor should perform a thorough examination in order to understand the reason for the change in behavior.
Fact: It takes time to get your child on the path to improvement. The older and/or sicker the child is at the time of treatment, the longer and more difficult the journey. This is no mere platitude, rather an exhortation to work even harder to get help. I have found that patience really helps the older patients improve more than you think.
Fact: Curing your child is best discussed with a competent physician, not your neighbor. Not that your friends or co-workers aren’t well-meaning, knowledgeable or possibly even experienced, rather that they don’t carry the responsibility of their advice.
Fact: Speech acquisition is a great thing, not the only thing. Reading and mathematics should take a back seat to behavior and understanding as the most significant skill set leading to a productive outcome.
Fact: There are presently no autism pills, sure-fire protocols, chambers, IVIntravenous - into the veins fluids, secret potions or electronic devices that cure autism. Some of those therapies may offer profound improvements, some may carry more risk than others and some may drain your resources. That doesn’t mean that we can’t reverse autism.
Fact: Autism can be best managed by parents who find and listen to a trusted doctor who has proven results and who shows interest in your child’s progress.
Tags: advice, ASD, ASD advise, ASD etiology, autism advise, autism cause, autism cure, autism treatment, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Complementary and alternative treatments, DAN doctors, doctors curing autism, vitamins and ASD, vitamins autism
Posted in >ALL<, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Chelation, Diets, HBOT for ASD, Patient experiences | 1 Comment »
Saturday, July 30th, 2011
One or two times per year, the staff at the Child Development Center gets to visit a very busy school for developmentally challenged children in South Florida. Unfortunately, most of the families have pretty limited financial resources. With the assistance of my Spanish-speaking staff, we usually examine 10 or more of the most affected clients. I visit with each family for approximately 1/2 hour, then try to help identify children who might be candidates for biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions intervention. The purpose of the clinic is to diagnose children in our community who would not otherwise be exposed to complementary and alternative medicine in order to help parents decide whether this is something that they would like to explore. Costs are kept to a minimum and even the small application fee is donated back to the school.
I thoroughly enjoy the experience, both because the children are extremely interesting and the families are so appreciative. Plus, I gain a ton of experience with treatment-naive patients, which is rare in our Internet-connected age.
Here is a sample of the incredible children who were seen at our recent clinic:
1. How many neurologists does it take to make the diagnosis of autism? This 6 year-old boy demonstrated significant developmental impediments, including motor delays since the age of 15 months, when he was neither walking nor talking. Neuro #1 said, “Not sure. Let’s wait a while and see.” Wait until when, to see – what? Doc #2, who examined the toddler at 2 years of age, when the child was still not demonstrating speech or language, said that there was developmental delay. Ya think? When pushed for a diagnosis, Neurologist #3 said that “It might be Autism.” Neurologist #4, who saw the child at 3 years, when he was only saying a few random words, prescribed Risperdal, then Intuniv for the behavioral problems. Yep, it’s ASDAutism spectrum disorder!
2. All oppositional behavior is not just oppositional behavior. The parents of this 8 year-old female were concerned because of the child’s “lack of focus”, over-activity, and generally “bad moods”. The medical history told a much more important story of a typically developing child, speaking at one year, who had “complete loss of eye contact and speech within the month after her second MMRMeasles, mumps and rubellaAlso known as "German Measles", caused by the rubella virus vaccine vaccination.” (I ain’t saying’ anything about the ‘shots’- not in this blog). Anyway, the child has had many bowel problems, multiple sensory issues, and behavioral problems throughout her life. Not surprisingly, Vyvanse and Ritalin have not made her better! I believe that this remarkable child had regressive autism, from which she has mostly recovered, with some residual problems which could very well be amenable to biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions intervention.
3. This child’s story represents the folly of modern Western medicine. This little girl was born in Nigeria, developing typically, and even ahead of schedule in motor and speech domains. Apparently, in Africa, many children receive a BCG vaccination to prevent tuberculosis, which is endemic. When the child arrived in America, she demonstrated a positive PPD test (a skin test to check for TB), due to the previous intervention. But, the “rules” of the public health department dictated that the child receive 9 months of a medication to “cure the problem”, after which she regressed into severe ASDAutism spectrum disorder. When I examined the child who is now 7 years old, she had failed to improve from Risperdal, Adderall, Abilify, or Intuniv. Drugs, drugs, and more drugs.
4. Even alternative medicine therapies don’t always work. This 7 year-old male has demonstrated developmental delays since infancy. When I examined him, he was moderately-to-severely affected by his ASDAutism spectrum disorder symptoms, especially in the social domain. The family has spent a great deal of resources on chelationinvolves the administration of agents to remove heavy metals from the blood with DMSAanother metal ion removing chemical,,, targeting lead and mercury. Oral and rectal preparations., HBOTHyperbaric Oxygen Therapy - extra O2 plus extra Pressure (soft), multiple supplements, spironolactone (a diureticVarious elixirs (chemicals, prescription, natural) that help the body get rid of excess fluid, by various means that is sometimes used for it’s anti-inflammatory effect) and even Ritalin has not been able to help the hyperactive behaviors. Perhaps it is time to step back, examine what are the major symptoms, and address the medical problems that could be causing his distress.
5. Maybe DAN protocols will work? This 3 year-old boy was diagnosed as autistic since the age of 16 months. However, the medical history consisted of multiple episodes of otitis mediamiddle ear infection which required antibiotic treatment. Instead of pouring more medications into the child, my impression is that there are many children like him, who have acquired their ASDAutism spectrum disorder through the increased usage of antibiotics, and they may get a great deal of symptomatic improvement through biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions intervention.
This is just a sample of the myriad presentations of ASDAutism spectrum disorder which are all around us; in our communities, and among our families. As physicians get more experience with the various signs, symptoms and patterns of illness and recovery, we will hopefully get better at making the diagnosis and helping our patients improve.
Tags: ADHD, advice, ASD, ASD advise, ASD etiology, Attention deficit, autism advise, autism cause, autism etiology, autism treatment, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, DAN doctors, diagnosis, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, oppositional behavior, Vaccine
Posted in >ALL<, AD/HD, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Chelation, Diets, HBOT for ASD, Patient experiences, Vaccines | 1 Comment »
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