Autism Can Be Successfully Treated
For years they have been treating children with different physical problems such as: autism, learning disabilities, attention deficit disorder, hyperkinesis cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, etc. The effects on the family of any exceptional child can often be devastating. Families have been shattered by the experience. The effects on siblings are also overlooked. I have not been directly affected by this disease, but am very close to loved ones in which deal with this life challenge every day of their lives. Recently, the ten year old brother of this precious autistic child, age 5, when asked about the change in his brother stated, now I have a brother, he plays with me. He takes my toys. He talks to me. He never did this before.” Today, there has been much success in treating infantile autism. Over the years the definition of autism has changed enormously. During my early years of practicing in the field of psychology for an organization called Opportunity Health Services focused on children with special needs, we would see 3 or 4 children that met the criteria of autism. Through the years, we saw at least 1,000 who have been labeled such. Today, any child that doesn’t function normally or is delayed ion speech is labeled autistic. It has become an epidemic. The diagnosis of autism is growing almost exponentially. During the last 30 years, a billion dollar industry has sprung up over autism. We now have specialized physical therapist, occupational therapist, and speech therapists. There are psychologists who specialize in mild, moderate or severe autism. There are numerous descriptions and names given to children based on their level of functioning. Society is defining an allergic-biochemical problem with the resultant behavior and not by the cause of the problem. Worse, as a result of this, parents are given no hope that their child will ever function normally. We are closing the door of life and opportunity on these children. Many were told to institutionalize them. Thousands of parents have spent many nights crying over the prognosis given to them. Most parents seek assistance from clinics looking for a miracle and are overwhelmed that the answer can be so simple. If we look back, many great figures in history would have been labeled autistic by today’s criteria (in their childhood), and their careers curtailed. One of these to my opinion is Albert Einstein, who didn’t talk at age 6. He certainly would be labeled autistic by today’s standards. The American Autistic Society has publicly stated that these children can never be normal. This is a fallacious and damaging statement. Autism is an altered state of the immune system rendering these children sensitive to exposure to certain foods, environmental chemicals, inhalants, molds and even chemicals in their own bodies such as neurotransmitters. These sensitivities clearly affect the brain and prevent normal functioning. Most parents have seen their child develop normally for 18 months to 2 years of age. Then suddenly they lose their speech, eye contact, social interactions, and exhibit bizarre behavior such as: hand flapping, finger movements and repetitious movements. What has happened to severely change these children? Most parents are convinced these changes occurred after the child received one or more of the many vaccines in use today (i.e.: DPT’s, MMR, hepatitis B, etc.) They often saw these children run a high fever then experience a gradual decline in their functioning. Studies shown that other changes are occurring from the altered system.
1. Acidification of the blood from the loss of bicarbonate in the urine resulting in oxygen deprivation to the brain and muscles. Many of the children have been diagnosed with a metabolic acidosis of unknown etiology. This acidification of the blood is the result of an allergic reaction, usually to foods. This can be improved with sodium bicarbonate, Alka Seltezer Gold, Eno, Tums, etc.
2. Malabsorption of vitamins and minerals. This results in significant deficiencies in these critically essential substances.
3. Protein deprivation from allergy caused albuminuria.
4. Zinc deficiency from inadequate absorption and zincuria. Albumin is the carrier of zinc in the blood.
The zinc deficiency is partially significant if we look at the disease Acrodrematitis Enterpathica (AE). In this disease it’s been proven that children can survive only on human breast milk which is one of the richest sources of zinc. Without breast milk, or more significantly zinc, these children have no eye contact, cannot be held or touched, or disturbed. There is a great similarity to autism. When given breast milk, these symptoms disappeared. We now know that it was the zinc in the milk that relieves the symptoms. Eye contact and affectionate behavior is the first to be established.
Medicine has proven that with two specific treatments, autism can be treated. The first is to get control of their allergy reaction. This can be accomplished several ways. These testing include food and antibodies though autistic children are not only affected by foods. They are sensitive to pollen, dust, chemicals and molds. This can only be treated with elimination or neutralization.
Chemical sensitivity can be am enormous problem for these children. Many have had to be taken out of schools and taught at home. The burden of chemicals in the schools is often too much (cleaning agents, vinyl, plastics, perfumes, insecticides, paints, new construction, etc.). Some of these children may even be taking a diesel bus for 30 – 40 minutes to school and upon arrival were “spaced-out” the rest of the morning.
The second aspect of the treatment for autism, and equally as important as the allergies is the consequence of intestinal malabsorption, as adequate nutritional environment is not being provided to the developing brain. Therefore, their daily diets need to be supplemented with vitamins and minerals. The economic toll of autism is enormous. There are special schools; special therapists and thousands of hours of professional care and treatment are required. With the adoption of specified treatments modality the economics saving could be huge. Then, there is the toll in human suffering. This is immeasurable. There is emotional pain beyond comprehension. There is disruption in family relationships. The other children are greatly affected. Too many children and families are suffering unnecessarily. Now, there is help for these children.