I am astonished at some of the latest autism findings. There is evidence that some children with the diagnosis have been able to break free of their symptoms and live relatively normal lives, after receiving the right dietary and medical intervention. Some medical experts are suggesting that autism can be cured, in many respects.
Since I have a son with autism, you can imagine that for me this is a very exciting thought.
“I used to be autistic.”
Recently I met an interesting gentleman at a writer’s conference. He is an actor, writer, and a storyteller, who performs for children. Yet he mentioned to me that as a child he would stare at television static, wave his hands, and stare into space. He was diagnosed with autism, but his parents also discovered during medical testing that he was allergic to wheat and wheat products—gluten. They made the decision to remove wheat from his diet completely, and to their astonishment he began to recover. He explained to me that anytime he happened to accidentally consume gluten, the “autistic fog” would come back. Now in his 40s, he still lives a gluten-free life and other than having a few self-described “unusual quirks,” he certainly couldn’t be classified as autistic anymore.
Can autism be cured?
I’m always skeptical of these kinds of stories, secretly wondering whether the initial autism diagnosis was given incorrectly in the first place. But maybe that’s because I was trained to believe autism was incurable. I remember when Kyle was diagnosed, I was told in no uncertain terms that he would have this condition for the rest of his life. He was two years old, and I was told he would never marry, probably wouldn’t live on his own, and would always need special care. I can’t help but wonder if some of these statements kept me from pursuing a more rigorous search for answers. After all, if a doctor says something, it must be so. Right?
The latest research shows that diet and nutrition can indeed have a tremendous impact on an autistic child. Whether or not removing gluten from the diet will “cure” or improve the autism symptoms seems to depend on the child. Some parents have not seen a significant change. Yet many parents are swearing their children have shown dramatic improvement with this and other dietary changes. With autism, it is clear that certain medical strategies work for some but not others. Trying to absorb all the possible interventions can be overwhelming. So I want to use future blogs to sort through all of it with you, trying to break it down into “edible” portions. Feeling hungry?
Autism Journey – You Need a Guide
To start off this series, I’ll make the simple but crucial point that if you have a child with autism, you MUST have a doctor who is thoroughly educated about autism and has access to the latest research. This is NOT true of most doctors. Although every doctor is certainly aware of autism and its symptoms and treatments, few are specialized enough to know the complicated pathophysiology, multi-organ involvement, dietary factors, and medications which are associated with this disease. Few doctors will approach autism with a “this can be overcome” perspective. If you want to provide your child with the greatest possible outlook, you must take great care in selecting a doctor. Seek referrals from other parents, from autism foundations, special needs educators, etc. Do your research. You want an open-minded expert who is willing to continue to try new approaches until improvement is seen.
If you were going on a journey through the deepest part of the jungle and could choose a guide, wouldn’t you want someone deeply familiar with the terrain, who knew all the possible dangers and had the most detailed map? Treating autism is a journey. It will take patience, time, and hard work. A good doctor will be an important guide. You want one who knows all the various paths and routes available—and one who believes, most of all, that hope lies ahead. Choose well.
To read my previous blogs on Autism Spectrum Disorders, click here.
Kristyn Crow is the author of this blog. Visit her website by clicking here.
