Posts Tagged ‘advice’
Sunday, April 7th, 2013
I recently met one of the most interesting parents that I’ve ever interviewed. This is a mom of a 5 year-old ‘spectrum’ child seeking help because she didn’t want him to “experience the same difficulties that I had at his age.” Mom seemed quite typical to me, so I asked, “What kind of problems did you have?” She used to be obsessed with airplanes, drawing them, reading about them, thinking about them, and watching them. She didn’t have any friends, and other children didn’t understand her. She was bullied. That is why she was bringing her child to see me, so he didn’t have to suffer those same problems. I asked her when she first got a joke, and she replied that it was around when she was 18!
“You know, I am married now with 2 kids, and sometimes,” she told me, “I will be writing a check for my husband’s business and all of a sudden I will find myself thinking about airplanes, or I will see a pattern on the ceiling and I have to follow it until the end. After that, I’m fine.” After a thorough interview, It seems to me that this person was a cured Asperger’s patient! She made good eye contact, had a husband and friends, and didn’t consider her past as any deterrent to her present life.
Because I had the good fortune to work with a child psychologist for the past couple of years, I saw many ‘Aspies’ coming through our office. The main lesson that I have learned is that, just like there isn’t one kind of autism, there isn’t one kind of Asperger’s presentation.
It has been more difficult, in many ways, to help Aspies than ASDAutism spectrum disorder patients, because the symptoms are more vague and there isn’t necessarily a consistent medical history. Even the incidence of this disorder varies widely. According to one paper, “A 2003 review of epidemiological studies found prevalence rates ranging from 0.03 to 4.84 per 1,000, with the ratio of autism to Asperger syndrome averaging 5:1… combining this with a conservative prevalence estimate for autism of 1.3 per 1,000 suggests indirectly that the prevalence of Aspergers syndrome might be around 0.26 per 1,000… Part of the variance in estimates arises from differences in diagnostic criteria. For example, a relatively small 2007 study of 5,484 eight-year-old children in Finland found 2.9 children per 1,000 met the ICD-10 criteria for an Aspergers syndrome diagnosis , 2.7 per 1,000 for Gillberg and Gillberg criteria, 2.5 for DSMDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IVIntravenous - into the veins, 1.6 for Szatmari et al., and 4.3 per 1,000 for the union of the four criteria. Boys seem to be at higher risk for Aspergers syndrome than girls; estimates of the sex ratio range from 1.6:1 to 4:1, using the Gillberg and Gillberg criteria.
There are several realizations that have become apparent as more patients are recognized and seek biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions intervention. First, the diagnosis is often historical. Rather than exhibiting the usual red flags that ASDAutism spectrum disorder babies demonstrate, most patients are pretty routine infants and toddlers, but as the children enter preK, problems start to emerge with lack of focus, anxiety and immaturity. Parents often report that the children used to have friends, but become more and more isolated over time. Similarly, the medical history indicates that affected patients “used to make eye contact,” which diminishes over time. They become more and more fixated on singular activities and interests throughout childhood and, by adolescence, affected patients are pretty much ‘loners’ who have seen psychologists, psychiatrists and other specialists. Frequently, several medications have been tried, and patients often present on more than one medication to address focus and anxiety.
Second, not all Asperger’s patients are ‘high functioning’. Although their particular interests may make them experts in dinosaurs or bugs, they do not behave well in school, or in most social situations. Furthermore, low self esteem and anxiety can often interfere with even the most mundane situations. Parents frequently report that getting ready for school in the morning is a nightmare.
Third, autistic patients don’t outgrow ASDAutism spectrum disorder and then go on to become Aspies. Patients who demonstrated core problems with social isolation, repetitive movements, and social isolation as toddlers, but develop more skills and abilities towards an optimal outcome in their preteen years are recovering autistic patients, not Asperger’s individuals. This is important because regressions in ASDAutism spectrum disorder patients often respond to the usual biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions interventions of G-IGastro-intestinal (stomach, small intestine; large bowel) treatment, alleviation of allergic problems, or mitochondrial under-functioning.
Lastly, it appears that the more the affected individual is aware of their condition, the better their outcome. Anxiety is reduced and self-esteem can improve as the patient becomes more aware of why they are different from others. Many Aspies object to combining their diagnosis to the whole ‘autism spectrum’ as will be documented in the new DSMDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5. Combining ASDAutism spectrum disorder, PDD-NOSPervasive (or Persistent) Developmental Delay, not otherwise specified, and Asperger’s syndrome might be a medical mistake. Is Asperger’s Syndrome a form of autism? When we combine 2 or more diagnoses that we don’t understand, couldn’t that make us twice as ignorant?
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD diet, ASD etiology, Asperger doctor, Attention deficit, autism, autism advice, autism cause, autism cure, autism etiology, autism puzzle, autism treatment, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, curing Asperger, DAN doctors, doctors curing autism, medical doctor
Posted in >ALL<, AD/HD, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism Therapies, Earliest Red Flags, Patient experiences, Reversing autism | No Comments »
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 »
Monday, March 18th, 2013
I get a great deal of requests from students around the world to assist with their research papers. Because these questions are asked so frequently, I decided to post the latest inquiries with my responses, which I think will help all readers.
Dr. Udell,
I am a Junior in high school. For my advanced placement English class we were assigned to write a research paper. I have decided to write about the rise of children being diagnosed with Autism. If is isn’t an inconvenience I would greatly appreciate a response to my questions below:
1. According to the CDC one in 88 children are diagnosed with Autism. What factors have contributed to this sharp increase?
A. Toxic environment acting on susceptible fetuses and infants. This is by far the most important reason for the increase.
B. Better recognition.
C. Broader range of signs and symptoms included in the diagnosis.
D. Inclusion of some genetic syndromes such as Fragile X and Retts syndrome.
2. Is this issue global or more centered in the United States?
I see patients from all over the world, including the Middle and Far east, India, Africa, south America, Central America, Europe. Although most countries have not reported as high an incidence, there is definitely a world wide increase (think toxic world).
3. What are some of the ramifications seen by this increase now, and what are some long term effects on society if this trend continues?
A. Increased need for early recognition.
B. Increased need for services and useful interventions.
C. Increased need for physicians suspecting the diagnosis and research.
D. Future increased needs for adult services and appropriate living facilities.
4. What are some proposed solutions to this issue, and what preventative measures can and are being taken?
A. High index of suspicion with earlier diagnosis and interventions.
B. Recognizing toxic environment and reducing toxic load.
C. Use of successful medical interventions at earliest possible times.
D. Healthier pregnancies with better nutrition and less toxic exposure.
E. Finding genetic and other markers of risk for prevention.
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD etiology, autism, autism advice, autism advise, autism cause, autism cure, autism etiology, autism puzzle, autism treatment, Complementary and alternative treatments, DAN doctors, medical doctor, Pediatrician autism, pediatrician treating autism
Posted in >ALL<, AD/HD, Alternative and Complementary Medicine 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 »
Tuesday, February 26th, 2013
Don’t you just love it? An ADHDAttention deficit - hyperactivity disorder patient was (finally) doing really well on 20mg of medicine in the AM, plus 10mg in the afternoon. It took months to fine-tune the correct medication, dose, and timing. Everything was going well and then the insurance company intervened with the following ‘recommendation’ from their protocol committee, “Change the medication to the generic form, change the dose to different dose (either a lower or increased amount) of a long-acting formulation, and therefore change the timing.” Of course, the parents don’t HAVE to change what was working, the company just won’t pay for the therapy to be delivered that way.
Thank you, NoGo Insurance Company. Your complicated explanations are neither welcomed, nor helpful. In fact, such a recommendation creates extra work for the family and physician, and chaos for the patient. Often, costs go up as we try to adjust to the new meds. The money that gets saved is because of deals that the company had cut with the drug maker. How about negotiating with pharmaceutical manufacturers so that the patient gets to take the medications that are already effective?
This is a uncomplicated example of a single medication given for ADHDAttention deficit - hyperactivity disorder. You can imagine, therefore, the complex decisions that are involved in patients with ASDAutism spectrum disorder. There are the determinations about which therapies to fund, what meds are required, which doctors to reimburse, and the educational environment. The autism epidemic has created an entirely new set of circumstances about which the insurance companies know NOTHING. However, they continue to operate with the same set of rules and in the same universe as conventional pediatric care.
One study reported “It can cost about $3.2 million to take care of an autistic person over his or her lifetime. Caring for all people with autism over their lifetimes costs an estimated $35 billion per year.” A summary of how individual states handle services can be found here. Perhaps surprisingly, the therapy that my patients are least likely to utilize is ABAApplied behavior analysis... the science of controlling and predicting human behavior, which has been proven to help. Even though it is part of the allowed treatment options in selected states, companies apparently balk at payment, by providing few baseline dollars.
The combination of biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions and traditional therapy is a powerful solution that can significantly reduce the time that it takes for children to recover, or at least become mainstreamed. The well published >$40,000 per child per year EXTRA that it takes to care for a child on the spectrum equals $200K for 5 years. Therefore, we must make the diagnosis as early as possible – before 3 years – and not “wait ’til the child is older”. Most children could be mainstreamed by 8 years and that could save hundreds of thousands of dollars (over a lifetime) with a superior outcome.
There are two major reasons why the paucity of insurance coverage presently exists. First, the insurance company doesn’t really pay much attention, because the epidemic is so new and they haven’t historically covered any amount – so they don’t see the savings. Second, the conventional medical community is still arguing whether there even IS an epidemic, whether ASDAutism spectrum disorder is a genetic condition, whether this condition is treatable, and whether the patient can recover. You want best practices? Use the work of Dr. Martha Herbert, Dr. Doreen Granpeesheh, The University of Washington, Dr. Richard Frye, and Columbia University’s Dr. Michael Gershon. We need a new paradigm, and that starts with pediatricians, neurologists and psychiatrists understanding that kids can get better – as reported in the recent literature.
Most of us won’t have access to the powers-that-be in health insurance companies and get them to listen and cooperate. But doctors, if you can’t help us, please stay out of the way.
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, medical doctor, Pediatrician autism, pediatrician treating autism
Posted in >ALL<, AD/HD, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism Therapies, Earliest Red Flags, Patient experiences, Reversing autism, Speech and Language | 2 Comments »
Sunday, February 17th, 2013
There is an important skill that every child with ASDAutism spectrum disorder needs to learn and practice – going to the doctor. I have several patients who have actually been expelled from their practitioner’s office for disruptive behavior, including the neurologist and pediatrician! That’s pretty extreme, considering that the medical specialist should be familiar with what happens when any child enters the terrifying atmosphere that promises fear, discomfort and pain.
So, when a patient who suffers from difficulty with receptive and expressive language is taken to a place of such foreboding, it isn’t difficult to imagine the anxiety and agitation that will inevitably accompany that fateful trip. Often, the child has been prodded and ‘stuck’ many previous times, then gets placed in rooms with strangers, too much light, unusual noises and odors that make even the most neuro-typical adult tremble in anticipation of the too familiar or the unknown.
Whether it is the ER, the pediatrician’s office, or another exam room, the child’s behavior will have a profound effect on what the practitioner decides is wrong and how to proceed. If the child is screaming and acting out from the onset, the doctor may not even have the opportunity to listen to the parents’ story, let alone perform an adequate physical exam. Patients who otherwise may not even have a fever or rash may develop symptoms just because of the unusual atmosphere. How can a doctor decide if the eardrums are inflamed when merely placing the speculum into the patient’s ear canal causes so much agitation that the procedure itself leads to irritation and redness? Listening to the heart and lungs becomes a futile effort in a sensory-heightened, fleeing individual.
To be sure, there are measures that professionals can take to mitigate the impending storm. The office environment should be designed to be more serene with soothing lighting and relative quiet when possible. The child should be provided with an area to play and get accustomed to the surroundings. It is desirable to schedule the most disruptive patients when there are more staff members to assist and fewer strangers in the waiting room.
The doctor needs to speak with the family first, and let the child get used to the situation. The clothes that professionals choose don’t have to be the white or blue uniforms that suggest bodily invasion. Forget about lab coats, and neckties are an unwelcome distraction (and, they become very uncomfortable when pulled or urinated upon). Because ASDAutism spectrum disorder children are often smarter than outsiders believe, it is very helpful to speak in a matter-of-fact manner, even to the youngest or least aware patients. Finally, I let my kids touch and play with the medical equipment before applying it to their body. This trick has resulted in the need to replace some equipment; but with the help of eBay, it’s not too expensive.
Parents can also do things that will assure a more effective visit. First, please purchase a toy doctor’s kit (no small parts, of course) and have the children practice. Second, ask the therapists to rehearse a physical examination. If the child can’t tolerate such a mock exam, it’s not going to improve when the real thing occurs. Next, the family’s ability to provide a calm and reassuring pre-trip experience is paramount. Statements such as “This is the nice doctor” or “This doctor isn’t going to hurt you” are rarely believed. Finally, the visit is really not the time to correct minor problems (“Sit up straight”) or show off behaviors (“Show the doctor how you…”). Such requests are confusing and only serve to increase anxiety.
A thorough interview with the family and effective physical examination will ultimately have a positive effect upon your child’s health. There is less likelihood that unnecessary antibiotics will be prescribed, just to get the patient out of the office. There is more opportunity to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. For autistic children who cannot speak, it is the best chance that the practitioner will see the child as a whole human being and think about what is going wrong to cause ill health.
Tags: advice, ASD, asd advice, ASD advise, ASD diet, ASD etiology, autism, autism advice, autism cure, autism etiology, DAN doctors, doctors curing autism, medical doctor, oppositional behavior, Pediatrician autism, pediatrician treating autism
Posted in >ALL<, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Asperger's Syndrome, Patient experiences, Reversing autism | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, February 12th, 2013
My dream was to create a fun and inviting space, entirely free of charge, where children with special needs could have a great time and interact with one another, with the help of devoted professional volunteers; a space that would also provide support, awareness and information to the families, and which would, hopefully, grow and inspire others.
There are many great parents in our practice who contribute in various and helpful ways to addressing the autism epidemic. Some volunteer at their school, others provide professional services for developmentally challenged children, and some donate their time and resources to the community.
The Autism Society - Broward is one great example. Through local efforts, the organization helps raise money (Dan Marino Walkabout for Autism), sponsor surfing and golfing events, provide yoga classes, a monthly lecure series, and as a clearing house for ASDAutism spectrum disorder problems in our community. The all-volunteer Board of Directors makes sure that all monies are directed to actually help our ASDAutism spectrum disorder community, through education, participation and fund-raising efforts. It is the most hands-on and friendly Board that I have had the pleasure to assist, and I have served on many Boards of Directors throughout my pediatric career.
Taking the desire to address the Autism Epidemic to a whole new level is The Bubble Tree, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. It was founded by a grateful parent who wished to give back to the community by providing a safe place for all children to come and play. In a magical setting, kids have the chance to play, get therapy and socialize. Special classes, such as art, are even provided on a regular basis. No fee is charged for this unique haven, with a suggestion/donation box as the sole evidence that such a resource does require monetary assistance for continued survival.
In addition to providing such a wonderful indoor play area, The Child Development Center of America has been allowed to offer our medical services to patients who would not otherwise be able to travel to Weston, where our main office is located. Since, June, 2012, I have been taking a staff member and some equipment twice a month to visit with a different set of parents than that who makes the other trip. We have been able to help patients who have never been exposed to biomedical...a focus on medical and dietary interventions intervention and many who have visited several conventional clinicians without getting real improvement in their child’s condition.
Given the need for such an amazing resource, a surprising challenge for The Bubble Tree has been the need to raise awareness for community support and volunteers. It seems that, at the end of a busy school day, many children go to aftercare, therapy(s), or tutoring classes. After dinner, homework is the major chore and before you know it, it is bedtime so the day is completed and there was never time to get to play. The Bubble Tree is open Monday through Friday, so families who are concerned that there aren’t any parks or recreation should make time to find their way there. The website provides plenty of information about the activities and even provides a scheduling program to streamline services.
My advice to locals – don’t let such a fabulous opportunity to help your children languish. Visit the website and take your chldren to the funhouse. You won’t be disappointed.
Addendum:
Well, it was built but the population didn’t come. Too many other things to do, I guess.
So, our last clinic will be in June and we hope to see you in Davie.
Thanks for all the great work that the Bubble Tree owners tried to get going. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.
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, doctors curing autism, medical doctor, oppositional behavior, Pediatrician autism
Posted in >ALL<, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Earliest Red Flags, Patient experiences | 3 Comments »
Saturday, February 9th, 2013
“The teacher said that my child doesn’t listen… The Speech and Language therapist said to use only one language… The DAN! Doctor wants my child to take… The OTOccupational therapy... enables people to participate in the activities of everyday life said that the child needs practice… My in-laws say that nothing is wrong… I read something on the Internet about… Somebody-I-know-who-knew-someone-with-autism-who-got-better said…”
AutismSpeaks keeps telling us about genetics. Alternative doctors continue to offer chelationinvolves the administration of agents to remove heavy metals from the blood. NAET practicioners say that they can get rid of a child’s allergies and help autism. Chiropracters. Neurofeedback. Neuromuscular Reflex Integration. Hearing therapy. Hyperbaric Oxygen chambers, hard and soft.
Have you heard about the study on stem cells? Is that the same as IVIG? How about the research on Bumetanide, Spironolactone, Actos, Secretin, Namenda, Baclofen, Biotin, Folinic acid, NAC, DMGDimethylglycine, a precursor of Glutathione, TMGTriimethylglycine, a precursorA building block of another substance of Glutathione, SAM-e and B12 ‘shots‘? Do I know about MMS for autism?
The pediatrician wants to keep putting the child on antibiotics. The neurologist suggests Risperdal to improve behavior. The psychiatrist is thinking Abilify. The teachers think that Adderall would do the trick. Intuniv is touted as a helpful medication. The dermatologist says that the rash is eczema. The allergist advises steroids. The gastroenterologist wants to do an endoscopic examination, and give Miralax in the meantime.
Parents are often counseled that 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. should be ignored. The Son-rise program advises joining the child’s unusual repetitive behaviors. There are numerous supplements to address symptoms; including taurine, GABAgamma-Aminobutyric acid, the chief inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system (Wiki), CoQ10, carnitine, carnosine, vitamins and minerals. Speak™ for speech. True Focus for focus. There are protocols for immune system support, G-IGastro-intestinal (stomach, small intestine; large bowel) system support, and brain support. Want more? Treatments have been advocated using fecal transplants and even parasitic worms.
Then, there are the diets. GF/CFGluten free and casein free dietGluten free and casein free diet, The Some-Other-Food-Specific Diet, Low Yeast Diet, The Blood Type Diet, Low Oxalate Diet, Specific Carbohydrate Diet, The Feingold Diet, Organic foods, and Dr. Udell’s diet. Oy veyan exclamation of dismay or exasperation (Yiddish)an exclamation of dismay or exasperation ... (Wiki).
Studies have shown that ASDAutism spectrum disorder patients can get better, and we know people who have. Older literature indicates that individuals don’t really lose the diagnosis, a self-fulfilling prophecy that explains such a belief. The cause has been ascribed to inflammation, the environment, mercury, lead, aluminum, plastic, etc. Research indicates that the problem is mostly in the brain, while distinguished professor Martha Herbert teaches that ASDAutism spectrum disorder is a whole-body disorder.
Hello! Is it any wonder that parents are so confused about what to do with a non-typically developing child? We can’t even agree on a diagnosis. Is it Asperger’s, ASDAutism spectrum disorder, Severe, High Functioning or PDD-NOSPervasive (or Persistent) Developmental Delay, not otherwise specified? Parents come to our practice all of the time with developmental problems that you just can’t put your finger on. It isn’t the ADHDAttention deficit - hyperactivity disorder of the olden days, or the speech delay, or just oppositional behavior. The broadest category is “non-typical” – not what you would expect. For now, anyway. More precise diagnoses among the various professional organizations and disciplines will only serve to hasten effective intervention(s).
There will be additional theories offered, and sometimes treatments may work. But others may make patients worse. And some children who could have improved – even on their own – may deteriorate because of the wrong line of thinking, whether intervention is conventional or alternative. At a juncture so critical as this, in the thick of the most important childhood epidemic of the 21st century, physicians need to lead and assist an increasingly learned public on how to proceed. If pediatricians do not investigate and practice new protocols, the families will proceed without them.
Parents and patients need guidance through such a complicated maze of opinions and treatments. A united front on autism will emerge as parents, educators, physicians, therapists, and other practitioners agree about their role in recovery of function. Doctors should be more knowledgeable and speak honestly with the families about how much we do not know, what doesn’t work, what could be harmful and what is just too expensive without acceptable statistics proving benefit.
All treatments need to be assessed with scientific scrutiny and with empathy. That doesn’t mean alternative and complementary treatments should wait. Sometimes, physicians have to prescribe pretty strong medications to very disruptive children in order for the family (and the unfortunate patient) to get relief. On the other hand, let’s not get too upset with parents who try a GF/CFGluten free and casein free dietGluten free and casein free diet diet when there exists the myriad of treatments such as those listed here.
Parents need to find honest practioners with lots of experience who can analyze and properly utilize all of the possible protocols and recommend a reasonable and safe course for each affected individual.
Tags: ADHD, 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, Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Complementary and alternative treatments, DAN doctors, diagnosis, diet for autism, doctors curing autism, food allergy, GF diet, Gluten free, Hyperactivity, Pediatrician autism, pediatrician treating autism, vitamins and ASD, vitamins autism
Posted in >ALL<, AD/HD, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Asperger's Syndrome, Autism Therapies, Chelation, Patient experiences, Reversing autism, Special Therapies | No Comments »
Friday, February 8th, 2013
Just a quick note to say that I will be giving interviews later today for the Autism Channel, a site that broadcasts only on ROKU (a small set-top box) at this time. Production plans are to expand to the Internet and other venues. So, for now, you can only read about the interview at the web portal.
In a small series of interviews, I plan to describe how I make a very early diagnosis of Red Flags for autistic behaviors, how to get started with early therapies, and what to look for as children improve.
This week’s blog is called “United for Autism?”, in which I discuss the wide variety of choices for helping your child, and how professionals need to form a more united front for making the diagnosis and choosing which of the myriad of therapies to choose.
Stay tuned…
Tags: advice, ASD, 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, DAN doctors, diagnosis, doctors curing autism, medical doctor, Pediatrician autism, pediatrician treating autism
Posted in >ALL<, Alternative and Complementary Medicine for ASD, Autism Therapies, Conferences, Earliest Red Flags, Patient experiences | No Comments »
Categories
Archives
Contact Us