Autism Symptoms and Treatments
Possible Causes and Effective Remedies for Kids with Autism
A natural perspective on the causes, symptoms, and treatments for childhood autism. This recent autism information includes information about natural treatments.
Childhood autism is increasing, and so are the treatments and information. Though autism research is growing, doctors haven't identified a single cause of childhood autism.
Childhood autism is four times more likely to strike boys than girls.
Signs of childhood autism
Kids with autism tend to isolate themselves from the people around them, preferring instead to stay in their own worlds. Children with autism are withdrawn – usually severely so – and have trouble with verbal expression. Kids with autism often live in fantasy worlds that they've created.
Children with autism tend to have a weaker immune system, and struggle with chronic infections (this is less a sign of autism, and could rather be a symptom).
Causes of childhood autism
Many factors seem to play a role in childhood autism:
- Brain defects that developed during the birth process
- Vaccination
- Poor nutrition
- Food or food additive sensitivities
- Brain inflammation
- Fluctuating blood sugar levels
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
Autism research includes the possibility that viruses or other pathogens are connected with causes of autism.
Childhood autism & food sensitivities
According to Michelle Schroffo Cook, author of The Brain Wash, "many autistic children have food sensitivities." This supports Jenny McCarthy's experience with childhood autism (she wrote a book about her son Evan's childhood autism, called Louder Than Words: A Mother's Journey in Healing Autism).
Food sensitivities often have a delayed reaction, making it difficult to identify which are affecting kids with autism. Cook says, "May of the symptoms of autism are comparable to the symptoms of food sensitivities, although the list of symptoms of food sensitivities is…varied."
Treatments of childhood autism
Music or dance therapy can bring a child with autism out of isolation. Play therapy is effective for some kids with autism.
Go gluten-free. Dealing with environmental and food sensitivities is important in treating childhood autism. Since gluten is a common food sensitivity in both adults and kids with autism, it's best to eat gluten-free products. Autism research shows that almost 50% of people with autism have improved symptoms when on a gluten-free diet.
Go dairy-free. Different elements in dairy products can cause food sensitivities – it's not just lactose that causes problems. Lactase does help with lactose intolerance, but not with other proteins and elements that can be problematic in childhood autism.
Schroffo Cook stresses the complete elimination of gluten, dairy, and food additives from the diets of kids with autism. While this may not cure childhood autism, it may improve the signs and symptoms in kids with autism.
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