Autism

Every year the number of children diagnosed with autism increases. Marked by impairments in behaviour, language and social skills, autism is the most common childhood neurological disorder in Canada. One in 165 Canadian children is affected with boys two times more likely to develop it than girls. While there appears to be no conclusive cause, most researchers have reported strong links to genetic and environmental factors.

The Vaccine Connection?

In February 2008, the U.S. government conceded a vaccine-autism case in federal court. An autistic child was awarded damages after vaccination lead to neurological damage. The rider on the case, however, was that the child had a pre-existing disorder that was aggravated by the shots and ultimately resulted in autism. Conventional medicine has long held steadfast that there is no connection. Thousands of parents, however, have identified that their child’s autism presented shortly after vaccination. Do all these children have a genetic pre-disposition? Vaccines in general assault young, fragile immune systems. Many children have difficulty with this toxic load and while a small number appear to develop autism, others develop a myriad of health problems from skin conditions to chronic immune disorders.

Toxic Heavy Metals are Common

Treatment begins with testing for heavy metals, especially for mercury, a potent neurotoxin that damages nerve cells. Sources of mercury include seafood, silver dental fillings, and until recently vaccines. After thimersol, a mercury containing preservative, was removed from vaccines a few years ago, the number of new cases of autism dropped sharply by 35%. Test results show that mercury is often present, and treatment with oral chelation medicines removes this and other toxic metals. Many parents report moderate to remarkable progress. In a study of 152 autistic children, 39% showed slight improvement and 36% showed marked improvement after six months of treatment to remove mercury.

Correct Digestion and Diet

Many autistic children have poor diets due to digestive problems and limited food choices. This results in vitamin and mineral deficiencies, especially Vitamin A, B vitamins, magnesium and essential fatty acids. One of the cornerstones of autism dietary treatment has been the gluten-free diet. Salivary Gliadin IgA needs to be tested to determine if your child has a gluten intolerance. Allergy testing will quickly identify problem foods that may be causing inflammation. Sugar, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, hydrogenated oils and food additives, as well as mercury containing fish must be avoided. Diet modification and treatment to restore digestive function are essential.

The Vitamin D Connection

Special consideration is given to Vitamin D levels that are usually very low in autistic children. Vitamin D is absolutely critical for proper development. It must be measured and increased to optimal levels, not standard reference ranges.

New Hope for Autism

Regardless of the cause, autism can definitely be treated. There is no one-size-fits-all, and treatment can be a challenging and lengthy process. A systematic approach identifies and treats the factors responsible. The results are encouraging with many children emerging from their symptoms and engaging the world around them.

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