Autism

What is Autism?

 

Autism is a neurological and biological disorder that affects individuals in the areas of social interaction and communication. Autism is referred as a spectrum disorder, meaning the symptoms can occur in any combination and with varying degrees of severity.

 

ASD affects individuals in every country and region of the world and knows no racial, ethnic, nor economic boundaries. Currently one in every 150 children born in the U.S. has been diagnosed with autism. This number does not include PDD, Asperger’s Syndrome, and other spectrum disorders.

 

Typically Autism Affects Individuals In Four Key Areas:

  • Communication (Verbal and non-verbal)
  • Social Skills
  • Behaviors
  • Learning

 

Common Autistic Traits

 

People diagnosed with autism process, respond, and interact with information in different ways. In some cases, individuals with autism may not be able to speak, may have self stimulatory behaviors (such as hand flapping, vocal utterances, repetitive behaviors), may be aggressive or be self-injurious. Each individual with autism is affected differently. But like with all people - not all individuals with autism are alike. In fact, very few autistics have the exact same issues. Very few individuals with autism are affected with all the issues specified below.

 

Some autistic traits could include:

 

  • Scatter/splinter skills of abilities – such as poor gross motor or fine motor skills and the ability to read at a very young age
  • Oversensitive or under sensitive to pain
  • Desire for the same daily schedule, toys, type of clothes or an insistent on “sameness”
  • Repeating words, phrases in place of typical language or conversation (This is known as echolalia)
  • Much difficulty expressing needs – they may use pointing, gestures versus words, or tantrums
  • Finding situations funny or laughing at times when it is inappropriate (i.e. laughing at a baby crying.)
  • Activity is noticeably under active or over active
  • Excessive or Frequent tantrums
  • Can be aggressive or self injurious
  • Prefers to be alone – may have social skills deficits
  • Autistics can act deaf or be non responsive to verbal cues
  • Odd play such as; spinning objects, or using toys for something besides there their intended purpose or using an odd attraction to an item that is inappropriate for age
  • Non existent or poor eye contact
  • Non responsive to typical teaching methods
  • May respond negatively to crowds or not able to mix well with others
  • Difficulty with holding a conversation
  • May not like hugs, or to be cuddled.
  • Sensitivity to loud noises, tags in clothes, coarse clothing, lights, and smells
  • Frequently uses peripheral vision to track items (e.g., rolling car along countertop at eye-level)
  • Highly self-limited diet (narrow down foods they’ll eat to a very limited few items when previously a broader range was accepted (e.g., bread, chicken nuggets, cheese, milk, and crackers – period.)
  • A high amount of severe food allergies
  • History of chronic ear infections as an infant
  • Severe gastro-intestinal issues / chronic loose and/or foul-smelling stools.
  • Lack of imaginative play or imitation.

Many of the above traits can occur in neurotypical individuals as well. However, the more symptoms from this list that apply (at least eight or more,) the possibility of autism might be considered and discussed with your child’s physician or a qualified pediatric neurologist.

 

A Biomedical Approach to Treat Autism!

 

Unfortunately there is not a cure for Autism yet, but it is treatable. Many children now greatly improve, and some even recover due to evidence-based behavioral and or/biomedical interventions.

 

Consistent trends have been found in the biochemical make-up of Autism Spectrum. These biochemical imbalances create neurological/ neurotransmitter imbalances, which result in psychological and physical symptoms.

 

Biomedical treatments help the body restore and rebuilt the biochemical deficiencies. When making a treatment plan, individuality is the key.

 

Common Biochemical Imbalances among ASDs

 

  • Severe Zinc deficiencies
  • Elevated Copper/Zinc Ratio
  • Inability to detoxify heavy metals
  • GI Problems
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Increase in infections and inflammation

 

The biomedical approach includes

 

  • Improve Diet
  • Food Allergies
  • Vitamin/Mineral Supplements
  • Essential Fatty Acids
  • Amino Acids
  • Gut Treatments
  • Thyroid Supplementation
  • Sulfation
  • Glutathione
  • Detoxification / Chelation
  • Anti-Viral Treatments
  • Anti-Fungal Treatments
  • Immune System Regulation

 

Autism and mHBOT

 

Using the chamber can bring extra benefits for the autistic child. To read more about it, click here