Alternative Therapies Help Autistic Children

"Your son's not really interacting with the other kids," Nicky's daycare teacher told Kara. Repetitious activities, inability to look at people, severe startling at noise or touch led doctors to diagnose autism. Nicky's doctors recommended speech and occupational therapy, but beyond that told Kara, "there isn't much anyone can do."

Undaunted, Kara began researching autism and discovered that there are many avenues to explore and approaches to try including diet, behavioral modification, massage therapy, high doses of vitamins, even enrolling her son in martial arts classes. "What I did discover was that not every therapy works for every kid, and a combination seem to work the best," Kara said in an article on alternativemedicine.com (click the post title to read the article).

Kara and Nicky's experience is not unique. Once considered very rare, by the late 1990s autism cases had skyrocketed to 20-40 births per 10,000 and now affect 1 in 166 children. First discovered in 1943 by Johns Hopkins physician Leo Kanner, autism is a developmental disability that typically manifests within the first three years of a child' s life. More likely to affect boys than girls, symptoms include the inability to communicate and relate to people, unusual or very limited interests, repetitious activities, severe gastrointestinal problems, and hypersensitivity to the senses. Sometimes self-destructive behavior is exhibited.

Advocacy groups, healthcare practitioners, and lawmakers attribute the increase in autism to toxic chemicals, viral infections, problems during pregnancy or delivery, repeated use of antibiotics in the first year of life, trauma, and possibly heavy metals such as mercury found in vaccines. While conventional medicine says there is no cure, Kara and other parents have had amazing results with alternative therapies. Kara offers this advice for other parents of autistic children: Join a support group to share information with other families and never give up.

Reknowned alternative medicine expert Dr. Burton Goldberg can connect you with autism experts who can help you and your child. He is knowledgeable about the latest therapies being used and will work with you to design a program that addresses the particular needs of your child. Dr. Goldberg is dedicated to his patients and will counsel and guide you to therapies that will help. Visit Dr. Goldberg's website and learn about his consultancy services. There are many things you can do to help your autistic child. Early intervention is critical. For the sake of your child, do not delay. Contact Dr. Goldberg today.