Biomedical Recovery from Autism: 14 MONTHS

My autistic son at the age of 3 years, 11 months, just a few days before his fourth birthday. He is now quite responsive to questions, makes frequent spontaneous comments, and greets and addresses others by name. We have been pursuing biomedical treatments for 14 months now, including dietary restrictions, gastrointestinal/immunological medications, specific nutritional supplementation, and most recently, mild chelation with DMSA suppositories every 2 weeks. All of the spontaneous commenting and most of the conversational responses have shown up since beginning the DMSA.

We also had a moderate behavioral regression (mostly an increase in OCD behaviors, as well as a loss in focus and attention span) lasting several months while he battled a very resistant strep infection earlier this year. After repeated rounds of Zithromax were unable to eradicate it, we opted to have his adenoids removed, and the behaviors were cleared up within a week post-surgery.

As you can see, he is teaching himself to play several instruments (partially by imitation and partially by ear,) including the keyboard, xylophone, and toy saxophone, and with the help of starfall.com is well on his way to reading. Feel free to come say hello on my cooking site, www.thegfcflady.com.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• autism
• biomedical
• recovery
• GFCF
• diet
• gluten
• casein
• autistic
• Asperger's
• PDD
• PDD-NOS
• chelation

[tmoreno70]

This is so positive to see. Well done on continuing and helping your child. What is the reading programme you use with your son. It looks grate!

[clodfobble]

@tmoreno70 - It is a free website called starfall-dot-com. It's great!

[momofxantyce]

Hi! When ur son battled strep issues, did it present as strep throat or just the regressions? My son has PANDAS and wasn't sure about the adenoids since he really doesn't get actual illnesses in his throat often. I am sure strep is in his gut, so would removing adenoids help with this??

[clodfobble]

@momofxantyce - We were able to get one positive strep culture in his throat, but for the most part it was just the regressions. Even when his tonsils have been fairly visibly swollen, there is never a fever, cough, or other "typical" strep symptoms. We had to argue with the doctor to even get him to do the strep culture, since he was so sure my son wasn't sick...

[amoryfresas]

Hi There! Your litte boy is adorable, he seems very smart too :o)

We started biomedical intervention on my daughter 6 months ago, she's 3 1/2 years old, she's verbal but she's still not asking questions or making spontaneous comments. How was your son's speech at 3 1/2?

[clodfobble]

@amoryfresas - Thanks! You can see my son at age 3 1/2 in my video titled "8 MONTHS." There was definitely no spontaneous commenting, though he would sometimes come up with appropriate pieces of echolalia. Genuine questions also didn't come until several months after that as well. Good luck to you and your daughter!

[amoryfresas]

I agree, the gfcf diet is step one and only then you will start seeing progress in behavior because kids finally feel relief from their stomach issues. When on the diet, supplements work much better! Chelation is absolutely necessary to achieve full recovery :)

[clodfobble]

@ASHYLIA88 - The medications are different for each child, and many require a prescription. You need to find a DAN doctor who can help treat your daughter. Go to autism.com to find one near you. Step one is absolutely the GFCF diet, and many DAN doctors will not see you until you are solidly on the diet, so you should begin that right now while you are waiting for your appointment.

[KimberlyMahurin]

so cute!!