How-to: Helping an Autistic Child

If I had an autistic child, the following are things that I would do. However, while not autistic, I do have a child who experiences significant mental developmental delays and I incorporate some of things I mention in this recipe in order to help her.

Ingredients:

• hope and faith that you will find the answers you are looking for in order to help your child
• persistence in exploring various solutions until you find the one(s) that work for your child and family
• loving your child just as he or she is;  seeing that autisim isn't a curse, but a wonderful blessing of growth and opportunity
• a relationship with an alternative healthcare practitioner who does many of the testing and therapies listed below
• a house that has no junk food, packaged food, pop or any other food with chemicals in it

Steps:

1. Read the book Son-Rise.  In a world where society looks at autism as a curse and something that is "bad", the author of this book and his wife, decided to see autism as a blessing in the journey to help their once autistic child.
2. Consider attending a program at the Autism Treatment Center of America.
3. Get your child tested for food allergies.  The ELISA blood food allergy test can be done by a naturopathic doctor.  These physicians can be found in Canada, the US, Australia and elsewhere.  Food allergies and food sensitivites are common aggravating factors for mood swings, irritability and lack of focus and attention in children.  Removing these from your child's diet can have a dramatic impact with improving his/her nervous system so that your child can experience more calm and peace.
4. Go through your entire house and throw in the garbage all foods that contain added chemicals (i.e. words on food labels that you can't pronounce or don't know what it is).  As well, throw out all foods that contain the words "sugar", "sucrose", "fructose", "dextrose", "corn syrup" and "lactose" on the label.  Chemicals and refined sugars are like poison for the brains of children who are struggling with learning and behaviour.  They are like gasoline on an uncontrolled fire.  (Eating out at most restaurants, especially fast food restaurants, must be a thing of the past).
5. Get your child tested for heavy metals.  (Naturopathic doctors can do this among other licensed practitioners).  The use of a chelating agent to determine this provides the most useful information IMO.
6. Give your child good quality fish oil that has been molecularly distilled.  Look for high concentrations of DHA in the formula.  1000 mg minimum.
7. Get your child tested for vitamin and mineral deficiencies.  Often times, these children have low levels of vitamin Bs, various amino acids, and specific minerals that are low, and these deficiencies significantly aggravate moods and behaviours.