AUTISM:

Recent literature has expanded considerably in the past few years on the application of HBOT for autism. For many years, HBOT has been well established and published data has documented successes for HBOT for neurological conditions, primarily strokes and head injuries or TBI’s. This has lead to clinical trials in the field of autism. Preliminary results are extremely promising and currently we see many patients afflicted with this condition. HBOT can be ‘the difference maker’ for those suffering from autism. Over 10 years ago, there was almost no information on HBOT and autism, but because there was so much promise on HBOT’s positive effects on neurological conditions like strokes and TBI’s, many parents of autistic children were encouraged to give HBOT a try. The results have been so good that it has lead to an overwhelming response to have HBOT as a primary treatment option for autism. Here at the Advanced Hyperbaric & Recovery Center, we have a strong focus on autism and offer a full comprehensive treatment approach. Here are some articles for you to read:

Oxygen Therapy Benefits Children with Autism

Sep 20, 2007 10:13 PM

By Beth Hillyer

HONOLULU (KHNL) – A new treatment is giving hope to parents of children diagnosed with autism. We meet with a family whose child’s development is improving thanks to the benefits of oxygen therapy. Some are talking for the first time, and interacting with their families. There is new hope for autistic children treated with oxygen therapy in pressurized chambers. The 7-year-old child crawls into her play cave, nicknamed her blue tunnel. A therapist stays with her. A new study proves spending time in capsules at the Hyperbaric Medical Center helps autistic children. Study Coordinator Helen McCracken explains, “There are high incidents of autism in children 1 in 150 and we just can’t ignore it and we felt here at the center it was important to do the study.” Alyshia Busby’s daughter completed the study, “We saw some amazing results from the first round of treatment. We have been through the gamut of treatment from biomedical to dietary, conventional, unconventional, we have done it all and this was the first time we have actually seen immediate undeniable results.” McCracken demonstrates how it works, “These children are in this chamber pressurized down to about 18 feet of seawater and they wear a mask. It gives them 100 percent oxygen and at this level are the healing properties of hyperbaric therapy.” For the Busby’s the results are amazing, “Everything from spontaneous language to attention and focus increase.” The families completed 20 hours of therapy, now most are continuing successful sessions in the blue tunnel

Mercury in Air Pollution: A Link to Autism?

Monday, March 21, 2005

Can mercury in air pollution cause autism. Nobody knows. But a new study suggests it’s worth a look. Mercury is one heck of a toxic substance. A fraction of a teaspoon can render all the fish in a 20-acre lake unsafe to eat. A recent Institute of Medicine study found no link between the tiny amounts of mercury in childhood vaccines and autism. But the jury is still out on whether prenatal exposure to mercury might affect brain development. Could environmental exposure to mercury affect autism rates (search)? Raymond F. Palmer, PhD, and colleagues at the University of Texas Health Science Center explored the issue. They looked at EPA figures on industrial mercury release — most of which comes from coal-fired power plants — in 254 Texas counties. They compared these figures to autism rates from the counties’ 1,184 school districts, taking into account other factors linked to autism.

Mercury Dumping, More Autism “We found that for every 1,000 pounds of mercury released by industry, there was a 17 percent increase in autism,” Palmer tells WebMD. “This is one of the most highly toxic [nerve-damaging substances] on earth. So when we talk about 50 pounds, 1,000 pounds, 2,000 pounds released into the environment, this is a tremendous amount of potential exposure. But we do not know how these exposures get into the body.” The findings are scheduled to appear in the journal Health & Place.

No Proof Mercury Pollution Causes Autism. Palmer is quick to point out that this kind of study does not prove mercury pollution causes autism. “We show a significant relationship between mercury release into the environment and autism. But that does not prove causation,” Palmer says. Palmer’s team is planning a long-term study to see whether actual fetal mercury exposure can be linked to autism. “The ultimate goal of this work is to help us think about what we want to let out in the environment,” Palmer says. “Is there an acceptable risk for mercury exposure? We don’t know. We would like to affect political action, but we need harder data to do that. This study is just a first step.”

Does Mercury Trigger Autism? Philip W. Davidson, PhD, is studying the effects of mercury exposure from eating mercury-contaminated fish on child development. He’s professor of pediatrics and chief of the Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York. “The question is, if a fetus is exposed to mercury, does that raise the threshold for autism? Nobody knows,” Davidson tells WebMD. “As far as I know, no study has isolated symptoms of autism in individuals exposed to methyl mercury [the most dangerous form of mercury]. … We think autism comes from prenatal sources. Does mercury trigger autism? Who knows? We don’t yet have any evidence.”

Women, Fish, and Mercury Davidson and colleagues are studying mercury exposure in pregnant women and their offspring in Seychelles, where the diet contains large amounts of fish. He warns, however, that the study of mercury is very complex. Studies must take into account the form of mercury, the dose of mercury, and the time of life a person is exposed to mercury. So far, he says, the data suggest that fetal exposure to mercury is more likely to be harmful than mercury exposure during childhood. To protect developing babies from high levels of potentially brain-damaging mercury, the government issued guidelines in March 2004 to warn women who are pregnant, nursing, or even considering having children to eat no more than two servings of fish each week.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Shows Promising results

for Autism

Monday, December 17, 2007

Autism is a mysterious disease-condition-behaviour disorder which causes a complex neurological disorder that typically occurs within the first 3 years of life, that results in developmental disabilities. Children will seemingly develop normally until 18 -24 months at which time an alarming regression in their development occurs and they may stop speaking and begin to lose interest in their surroundings and interactions with other people. Autism occurs two to four times more frequently in boys than in girls. There are many theories as to the cause of Autism such as abnormal cerebral blood flow to areas of the brain, high fevers, birth trauma, brain injury, infections, reactions to vaccines (some reports implicate MMR) or lack of oxygen before, during or after delivery. Other theories suggest mineral deficiencies such as calcium, iron and zinc either in utero or after birth or fat and protein deficiencies. The use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for autism has been used in many countries worldwide. The results are varied and the individual reports from families and health professionals are encouraging. There are many testimonies on the net from families who have taken HBOT for their autistic child with varied results, mostly very encouraging. HBOT increases the oxygen tissue concentration which increases cerebral blood flow to an area thus enabling the body to restore brain tissue metabolism of oxygen and nutrients, helping restoration of any areas which are suffering from hypoxia. New blood and oxygen begin to stimulate an area, especially one that has viable, recoverable brain cells that are “idling neurons” not knowing what to do instead of function normally. HBOT reduces swelling or excess fluid in the brain that might be pressing on centres of the brain which cause “confusion” in their function ability. HBOT has been demonstrated to exert positive objective changes from a safe, adjunctive therapy that has been overlooked by most healthcare professionals. Parents are encouraged to educate themselves on this new dynamic use of HBOT so they can make informed decisions for the future of their child. The following study, testimony and article is just an example of the information one can obtain from the internet. The testimony is from one of our patients treated here at Reimer Hyperbaric. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) adjunctive role in the treatment of Autism — Trish Planck, Hyperbaric Clinical Director Autism is a complex neurological disorder that typically occurs within the first three years of life that results in usually severe developmental disability. Its incidence in the population is estimated to be 1 in 500 with a prevalence of boys to girls of 4 to 1. The ensuing effects of the disease result in severe impairment in areas of social interaction and communication and in some individuals self- injurious behaviour may occur. Presently there are no effective cures for this disease as little is known as to the etioloby. Diet, psychotropic medications and other regimens have been tried with mixed and often disappointing results. Recently a therapy that has been in and out of favour has been shown to be of possible benefit in the treatment of this disease. Initial results were objective improvements in a variety of diverse phenomenon. Each child demonstrated global reduction in aggressive behaviour. Parental summaries all stated substantial decrease in tendency to rage or exhibit tantrums. All children were reported to be easier to engage when the parent wished to initiate communication with marked improvement of direct eye contact. All three children enrolled in a school program displayed higher achievement with better performance and less instruction in classroom assignments. All children were improved with regard to understanding verbal commands. Reasoning abilities were noticeably enhanced in all individuals. Clinical improvement was substantiated by pre and post treatment SPECT SCAN brain imaging which displayed enhanced neurophysiologic function in at least one of the members of this study. The aim of hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct therapy was to evaluate the efficacy of the treatment in a series of 40 initial treatments, one or twice daily at 1.5 ata to 1.75 ata using a monoplace Sechrist chamber on 100% oxygen for a total time of 60 minutes per treatment. Patients were treated for 5 days consecutively with two days off. HBOT has been demonstrated to exert positive objective changes on a limited cohort of autistic children as evidenced by subjective and objective parameters. HBOT would seem to be useful and safe adjunctive therapy in the treatment of Autism.

B. M.: Autistic and Cerebral Palsy
Thirteen year old boy hearing impaired, mentally delayed and non-verbal. 3 Spect Scan images were taken of the brain at baseline, mid and after the 115th treatment:
Progress while undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
Major improvement in interactions with family members. Plays with family pets. Major improvements in understanding verbal commands. Beginning to verbally communicate.
Responds to knocks at the door and answers the door in a normal manner
Major improvements in balance, especially when he starts to fall, he is able to regain his balance with a faster response. He cross patterns down the steps without holding on. He is no longer raging/destructive of things in the home. Sits through movies with more understanding.
Better understanding of public surroundings. When music is played he responds in singing tones. Hearing has improved and is no longer required to wear hearing devices. Responds to things/awareness-like waiting for the school bus in the morning through the window. Plays with various types of toys with more understanding. Loves to work in the house and yard with Dad.
Mimics everything you ask him to do. Is able to dress himself, is caring for himself in a independent manner. Doing better in school with his assignments. Happier child & smiles more.

Z. M.: Eleven year old boy with profound autism, who is non-verbal, and is still in diapers. Progress since undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy:
Major increase in understanding. More eye contact. Behavioural changes are easier to handle and function in public place, less aggressive, raging stopped and is much happier. New ability to mimic simple vocal sounds-of major importance as pre-language sounds he makes have more tone and syllables. Shows more interest and contact with his brother, increase in all interactions with others. Accepts new people, places and situations easier. Plays with a wide range of toys, instead of only one object. Less sound sensitive. Higher functioning in all ways. Z. M. never noticed people let along mimic anything they did. He now mimics vocal tones and tuning forks and is more aware of sounds and things that people do. Parent gives credit to hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

L.S.: Autistic Ten year old boy, high functioning with verbal skills and mimics.
Exhibiting receptive manner. Easier to engage. Exhibiting great internalization of emotions.
Less tantrums. Classroom achievement improved. Completing work without re-direction and accuracy improving daily. Easier to reason with especially in the home environment. Open to re-direction with rages. Great willingness to work and stay focused through all classroom assignments. Much better transitioning, and flexible, open to variety of mediums with little assistance needed. Much improved relatedness in sharing his emotions. Abnormal Regional Cerebral Blood Flow In Childhood Autism Takashi Ohmishi, Heroshi Matsuda, Toshiaki Hashimoto, Toshiyuki Kunihirok, Masami Nishidawa, Takeshi Uema and Masayuki Sasaki Departments of Radiology, Psychiatry and Child Neurology, National Center Hospital of Mental, Nervous, and Muscular Disorders, National Centre of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira City, Tokyo, Japan Correspondence to: Takeshi Ohmishi, Department of Radiology, 4-1-1 Ogawa higashi, Kodairs City, Tokyo, Japan 197-0031 Neuroimaging studies of autism have shown abnormalities in the limbic system and cerebellar circuits and additional sites. These finding are not, however, specific or consistent enough to build up a coherent theory of the origin and nature of the brain abnormality in autistic patients. Twenty-three children with infantile autism and 26 non-autistic controls matched for IQ and age were examined using brain-perfusion single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with technetium-99m ethyl cysteinate dimer. In autistic subjects, we assessed the relationship between regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF) and symptom profiles. Images were anatomically normalized, and voxel-by-voxel analyses were performed. Decreases in rCBF in autistic patients compared with the control group were identified in the bilateral insula, superior temporal gyri and left prefrontal cortices. Analysis of the correlations between syndrome scores and rCBF revealed that each syndrome was associated with a specific pattern of perfusion in the limbic system and the medical prefrontal cortex. The results confirmed the association of (i) impairments in communication and social interaction that are thought to be related to deficits in the theory of mind (ToM) with altered perfusion in the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate gyrus, and (ii) the obsessive desire for sameness with altered perfusion in the right medial temporal lobe. The perfusion patterns suggest possible locations of abnormalities of brain function underlying abnormal behaviour patterns in autistic individuals. 5 year old boy treated at Reimer Hyperbaric (testimony) We miss you !!!! Time has flown since we returned from Canada. We had such a nice time while we were there and will always be most grateful for your friendship and hospitality. Things at home are going well, it took a little time to get settled in again, the children adapted very easily to the changes, although they miss all of you too. The changes in Christian are wonderful! He continues to speak much more often and in a “conversational” manner, which we are so thankful for. For your records, I will give you a little background information on Christian and the changes that have occurred as a result of hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Christian was 2 weeks overdue, and as a result, labour was induced. The procedure did not progress well and the labour and subsequent emergency C-section were very difficult. Christian was deprived of oxygen before & during delivery. The hospital records stated he suffered “mild to moderate hypoxia” and fetal distress. His apgars were ok and he did have a birth cry. He had suffered lung damage (double pneumothorax) as well as oxygen deprivation. He lost a lot of weight in the hospital and we stayed 4 days. He was released and we went home – thinking everything was fine. Christian was breast fed and he did very well except that he seemed to have “colic”, although it wasn’t the normal colic, he never outgrew it (usually happens at 4 months). He was an extremely happy baby, even though he was in pain a lot. He never slept well and was awake most of the 24 hours of the day. At 4 months he suddenly developed “clenched fists” first one, then the other. They were severely clenched with thumbs out. He had an EEG – no seizures activity noted. He has a MRI, which showed no tumours or abnormalities. The hands stayed clenched until about 16 months of age, where it sort of “wore itself out”. He never developed proper use of his hands and fingers for fine motor. His “pointer” fingers are stunted in growth and usually icy cold. Christian was never able to tolerate food, solid or other until I forced him to eat around 2 years of age. It was devastating to do so, but I had no choice. He had many sensory difficulties, noise was devastating to him, clothes were intolerable, smells made him gag. He didn’t develop speech although he walked at 8 months, sat unassisted at 4 months and was running – fast at 1 year old. He was still very happy and friendly although as he got older his eye contact considerably lessened. He would connect for a very brief period and run away. In a group setting he would go to be on his own, preferably in a room by himself. He was very physical and ran, climbed and jumped all the time. He was constantly in motion. He developed “eye ticks”.
We were told that he had:

(1) a definite neurological disorder
(2) possibly autism
(3) possibly tourettes syndrome
(4) definitely sensory integration disorder
(5) definitely receptive (less) and expressive (more) language disorder

We were told – this is it, he will never be “normal” teach him sign language and get on with your life – don’t try to “fix” him, it won’t happen. We never gave up on Christian and more importantly, Christian never gave up on Christian. Through much very hard work, tolerance, acceptance and love, Christian did progress. We found what we needed and we did it, simple as that. When he was 5, we decided he needed hyperbaric oxygen therapy and we were right, he did need it and these are the changes that occurred as a result. (1) Although his sensory difficulties were already decreased, they did so even more after HBO- (we did 40 treatments). What occurred that is really wonderful is that his internal thermostat (which was defective especially in his fingers) has stabilized! His fingers are not icy cold anymore and his has completely stopped biting his nails and fingertips. There were always raw and bleeding. The tissue is healed and he doesn’t bite them at all anymore. His hands look more normal and less stunted in growth. This is not wishful thinking, its really true. He also grew 1 whole inch from Dec. to Feb..
(2) His receptive ability is so much better. He understands consequences and can follow directions so much better. He doesn’t seem “confused” like he did before.
(3) His expressive ability with language is outstanding. He actually talks on the phone and carries on a two-way conversation. His replies are no longer just one word. His desire to use language is much more pronounced. His teachers are amazed and very happy with the changes. They report that he is much better at “talking with” the other children and interacting in general.
(4) Although Christian was always a loving child, he is much more demonstrative now. he hugs and kisses his friends, spontaneously runs into Grandma’s arms and tells her he loves her. He has more access into “our” world and is happier because of it.
Christian has overcome so very much in his life, many times thru very painful and difficult and frightening aspects. He has always remained loving, trusting and open. He deserved the chance to overcome his difficulties thru a non-invasive, pleasant atmosphere, where he doesn’t have to work so hard. HBOT gave him this. We will always be so grateful for the opportunity to help him thru this method and grateful for the wonderful people who have allowed it to happen thru their hard word and dedication. That’s you guys.

Alternative Therapy Available to Treat Autism (Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or HBOT)

27 December 2007

During an informative seminar, Dr. Sherman Johnson, M.D. and Dr. Chitra Bhakta, M.D., reviewed startling evidence about an alternative therapy for treating autism. Known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy or HBOT, it is commonly used to treat wounds, deep sores, and crush injuries. The effectiveness of this therapy in treating traumatic injuries has demonstrated that a relatively low pressure of oxygen administered in a pressurized chamber can significantly assist in reducing tissue inflammation and promote healthy circulation of oxygenated blood. Reductions of brain and gut inflammation as well as overall blood flow are common concerns in treating the autistic condition. This correlation between oxygen, reduced inflammation and increased blood flow presents a strong

WiFi and EM Radiation – The Rest of the Autism Story

Thursday, January 31, 2008

(NaturalNews) As has been well documented on NaturalNews*, there is a clear link between mercury poisoning, especially through thimerosal in vaccinations, and autism, along with other neurological disorders. There is, though, another factor that has recently been clearly linked to autism: wireless technology. The Wireless ConnectionGeorge Louis Carlo, who has a doctorate from the prestigious State University of New York, a law degree from George Washington University, and is a fellow of the American College of Epidemiology, has been a thorn in the side of the cellular phone industry. In 1993, he was granted $28 million by this industry and U.S. government agencies to study risks associated with cell phones. His initial results indicated that there were no problems. However, by 1999, Dr. Carlo had gained significantly more evidence indicating a risk to DNA, eye cancers, and brain tumors. Carlo developed a theory that low frequency cell phone signals are harmful to cell function. This results in cells protecting themselves by stopping movement of nutrients and waste products through the cellular membrane. Inability to move wastes outside cells results in a buildup of toxins. This led him to suspect a connection with the enormous increase in autism. His hypothesis suggests that autistic children are less able to process heavy metals, so they remain in their bodies (primarily the brain) and cause neurological damage, including autism. Back to Mercury There is now no question that mercury, along with other heavy metals such as lead, is associated with autism. A study in a 2003 issue of the International Journal of Toxicology shows that the hair of autistic babies is significantly short of mercury and other heavy metals. At first, this might seem counterintuitive. However, it shows a clear connection with Carlo’s hypothesis. Mercury exposure is linked to autism. The problem is the inability of some children to metabolize it. It’s stuck inside their brain cells. Therefore, it isn’t excreted, so little of it shows up in hair. In other words, autistic babies have less mercury in their hair, because it’s still in their brains, causing neurological damage. Chelation Treatment for Autistic ChildrenSeveral different methods have been used to treat autistic children. Chelation attempts to remove toxic metals from the body. According to the December 2007 issue of WDDTY (What Doctors Don’t Tell You), the most common chemical used for chelation is dimercaptosuccinic acid, better known as DMSA. Its safety record is good. It acts by binding with heavy metals in the blood, thus allowing them to be excreted. WDDTY reports that Dr. Amy Holmes used this technique on 85 autistic children over a course of four months at the end of 2000. The results showed that the younger the child, the greater the benefit: * Children under age 6 have the best results, with 35% showing marked improvement and 39% showing moderate improvement. Sadly, 11% show no improvement. * Between ages 6 and 12, 4% show marked improvement, 28% show moderate improvement, with the rest showing no improvement. * Saddest of all, by age 18, no child gained any benefit from the chelation. Dr. Holmes says, “We have noticed a large dependence of excretion on age of patient, with the younger patients excreting much more mercury than the older patients.” She also said that she suspects that older children excrete heavy metals more slowly than younger ones, which would explain the better results in younger children. Clearly, chelation therapy can help limit the symptoms of autistic children by removing toxic metals, including mercury. However, it’s critical that this therapy be provided as early as possible, and it does not appear to be able to clear enough mercury to fully heal any autistic children, while some do not respond at all. Chelation therapy results that are similar have been reported by clinical nutritionist, Tamara Mariea in Nashville, Tennessee at her Internal Balance clinic. She has treated over 500 children, but has found, like Dr. Holmes, that it fails to clear any heavy metals and provides no improvement in some children. The Wireless/Electromagnetic Field ConnectionTamara Mariea and George Carlo met a few years ago. They wondered if Carlo’s theory that cell phones, along with other electromagnetic (EM) radiation, could be the reason that some children were not helped with chelation therapy – that EM radiation interferes with the ability of cells to excrete toxic heavy metals. So, they decided to test Carlo’s hypothesis. They chose a severely autistic 10 year-old boy whose parents had tried every therapy they could find, including chelation, but to no benefit. First, they removed toxins from the boy’s home, including cell phones, pollutants of all kinds, all wireless equipment, and most electrical equipment. All EM radiation devices were removed from Mariea’s clinic, or their radiation was shielded. No wireless devices were allowed to enter. Thus, most of the boy’s time was spent without EM radiation. Hair and stool analyses were done to track whether he was able to excrete heavy metals, and gradually, they did. Most thrilling, though, is that this boy, who had been able to say nothing more than “Yes” or “No” started to talk. At one point, he told his parents, “The noise has gone from my head.” Mariea and Carlo then set up a trial with 20 autistic children. This one was less strict, involving little more than spending at least four hours, two-to-three times a week, in the EM-free clinic. It did not require such limitations elsewhere and no chelation was done. In three months, analyses showed that heavy metals were beginning to be excreted by the children. This is reported in the Journal of the Australian College of Nutrition and Environmental Medicine in the November 2007 issue. This is, of course, an early study. But it’s very promising. There were other results that indicate the likelihood of the efficacy of removing EM radiation. Heavy metals were excreted in a specific order, from the lightest to the heaviest: * beryllium * aluminum * copper * antimony * mercury * lead * uranium There was no anticipation of such a result by any study participant, including those who designed it. The consistency of it makes it difficult to assume that the results were from a placebo effect. What Can a Parent Do?First, and most significant, every parent should think about whether to vaccinate children. Look at the information available, not just that given out by the pharmaceutical companies and medical establishment. Do not be railroaded into vaccinating your child. Remember how your parents responded when you whined, “But everyone’s doing it!” They made it absolutely clear that such an argument was pure nonsense. Now is the time to remember that lesson: * Just because all the other parents are doing it. * Just because the doctors are saying you should. * Just because the schools are pressuring for vaccinations. * Just because the government is now trying to coerce vaccinations. Not one of these reasons, or all of them put together, can justify vaccinating your child without careful consideration of the risks involved. If Your Child Has Already Been Vaccinated: If your child has already been vaccinated, consider whether there was any adverse reaction of any kind. If so, then assume the worst. You have nothing to lose by doing that. It will allow you to be proactive, to be aware if your child starts to exhibit problems and to start looking – before problems show up – for treatment options. There is no reason to give up hope, even if you realize that your child has been affected. As this article shows, there are ways to help your child. Homeopathic treatment by a professional can be effective in helping a child reach his or her full potential. Nonetheless, my first advice, as a professional homeopath, would be to do everything possible to eliminate WiFi and EM from your child’s environment. If you live close to overhead wirelines or cell phone masts, then move. It may be expensive, but consider the expense to your child’s entire life or the costs of raising such a child, let alone the emotional turmoil you’d be facing. Do not let your child sit close to a television (It might not be a bad idea to ban television from your home entirely) . Keep your child’s time in front of a computer to a minimum. Do not allow your child to use a cell phone, unless it’s with an earpiece, and try to keep even cell phone usage with earpieces to a minimum. Make sure your child sleeps in an EM radiation-free room. Try to give your child as many hours a day as possible completely away from any electrical devices. After shielding your child from EM radiation to the best of your ability, consider other therapies, such as chelation; first insisting on understanding any negative effects that the chelating drug may cause, or homeopathy. These are not the only possible treatments, though they are the ones this author sees as the first recourse and most likely to bring the greatest benefit, especially if started very early in life. For other approaches, especially for older children, refer to the website of New Generation, a parents’ group that is studying the causes and potential treatments for autism (http://www.NaturalNews.com/011764.html) . Conclusion A true understanding of science means understanding that nothing is ever fully proven. If absolute proof of the connections among mercury/heavy metals, thimerosal, vaccinations, WiFi/EM, and autism (along with many other neurological disorders) are required before doing something to limit the damage, then it will never be possible to stop the pharmaceutical corporations and medical juggernaut from poisoning our children and destroying lives. The evidence of these connections is already compelling. It is long past the time to stop giving free license to the profit motive and start looking at what is happening to us and to our children based on the specious argument that there is no proof or faked pharmaceutical tests. There is more than enough documentation now to show the likely links causing the autism epidemic. If we wait, then there truly is no hope for the future. In another related arena, PEST management, the founder of PEST (Prevent Environment Suicide Today), Steven Tvedten stated, “The people who would do this to children, to all of us, have no souls. I have looked into their eyes and seen that”**. Nothing could say it better. References: * The Great Thimerosal Cover-up (http://www.NaturalNews.com/011764.html) ** Poisoning the Earth for Profit – DDT, A Vaccine for Mosquitoes

New Strategies for Autism

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Such a mysterious disease-condition-behavior! Most scientists and physicians seem to be totally baffled by the condition. Almost fifty years ago (1951) the medical definition was “The condition of being dominated by subjective, self-centered trends of thought and behavior.” (Dorland’s Medical Dictionary 23 edition.) The 28th edition of the same medical dictionary (1994) changed it to, “autistic thinking; preoccupation with inner thoughts, daydreams, fantasies, delusions, and hallucinations; egocentric, subjective thinking lacking objectivity and connection with reality. The self often predominates to the total exclusion of that which is not self. Seen in schizophrenia, some forms of depression, and a variety of other mental disorders.” The term autism was first introduced in 1943 by Kanner to indicate the condition wherein children, despite excellent motor skills (normal motor milestones and facile use of hands) and retentive memory, fail to mature socially, i.e., to form any emotional bonds with parents and other individuals, and often to learn speak. There are thought to be two general types of autism. In one group, the child is seemingly well until 18 to 24 months at which time an alarming regression in their development occurs and they may stop speaking and begin to lose interest in their surroundings and interactions. Often these developmental regressions begin to occur shortly after some type of stress such as a DPT shot or other immunization, injury, fever, toxin, infection (such as Kawasaki’s), etc. With the other type of autism, the child appears to be abnormal from the first months of life. The level of activity is reduced, the child cries little and is indifferent to his or her surroundings. According to many authorities the outcome of childhood autism is discouraging. One third of the patients never speak, another third acquire a rudimentary language devoid of communicative value, and in the remainder, an affected, stilted, colorless speech develops. As many as a third of these patients as they grow older will manifest signs and symptoms of a variety of cerebral diseases. So much for the books! In my experience, most of these children have a variety of problems which all come together to cause the behavioral and speech difficulties. In my opinion and experience, once the various problems are sorted through and corrected, these children do have a chance to become much more normal than heretofore thought possible. The recent discovery that secretin helps a number of these children is a good example that shows that we have a tremendous amount of knowledge yet to be learned about this condition. Of considerable interest in this regard is that in general at this point the information I have been receiving is that secretin may be most beneficial for those children with abnormal bowel functions. Hypocretin (a part of the secretin molecule) is a newly discovered neurotransmitter and acts by stimulating the hypothalamus and other brain centers. My idea that secretin injected into the body breaks down to hypocretin and this then is what is causing the beneficial results may not be correct or it may be part of the answer. On the other hand secretin acts on the pancreatic ducts to cause copious secretion of a very alkaline pancreatic juice that is rich in bicarbonate. Secretin is secreted by the S cells that are located deep in the glands of the mucosa of the upper portion of the small intestine. The chemical structure is similar to that of glucagon, GLI, VIP, and GIP. Its half life is 5 minutes and augments the action of CCK in producing pancreatic secretion of digestive enzymes. It decreases gastric acid and may cause contraction of the pyloric sphincter. The secretion of secretin is increased by the products of protein digestion and by acid bathing the mucosa of the upper small intestine. Normally the acid passing from the stomach to the upper small intestine will act to stimulate the secretion of secretin which then releases the alkaline pancreatic juice which neutralizes the acid entering the upper small intestine. As the pH is changed from acid to alkaline, the secretion of secretin is shut off and pancreatic juices also stop flowing. In autistic children this feedback mechanism and the secretion of secretin may be impaired. This would explain the persistently acid pH’s of the stool contents of these children and would explain the benefit of the secretin when given by injection. If secretin is not normally being produced by the S cells or is not being regulated by the stomach acid content then the pancreas will not secrete the alkaline pancreatic juice in response to protein digestion products. The stool contents will become persistently acid and this acid will wreak havoc on the intestine’s inner walls. Persistently lower stool pH’s (more acid) will cause damage to the delicate inner intestinal mucosa which will increase the permeability “openness” of the mucosa. Bacteria, yeast, food and all of their various metabolic breakdown products will be able to pass much more easily into the blood and lymphatics of the intestine. All of these become “toxins” and are carried to the brain or enter into the intestine’s wall and undergo a chemical war with the body’s defense system. This war that develops in the intestinal walls between the entering toxins and the white blood cells of the body may well release a variety of “biogenic amines” “cytokines” and indoles, skatoles, polyamines, etc. all of which can pass into the blood and also the CSF (via the intestinal lymphatics and Bateson’s paravertebral shunt). From there these toxic substances become readily available to interact with a “predisposed brain.” Autistics are also predisposed to allergies and this predisposition may partially explain why so many siblings have autism. Many parents observe that autistic episodes are often worsened when their child eats certain foods such as wheat, milk, sugar, eggs, corn, etc. High levels of certain food derived polypeptides are found in the urine and their immune complexation with IgG antibodies as well. High levels of immune complexes, anti-nuclear antibodies and other markers of chronic infection and vasculitis are often found if looked for (blood tests). These children often suffer from recurrent middle ear infections and fluid in the middle ear. Frequently they have been given multiple antibiotics and have developed chronic intestinal yeast infections which neither they, their parents or their doctors have noticed or tried to diagnose. Often these children suffer from colic during the first year of life (long thought to be caused by food allergies), or from diarrhea, constipation, and mal-odors. These various bowel problems need to be investigated and treated. I generally recommend the Great Smokies Lab for this test (comprehensive stool exam and parasitology test). Follow up tests should be done every three months to be sure that these infections have been corrected. Hyperactivity is often a problem which gets worse with the ingestion of certain foods or exposures to the smell of chemicals, or perfumes. These people often have seizures (epilepsy) which can be brought on by certain foods, or sugars and often suffer from the development of a red and hot face and/or ears due to food allergies. Sometimes they have food cravings or are very “picky” or may refuse to eat anything but a few of their favorite foods. They often are of small statue and look somewhat younger than they are- possibly due to malnutrition. Of interest is that the speech centers of the brain require iron and zinc or they don’t develop during their critical times of development. Both of these can be severely depleted by an acute infectious process such as autistic children often have had as a precipitating event. A predisposed brain is what these children have in that they have subtle brain injuries that have occurred in utero, at birth or secondary to some other subsequent trauma. A good bibliography for this is found on the web at http://nodulus.extern.ucsd.edu/. which is the web site for the Laboratory for Research on the Neuroscience of Autism. Unfortunately, up to recently, these subtle brain injuries were not recognizable by the diagnostic tests that were available. Since the tests doctors used on these children didn’t show up the problems, it was thought that they didn’t have any injuries. (Another tribute in the hall of shame to the ego of doctors.) Finally, diagnostic tests such as 3-D, 3 headed SPECT scans, PET scans, MRI spectroscopy and functional MRI are beginning to show that many if not all of these children do have subtle brain injuries. Some of these injuries occur by genetic errors. Cell proliferation, migration, growth and differentiation are all regulated by genetic codes which if there are errors present will result in abnormal development or lack of development of critical parts of the brain such as the cerebellum. Other factors include various toxins such as xenobiotics which are foreign chemicals which when breathed in or swallowed or absorbed will damage the brain. For example, alcohol ingestion by a pregnant woman can result in the loss or damage of a type of cerebellar cell called the Purkinje cell. Loss of Purkinje cells occurs when a pregnant woman takes various drugs such as the anticonvulsant valproic acid. This and ingestion of thalidomide have been associated with the development of autism. Viruses can infect the rapidly divided brain cells especially of the cerebellum which results in a smaller structure which has been associated with autism. Viral infections can do a tremendous degree and a great variety of types of brain maldevelopment and disturbed neural connections all of which could result in autism. Trauma is a very serious problem for babies and children and can be due to a number of different events. Birth trauma is associated with lack of oxygen (hypoxia), pressure changes on the brain, hemorrhage into the brain, shear stress, ischemia-reperfusion injury, free radical production, etc. Changes in the inner blood vessel wall involving the endothelium secondary to these traumatic events can create permanently spastic microvessels which in turn causes chronic hypoxia. The trauma can also trigger the production of a variety of genetic changes including the induction of early-response genes, heat shock genes, metallothionin genes, etc. in the endothelium and in the neurons and glia cells of the injured areas. These damaged tissues in turn can react with white blood cells to induce the production of autoantibodies. These antibodies can then continue to be produced forever and always be in the system causing inflammation and vascular spasm. These autoantibodies may also be directed at the various decarboxylases present at the terminal nerve synapses. Glutamate decarboxylase and histidine decarboxylase are found close together in these synapses. Autoantibodies can penetrate through the neurons to reach these sites and inactivate these enzymes. If this happens the glutamate decarboxylase would no longer be able to convert the glutamate that is being released by the neurons to glutamine. Glutamate would remain in the extracellular spaces and contribute or totally cause the hyperactivity, seizures and loss of attention of these children. The inactivation of histidine decarboxylase could result in more histamine being present which would help explain the allergic and chemical sensitivities these children have. Both of these decarboxylase enzymes are vitamin B-6 and magnesium dependent enzymes and when these children are given supplemental vitamin B-6 and magnesium, often you see improvements in their conditions. Vitamin C is also helpful and this may be due to a variety of reasons including more rapid detoxification of xenobiotics, decrease in histamine levels, a decrease in adrenalin levels, a decrease in stress hormones, improvement in capillary permeability (less), improvement in connective tissue construction, etc. The endothelium is the inner lining of the blood vessels and in this condition, may well be the key factor involved with causing the symptoms. Correction of the damage these brain endothelial cells have suffered from trauma, hemorrhage, viruses, xenobiotics, intestinal bacterial and yeast metabolites, etc is vitally important since these damages will remain fixed in these cells forever unless actively corrected. To do this a variety of tests need to be done. These include the Great Smokies quantitative plasma amino acids, quantitative urine amino acids, serum and urine minerals, urine organic acids (Great Plains Laboratory, Wichita, Kansas), fatty acid profile, Great Smokies comprehensive stool and parasite test, TORCH viral panel, Epstein-Barr comprehensive panel, Herpes VI, food allergy panels IgE and IgG4, ANA, interleukin 6 and11, interferon alpha, interferon gamma, ESR, C-R-P, haptoglobin, Adrenal stress panel, chemistry panel, thyroid panel. These may look overwelming and there is no way that I would order all of these to be done at one time. Start with the comprehensive stool test and allergy tests since these are things you can change around with the food choices you are making. After you get the diet changed around and the bowels cleaned up, and you have tried the secretin a few times, start to look at the other tests and begin to correct the abnormalities you find with these. About this time you should begin to think about the use of hyperbaric oxygen and magnetic therapy. Both of these seem to be quite helpful at changing the health of the endothelial cells and thus the brain’s blood vessels. Results can be seen within a few days with these therapies. A magnetic bed can be used every night and is helpful. In my experience, static magnetic field treatments using 3000 gauss given for a total of 150 to 200 hours will generally produce a long term very positive effect and daily hyperbaric oxygen treatments for a total of between 60 and 180 treatments also have been shown to be quite helpful.

What Are The Early Warning Signs Of Autism

05 December 2007

ScienceDaily (Oct. 29, 2007) — Two new clinical reports from the American Academy of Pediatrics will help pediatricians recognize autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) earlier and guide families to effective interventions, which will ultimately improve the lives of children with ASDs and their families. The first clinical report, “Identification and Evaluation of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders,” provides detailed information on signs and symptoms so pediatricians can recognize and assess ASDs in their patients. Language delays usually prompt parents to raise concerns to their child’s pediatrician – usually around 18 months of age. However, there are earlier subtle signs that if detected could lead to earlier diagnosis. These include: not turning when the parent says the baby’s name; not turning to look when the parent points and says, “Look at…” and not pointing themselves to show parents an interesting object or event; lack of back and forth babbling; smiling late; and failure to make eye contact with people. Most children, at some time during early development, form attachments with a stuffed animal, special pillow or blanket. Children with ASDs may prefer hard items (ballpoint pens, flashlight, keys, action figures, etc.). They may insist on holding the object at all times. The report advises pediatricians to be cognizant of signs of ASD, as well as other developmental concerns, at every well-child visit by simply asking the parents if they or their child’s other caregivers have any concerns about their child’s development or behavior. If concerns are present that may relate to ASD, the clinician is advised to use a standardized screening tool. The report also introduces universal screening, which means pediatricians conduct formal ASD screening on all children at 18 and 24 months regardless of whether there are any concerns. “Red Flags” that are absolute indications for immediate evaluation include: no babbling or pointing or other gesture by 12 months; no single words by 16 months; no two-word spontaneous phrases by 24 months; and loss of language or social skills at any age. Early intervention can make a huge difference in the child’s prognosis. “Autism doesn’t go away, but therapy can help the child cope in regular environments,” said Chris Plauche Johnson, MD, MEd, FAAP, and co-author of the reports. “It helps children want to learn and communicate.” Educational strategies and associated therapies, which are the cornerstones of treatment for ASDs, are reviewed in the second AAP clinical report, “Management of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders.” Early intervention is crucial for effective treatment. The report strongly advises intervention as soon as an ASD diagnosis is seriously considered rather than deferring until a definitive diagnosis is made. The child should be actively engaged in intensive intervention at least 25 hours per week, 12 months per year with a low student-to-teacher ratio allowing for sufficient one-on-one time. Parents should also be included. Pediatricians who treat children with ASDs should recognize that many of their patients will use nonstandard therapies. The report says it’s important for pediatricians to become knowledgeable about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies, ask families about current and past CAM use, and provide balanced information and advice about treatment options, including identifying risks or potential harmful effects. They should avoid becoming defensive or dismissing CAM in ways that convey a lack of sensitivity or concern, but they should also help families to understand how to evaluate scientific evidence and recognize unsubstantiated treatments. “Many parents are interested in CAM treatments such as various vitamin and mineral supplements, chelation therapy, and diet restrictions. It’s important for pediatricians to maintain open communication and continue to work with these families even if there is disagreement about treatment choices, ” said co-author of the reports Scott M. Myers, MD, FAAP. “At the same time, it’s also important to critically evaluate the scientific evidence of effectiveness and risk of harm and convey this information to the families, just as one should for treatment with medication and for non-medical interventions.” Although use of the gluten-free/casein-free diet for children with ASDs is popular, there is little evidence to support or refute this intervention. More studies are in progress, and it is anticipated that these studies will provide substantially more useful information regarding the efficacy of the gluten-free/casein-free diet. Tantrums, aggressive behaviors, and self-injury are common among children with ASDs, and medical factors may cause or exacerbate these behaviors. Behavior management strategies are often the most effective treatment for challenging behaviors. In some children, medications are effective in addition to the behavioral strategies. The report addresses the medical issues that some children with ASDs encounter such as seizures, gastrointestinal problems, and sleep disturbance, and provides guidance for medication management. Both reports will also be part of the new AAP practical resource for pediatricians “AUTISM: Caring for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Resource Toolkit for Clinicians,” which includes screening and surveillance tools, guideline summary charts, management checklists, developmental checklists, developmental growth charts, early intervention referral forms and tools, sample letters to insurance companies and family handouts. Adapted from materials provided by American Academy of Pediatrics.

The effects of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on oxidative stress, inflammation, and symptoms in

children with autism: an open-label pilot study

16 November 2007

Background: Recently, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) has increased in popularity as a treatment for autism. Numerous studies document oxidative stress and inflammation in individuals with autism; both of these conditions have demonstrated improvement with HBOT, along with enhancement of neurological function and cognitive performance. In this study, children with autism were treated with HBOT at atmospheric pressures and oxygen concentrations in current use for this condition. Changes in markers of oxidative stress and inflammation were measured. The children were evaluated to determine clinical effects and safety. Methods: Eighteen children with autism, ages 3-16 years, underwent 40 hyperbaric sessions of 45 minutes duration each at either 1.5 atmospheres (atm) and 100% oxygen, or at 1.3 atm and 24% oxygen. Measurements of C-reactive protein (CRP) and markers of oxidative stress, including plasma oxidized glutathione (GSSG), were assessed by fasting blood draws collected before and after the 40 treatments. Changes in clinical symptoms, as rated by parents, were also assessed. The children were closely monitored for potential adverse effects. Results: At the endpoint of 40 hyperbaric sessions, neither group demonstrated statistically significant changes in mean plasma GSSG levels, indicating intracellular oxidative stress appears unaffected by either regimen. A trend towards improvement in mean CRP was present in both groups; the largest improvements were observed in children with initially higher elevations in CRP. When all 18 children were pooled, a significant improvement in CRP was found (p = 0.021). Pre- and post-parental observations indicated statistically significant improvements in both groups, including motivation, speech, and cognitive awareness (p < 0.05). No major adverse events were observed. Conclusions: In this prospective pilot study of children with autism, HBOT at a maximum pressure of 1.5 atm with up to 100% oxygen was safe and well tolerated. HBOT did not appreciably worsen oxidative stress and significantly decreased inflammation as measured by CRP levels. Parental observations support anecdotal accounts of improvement in several domains of autism. However, since this was an open-label study, definitive statements regarding the efficacy of HBOT for the treatment of individuals with autism must await results from double-blind, controlled trials.

Study links mercury from power plants to autism

March 17, 2005

After years of debate about whether a nationwide explosion in autism is related to a mercury-based preservative used in vaccines, Texas researchers have found a new suspect: mercury from coal-burning power plants. In a new study, scientists at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio are reporting a strong correlation between higher mercury release levels and the developmental disorder marked by communication and social interaction problems. “This is a preliminary study that needs further study but suggests there is a link,” said Raymond F. Palmer, an associate professor in the UT-San Antonio’s department of family and community medicine and the study’s lead author. “If corroborated, it would have pretty severe implications for policy.” Palmer called the study the first to examine the relationship between potentially chronic, low-dose exposure to mercury and developmental disorders such as autism. He stressed it does not prove causation. The study, to be published in an upcoming edition of the journal Health and Place and already online, looked at 254 counties and 1,200 school districts in Texas, comparing 2001 mercury mission levels with rates of autism and special education services. Using statistical modeling, Palmer’s team found a 17 percent increase in autism rates for every 1,000 pounds of mercury released. About 48 tons of mercury are released in the air annually in the United States from hundreds of coal-burning plants. Texas plants release more than those in any other state. The study was undertaken amid uncertainty about a dramatic increase in autism. Once thought to occur in 1 of every 10,000 children, today it is estimated to afflict as many as 1 in 250. The still poorly understood disorder has a strong genetic component, but the increase in cases has fueled theories the environment is playing a role. To some, mercury, a neurotoxin that affects the brain, spinal cord, kidneys and liver, made logical sense. Suspicion initially fell upon vaccines, many of which use thimerosal, a mercury-based preservative. During the period reported autism rates grew, U.S. health authorities expanded the shots given to children, causing many parents to suspect the vaccine. But no proof was ever found; and last year, a controversial Institute of Medicine report concluded there is no causal link. Dr. Sarah Spence, medical director of the UCLA Autism Evaluation Clinic, called the UT-San Antonio study “very interesting.” She noted that the mercury released by power plants has known toxic effects on humans, whereas that’s still speculative in the kind of mercury used in vaccines. “If the statistical modeling in the study is accurate, it’s an important first step,” said Spence. “Proving ausation would provide important information to both researchers and clinicians, who know people receiving treatment to remove mercury.” Susan West Marmagas, director of the Washington, D.C.-based Physicians for Social Responsibility’s environment and health program, called the study “the kind of research the scientific community needs to better evaluate the potential links between mercury and autism,” but said she would need to confer with experts before commenting further. Palmer said his next step will be to look at associations between mercury emissions and autism rates over time, about 15 years. He will start with Texas data, then compare that to national numbers. “If this study is corroborated, I would hope it leads to reductions, just as studies led to reductions in lead,” said Palmer. The Bush administration Tuesday ordered power plants to cut mercury pollution from smokestacks by nearly half within 15 years. Environmentalists complained that the order fell short of what was needed.

Major study of autism cause begins

November 30, 2007

If there is any good news, it is that researchers are taking seriously the impact of rising numbers of diagnosed cases of Autism. Kaiser Permanente, a major medical organization, has joined an intensive 5-year study on children and families with autism studying the genetic and environmental factors associated with the disorder and the possible effective treatments for Autism. See full article below:

Kaiser Permanente joins 5-year examination

Researchers are launching the largest-ever U.S. study aimed at solving one of the most perplexing mysteries of modern times: the cause of autism. The incurable disorder now strikes nearly one in 150 American children and shows no sign of letting up. California recently shattered a record by adding more than 1,000 new cases of autism to its regional center system in just three months. The five-year, $5.9 million study by Kaiser Permanente and other organizations will explore genetic and environmental reasons for the rapid rise in diagnosed cases. The prevailing opinion among scientists is that one or more environmental factors, linked with genetics, play a role in causing the disorder, said Lisa Croen, a Kaiser epidemiologist and the study’s principal investigator in California. “What’s become very clear is that autism results from a combination of having a genetic predisposition or genetic susceptibility, plus the added extra exposures from environmental factors or other kinds of lifestyle factors,” Croen said. Investigators will look at everything from family medical history to what happened during pregnancy, medications the mother took, a child’s vaccination history, and whether the parents’ occupations or home locations exposed them to harmful substances. Also included will be such lifestyle issues as whether the mother smoked. “We’re looking for factors that might be associated with predicting these conditions,” Croen said. “Once we identify factors, if these findings are replicated in other scientifically valid studies, then you can start building intervention strategies and prevention strategies.”Families in Alameda and Santa Clara counties will be invited to participate, along with people from five other sites across the nation. All told, researchers hope to enroll 2,700 children. In addition to Kaiser Permanente’s Division of Research in Oakland, other organizations involved in the study include Johns Hopkins University in Maryland, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will fund the study. Its wide scope won praise from some parents of autistic children. “I’m pleased to see the research moving in the direction of looking at environmental factors,” said Rick Rollens, the father of an autistic child and a co-founder of the M.I.N.D. Institute at University of California, Davis. The study is unlikely to shed light on one of the most controversial issues in autism today — whether thimerosal, a mercury-based vaccine preservative, contributed to the rapid rise in cases. The research will focus only on children born from September 2003 to August 2005. That was after many pharmaceutical companies voluntarily removed thimerosal from children’s vaccines. Despite this limitation, Rollens said he is pleased that vaccine history will be a part of the review. “Vaccines still contain aluminum, formaldehyde, MSG, live viruses and killed bacteria, among many other things,” Rollens said. Just a few decades ago, autism was considered a rare condition. Today, it has become so prevalent that the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends autism screening for all children between the ages of 18 and 24 months, even if parents have not noticed anything unusual. The Wallace family of San Jose may provide proof of the genetic component to autism. Leland, an engineer at Apple Computer, and his wife Vanessa, who teaches music at home, are raising five children. Four of them have some form of autism. Three are from Leland’s first marriage. The two youngest are Leland and Vanessa’s offspring. Eighteen-year-old Ian and 11-year-old Connor have both been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a high-functioning form of autism. The Wallaces began to notice that despite his high IQ, Ian had some unusual behaviors, including speaking in what sounded like a British accent. “He really had not a clue about how friendship worked,” Vanessa said. “If plans changed, he’d get upset.” Obsessed with video games, Ian speaks about them in great detail in a flat, monotone voice. “He doesn’t pick up on cues that you’re no longer interested in the subject,” his father said. Ian is taking computer classes at West Valley College in hopes of becoming a video game designer. Sixteen-year-old Briana is not autistic. Four-year-old Meghan was diagnosed with a high-functioning form of the disorder after her parents noticed that she often had difficulty maintaining a conversation, yet could echo phrases she heard on television. Two-year-old Gillian also has been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. Despite the challenges, the Wallace family appeared to be a happy, close-knit group during a recent interview. “You look at what their strengths are,” Vanessa said. “That’s just parenting.” Bay Area researchers hope to recruit 450 families, divided evenly among children with autism; those who have other developmental disorders; and those who are developing typically. Kaiser members and non-Kaiser members are eligible to participate. The assessments will be done at Kaiser’s autism center in San Jose. Included will be a family interview and a 40-minute observation of how a child plays, said Dr. Pilar Bernal, who directs Kaiser’s regional autism program. Investigators will also collect cheek swabs, and blood and hair samples. The Wallace family eagerly awaits the findings. “Every little bit of data that we collect helps us as parents to be better parents for our children,” Vanessa said.

New Hope for Treatment of Autism

Wednesday, November 14

There is new hope for parents of autistic children in Hawaii. It has to do with a groundbreaking study on Oahu involving hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The results were released and doctors said they are amazing. The study evaluated the effects of 20 hours of hyperbaric oxygen therapy on 20 children from 3 to 7 years old. One of them was Sarea Beckett’s 9-year-old son. “I felt like someone turned on the light in him,” Beckett said. “He was more aware, he was more talkative, he was more open.” Each session, she and her son laid inside the blue tunnel together. The changes she saw in her son’s behavior were astonishing and quick. “After about 4 hours of treatment it was a flood of words,” Beckett said. “The length of his sentences increased from 4-word sentences to 10-word sentences.” The results of the study showed significant improvement in 100 percent of the children in communication, social interaction and creativity. “The first few kids that came back, I was like ‘wow,’” said psychologist Dr. Jan Fitzgerald, “I was just amazed because the kinds of changes I saw you can’t teach.” Doctors have discovered that children with autism have chronic inflammation of the brain. The hyperbaric therapy treats that. “Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a very powerful anti-inflammatory, and works to stop that inflammation, grow new blood vessels.” said Dr. Maryellen Markley, of the Hyperbaric Center. “So the inflammation doesn’t return.” The best part doctors said is the results seem to be permanent. “The overall improvement was in him being more of a normal kid, a normal boy it was fabulous,” Markley said. The study is so important to parents here because Hawaii has one of the largest percentages of autistic children per capita of any state in the United States

Alternative Advances: Brain Food for Autism

TUCSON, Ariz. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) –

Autism affects one in every 166 children. It’s the most common childhood developmental disorder. Now researchers say changing your autistic child’s diet could change his life forever. The faces of autism — young boys and girls stuck in a world all their own. A world Lin Schwarzkopf has come face to face with. Her 3-year-old Trevor was born with autism. It’s a developmental disorder that’s difficult to treat. Lucky for Lin, she ended up in the right doctor’s office. Psychiatrist Lewis Mehl-Madrona, M.D., Ph.D., who received his medical degree from Stanford, has worked with autistic children for decades — not only using traditional medicine, but also trying alternative approaches. His treatment for Trevor wasn’t a drug — he changed his diet. ”Trevor’s been on a wheat-free, gluten-free, organic diet,” Lin says. And it’s working. ”I could see that he was responding.” When Trevor stopped eating gluten, found in wheat products, and casein, found in milk, he started walking and talking. “I really don’t know how to explain that, but it’s common when you eliminate these particular substances from the diet,” Dr. Mehl-Madrona, now of University of Arizona in Tucson, tells Ivanhoe. One theory is that foods containing wheat and milk may actually work as a narcotic and cause some of the behaviors of autism. Dr. Mehl-Madrona says, “Really the most frustrating thing about working with autism is, for the most part, we don’t have a clue what to do. We just have to try different things.” Susan Haubrock is trying a different approach for her daughter. When Reanne was 4, she refused to wear clothes and was just starting to talk. Then Susan started Reanne on vitamin therapy. “We were on the vitamins for maybe two weeks and we noticed all the sudden she started cooing,” Susan says. Today, Reanne is 7, home-schooled, and learning her three R’s. Dr. Mehl-Madrona says vitamins B-12, B-6, folic acid, omega-3 fatty acids, and magnesium have all shown a strong effect on autism. “When you super-saturate the brain with nutrition, you can override some defects.” Dr. Mehl-Madrona admits this therapy does not work for everyone, however many studies have shown the benefits of these nutrients. In fact, 18 studies that have looked at vitamin B-6 for autism have all shown positive results.

Life-Changing Autism Intervention

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (Ivanhoe Broadcast News) –

The most recent statistics show as many as one in 200 children have a condition that falls under the category of autism. There are many drugs for the behavioral symptoms that come with these disorders, but new research shows you may not need them. Now a drug-free treatment may change lives. When you see 5-year-old Sarah Beard today, you’d never guess that a year ago, her life was filled with tantrums and rituals — methodically lining up toys and spinning in circles. She’d scream at her own birthday parties if anyone sang happy birthday. Today, that old Sarah is hard to find. “Myself is something who is the personality, and I am a special person of ‘anality,” she tells Ivanhoe. Sarah was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome — an autism spectrum disorder — at two. Mom Colleen says that early diagnosis changed her little girl. “The amount of progress she has made — she’s a different girl today than she was 14 months ago,” Colleen says. Autism expert and psychologist Catherine Lord, Ph.D., says early diagnosis leads to life-changing interventions. “It’s been truly wonderful to see how many things people with autism can do and things that we would not have probably dreamed about 20 or 30 years ago,” Dr. Lord, of University of Michigan Autism and Communication Disorder Center in Ann Arbor, tells Ivanhoe. Therapy focuses on completion of tasks and social interaction. Experts believed half of autistic kids would never speak. With early intervention, Dr. Lord found only 14 percent won’t. She says, “It’s not what you have done in a day — but what you know — it leads into something that is really going to change children’s lives.” Sarah remembers how she used to behave. “It feels like I screamed a lot.” But this little girl doesn’t dwell on it. “I’m not afraid anymore,” she says. And this year, she even let her family sing her happy birthday. Doctors used to believe autism could not be accurately diagnosed until the child was 4 or 5 years old. Dr. Lord’s research shows children can reliably be diagnosed as young as 2, which, according to her, is the key to successful treatment. Since autistic behaviors vary, the intervention is targeted to each specific child to help them overcome their own obstacles.

Catching autism early

BY SUSAN JENKS; FLORIDA TODAY Screening, treatment center to open on Florida Tech’s campus in 2009

One of triplets, Nicholas Diaz began falling behind his brothers, developmentally, as early as 8 months of age, according to his mother, Dee Dee. “There were big delays in crawling, talking and eye contact, even then,” she said. But, because of other medical problems associated with entering the world two months prematurely, she said, Nicholas did not get an official autism diagnosis until about 21/2 years ago. Today, at age 5, the Palm Bay boy goes to a small clinic on the Florida Tech campus, where he undergoes applied behavioral analysis, a highly structured therapy that rewards him for learning language and social skills appropriate to his age, so he can eventually attend regular school. “I am seeing a huge difference,” his mother said, citing better word recognition, among other new skills, even though Nicholas still rarely speaks. “Applied behavioral analysis is the most research-proven therapy we have.” By spring 2009, Florida Tech in Melbourne plans to showcase this intervention for as many as 30 to 40 other individuals every week in a new 18,000-square-foot Autism Center, to be built on campus, starting next year. Estimated cost: about $4.5 million. Although most of those undergoing treatment will be children Nicholas’ age or younger, university officials said, the center will serve individuals across the life span with autism, a spectrum of disorders that cause substantial impairments in social interaction and communication, along with odd behaviors and peculiarly intense interests. As part of the school’s mission to develop this comprehensive new autism resource, Florida Tech is hosting an Autism Conference on Oct. 18 and 19 for educators, health care and social service providers, and families. “We want to educate the public about autism and the types of treatments that are known to be the most effective,” said Mary Beth Kunkel, dean of the College of Psychology and Liberal Arts. “One of the hallmarks for our center is we are committed only to treatments with empirical support.” That means the university does not intend to offer still-controversial biomedical therapies some parents swear by, such as nutrition and vitamin supplementation; chelation therapy to remove mercury and other metals from the blood; and hyperbaric oxygen, to improve circulation to every area of the body, including the brain. Nor, Kunkel said, will there be any talks about thimerosal, the mercury-based preservative once routinely put in children’s vaccines, but now a rarity, which remains at the heart of a fierce debate over its role in autism’s development. “Research tells us now mercury is not related to autism, but it is still an issue with some parents,” she conceded. “It’s a major controversy.” 1 in 150 affected: By existing standards, autism spectrum disorders in the United States are the second most serious developmental disability after mental retardation, affecting about 1 in 150 children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. Because prevalence is clearly on the rise, and no one yet knows the cause, “everybody is concerned,” Kunkel said. “But our real focus is, if you have a loved one with autism, what are you going to do?” Eb Blakely, a behavioral analyst with the nonprofit Quest Inc. in Orlando, and one of the conference speakers, said he intends to address that question in his talk, “Autism and the Scientific Method.” “What I hope to do is help people figure out what to do with their kid if he or she is diagnosed with autism,” he said. “It’s complex. You need to ask: Is there any research on a (particular) treatment, and if there is, what kind is it?” To illustrate his point, Blakely plans to use a case study, involving hormone-replacement therapy, whose early promise in the 1980s and 1990s arose out of “weak” observational studies, he said, rather than the gold standard — controlled, randomized trials. As a result, in 2003, the government abruptly halted a major study in postmenopausal women after it was found this therapy increased, rather than lessened, the risks for heart attacks, breast cancers and stroke. Of the various treatment approaches to autism, Blakely said, “it’s a difficult topic and I’m not taking any stands. Let the science speak for itself.” The best-known study backing a behavior-based approach to autism dates to 1987, experts say. Sixty children were randomly assigned at that time to several years of intensive therapy with one of three approaches, including applied behavioral analysis. Rewards in this approach, often a toy or some type of social interaction, come as a child completes each task at his or her age level, based on performance. The study found 47 percent of children who got the behavioral intervention were able to go back into regular classrooms, said David Wilder, an associate professor in Florida Tech’s psychology college. “At the end of the study, they were indistinguishable from their peers,” he said. “And their IQ improved dramatically. Like his colleagues, Wilder emphasized the importance of early intervention, however. “The earlier we get to these kids, the better,” he said. Alternative approaches: Despite her clear support for behavior-based therapy, Dee Dee Diaz said she and her husband also have taken Nicholas to the nonprofit International Child Development Research Center in Melbourne, run by Dr. Jeffrey Bradstreet, to try alternative therapies. Bradstreet is a leading proponent of unproven biomedical therapies that enhance methylation, a process critical to normal cell function and nerve development and overall immune responses. Nicholas not only eats a restricted diet, his mother said, he also has undergone chelation therapy and hyperbaric oyxgen treatments at Bradstreet’s center — both of which appeared to bring some benefit. “From a parent’s perspective, we try one thing out at a time,” she said. “When you see your child turn around and suddenly say a few words, it’s monumental.” As an elementary school teacher and an educator, she added, “I think hard science is wonderful,” but parents worry, if they wait 20 years for the science, “their children may be so far out into their own world by then, nobody will be able to help them

Recovering’ from autism

September 11, 2007

Another inspiring story of success for a family implementing Biomedical Treatments for Autism for their son: “I am a stay-at-home mother to three boys (Daniel, Charlie and Joe) and my husband is a Federal Prosecutor in Chicago. Our eldest son had life-threatening asthma at age 2 and our middle son has autism. I run a state-wide support group called “Illinois Biomedical Kids” where parents draw support and guidance from one another as they successfully treat their children with autism. In August of 2005, there were 20 of us. Now, two years later, we are almost 200 parents strong. My husband and I are very thankful we decided to look into the science ourselves and not simply take the “experts” word for it. Through the medical treatments aimed at detoxifying their bodies of heavy metals and regulating their immune systems, my boys are doing extremely well today. My eldest no longer has asthma and my son with autism is mainstreamed in a 2nd grade classroom. Fortunately, he received intensive therapy through Early Intervention from age 10 months and once we began treating his underlying medical problems, he has flourished in home Applied Behvior Analysis (ABA) programs. He is a well-liked member of his class with many friends. My youngest, under-vaccinated boy, has neither autism nor asthma. I know the word “recovery” strikes a resonant chord in many individuals within the autism community. We aren’t trying to change who our children are-we are simply not ignoring the very real medical problems they have. For instance, all the mainstream doctors I approached (including the very talented allergy/immunology team at Children’s Memorial Hospital) assured me that my son didn’t have any problems with milk and could not explain why he threw up almost everything he ate and had severe gastric reflux as a 6-week-old infant. However, when I finally bit the bullet and took milk products out of his diet, he stopped throwing up. I remember when he was 3 years old, he used to have to sleep next to a bed pan every night. By simply replacing milk and wheat products with healthier, easier to digest alternatives, he not only became healthier but his language and cognitive skills improved dramatically. I know this because his diet was the only thing we changed within a six-month period of time and we had his language tested right when we started the diet and then six months into the diet. His expressive language scores jumped 10 months with absolutely no speech therapy and a very difficult family move during this period of time. The same improvement was seen by all who worked with him when we began chelation (using chemicals to remove excess or toxic metals) as well as hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Transition tantrums ceased and his congitive skills soared. Is Charlie cured now? I don’t consider him to be, but I really believe it depends on who you ask. Many people would never guess he was ever as severe as he was and he has playdates with all neurotypical peers who don’t see him as anything but another playmate. Once we paid attention to his medical issues, educational and therapuetic issues fell into place and the difficult social skills and language taught through many hours of therapy were finally ’sticking.” It no longer feels as if we are pushing a boulder up a steep hill. I also know a lot of parents with “recovered” children who choose not to talk about it. Perhaps many of us resist using the word “recovered” because it implies that the journey is over. For those of us who have entered the realm of biomedical treatments for our children, it has become impossible to go back and pretend that we don’t know better when we make parenting choices based on convenience rather than health. To pay close attention to the diets of our affected children and ignore the processed food we feed our “neurotypical” children. To ignore our own health. I’m truly thankful that my son is at the point when I can take a little bit of time for myself now and then, yet this is unfortunately not the case for so many parents whose job is to ensure the very safety of their child, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. My son may not have lost his autism diagnosis yet.However, when I consider the fact that just a few years ago, he could not hold down the food he ate, he stimmed alone for hours on end, he could not carry on a simple conversation, and he tantrumed to the point of kicking my then-pregnant belly repeatedly when transitioning from one activity to the next, I marvel at the endless possibilities within his little 8-year-old body and can’t help but hope for his future. For all of our children’s futures

Possible groundbreaking autism study appears to be moving forward

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) – A possible groundbreaking autism study proposed by the University of Louisville at Kosair Children’s Hospital appears to be moving forward. The lead researcher tells WHAS11 news that a proposal for that study is now in the hands of the national “Institutional Review Board.” Several children at Kosair have been allowed to receive the alternative treatment and have shown improvement in aggressiveness, speech and eye contact. The treatment involves a naturally occurring amino acid called glutathione. Studies have shown that glutathione levels are lower in kids with autism. The treatment administers it intravenously. Since WHAS11 News revealed the plans in September, concerned parents have been wondering when the study would move forward. Dr. Gayle Williams of the Weisskopf Child Evaluation Center says U of L and Kosair are committed to seeing it through. “Sometimes it takes up to a year from the conceptualization of the study to the actual implementation,” Williams explained, “We have now submitted the study to the Institutional Review Board and we anticipate we should be approved in four to six weeks.” If you want your child to be considered for the study, you can call Kosair at 629-5820. Eight year old Evan Riggle has been helped by the treatment. A “Beading to Beat Autism” bracelet project led by his 11 year old sister, Michala, has raised more than $260,000 for the Michala Riggle Autism Research & Treatment Fund. To learn more about Michala and her effort, purchase a bracelet or find a location to purchase the “Believe” pin, visit HelpKosairChildrensHospital.com. Her efforts have landed her on Good Morning America, the Ellen Degeneres Show and countless TV and newspaper stories across the country

Treating autism

Jul. 15, 2008

To the editor:

I have read with interest Wednesday’s Associated Press article on autism and the controversy of metal-based therapy. While my heart is definitely tugged by this debate, I am an outside observer of this issue because my son is no longer plagued with the confines of autism. Just nine years ago I was a parent listening to the thundering words, “Your son is autistic.” Our family was atypical in that we refrained from immunizing our children at the time prescribed by their pediatrician, but our son was exposed to mercury and other metals in other ways. When tested, he was found to have high levels of metal in his body. I engaged in every form of therapy I could lay my hands on. I researched, called on physicians, did more research and prayed fervently for this stranglehold to be lifted from my son. I finally found doctors whose words rang true to me. Carefully using chelation therapy and cleansing my son’s intestinal tract finally brought him out of autism. Today, he is a healthy, happy 10-year-old, but I continue to be observant and vigilant about his diet. Science today would have us believe that there is a cookie cutter therapy for everyone with a specific condition. For many ailments that may be true, but autism is a lone giant. It has affected a huge portion of our children because of their susceptibilities and it must be extinguished cautiously and individually, case by case. My heart goes out to every family struggling with this condition. They must not be made to feel as though they are being excessive or jeopardizing the health of their child. Your article mentions that only 5 percent of the autism research budget has been directed to alternative treatments. Why is that? Because a few men and women in a sanitized office think “safe” is easier than “cured”? Families who have used these therapies and others know they work. Please don’t stigmatize us for knowing that there is something more out there for our children that doesn’t necessarily follow conventional treatment protocols. Chelation was the main therapy strategy that pulled my son from autism. I know it works.

Woman writes book on son’s recovery from autism

July 25, 2008 by Buddy Moorehouse • DAILY PRESS & ARGUS •

About six years ago, Kristi Chrysler was told by doctors that her 5-year-old son, Richie, needed to be in an institution. Richie was suffering from a severe form of autism, and the doctors saw little hope that he would ever be able to lead a normal life. Chrysler decided to ignore that advice, embarking instead on an intensive program of biomedical treatments and therapy for Richie. “I basically decided to educate myself and learn everything I could about autism,” said Chrysler, a Howell Township resident. “I went to a lot of medical conferences, picking up all the information that I could. I basically traveled from West Coast to East Coast gathering information.” Fast-forward to 2008, and Chrysler says that Richie (the grandson of former U.S. Rep. Dick Chrysler) is now cured of autism. Richie’s remarkable recovery prompted Chrysler to write “Autism: Recovery Against All Odds,” a book that details his journey from an autistic 5-year-old to a normal 11-year-old who loves sports, fishing and computers. Chrysler’s book is available online and in book stores, and she’ll be appearing at a special book-signing session from 3-5 p.m. Saturday at His Bible and Book House in Brighton, 106 W. Main St. The session will begin with a question-and-answer session. According to the World Health Organization, autism is a brain development disorder that impairs social interaction and communication, and causes restricted and repetitive behavior, usually starting before a child is 3 years old. About one child out of 150 has autism. Richie’s treatment consisted largely of changes in his diet. “We went to a gluten-free and casein-free diet, eliminating wheat and dairy,” Chrysler said. “We did chelation therapy, which removes heavy metals from his system, like mercury, zinc and aluminum. We also did candida treatment, which removes intestinal yeast.” Chrysler said they started to see some results almost immediately. “Certain symptoms started clearing up right away, but other ones took a while to disappear,” she said. “It was sort of two steps forward and one step back.” Eventually, though, all of Richie’s autistic characteristics began to disappear. And when he went to the doctor in the fall of 2006, the testing showed that he was cured, Chrysler said. “We weren’t having any issues anymore,” she said. “We weren’t having any of the meltdowns or anything else. And all of his blood work and other tests showed that he was cured.” A couple of weeks after that, Chrysler was attending a writers’ conference in New York with her oldest daughter, Chloe. “They gave us an assignment that we had to write about some topic that we knew a lot about, so I decided to write about autism,” Chrysler said. The person running the seminar was so impressed with Chrysler’s insights into the topic that he urged her — strongly — to write a book about it. “I hadn’t even thought about it, but he really convinced me that I had to do it,” she said. “So about eight months later, I finally started to write it.” “Autism: Recovery Against All Odds” was released in May by Tate Publishing, and Chrysler said the initial response to the book has been terrific. “The feedback I’m getting is that the word ‘autism’ in the title could be replaced with any other word,” she said. “I’m really glad about that. It’s really a book about how you need to persevere against any obstacle, and with the help of faith, you can accomplish anything.” In addition to writing the book, Chrysler and her five children (in addition to Richie and Chloe, the brood includes Heather, John and Kyle) have started a nonprofit organization called the Kristi and Kids Foundation Inc. They do speaking engagements and put on seminars and other sessions. The family originally lived in Brighton Township before moving to Florida a few years back. Now they’re back in Livingston County, and Chrysler is keeping busy with book signings, speaking engagements and more. “What’s important to know (is) that certain treatments for autism are going to work with every child,” she said. “There are other treatments that you have to cater to each individual person, though. It’s not a cookie-cutter approach

Mother: ‘We’re not waiting for the government’

Sunday, July 27, 2008 By ROBERT M. COOK bcook@fosters.com

Ginger Taylor wasn’t sure what she could do to help her son, Chandler, when he first was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 2. But after the Brunswick, Maine, woman discovered how much he benefited from chelation therapy, as well as a gluten- and casein-free and special carbohydrate diet, Taylor found the answer to her prayers. She said her son, now 6, is well on the road to recovery. Chandler receives biweekly, 15-minute intravenous treatments at the Chelation Medical Center in Gray, Maine, to remove lead, mercury and other toxic metals from his body. The treatments use a fluid containing agents that help remove the metals from the bloodstream. He also receives “Myers” cocktails to restore minerals and vitamins to his system, Taylor said. The family’s health insurance will not cover the procedure, the cocktail or special diet supplements. Taylor said they pay $300 weekly for everything, but the results have been worth it. “In the first two weeks he had dramatic improvement, and he started potty training. He has better eye contact, and his words took off,” Taylor said. “He went from speaking four-word sentences to four sentences.” She said her son also started playing better with his older brother, Webster, 7, and her neighbor’s children, who are the same age as Chandler. With the help of an aide, he also has attended kindergarten in the Brunswick public schools and she is hopeful he’ll do well when he attends first grade this fall. The National Institutes of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md., proposed doing a chelation treatment study earlier this month to determine how it helps children diagnosed with autism. If the study is approved, it would mark the first time the federal government has taken a close look at an alternative treatment for autism. While Taylor said she’s pleased the federal government wants to study the benefits of chelation as an autism treatment, she said the NIMH should have done so long ago. “Parents have been reporting for years that it has been helping their kids,” Taylor said. She also said the danger associated with chelation has been exaggerated, calling it safe if administered properly by a doctor certified by a chelation board. “We’re not waiting for the government to do anything,” she said. Doctors with Defeat Autism Now!, or DAN, believe children with autism are unable to break down metals such as mercury and lead the same way normal developing children do because their immune systems are compromised. They believe gluten- and casein-free diets, which don’t use wheat and dairy products, and alternative treatments like chelation, can remove toxic metals from children and eventually let them function normally. Taylor said her son benefited from the diet and chelation almost immediately after he started it in California, where the family lived before moving to Maine in 2006. She said her son “started calling me mommy again for the first time in 10 months.” Unlike a standard blood test doctors use to detect high levels of lead and mercury, Taylor said a chelation test focuses on urine. In Chandler’s case, his first chelation test showed he had high levels of lead and mercury, she said. She said the family stopped chelation for nearly two years and had his urine tested again for metals after they moved to Maine. The test showed he again had elevated levels of mercury, lead and toxins, she said. She said she believes her son may have ingested lead from mouthing toys later recalled for having lead paint. She said her son also may have ingested lead paint from the window frames of their Maine home. She said she’s not sure if her son will completely recover from autism, but believes chelation treatments have made a huge difference. “We are going to keep doing it until all the metals are gone,” she said

Autism Treatment Study

July 11, 2008 by John Marc Green

Birmingham HBOT is the only treatment center in Alabama offering large pressurized tanks used to immerse the brains of autistic children in oxygen, to try to reverse some of the effects of the disease. Now, some children undergoing hyperbaric therapy are also being treated for toxic metal exposure with a treatment called chelation. “Chelation is basically using either natural or drugs to remove either lead or mercury,” said Dr. David Adams. He says the medical community has been slow to accept the treatment due to lack of evidence, but a new study could soon change that. “I think the NIH is listening to parents and listening to parent reports of improvement with chelation and are attempting to scientifically evaluate that,” Adams said. Parents of autistic children say whether you’re talking about hyperbaric oxygen therapy or chelation, the medical controversies don’t matter as much as the actual results they’ve seen in their children’s lives. “Once we started adding the chelation to it we had a lot of his people that work with him in school, therapists and so forth, really start to see a big difference in how responsive he was,” said Rodney Allison. “It’s like they’ve come alive, gradually by gradually I’m getting my kids back cause it was like they died,” said Tracey Martin, the director of Birmingham HBOT. Dr. Adams says children may become exposed to mercury and lead from fish, coal fired steam plants, and certain vaccines

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in Thai autistic children.

2008 Aug J Med Assoc Thai.;

Department of Medicine, Phuket Hospital, Phuket, Thailand. director@vachiraphuket.go.th

BACKGROUND: Autism is a developmental and behavioral pattern, the triad of impairments, 1. social interaction, 2. social communication, 3. imagination. Their memories are seemingly in picture or photo records. Difficulties in the treatment, management, and handling of autistic children are the main problems. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is a modern treatment in Thailand for nitrogen imbalance (Decompression sickness syndrome or Caisson disease). HBOT can increase plasma oxygen to the tissues including the brain. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy is safe to use in children with autism, and has a statistically significant effect on autistic symptoms. This is the first study in Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thai Autistic children (n = 7) received HBOT (1.3 atm., 10 sessions) treatment. Assessment was done before and after treatment in five domains: Social development, Fine motor and Eye-hand coordination, Language development, Gross motor development, Self-help skills. RESULTS: Improvement was shown in five domains with a significant level. Seventy-five percent of children shown improvement while 25% did not seem to respond to the treatment. CONCLUSION: HBOT is a new treatment for Thai autistic children. Many scientific studies recently have shown that HBOT could be an effective treatment for autistic children. It could improve the major autistic symptoms.

The doctor’s chambers

3/9/2009 by KIM ARCHER World Staff Writer

Trent Hill, an 11-year-old autism patient from Shawnee, sits inside a hyperbaric chamber with operator Brian English looking through the portal at Jenks Health Team. Dr. Gerald Wootan uses hyperbaric oxygen therapy not only to treat wounds, but to treat autism, strokes and more. One looks like a white submarine ready to dive into the depths, with a small circular port window to peer out on an imaginary sea. The other one — not so much. They are both hyperbaric oxygen chambers, and true to their U.S. Navy roots, time spent in one is called “a dive.” Even the pressurization inside is measured by depths of the sea. Two clinics in Tulsa have hyperbaric chambers that are used to aid in healing wounds: St. John Medical Center and OSU Medical Center. “It forces oxygen into malfunctioning limbs. For diabetic wounds and wounds in general, it can start building new blood vessels in that area,” said Dr. Gerald Wootan of Jenks Health Team, 715 W. Main St. At a price of at least $400 per dive, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be expensive. But for a diabetic seeking to ward off amputation of a limb, a 40-dive protocol can save money and a limb, Wootan said. “The cost is about one-fourth of what a diabetic would pay for an amputation surgery and hospitalization,” he said. While Wootan treats diabetic wounds, he has taken hyperbaric oxygen therapy even further. His patients are stroke victims, children with autism, patients with peripheral vascular disease, people whose bones or soft tissue have been damaged by radiation, people with cerebral palsy, patients with skin grafts or burns, and those with any condition created or worsened by a lack of blood flow. By immersing the patient in 100 percent oxygen at more than twice the normal atmospheric pressure, the hyperbaric oxygen treatment dissolves oxygen in the blood plasma and in all body cells, tissues and fluids at up to 10 times normal concentration, he says. In fact, more parents of autistic children across the country are turning to hyperbaric oxygen therapy, chelation and a special diet to help their children. It is called the Defeat Autism Now or DAN protocol. As one of only two licensed health care professionals in Oklahoma listed on the DAN clinician registry, Wootan sees between 100 and 200 autistic children on a regular basis. Autism is a brain-based disorder that affects a person’s behavior, social and communication skills. The parent of one of those children, Yvette Hill of Shawnee, has been thrilled with how her 11-year-old autistic son Trent is progressing due to hyperbaric oxygen therapy. “Within a week, I noticed a big difference in Trent. Before, his speech was very basic and babyish talk. He would stare and laugh inappropriately. He wouldn’t look you in the eyes and he would zone out,” she said. After a month of the therapy, “Trent was a completely different little boy,” Hill said. The earlier mannerisms had faded and he was better able to focus during occupational and speech therapy, she said. One day, Trent even told his mother they were late for an appointment. “I turned around and said, ‘Since when can you tell time?’ ” Hill said. “What I’ve found is that he’s actually going through the social development steps now that he didn’t go through earlier. Now he’s engaging and reaching out to people.” U.S. researchers are launching studies of the use of hyperbarics both for traumatic head injuries and for autism. A 2006 pilot study by a Virginia researcher saw statistically significant improvements among its autistic subjects in mannerisms, health and physical behavior, sensory and cognitive awareness and speech, language and communication. Still, some label the treatment’s use among autistic children as quackery. But Wootan, an Oklahoma-licensed osteopathic physician in good standing, says its benefits for these patients are significant. “There really is no downside to treating with oxygen,” he said. While oxygen is considered a drug, this treatment’s risks are minimal, he said. The Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, the governing body of hyperbaric medicine, has approved the therapy for the treatment of 13 select conditions. Those are covered by Medicare and most insurers, he said. So-called off-label uses, such as for autism, are acceptable as long as prescribed by and conducted by licensed physicians, he said. “It’s like any other procedure. It has to be done correctly,” Wootan said. Both he and hyperbaric technician Brian English were trained in proper protocols. In his practice, Wootan says he has seen anecdotal evidence that hyperbaric oxygen therapy improves the function of autistic children. “About 60 percent of the autistic children we’ve seen do better in behavior and function after hyperbarics as evaluated by their parents,” he said. Wootan hopes more research will be done to support this treatment for autistic spectrum disorders. “It’s criminal to withhold therapy that can help somebody,” he said. “Hyperbarics is like watering your yard. When it’s dry and brown, it looks dead. But if you water it again soon enough, it starts growing. Why? Because the root wasn’t dead.

Oxygen tanks improve autism symptoms, says research

13 March 2009

New research published in the journal BMC Paediatrics has shown that putting children with autism into pressurised oxygen tanks reduces symptoms of the learning disability. Eighty per cent of those children aged five to seven treated with hyperbaric oxygen chambers, much like those used by divers, saw improvements, with 30 per cent being “very much improved” or “much improved”.Symptoms such as hyperactivity and anger were decreased when the children were placed in the tanks twice a day for four weeks, and speech and social interaction also increased.The researchers, from the International Child Development Resource Centre in Florida, said: “In the light of the positive results of this study and those of several previous studies, the use of hyperbaric treatment appears to be a promising treatment for children with autism.”A recent discovery by researchers at the University of California found a gene that is thought to increase the risk of autism.

Controversial treatments for autism

February 8, 2009 By Linda Ann Chomin

Biomedical treatment for autism is controversial. For that reason Heidi Scheer is telling her story at the first international conference on the disorder which stole her son from their family at 15 months. It was then she says Gannon started to fade into his own world. Scheer ran on the platform of defeating autism for Mrs. Michigan USA 2008. She continues to speak on the neurological disorder whenever the opportunity presents itself, as 1 in 150 children are affected. The conference came about after she asked Dr. Phillip DeMio, president of the American Medical Autism Board, to talk at a meeting of the Autism Society of America, Macomb chapter. DeMio and the AMAB are presenting the weekend event that offers separate sessions for physicians and families of children with autism. Gannon stopped responding to his name and his speech came to a halt more than six years ago. Devastated, Scheer began researching treatments and found many children with autism have food sensitivities. The Commerce Township mother removed gluten from his diet even though the speech therapist told her there was no scientific evidence it would work. In three weeks Gannon’s 3-year battle with diarrhea ended. He spoke his first sentence and behavioral problems such as biting other children began to subside. With further research, Scheer discovered DAN (Defeat Autism Now), a project of the Autism Research Institute to educate parents and clinicians about biomedically-based research and safe and effective treatments. Gannon underwent a variety of alternative therapies from supplements to chiropractic, chelation (removal of heavy metals from the body), and hyperbaric oxygen therapy to treat underlying causes of symptoms. Today Gannon, age 8, can speak fully. He is above grade level academically. Scheer’s advice to parents is never give up. “I want parents to know there is help,” said Scheer who still is uncertain if vaccines caused Gannon’s problems. She believes some children have stronger immune systems, like her older son Carson, and are not affected by certain additives such as mercury. Daughter Ella though had 23-days of diarrhea after her 6 month vaccination

Oxygen tanks improve autism symptoms, says research

13 March 2009

New research published in the journal BMC Paediatrics has shown that putting children with autism into pressurised oxygen tanks reduces symptoms of the learning disability. Eighty per cent of those children aged five to seven treated with hyperbaric oxygen chambers, much like those used by divers, saw improvements, with 30 per cent being “very much improved” or “much improved”.Symptoms such as hyperactivity and anger were decreased when the children were placed in the tanks twice a day for four weeks, and speech and social interaction also increased.The researchers, from the International Child Development Resource Centre in Florida, said: “In the light of the positive results of this study and those of several previous studies, the use of hyperbaric treatment appears to be a promising treatment for children with autism.”A recent discovery by researchers at the University of California found a gene that is thought to increase the risk of autism.

Oxygen therapy benefit in autism

A decompression chamber may help children with autism, say researchers. After 40 hours of hyperbaric treatment autistic children showed significant improvements in social interaction and eye contact compared with controls. The BMC Pediatrics study could not show if the results were long-lasting but should prompt further investigation of the treatment, the US team said. One theory is that oxygen can help reduce inflammation and improve flow of oxygen to brain tissue. Hyperbaric treatment – effectively giving high concentrations of oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure – has been shown to have some benefit in other neurological conditions such as foetal alcohol syndrome and cerebral palsy.

Some studies have looked at the treatment in children with autism but they have not compared with a dummy procedure raising questions around a “placebo effect”. In the latest study, carried out at six centres in the US, 62 children aged two to seven with autism were randomly assigned to receive 40 hours of treatment over a month with 24% oxygen at increased atmospheric pressure (1.3 atm) or normal air in a slightly pressurised room (1.03 atm). Children who received the treatment showed significant improvements in overall functioning, receptive language, social interaction, eye contact, and sensory or cognitive awareness. In all, 30% in the treatment group were rated by doctors as “very much improved” or “much improved” compared with 8% of those in the control group. Overall, 80% in the treatment group improved compared with 38% of controls. Behaviour : Study leader, Dr Dan Rossignol from the International Child Development Resource Centre, in Florida, said the use of hyperbaric therapy for autism has been gaining popularity in the US where parents can buy their own hyperbaric chamber if they have a spare $14-17,000. He said the findings would be quite controversial and he too was initially very sceptical of the idea but was prompted to do more research after the treatment showed benefits for his two sons who have autism. “We’re certainly not talking about a cure, we’re talking about improvements in behaviour, improving certain functions and quality of life. “The next step is to try to find out which kids do respond, because it’s an expensive treatment – it may be that kids with more inflammation respond better. “It would also be nice to know how long the treatment lasts, and the finding needs to be confirmed.” Richard Mills, research director at Research Autism, said this was the first well-designed study looking at the therapy. “We know this kind of therapy is useful in a number of neurological conditions and that’s been well established. “What we don’t know is how useful it is in autism, what we could be seeing is an improvement in other neurological conditions that go alongside autism. “We also don’t know about long-term effects – it could be a transitory effect.” Professor Philip James, an expert in hyperbaric medicine at the University of Dundee, said the pressure used was no more than that used to pressurise an aircraft cabin on the ground. He added that oxygen was the “controller of inflammation” but also had other effects on regulation of genes and tissue regeneration. But even if proven, the treatment may not be for everybody. “When you have any condition, there are people who have too much damage to get better.” “All the oxygen is doing is bringing things towards normal.”

Hyperbaric treatment may show promise for treating autism

March 24, 2009

A small trial from the International Child Development Resource Center in Florida has shown that some autistic children may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. The treatment includes a series of sessions in a pressurized chamber that has increased oxygen levels. Initial results showed improved language ability, social interaction, and other functions in autistic children. The team found that hyperbaric therapy significantly improved the kids’ overall functioning, grasp of language, social interaction, and eye contact. Moreover, 80 percent of hyperbaric-treated patients were rated as improved compared with 38 percent of the control group. The trial included 62 children, ages 2-7, some of whom were randomly assigned 40 1-hour sessions in a hyperbaric chamber. Further analysis of the results showed that children who were at least 5 years old and those with lower initial autism severity derived the greatest benefits from hyperbaric treatment

Autism Study Finds Significant Benefit with Hyperbaric Treatment

MELBOURNE, Fla., March 25 /PRNewswire/ — In a medical world that tells parents of autistic children to “accept” the condition of their child, a new study brings not only hope, but actual help, to these families. Lead physician and researcher, Daniel Rossignol, M.D., treats children with autism. Seeing his patients improve with hyperbaric oxygen treatment led him to conduct the first large scale, double-blind, controlled study to examine its effectiveness. And, the results of this study demonstrate positive improvements. Hyperbaric therapy traditionally involves inhaling up to 100% oxygen at a pressure greater than 1 atmosphere (atm) in a pressurized chamber. In the first randomized, controlled, double-blind multicenter trial, published in BMC Pediatrics and entitled “Hyperbaric treatment for children with autism: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial.” Dr. Rossignol and colleagues, from 6 centers in the USA, studied 62 children, aged 2-7 years, to assess the efficacy of hyperbaric treatment in children with autism. The research trial concludes that children with autism who received hyperbaric treatment at 1.3 atmospheres and 24% oxygen for 40 hourly sessions had significant improvements in overall functioning, receptive language, social interaction, eye contact, and sensory/cognitive awareness compared to children who received slightly pressurized room air. The children were randomly assigned to either 40 hours of hyperbaric treatment at 1.3 atm and 24% oxygen (treatment group) or slightly pressurized room air at 1.03 atm and 21% oxygen (non-treatment group). Clinical outcomes were evaluated by three different scales: the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), and the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC). Dr. Rossignol said, “In our study, we observed significant improvements in several core autistic behaviors with the use of hyperbaric therapy at 1.3 atm compared to children receiving near-placebo treatment. These findings confirm what we are seeing in clinical practice–that many children with autism may benefit with the use of this treatment.” Director of the International Hyperbarics Association, Shannon Kenitz, said, “With autism on the rise, it is promising to see a study that has been conducted with the high standards endorsed by the medical community. Having this scientifically controlled and analyzed study that shows the positive effects of hyperbarics is truly what this community has needed. The study not only presents the benefit of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for children with autism, but also gives families the hope that so many other therapies have failed to do.” ”The impact of this study on the autism community is significant. It brings validity to a successful intervention that needs to become part of mainstream medicine,” commented Kyle Van Dyke, M.D., and Autism Specialist from Madison, Wisconsin. According to Philip James, M.D., an expert in hyperbaric medicine out of the UK, this study is “An article of outstanding merit and interest in its field.” The growing concern regarding autism in this country is reinforced by the critically high ranking this study as earned by BMC Pediatrics. It is currently the most accessed article and projected to continue to climb in significance

Oxygen therapy may help treat autism symptoms

Mar. 29 2009 CTV.ca News Staff

A new study suggests children with autism may benefit from hyperbaric oxygen therapy. But not everyone agrees it’s time to recommend the costly potential treatment. The study, published in BMC Pediatrics, was a small one, involving just 62 children with autism and lasting just four weeks. It found that the children who regularly used hyperbaric therapy saw improvements in their language and social interaction abilities. Hyperbaric therapy involves inhaling oxygen at a pressure greater than 1 atmosphere (atm) in a pressurized chamber. In this study, the children, aged between two and seven years old, were randomly assigned to either 40 hours of treatment in a hyperbaric chamber at 1.3 atm and 24 per cent oxygen (treatment group) or slightly pressurized room air at 1.03 atm and 21 per cent oxygen (non-treatment group). Their outcomes were evaluated by three scales: the Clinical Global Impression (CGI) scale, the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC), and the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC). The study found that children with autism in the treatment group had significant improvements in overall functioning, receptive language, social interaction, eye contact, and sensory/cognitive awareness compared to children in the non-treatment group. In all, 30 per cent in the treatment group were rated by doctors as “very much improved” or “much improved” compared with eight per cent of those in the control group. Eighty per cent in the treatment group improved compared with 38 per cent of controls. The study, led by Dr. Dan Rossignol from the International Child Development Resource Centre in Florida, was not able to measure whether the results were long-lasting or permanent. While the evidence is still preliminary, some parents in Canada are already turning to this therapy. Five days a week, Lara Linhares and her eight-year-old son Quin climb into a hyperbaric chamber together at a clinic called Under Pressure in Port Credit Ont. for an hour. Linhares says the oxygen therapy appears to be working, making her son more approachable. “After our first session, he came up and hugged me, unprompted. Speaking as a mom of a child with autism, you can’t put a price on that,” she says. “He has been using more language, putting more words together, forming longer sentences since we started.” The hyperbaric chamber allows patients to breathe in much higher levels of pure oxygen, in the hope that it will increase blood flow. The therapy is typically used to heal wounds, but some clinics say it is beneficial for children with fetal alcohol syndrome and cerebral palsy. Now, some are also promoting its use for autism. “It’s simple, it’s effective and it’s safe,” says certified hyperbaric technologist William Eddy. “We’re getting oxygen deeper into the brain.” Margaret Spoelstra, the executive director of Autism Ontario, notes that this is just the first randomized controlled study on the therapy’s use in autism and the results need to be replicated in larger studies. “It seems encouraging to parents, but I worry about parents’ response to this. This is still a small sample. More children need to be studied to draw conclusions,” she says. She points out that the children in the study’s placebo group also showed improvements. And the effects of hyperbaric therapy need to be evaluated over the medium and long term, she says. While there are more studies under way, Spoelstra worries parents will sign up for treatments that cost $300 an hour without convincing proof. “I’m worried that parents might rush to say, ‘This is something we need for our children’,” she says. “This therapy costs a lot of money for which the evidence doesn’t exist enough to warrant it being a recommended treatment.” Linhares says she’s not going to wait years for further studies. “Let our kids be the guinea pigs of this. We’re willing to take that chance that it will benefit them,” she says. For those parents of autistic children who want to try the treatment, Spoelstra recommends they check the reputability of any clinic, because there are some risks involved with hyperbaric chambers and not everyone is qualified to operate them. Linhares says she’s weighed the costs and is preparing to spend $6,000 for 20 treatments for her son Quin. She says she’s paid back with hugs.

Autistic children get lessons in teen etiquette

08 April 2009

Teens with autism have been helped to better interact with their peers thanks to a new course designed by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In a report published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders this month, results of trials are to show that significant improvements in social skills and interactions can be achieved with the class.Called the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS), 33 autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) sufferers attended the trial courses, consisting of one 90-minute session every week for 12 weeks.Elizabeth Laugeson, the UCLA clinical instructor of psychiatry who worked on the research, said: “For me, the most important outcome of this research is that we’re able to have a direct impact on the quality of lives for teenagers with ASD.”Previous research by the International Child Development Resource Centre in Florida showed that the symptoms of autism, such as hyperactivity and anger, were reduced by sessions in hyperbaric oxygen tanks.

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