Recounting events that take place over just a couple of days at The Child Development Center provides me with the opportunity to paint a picture* about state-of-the-art medical care for complicated pediatric development. This is a newly emerging specialty, which is now presented as a fellowship of the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs.

It is of utmost importance that patients receive a correct and precise diagnosis. That should lead to the most specific treatment(s), presumably with the greatest chance of success. Autism, unfortunately, is not a precise diagnosis. There are multiple causes for the unusual behaviors or physical properties that bring concerned parents and their children to our medical practice.

AM Any_Day: This was the third follow-up visit for a 3-1/2 year-old boy who has “escaped autism.” What a patient set of parents! They have understood the difficult journey, taking their at-risk child to the next developmental level, without the use of stimulant or anti-anxiety medications. In this case, the child demonstrated an inability to tolerate oral glutathione (for poor muscle tone). Only a course of anti-fungal medication complicated our otherwise positive road to a resolution of the majority of behavioral concerns.

Then, there was the second follow-up visit of a moderately affected 2 year-old. Four months earlier, he spoke just a couple of words, demonstrated repetitive arm and body movements and appeared in a profound fog. Now, the child interacts with his parents and is speaking. G-I problems were his main initial findings that, when addressed, assisted in his improvement.

This was followed by the fourth follow-up visit of a 3 year-old girl who first presented six months ago. As an infant, there was GERD, and speech was significantly delayed. This child’s food allergy panel was especially unusual. With strong probiotics, appropriate vitamins and supplements, plus occasional anti-fungal treatment, she has been able to make great strides toward an optimal outcome.

That afternoon: 4- and 6 year-old brothers whose level of complications equals the most difficult patients in the practice, from a diagnostic and therapeutic perspective. The older boy is brilliant but has behavioral challenges that are responding positively to treatment. The younger one has yet to show much positive response in his communicative abilities. Mom is incredibly knowledgeable and, together, we explore reasonable strategies to address their continued delays.

Following that, there was a Central American family whose 3 year-old son presented eight months earlier with moderate-to-severe ASD, including speech apraxia. We discovered his significant gluten, casein and egg allergies, and vitamin D deficiency. He presently has more than 100 words (español, por supuesto), makes eye contact and plays with his parents. Mom and Dad do not care that, “There are no studies demonstrating the efficacy of dietary interventions…”

AM Next_Day: New patient, a preteen with P.A.N.D.A.S. This story needs a blog of its own.

Another new patient, a 5 year-old with mild signs and symptoms of his earlier autism, treated with conventional therapies. Socialization and other behaviors concerned the parents enough to seek interventions while hoping to avoid stimulant and/or anti-anxiety medications.

And, it’s not even ‘hump’ day. Plus, there are all the calls, letters, charting, emails, labs and support personnel necessary to assist these determined families.

Each of these patients presented with a unique diagnosis requiring evaluation and treatment protocols that were unknown to me, ten short years ago. From this pediatric specialist’s perspective, there is a whole new world of complex developmental problems, and they require very special consideration.

*To protect anonymity, the dates and names of patients have been randomly selected
  • Find a Topic

    Generic selectors
    Exact matches only
    Search in title
    Search in content
    Post Type Selectors
  • Recent Posts

  • More Internet Information…


  • The Art of Autism

  • The Autism Site Blog

    • Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism

    • Contact

      www.childdev.org
      Pediatric Special Needs Medicine
      Functional and Integrative Children’s Care

       
      Address – Brian D. Udell MD
      6974 Griffin Road
      Davie, FL 33314
      Phone- 954-873-8413
      Fax- 954-792-2424