The success rate experienced by families who undertake a biomedical approach for autism is often excellent, for those who stick with it. A major problem is that by the time people hear about Biomedical interventions for Autism, they have been convinced by their pediatrician or family doctor that there is nothing that can be done for autism, and since we live in a society that tends to value a physician's word as being on par with "the word of God" this can be a big hurdle to overcome.
A related problem is that most traditionally-trained physicians are not taught about nutrition or methods of disease prevention. They are taught to suppress symptoms with pharmaceutical drugs and to remove body parts when they decay or stop working - often because the symptoms of underlying disease are masked with pharmaceutical drugs while things continue to get worse.
Physicians and clinicians who employ biomedical treatments for autism (and ADHD, ADD, Bipolar Disorder, Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, etc.) subscribe to the belief that the most important thing is "FIRST, DO NO HARM." As is the case when considering any kind of intervention, we must ask ourselves if any risks associated are greater than any potential benefit that may come from taking the particular course of action. This is referred to as a “cost/benefit analysis.” In any cost/benefit analysis, you want to make decisions where the potential benefit outweighs the potential cost. I believe this is especially true when considering a treatment approach for a sick child.
The Autism Research Institute has been collecting data from parents for several years, regarding the success rates of various interventions, both biomedical and pharmaceutical. To view the complete list of parent ratings for biomedical and pharmaceutical interventions, click the following link: http://www.autism.com/treatable/form34qr.htm
Data from more than 26 thousand of parents indicates that biomedical interventions, such as dietary changes, antifungals, targeted supplementation with specific vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, and probiotics, and chelation therapy to remove heavy metals, organophosphates, and pesticides, are many times more successful than treatment with psychotropic medications AND they are far less likely to cause negative reactions in the children.
For example, Adderall, Ritalin, and Risperdal are three of the most frequently prescribed medications given to children with autism to help control behavior (suppress symptoms). Parent ratings regarding the success rates for these medications are as follows:
Adderall: of 775 cases, 43% got worse; 32% got better; 25% no effect.
Adderall: Better:Worse Ratio = 0.8:1
Ritalin: of 4127 cases, 45% got worse; 29% got better; 26% no effect.
Ritalin: Better:Worse Ratio = 0.7:1
Risperdal: of 1038 cases, 20% got worse; 54% got better; 26% no effect.
Risperdal: Better:Worse Ratio = 2.8:1
Note: "got worse" in these parental reports relates solely to the worsening of problematic behaviors. To read further information regarding potential side effects of these and other psychotropic medications click the following link:
http://www.autism.com/ari/adverse_reactions.html
Constipation and diarrhea are rampant in a vast majority of kids with autism, as are problems with eczema, skin rashes, and environmental and dietary allergies. Because 70% of the body’s immune system is located in the gastrointestinal tract, problems related to GI injury and inflammation are often the source of a domino-like cascade of issues as the child becomes immune-compromised and increasingly susceptible to bacterial, viral, and parasitic infections.
Dietary changes often help to correct issues in the gut and are therefore frequently targeted initially in biomedical treatments for autism. Parent ratings regarding the success of dietary interventions are as follows:
Remove Milk/Dairy: of 6360 cases, 2% got worse; 52% got better; 46% no effect.
Remove Milk/Dairy: Better:Worse Ratio: 32:1
Remove Wheat: of 3774 cases, 2% got worse; 51% got better; 47% no effect
Remove Wheat: Better:Worse Ratio: 28:1
Gluten Free/Casein Free Diet: of 2561 cases, 3% got worse; 66% got better; 31% no effect
GF/CF Diet: Better:Worse Ratio: 19:1
Candida Diet (Yeast-Free): of 941 cases, 3% got worse; 56% got better; 41% no effect
GF/CF Diet: Better:Worse Ratio: 19:1
Food Allergy Treatment: of 952 cases, 3% got worse; 64% got better; 33% no effect
Food Allergy Treatment: Better:Worse Ratio: 24:1
Yeast overgrowth (Candida Albicans) is a very common finding in children with autism, and is one of the effects of their weakened immune systems and resultant administration of antibiotics to fight recurrent bacterial infections. Physicians who adhere to the Defeat Autism Now! approach very often order laboratory testing to determine if yeast is problematic, and if so, will treat accordingly with antifungal prescriptions. Parental reports of success with antifungal treatment are as follows:
Antifungals: Diflucan: of 653 cases, 5% got worse; 57% got better; 38% no effect
Antifungals: Diflucan: Better:Worse Ratio: 11:1
Antifungals: Nystatin: of 1388 cases, 5% got worse; 50% got better; 44% no effect
Antifungals: Nystatin: Better:Worse Ratio: 9.7:1
Specific nutritional therapies and supplementation targeted for the individual child is a cornerstone of biomedical treatment of autism. One must be careful in giving vitamins and it is not advised to do so unless you know what you're doing. Having said that, one of the most frequently recommended supplements for autism is Cod Liver Oil or Fish Oil (must be treated to remove mercury - don't buy cheap fish oil!!!!). Other Fatty Acids are also supplemented, based on lab results and detailed developmental history and family history. Parent ratings for the success of these interventions are as follows:
Cod Liver Oil: of 1681 cases, 4% got worse; 51% got better; 45% no effect.
Cod Liver Oil: Better: Worse Ratio = 13:1
Fatty Acids: of 1169 cases, 2% got worse; 56% got better; 41% no effect.
Fatty Acids: Better: Worse Ratio = 24:1
Heavy Metal toxicity is a very common finding in children with autism, as is shown on hair analysis, through urine provocation testing, and now with porphyrin tests. Chelation (removal) of heavy metals and other toxins is often a very effective component of biomedical treatment for autism and is used when indicated, based on laboratory findings. Parent ratings for success rates of chelation treatments are as follows:
Chelation: of 803 cases, 3% got worse; 74% got better; 23% no effect.
Chelation: Better:Worse Ratio = 24:1
There are many other intervention strategies that are helping to recover children from an autism diagnosis and Defeat Autism Now! clinicians and researchers all over the globe are working tirelessly in their efforts.
If you ask a parent whose child disappeared for years, who made no eye contact, spoke no words, and spent hours each day watching his or her fingers and spinning in circles, that parent's response to the question, "How successful is biomedical treatment?" will depend on his or her own experience. If you ask one of the parents I met at a Defeat Autism Now! conference, who's children actually got on the stage, made eye contact with the interviewers, and answered questions in front of hundreds of other parents and professionals, the answer, I'm sure, would be "Extremely successful!"
Biomedical interventions do not work for everyone, and the results are varied, depending on the particular child. This is also why the GF/CF diet or SCD diet or LOD diet, or whatever, is not THE answer for everyone. Individual children need to be treated as individuals. Treatments need to be tailored, based on the child’s own developmental and medical history, observations of parents, and results of laboratory tests that assess specific areas for intervention.
Every child is different and EVERY CHILD WITH AUTISM IS DIFFERENT. That's why the standard medical response, "There's nothing you can do for autism" makes no sense.
Autism is treatable. Recovery is possible. One child at a time.
To view videos of some of the many children who have been successfully recovered from an autism diagnosis by implementing some of the above biomedical interventions, please click on the links below. Head’s up: You might want to grab a box of tissues for these.
This information is 4allofyou!
Blessings,
Marci
Baxter's Recovery from Autism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsmBoGPzx9U&feature=related
Ethan's Recovery from Autism:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEw0Y5LJ6vg
Edward's Autism Journey and Recovery:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtHvtWBv7aM
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Great question, Kev. Thank-you for calling me on that. I would not expect anyone to simply trust me and what I say without asking for my sources. That was an oversight on my part.
ReplyDeleteI have edited the post and included the link to ARI's page on Parent Ratings of interventions.
The Autism Research Institute has been in existence since 1967 and was founded by Dr. Bernard Rimland, who also wrote the book, Infantile Autism. Biomedical interventions are not wacko fringe-stuff. They have been around even before Dr. Rimland refused to accept that autism in chidren was the result of bad mothering - "refrigerator mothers" was the exact term that was used at the time.
This is data that has been collected over the last several years and includes information reported by more than 26,000 parents who have completed forms rating the effectiveness of interventions. The forms are in a Likert Scale format, which is frequently used in psychological and medical research studies.
Your argument may be that because this research was not government-funded and has not been replicated by government agencies, it is therefore not valid. My argument is that it is BECAUSE this research was not government-funded that it IS VALID. Unlike the vaccine studies there is no problem with conflict of interest, as is the case with Dr. Offit sitting on the board of the Institute of Medicine when he is raking in Millions of Dollars (182 million in royalties from the rotavirus vaccine he holds the patent on) from the development and sale of vaccines.
You may choose to believe Dr. Offit and his crowd. That is your choice. I trust the observations of parents - they are the ones who live with their children everyday. And I trust the work of the Autism Research Institute, which is a non-profit organization and is working to recover our sick children. I trust my own eyes. I've seen it.
These ratings are ongoing, and with the numbers of children being successfully treated increasing everyday, this data base will continue to provide valuable information that is being overlooked or disparaged in the mainstream media and by the medical and governmental institutions who have so much to gain from keeping our children sick.
So stay tuned - and thanks again for your important question!
Blessings to you.
Marcella Piper-Terry
This is a wonderful service you provide to the community. I am the founder of T.I.A, we originated in Indiana, but are providing national/international information and support. Thank you for your hard work and your dedication to help others. I will be sure to spread word of this site.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Shauna-Founder
Together In Autism
www.togetherinautism.org
I have several people asking me for a list of General Pediatricians that are Biomedically friendly. Not Biomedical Doctors; as they have one or more children and prefer to have a regular pediatrician who may be open minded and not turn away testing, one who will supportive of their biomedical goals, ect... The area in which people are inquiring is in Indiana: anywhere whithin a 30 mile radius of Terre Haute. Hopeful you can assist in the search. Thanks so much...
ReplyDeleteTogether In Autism
www.togetherinautism.org
Bio medical works, if it's too much for families, I suggest get the stool sample test done, to see if there is blood in the bowel, then yeast in the gut, THe gf cf diet was amazing for us by day 4, amazing, You know that lab will be off if you have a gut that is clogged, so find out the metals, the yeast and that will be enough to start treatment, I spend 300 month on suppliments, but you can shop on line and lower that bill too. IT's worth so much to me, I feel my son is healing and becoming a normal child, IT's worth a try.
ReplyDeleteCheri