DISCLAIMER:MY OPINION,LOL.
Without starting a whole argument on the different reasons for autism or the different approaches to treatment, here is my advice passed on to me by the dev. ped.(extremely educated and qualified in autism) that dx'd my son at 18 months. She left the state and went back to NC or I would be seeing her now.
She told me when my son was dx'd that there was alot of info. out there and that there were just as many claims of treatment and miracle cures as there are opinions on autism, and to be careful. Just so you know where I stand, she like me did share the view that autism was around long before mercury in vaccines so as a cause, I don't buy it, as a contributing factor to a predisposed child, very possible. She told me that they believe in the tested, researched and proven therapies to help the children, autism cannot be cured, and anyone who claims they can cure it should be looked at closely. People who have autism or aspergers can benefit from these therapies and can even become so high functioning that they may not fit the criteria for dx any longer, but they will always retain certain traits. She believed that it was a doctors job to support the parents in what they felt was right as far as treatments while providing information and help to insure the safety and well being of the child, so if I wanted to try the diets or the biomeds, she would help me do that safely, but there would be certain things she would draw the line at condoning. I think this is the best approach, as every child is different and I have people who swear by the GFCF diet and others (like me) who saw no results at all. It has to be what works for your child and can be done safely. Don't be afraid to try things, but please don't buy into the claims of a miracle cure and certainly don't feel like you failed if one type of treatment doesn't work for your child. That said good luck and god bless.
DISCLAIMER: MY OPINION,LOL.
22 May 2007, 1:41 pm
