Autism - the Epidemic of Today

Autism is defined by Medicine.net as, " A spectrum of neuropsychiatric disorders characterized by deficits in social interaction and communication, and unusual and repetitive behavior. Some, but not all, people with autism are non-verbal." Autism, a spectrum of disorders that varies from minor to severe deficits in social interaction and communication affects an estimated 1 in 160 children. The number of children affected by autism continues to increase each year, and yet the field of medicine has yet to make a correlation to what is causing this increase in cases of autism.

Over the years, vaccines have been in the spotlight thought to cause autism in some children. While many children may have an adverse reaction to the chemicals in vaccines (especially high levels of mercury/thimerisol) which can induce symptoms of autism to begin, there must be an underlying predisposition. If an underlying predisposition for autism was not present, then more children if not all would experience the same reactions to the levels of thimerisol in vaccines, unless vaccinations are not the cause but merely an additional symptom of autism.

Other recent headlines have discussed a much more intriguing aspect of many autism cases. When children are placed on a very strict gluten free casein free (GFCF) diet they often show less severe symptoms. Tantrums lessen and attention improves. Bowel functions regulate and sleep patterns normalize. Many physicians and families have found that a GFCF diet in combination with appropriate therapies increases recovery rates tremendously.

There are a variety of therapies that can be implemented for the child with autism as well. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), Play and Speech therapy, and Occupational therapies may all be excellent choices for a child learning to live with autism. These kinds of therapy teach the child how to function in life, as well as to communicate and act in social situations helping the autistic child reduce moments of awkwardness.

When a team approach to wellness is taken, then more rapid results can take place for the child. For example, if the ABA therapist, speech therapist, nutritionist, teacher and parents are all on the same page and understand all the aspects of the treatment plan, more consistency will occur and the child in turn will benefit. The team approach is the best method to helping a child with autism learn the skills needed for life and social interaction/communication. Making sure that all team members are on the same page and have the same goals in mind for the child is crucial for implementing a successful treatment plan.

Many children recover from Autism. They live normal lives. They grow up in normal schools and go to normal colleges. They get married and have children. Finding the right balance of therapies, supplements, diet, and support is like a puzzle. Once all the puzzle pieces are together, the child will be whole. There is hope.