What causes Autism?
There is no known single cause of autism. It is known that autism is a neurological disorder and that there may be differences in the shape and the structure of the brain of autistic children as opposed to non-autistic children.
It is thought that, in certain cases, there might be a genetic predisposition to autism, which may run in families. Whether the predisposition to autism is genetic or not, there may be several 'triggers' which can precipitate the disorder.
These could include problems in pregnancy and birth, viral infections, exposure to certain environmental chemicals or pollutants, digestive abnormalities or even allergies to certain foods (e.g. milk and dairy products).
There are also suggestions that autism may be caused by a reaction to childhood vaccines. Obviously more research is needed in this area.
It is important for parents to note that autism is not a mental illness and is not caused by bad parenting or problems in the home. All too often parents are made to feel guilty and as if they have done something wrong, which is not the case.
Parents of autistic children need as much support and help as possible and should not be made to feel that they are the cause of their child's problem.
What are the natural treatment options?
While there are many different theories about the best course of treatment for autism, most professionals agree that the earlier treatment begins, the better the chances are that the child will be helped.
Educational and therapeutic approaches
These include specialized education as well as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, sensory integration, behavior modification and speech therapy. Depending on the symptoms and the areas of developmental delay, these therapies can be extremely effective and can be combined into the overall treatment plan.The earlier they are begun the better the chances of improvement. It is important to realize that none of these therapies are 'quick fixes' and need perseverance over a long period of time.
Dietary intervention
There are indications that certain vitamins and mineral supplements may improve functioning in autistic people. While there is some disagreement regarding this amongst medical professionals, many parents have reported marked improvements after a program of nutritional supplements. There are also a number of clinical studies which strongly support the use of vitamin and mineral supplementation in the treatment of autism and have demonstrated significant improvement.
As nutrition is such a vital ingredient in brain development, it stands to reason that supplementation may have a positive benefit, although this would vary from individual to individual. Some experts have gone as far as to suggest that certain cases of autism could be a result of nutritional deficiencies or mal absorption of nutrients from the diet. The subject is a very complex one and outside the scope of this discussion.
There are also suggestions that autistic symptoms can be caused as a result of mal absorption and intolerances to certain foodstuffs, especially dairy products and gluten contained in wheat and grain products. Some parents have reported remarkable changes after the elimination of these foodstuffs from the diets of their autistic children.
