All About Autism

[hquek]

deminc:

I'm no expert in autism, but I wld like to share with you my experience with GFCF.

hi deminc,

Chanced upon this thread and read through your experience. I vote you \"Parent of The Year\"! :salute: :salute::salute:

Very very impressed by your efforts. Jia you!!

I think your son is very blessed to have such a wonderful family behind him.

[schweppes]

Hi deminc


Thanks for your sharing.

I applaud your efforts in ensuring a GFCF diet for your child. I tried to do that for dd1 when she was younger but found it expensive and a challenge to do so. I was working FT and had no maid to help out. (actually, still have no maid now) When younger, my kids went to childcare and I cd not rely on my mother to cook a GFCF diet for my children. So, it was difficult and tiring to sustain the diet throughout

In the end, I did what I could. It was half-hearted effort.

Recently, I was introduced to Enzyme Therapy last year and currently my dd1, is on it. I find it 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

I bought the books at Kinokuniya.

Is Enzymes Therapy expensive? I think it depends on what and how much supplements one buys. Then again, nothing is cheap. But I see it as another form of intervention and if it helps my children, then I will do what I can within my means to help my children get better and healthier.

Ever since dd1 is on enzymes, I noticed that she is more in control of her emotions. It could be that she is older now and so a little more matured, but I also believe the enzymes supplements helped in balancing her neurological conditions as well.

JMHO :celebrate:

[Blobbi]

Hi Schweppes,


Tks so much for all the info. Tks to your good rec, we've started DS on enzymes as well, although I I haven't delved into exactly what else to do yet. THis is all so exhausting, and I wish KSparents has one giant thread called LD or something. Saves us from thread hopping :).

I was thinking - since the kids are wired such, something else we can do is to look at their learning styles. This is mentioned in the Mislabeled Child book but I'm not sure where to start except that kiddo is visual spatial. One recent thing I picked up which could be interesting to ask your kids is - which of the senses do they enjoy most, and which are they irritated by the most. Predictably, mine said eyes and ears respectively, which may be troublesome because despite learning best with his eyes, he has had/may still have visual issues. Are your kids similar?

And Deminc, can you share GFCF cookbooks? DS' rash comes and goes with eating wheat based products. But he absolutely refuses to take enzymes to digest the gluten, so we're kind of stuck.

[schweppes]

Yes, I have looked into learning styles as well. Nothing rigorous, nor did I send her for any formal training on this. What I do is very simple and I rely on instincts and books to guide me. For example, dd1 is a visual person, so I give her coloured pens and highlighters to write her notes or highlight key words/ phrases.


For those strong in visual learning, one can use mind maps, but somehow, that didn’t quite appeal to her. But lists or writing down main ideas seem to work for her. One size doesn’t fit all, so need to find out what best appeals or work for our child.

I borrow books on drawing and expose her to visual arts. This seems to spark an interest in art. Whilst she may not be artistically talented, at least her interest is there and drawing becomes an outlet for her to release stress.

Guess, I’m learning and experimenting all the time.

[schweppes]

Blobbi:

But he absolutely refuses to take enzymes to digest the gluten, so we're kind of stuck.

Just wondering if u can tell ds that he is taking vitamins to make him strong and healthy? Poor dd has to take a multitude of tablets/ capsules daily but we explain why she has to take them. Thankfully, no resistance from her.

[Blobbi]

schweppes:

Blobbi:

But he absolutely refuses to take enzymes to digest the gluten, so we're kind of stuck.

Just wondering if u can tell ds that he is taking vitamins to make him strong and healthy? Poor dd has to take a multitude of tablets/ capsules daily but we explain why she has to take them. Thankfully, no resistance from her.

Nothing helps, Schweppes :(. He has a multitude of sensory issues - can't swallow, can't stand certain textures ... Very long list.

[cnimed]

hquek,

thanks for the encouragement, but truly, you think I\"m doing a lot only because you didn't see just how bad his skin was. When we went to the playground, even the other (small) children asked about it. Some even asked if he had hand foot mouth disease. At the food court, strangers would be pointing at his legs and whispering. Even the pharmacist at Guardian told me I'd better take him to a doctor - and he had already been to three by then! The worst was when nothing worked. He had diarrhea, he was skinny, couldn't put on weight, couldn't sleep, every night as he scratched I could smell the blood, and the doctors had nothing to offer. Now at least there's improvement and a plan that works. All I feel is great relief.

Shweppes,
enzyme treatment is new to me! I will check it out, thanks!

Blobbi,
actually our common acquaintance A told me whole food is the best - you can see and be sure what goes in. That was one of the best advice I got. All the GF mixes on the shelves contain too many ingredients, it makes allergy tracking very difficult. Besides there is the risk of cross contamination and many products taste terrible.

HOWEVER, I recently found a great GF baking book that was highly recommended by someone whose family has been GF for many years. The title is Flying Apron's Gluten-free & Vegan Baking Book.
The recipes don't rely on GF flour mixes from the shelves, and they don't use soya, which we are also avoiding. The author used to run a successful bakery so these are tried and tested recipes. I baked with ds2 yesterday afternoon and he was so busy licking the mixing bowl. :love: You can get the flours from selected Cold Storage outlets. Happy baking!


Alamak, I think I have totally OT from the thread title. So sorry! Will zip out now.

[schweppes]

Blobbi:

Nothing helps, Schweppes :(. He has a multitude of sensory issues - can't swallow, can't stand certain textures ... Very long list.

Oh dear... poor boy. What about taking them in liquid form instead? Maybe that will help. :xedfingers:

Thinking aloud, sometimes, I think there's a time and place to the number of intervention or therapies the child (and even parent) has to go thru. The body has its limits and we are also constrained by resources as well.

Guess, do what you have to do now, and when your ds is more ready, then perhaps, that is the time his body is ready to accept enzymes therapy. dd1 only started on enzymes when she was 12.

Hope I'm making sense. Sori, if my reasoning sounds confusing. Just don't fret too much. Believe that there is a time and place for everything. And when the right time comes, hopefully, everything will fall into place.

:hugs:

[schweppes]

deminc:

Shweppes,
enzyme treatment is new to me! I will check it out, thanks!

Alamak, I think I have totally OT from the thread title. So sorry! Will zip out now.

Hi deminc
Sent u a PM :lol:

Btw, not off topic lah as diet intervention is very relevant to the thread title as well

:celebrate:

[ImMeeMee]

we have just gone for assessment, and my dd3 has been assessed to be autistic - moderate. We have started therapy sessions and are looking into early intervention.


I am not being defensive or in self-denial here, but we think the psychological assessment is somewhat subjective.

Just want to hear some views. thanks.