Asperger's, ADD, other issues
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posted 18 Oct. 2009, 5:58 pm (2 moms have responded)
Hi All,
My 10 year old Silly was just dx with Asperger's. I' just wondering if others have had these kind of issues with their diagnosed ones. I've had a couple of people tell me to try her on the GF diet....well, she's been on it for 8 years. I do wonder if she was not GF, if her symptoms would have been more exaggerated and it would have been easier to diagnose her. Any thought?
Nancy
PA
Replies
posted 3 Dec. 2009, 11:02 am
I have my son on a gluten free diet and reduced dairy. I do see differences when he gets an "overdose" of both or one. We are a gluten free family/house because my husband and younger son have celiac, but Austin my oldest has behavior problems and I placed him on GF this summer and there was a huge difference. He can handle a little now that it is all out of his system, but not too much. Going Dairy free seems undoable for me so I reduce dairy, severely limit cheese and use soy and almond milk. It seems to help. I know Jenny McCarthy has a book out about her son being undiagnosed from Autism and all she did was change his diet. Jenny is a huge advocate here in the US for GF/DF diet. I find out in a couple of weeks Austin's exact diagnoses. He has been in therapy for 18mos and I finally went to a Children's hospital to get him diagnosed.
We are both educators and have worked with many autistic children and children on the spectrum. So when our daugther started to exhibit some autistic type behaviors we were concerned immediately. When we began the diet her behavior went into the more "normal" range. She was able to move on after melt downs, and accept less than perfection and deal a little better with change of routine. But those things are still a part of her personality. For some reason a GFDF diet does seem to help although it is very controversial in some circles.
Even if you had and early diagnosis there really isnt anything that you could change other than an early understanding that it is just the way your child is wired. In a lot of ways an autism diagnosis doesnt give you any answers just confirms what you have more than likely figured out about your child already. They are wired a little different and need a little extra help, guidance and understand so they can deal with life in a way that makes them feel safe and comfortable!
It is still scarey to see that label/diagnosis. Some of the neatest, funniest kids I have taught had aspergers. Good luck!