Treating Autism - Gluten Free Diet

Gluten is a special type of protein that is commonly found in our day-to-day food items. While it
is an essential element of our diet, the body of an Autistic child reacts differently than a normal
child. Hence, it is essential for the parents to plan gluten free diet for your child suffering with
Autism, Initially, one must understand that gluten free diet is not a cure of Autism,It primarily lessens
the symptoms of Autism in the child. Further, one must hold on to this diet for several months

rather than a few weeks. While the gluten free diet the child intakes does its job well, it takes a
long time to remove the gluten that is already consumed. In certain cases however, people do
find immediate results.

Treating Autism - Gluten Free Diet

Autism It needs a lot of planning to follow gluten free diet. The regularly used cereals like rye, wheat,
and barley contain high content of gluten. Therefore, it is also found in most types of bread.
Yet, grains such as wild rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, amaranth, quinoa, teff, oats, soybeans,
and sunflower seeds contain are surely gluten free. Certain vinegars and sauces also contain gluten. The artificial flavorings and many other
snacks & cookies available in the markets also contain gluten.
To your surprise, gluten can be present in foods that you would never have expected such as
the spices. So while following the gluten free diet, be sure to read the labels on each and every
food pack.
Gluten free diet can be quite expensive to follow as these items are sold mostly at the specialty
or health stores. While this might get too heavy for your pocket, nowadays major grocery stores
also deal in these products. Gluten free flour, pancake mix, waffles, cookies, snacks, and many
other foods are also now readily available.Hence, it is advisable that parents make a group and shop in bulk for these products. This

makes the costs relatively cheaper and later the families can share the food items. Planning economically, it is also convenient to cook gluten free food at home. The recipes are
available at many common resources like the internet & cook books. A whole lot of information
in this regard can also be gathered from the book shop or the library near by.

Treating Autism - Gluten Free Diet

Children suffering with Autism can consume meat, fruits, fish, vegetables, eggs, nuts, etc. as
these are all gluten free. To make this diet interesting for the child, one might plan children's
beloved snacks made out of gluten free ingredients like muffins & cookies made of gluten free
flour. Once this practice gets into the system of the household, it gets easier.
The dairy products contain casein that the autistic children are commonly allergic to. So while
following this diet, many people minimize or stop the diary products as well. Yet, it is advised
that you should get done your child's allergy testing. Your doctor can guide you more on the
same.

FILED UNDER: Understanding And Treating Autism

Treating Autism - Signs Of Autism

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As the parents are gradually getting cautious about
Autism, one must understand the symptoms
of this disease. As the doctors explain, as early the disease is diagnosed the more are the
chances of cure. Following below is a list of symptoms of Autism, In case you find any of these
in your child, you're advised to consult your child's doctor immediately. A simple evaluation &
check up can save your child in time.

Treating Autism - Signs Of Autism

1. The child does not meet the development stages on time.

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While some children start crawling at a tender age of 4 months, some do not reach this
achievement until several months. Both ways, it is fine. Similarly, there are many stages that a
child reaches in his growth process. Though there is no fixed time span for all these stages, if
the child is showing a delayed response in every step, you must check with the doctor.

2. Your child is not able to talk.

As children get aware of the environment around them they show responses in several ways.
They start blurting a few words at a very young age and suddenly some day you realize that
they are able to speak full sentences. The usual age when the child starts babbling some words
is 16 months. In case your child does not react with words even after 16 months, it can surely
be a matter of concern. The doctor might call for some evaluation tests that are necessary.

3. Your child does not make any eye contact.

Babies & children usually look at you while you talk to them. Children suffering with Autism
avoid all sorts of eye contact. They seem to be lost elsewhere rather than looking at you. Try
pointing out an object to them and they would look past the object, reacting nothing to what you
tell them.

4. Your does not emote.

Children suffering with Autism do not emote at all. They do not smile back to some one passing
them a smile. Normally children start crying if they see another kid crying. An Autistic child won't react to any such situation. Unlike the normal kids, an Autistic child does not like to be
cuddled or held in the arms. They would not approach their parents to be hugged or cuddled.

5. Your child likes to be alone.

Children suffering with Autism normally do not play with the kids around them. They rather like
to be left alone and play all by themselves. They make very few friends or may be none. They
can not differentiate jokes. As a result, they would follow each and every word told to them
literally.

6. The child keeps forgetting anything taught to him.

You taught him to make the bed today and just 4 days later he behaves as if he never knew
anything about it. Autistic children can not retain anything you teach them. They need to be
told about the very basic chores & skills time & again.

Treating Autism - Signs Of Autism

These are very few symptoms of Autism. Also we must understand that all children suffering
with Autism won't show all the signs together. They might show one or some of them. If you
note any of these in your child consult your doctor and get the essential evaluations done within
time. Remember, the earlier you diagnose the ailment, the sooner you can initiate the

treatment. You might find that there was nothing wrong with the child, but its always safer to reassure
in case of any doubts.

FILED UNDER: Understanding And Treating Autism

Treating Autism - Doctors And Diagnosing Autism

Hearing your child has
Autism, Your first inclination might be to
get a second opinion and no one would stop you. However, once your child has been diagnosed
with Autism,instead of looking for a way out, you should begin treatment. There are signs to
look for if you think your child might suffer from autism. If you witness any of problems or
abnormal behavior, call your doctor.

Autism is a brain development disorder and is usually diagnosed before a child turns three

years old. Here are some symptoms to look for in your child

Treating Autism - Doctors and Diagnosis Of Autism

- If your child is showing speech regression, there might be a reason for concern. Also, if your
child is taking a long time to start talking, longer than most children at that age.

- Another problem you might see is the way your child interacts with other children. Perhaps
your child refuses to play with other children or doesn't seem to respond well in social settings,
you should visit a doctor to get more information.

If a doctor suspects a problem, they will perform a battery of tests. Every child is different, so
one test will not show if a child has autism. Every child has different symptoms and responds to
the disorder differently. Your family doctor will do a full work up with family history. If your doctor
does suspect any problems, your doctor may refer you to a specialist in Autism and similar
disorders to get a proper diagnosis.

A doctor will start with performing auditory tests. There could be other reasons your child isn't
speaking well or not playing well. It could be due to hearing problems. There are two ways to do
a hearing test. The first way is done while a child is awake and reacts to the tones he or she
hears. The other is done while the child is sedated and a machine measures the brain activity to
certain tones

Treating Autism - Doctors and Diagnosis Of Autism

Blood and urine tests are usually taken as well to analyze DNA. The doctor is probably looking
for the Fragile X syndrome, which normally shows up in children with autism. Along with DNA
tests, the doctor may perform an MRI or a CAT scan to examine brain functions.

If your child does get diagnosed with autism, it's important to give your child structure. This is
going to start with the doctor. Don't drag your child around to the three or four doctors hoping
the diagnosis is going to change. Get one doctor who is going to give your child a uniform
treatment. This will help your child in trusting other people if they see the same face all the time.

FILED UNDER: Understanding And Treating Autism

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Treating Autism - Accepting The Diagnosis Of Autism

When you hear that your child has been diagnosed with Autism, the worst thoughts come to your mind. You can feel scared, lonely and overwhelmed.. All of these feelings are natural when dealing with a new situation, but it doesn't have to be terrifying. There are many organizations and people to help along the way. During the process of coping with the diagnosis of Autism, you may go through a mixture of feelings. Here is what to expect and the stages of dealing with the diagnosis.

Treating Autism - Accepting The Diagnosis Of Autism

Stage 1 - Denial: This is common and usually happens immediately after you hear the diagnosis. You could think not my child or the doctors have to be wrong. There is nothing wrong with getting a second opinion but if a second opinion confirms what has been told, don't keep dragging your child from doctor to doctor hoping for something different. It's important to move past this stage of the process because denying the existence of Autism isn't going to help anyone, especially the child. The quicker parents accept the diagnosis of autism, the quicker treatment can begin.
Stage 2 - Anger: Getting angry is a natural human emotion. There are different ways to go through this anger. You can get mad at yourself, thinking you did something wrong. You can get angry at God, questioning why your child has Autism. You may even get mad at other parents with healthy children, wondering why they don't have to deal with Autism. The key when dealing with anger is speaking to someone about it. Speak to someone you trust. Your doctor might be able to refer you to a counselor who can help with these issues.
Stage 3 - Grief: Grief is a very strong emotion, but a natural one in dealing with bad news. Feeling sad is not a bad thing though, so you should never feel guilty about feeling heartbroken. However, don't let this emotion overwhelm you because you might transfer this onto your child who might blame themselves, thinking they did something wrong. Working past grief is important, but it's also a natural process. If you notice you are sitting in stage three too long or people around you think you have been grieving too long, seek the help of a counselor.
Stage 4 - Acceptance: It may have taken some time to get to this stage, but this is the end result in coping with the diagnosis of autism. At this point, you can finally move on with your children and get the best care. Your child is different and this isn't a bad thing, nor should you ever feel that way. Once you finally accept an autism diagnosis, you and your child can move on to have a happy life. Having autism doesn't change that.

Treating Autism - Accepting The Diagnosis Of Autism

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Autism can be difficult to manage, especially depending on the severity of the case. There are services to help you, so you never have to feel overwhelmed. If you ever spend too long in any one of the first three stages, seek counseling because those specialized in these kind of cases will be able to help you move on. Not only is it important for parents to accept their child has autism for their own sake, but for the child's as well. The only way to really help your child is by accepting the course of their life.

FILED UNDER: Understanding And Treating Autism

Treating Autism - What Causes Autism

Whenever a doctor informs the parents that their child is suffering with Autism, the first & foremost question that is thrown over him is - How did it happen? How did my child get this disease? Well, there is no definite answer to what are the exact causes of Autism. Yet, there are various theories that the researchers and doctors are working on. Interestingly, it is found that Autism is rather common in boys than girls. Earlier, it was believed that Autism occurred due to emotional trauma. Hence, bad parenting was added to its causes. The doctors said that mothers not giving their children enough attention & love were a problem. However, these factors were proved wrong with enough study & research.

Treating Autism - Theory Autism

The most known theory regarding the causes of Autism is - Genetic. Some researchers feel that individuals are born with the predisposition to be Autistic. Later on some environmental triggers make them Autistic. They say, there are several genes that lead to Autism, but are yet to find them. Environmental factors are found to make a great impact on Autism. Studies show that there are several cases of Autism in small towns that are exposed to high levels of toxins & chemicals.
Usually, towns located near the industrial areas or factories have quite toxic air that triggers Autism among children.
Another interesting theory regarding Autism links it to mercury. They say, as Autism was first diagnosed near about the same time when vaccines were given, Autism was caused due to the mercury content in the vaccines. Mercury or thimersal in the vaccines in today's date is almost nil or in mere trance amounts.
Also there could be several other risks if these vaccines are not given to the child. So, one finds no reason to blindly blame the vaccines and hence avoid them in order to prevent Autism.

Treating Autism - Prevent Autism

 

Go Here To Download The Treating Autism Book .From The Official Site

Rather high level of mercury can be met by eating a lot of fish, or being exposed to the industrial emissions. Research says that there might be a certain link amidst the expecting mothers and their children being Autistic. Now, the researchers are testing the pregnant women's exposure to mercury and they would further study the babies at birth. This would help them monitor, if there theory is proved true or not.
Further Autism is linked with some underlying health issues. It is said that children suffering with diseases like Fragile X Syndrome and Congenital Rubella have higher chances of being Autistic. Metabolic imbalance is another perception. Researchers say that metabolic imbalance in the child might also lead to Autism. In order to get through the right cause of Autism, much more study and analysis is required. Hopefully there would be a day when we would be able to prevent and cure the disease. Until then, we must fight back the disease with courage.

FILED UNDER: Understanding And Treating Autism