Biomedical intervention for autism

Biomedical intervention for autism consists of a wide range of therapeutic approaches for treating - and some say curing - autism in children, adolescents, and possibly adults. The basis for this form of intervention is a restrictive diet that allows for normal absorption of nutrients; but a number of accompanying therapies are also popular.

History

Bernard Rimland, a psychologist and parent of an autistic son, early speculated that his son's autism was the result of a shock to several physiological systems.

Dr. Rimland experimented with eliminating certain kinds of food and found that by eliminating casein and gluten from his son's diet, autistic symptoms were reduced. This gave rise to the notion of the "leaky gut" cause of autism, in which the gastrointestinal walls have been compromised, allowing for incompletely broken down and thereby toxic protein chains to be absorbed into the bloodstream.

Sidney Baker, MD, Maureen McDonnell, and other healthcare practitioners used Dr. Rimland's observations to develop the DAN! (Defeat Autism Now) protocol. While the DAN doctors operate outside the mainstream medical community, they have attracted a growing number of pediatricians, neurologists, allergists, nutritionists, and others to develop and refine their approaches.

In addition, parents are increasingly active in assessing a wide range of approaches to help their autistic children. A large and growing number of online communities are constantly exchanging information and ideas to further the state of biomedical intervention as treatment for autism and related disorders.

Conceptual foundations

The premise for biomedical intervention is that at least some autistic children have in fact been made sick in a way that prevents their nervous system from functioning properly. They have great difficulties sorting out sensory impressions and are prone to hyper- or hyposensitivity to impressions from their sense of sight, hearing, smell, touch, propreoception, or balance. Since they spend all their energy seeking or avoiding sensory input, they have no mental, emotional, or physical energy left to learn some of the most complex aspects of human life.

Most parents and some medical professionals believe that the aggressive schedule of vaccinations early in life are the cause for the illness that underlies autism. While different children may have differing sensitivity to the vaccination material, it has been noted that autistic children often show evidence of mercury poisoning, viral infections in their gut, and an abnormal level of antibodies against the relevant viruses in their blood.

Others agree that some kind of environmental shock made the children sick, but are uncertain whether vaccinations are the culprit. Much-criticized studies indicate a lack of correlation between vaccination and autism, and most physicians are dismissive of such causality.

What proponents of biomedical intervention have noticed, is that autistic children:

• Are consistently compromised in three essential systems:
  • Gastrointestinal, in that they tend toward constipation or diarrhea and often have abnormal cravings for certain kinds of food
  • Immunological, in that they are prone to allergies, migraines, and react abnormally to infectious diseases
  • Neurological, in that they are consistently hypo- or hypersensitive to sensory impressions
• Generally improve in all three systems with a restrictive diet
• Will present with regression if there is an infraction against the restrictive diet

The working hypothesis is that autistic children often have a "leaky gut" that allows compounds into the bloodstream that are fully broken apart in typical children. Parallels have been drawn between autistic children and patients with celiac disease and other gastrointestinal disorders.

Restictive diet

As a result, biomedical intervention usually starts with a restrictive diet, such as the gluten-free, casein-free diet. Typically, foods will be restricted in a particular sequence, for example by eliminating:

1. Dairy products - both casein and lactose are considered problematic
2. Gluten, including grains such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, spelt, etc.
3. Eggs, nuts, and berries that often provoke allergic reactions in children
4. Fruits and vegetables that contain salicylates, phenols, and other substances that may cause a reaction
5. All artificially colored food, i.e., the Feingold Diet
6. All bi- and poly-saccharides, such as lactose, fructose, starch, etc. (the Specific Carbohydrate Diet

Parents report varying success with these diets, and combinations of them. Some have seen a complete recovery simply from eliminating milk; others need to eliminate salicylates or phenols to reach a tipping point; others have found a workable, effective diet in the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Others report no benefit from a restrictive diet at all.

Nutritional supplements

Because the gastrointestinal system is presumed to have been compromised in autistic children, many parents and medical professionals find it necessary to give their children nutritional supplements. The range of supplements given to autistic children undergoing biomedical intervention is wide, but can be categorized as follows:

• Vitamins - in particular:
  • B-complex vitamins, such as B12, B6, etc. This also includes Vitamin B derivatives, such as TMG, P5P, etc.
  • Vitamin C
  • Vitamin A
  • Others, in RDA doses
• Minerals - in particular
  • Calcium
  • Zinc
  • Magnesium
  • Other trace minerals, such as Molybdenum, etc.
• Essential fatty acids, provided in supplements such as
  • Fish liver oil
  • Borage oil
  • Flax seed oil
• Probiotics - there is some controversy about the benefits and potential harm of some bacteria strains vs. others, but most agree that acidophilus is required.
• Anti-yeast supplements - parents report mixed success with antifungal medication, but are more enthusiastic about natural remedies such as:
  • Garlic
  • Caprylic acid
  • Grapefruit seed extract
  • Products such as Biocidin

"Alternative" therapies

While most children seem to benefit from a restrictive diet and careful use of nutritional supplements, there is more variation in other, so-called "alternative" medical approaches. Some of the most common ones are:

• Homeopathy. The premise for homeopathy is that by introducing a tiny amount of a substance that would cause a similar symptom to that which is causing the problem, the body will "learn" how to heal itself. While no one homeopathic remedy has proven to eliminate autistic symptoms, several homeopathic doctors have successfully combined remedies either in sequence or in parallel to treat autism.
• Craniosacral therapy/Osteopathy. By manipulating the craniosacral system in children, the body is able to more effectively deal with disorders.
• Applied kinesiology. Combining acupressure and chiropractic, kinesiologists de-sensitize children to substances to which they're sensitive. Applied kinesiology also activates organs and systems through touch and pressure, strengthening the body's systems.

External links

• Autism Research Institute - the "home page" for the DAN! protocol
• The Feingold Diet home page
• The Specific Carbohydrate Diet - general
• Specific Carbohydrate Diet for Children
• Autistichat Chatroom and Wiki for those on the autism spectrum, their family and loved ones.