Monday, October 12, 2009

How Is Autism Treated

How Is Autism Treated?


Gluten- and Casein-Free Diet








Change the diet of an autistic child by eliminating casein and gluten completely from the child's diet. It is recommended that you change the whole family's diet for better success over a period of many weeks. You will need to remove all dairy-based products first; do not replace them with soy products or goat's milk products. Next, replace all bread group products with gluten-free and casein-free products. You can no longer eat wheat, rye, barley or oats. Eventually, you will replace all personal hygiene products as well. These diet changes have been very successful when followed correctly.


Education Techniques and Expectations


The Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) includes children with autism. Those with autism tend to struggle with developing communication skills, understanding language usage as well as social functioning deficits. Some classroom interventions that assist students with autism are visual aids, sign language, posted schedules and verbalizing schedules in advance several times before they take place. Teachers may want to tell autistic children that an event or activity will be occurring in 30 minutes, then in 10 minutes. Pictures may help the autistic child to prepare as well. Be sure to get these instructions in writing on your child's IEP (Individual Education Plan) to ensure school compliance. If your child is on the GFCF (gluten free casein free) diet then you will also need to provide a container for your child's classroom with GFCF school supplies. Otherwise, your child will be contaminated at school despite all of your hard work. You will need to supply GFCF snacks, markers, modeling clay, glue and craft supplies. If the class is cooking, provide GFCF ingredients. When there is a class party, provide GFCF treats and cupcakes for your child or all the children in the class.


Adding Supplements


Many of those suffering from autism display low levels of B vitamins, vitamin A, vitamin C, biotin, selenium, zinc, magnesium, amino acids, and the essential fatty acids EPA and DGLA. They may also have low levels of dimethylglycine, niacin, and chromium. This could be caused in part by gastrointestinal problems and their diets. Whatever the cause, those with autism need to take larger quantities of vitamins and minerals than those without autism. Carnosine is usually concentrated in muscles, body tissues and nerve tissue, which includes the brain. A study on children with autism receiving 800 mg of carnosine a day resulted in improved vocabulary and recognition after 8 weeks.

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