All About Autism

[specialboymum]

helplessmum3:

Specialboymum,

Thanks . My son didn't hav behavior problem yet..

He just seldom want to interact, like to play himself , must call at Least 3 times of his name then he turn n look just for awhile and back to his engrossed with..

When he play drum for instance, he will play and say this is a drum then knock a few time say \"drum\" then graze at me. Just never force me to see him play..

He will pull me to the shelve to get him cookies by graze at cookies. Through his body language n expression I know he want cookies. I will ask him \"u want cookies\" he will smile and just say \"cookies\" very loudly...

Do they need to nop head?

Last time he doesn't like hair dryer sound now its no longer affecting him.. Just stare at me blowing my hair ... Last time he will jus cover his ears by his hands. I didn't teach him how to cover his ears..

You are doing fine. Instead of calling him to get him to interact with you, perhaps you can join in in his game, for example, when you see him playing drum, you can join him in beating the drum, you can also further engage him by singing to the beat or march around the house.

By pulling you to the shelve, it is also a form of communication, to expand his language, maybe you can get your husband to be his model, so when you ask him \"Do you want cookie\", your husband can prompt him by saying, \"yes, I want cookie.\"

[specialboymum]

there are lots of alternate methods such as gcfc, biomed etc but there are always reports saying these methods are not scientifically sound. To me, I rather keep an open mind, as long as it doesn’t hurt him, I’m willing to try. For GCFC diet and Biomed, they are expensive and difficult to keep up. So far, I only give my son fish oil, vitamin B12 and magnesium (in the form of multivitamin)


I have also try TCM accupressure. Also difficult to keep up. It doesn’t really help to improve his behavior but it helps in improving his sleep.

[schweppes]

Enzymes therapy is useful as the enzymes helped to break down the foods that the children eat to make it easily absorbed into the body.


If you want to know more about Enzyme Therapy, I recommend the books written by Karen DeFelice. She wrote:

1. Enzymes: Go with your gut (more practical guidelines for digestive enzymes)

2. Enzymes for Autism and other Neurological Conditions

The books can be found at Kinokuniya.

Enzymes and supplements can help in balancing the neurological conditions as well.

There is a shop, Back to Basics that sells them. The address is : #01-01, Block 88A (Multi-Storey Car Park), Telok Blangah Heights, Singapore 101088. Tel: 62760872

The lady owner of the shop is very helpful and knowledgeable. She will be in the best position to advise you. Whilst the shop is open from Tuesday - Saturday, I believe she only comes in to the shop on Saturdays. Best to call in advance to make an appointment with her.

For info, I am not related to her nor do I gain from recommending her.

[schweppes]

Further to the above, I want to add that if your child’s age is rather young, you may not want to prescribe the full dosage as recommended by the product label. May need to give half the dosage.


To add, do be mindful about giving your child over the counter products and supplements (from the usual pharmacy outlets). Personally, for normal or neuro-typical kids, I think the over the counter products are not so much of a concern. But for kids with special needs, better to give supplements from companies who manufacture supplements specially formulated for their needs. This is just my personal opinion.

Some of the companies that formulate specifically with special needs in mind are: Kirkman Labs, Houston Enzymes, Enzymedica and BioRay. Other slightly cheaper alternatives are Efamol and Jarrows. You can google search the companies to have a better idea of what they do.

It is advisable to rotate the different brands of enzymes. This is to prevent the body getting used to one type of brand.

[schweppes]

Another thing to take note of. It might be useful to do a hair analysis test to assess the child’s heavy metals toxicity level. ASD kids usually test high in heavy metals such as arsenic, mercury, cadmium, lead, aluminum, etc.


For enzymes therapy to work effectively, I find that it is important to purge the body of heavy metals before the good supplements can nourish the body. This can be taken concurrently. It’s like getting rid of the gunk and bad stuff in our bodies before filling our bodies with the good stuff.

Whilst chelation may be recommended to rid the body of heavy metals, I am not comfortable. I prefer a more organic way via natural herbs and supplements.
For example, taking oregano oil, cilantro (a type of herb similar to our coriander) and chlorophyll are excellent natural herbal alternatives to for detox. These supplements help to "clean" the gut and expel all the unwanted waste from the body.

However, I must highlight the "healing crisis" as well. Kids (and even adults) undergoing the healing crisis may experience more stimming, meltdowns, "unruly" behavior. Sometimes the child may appear sick, like have a runny nose but it’s actually part of the detox process.

At the same time as the detox process, good to supplement the child with good trace minerals (for eg., calcium, magnesium, zinc), multi-vits and probiotics.

[schweppes]

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[schweppes]

lavendery:

Hi schweppes and Snow Crystal,


Thanks for the encouragement and consolation. I'm fine, the worse has been more or less been over for me and I'm trying to gather my strength and pick myself up slowly. No choice, continue to live in sorrow and misery won't do any good for my girl especially time is running out.

Please don't think that!! Never ever!! It's never too late. I always believe that there is a right time and place for everything.

Yes, there is a sense of urgency to help the child, but everything in good time. The body also needs time to heal and integrate. And because every child is different, it may take different types of therapies at various stages of the child's life to get him integrated. Also, what might not work now may work later, or vice versa.

lavendery:

Meantime I'm helping her in whatever intervention I can do for her while waiting for her to get assess.

This is a good move.

[schweppes]

For parents who are waiting a l-o-n-g time for OT or SLT can actually consider doing the following as an alternative activity.


SLT => send for speech and drama classes

OT => music (piano), ballet, gym classes, playground activities (this is the best since it is free and at your own time)

I’m not saying that the above activities should replace the formal therapies, but it’s a temporary stop-gap measure in the meantime. More fun too… especially if your child enjoys those activities.

[schweppes]

specialboymum:

I have also try TCM accupressure. Also difficult to keep up. It doesn't really help to improve his behavior but it helps in improving his sleep.

Actually, I find that this is already a good start. Sleep is the time when the body heals and integrates itself. And when the child is better rested, he is able to behave and function better the next day as well. Think we all know that a child (or adult) that does not have sufficient sleep and rest is grouchy, grumpy and edgy.

So, it's good that u observed that TMC accupressure has helped fine-tune your child's sleeping behavior. I've also heard that some kids benefitted from sound therapy in helping them sleep better.

[helplessmum3]

have any one here been to LeoMagan?


Are they good? do they have 1 to 1? how effective are they?

is their place or environment friendly?