[FEAT BC Admin]

This area is for discussions in general topics.

Topic

[Dave Collyer]

Hi again Todd,

I forgot to mention that some of the biomed interventions may be dangerous. For example, there have been some reports that chelation therapy (intended to remove mercury and lead) has resulted in death.

Dave.

[Dave Collyer]

Hi Todd,

Welcome.

It seems like you can take care of yourself. In the world of ASD sometimes full contact debate is the name of the game and a thick skin is a prerequisite. It seems, at times, to be a bit of a "blood sport".

Like your GP all of our son's physicians have dismissed dietary interventions as fraudulent so I am afraid that I cannot help you with your primary question.

I applaud your efforts to research all options and your willingness to look at the state of the science. As you know “testimonials” are not the same as well designed research (those that incorporate random assignment to treatment/non-treatment groups, blind assessors, consistent use of measures, declared interests ($$$), etc etc) and if you continue to look at the various options as you have been, with an open and critical perspective, I know your son will be well served.

It is good to keep in mind that the state of the science is ever changing and to keep researching options as you are doing (critically). Recently I came across several research papers that detail well controlled studies that fall into the "not ABA" realm (ie work in the realm of parent mediated reciprocity and responsiveness training… IMO there are behavioral principles at play within these interventions that are not articulated and there are limitations and assumptions inherent that need close attention…if folks are interested let me know and I will pass on the references). I am, however, still waiting for research with regard to dietary interventions and ASD that is well designed. If you find anything feel free to email me!

TTYL

Dave

[Monika Lange]

Hi Laurie & Todd,
My son had a full blown ABA program but was not one of the 47% to recover. However, I did try the gamut of "alternatives" (e.g., diet, B6, DHA, etc etc etc.). I can see merit to both of your arguments. So long as nothing conflicts with ABA, and carries no risks, it may make a parent feel less hopeless to try. Keeping busy is a way to feel useful. But it's exhausting to run an ABA program and then do all the other stuff too. I would suggest that parents need to pace themselves and be more discriminating than I was, for their own sake. Todd, perhaps your pediatrician was empathetically trying to spare you the extra work of a range of activities that are bound to carry little or no commensurate gain in the end. I am honestly not being glib, because after you've been at this for 10 years, you get worn out and still face years of parenting your nonrecovered kid who is then a teenager. But on the off chance your child does not recover, at least you'll know you also exhausted your options. Maybe I'm getting mellow in my old age, but I know where both of you are coming from. Do what you have to do. You both know to have ABA as the one and only main jig, and that is smart.

[Todd Dea]

Wow,

I bet that felt good to get off your chest !!

I'm not sure if that was directly or indirectly aimed at me so let me see if I can take a shot at both.

I hope that this forum isn't one were you have to fully explain yourself every time you post. Your post makes me think that you do.

Directly:

To make it clear, we will be using SCIENCE as our MAIN FOCUS in our intervention for our son. Thanks to FEAT (as well as tonne of other sites) we are currently seeking a consultant who is solid in the science of ABA. This is proving to be a very very tough excercise (no availability) but we are steadfast in our desire to have this at the core of his therapy.

As mentioned though we feel we would be negligent if we did not explore other forms of intervention that many parents (in books by Maurice, Hamilton, Seroussi, and now Mccarthy) are claiming to have helped greatly as a compliment to their scienced based therapy.

Indirectly :

Where and when did Mccarthy say on Oprah that the "dietery supplements" (as you called them) were the BASIS of her therepy for her son ? Where and when did she claim that "all she listened to" was her mommy instinct ?

I haven't read her book yet, but as a new spokesperson for tacanow, I'm pretty sure that any dietary or suppliments intervention that she tried would have been in addition to a science based therapy program.

Your post sounds exactly like what I heard from our pediatrician. Concentrate on a solid scienced based therapy and forget about the rest. Well I'm very very happy for you that your child was one of the lucky 46%, but I (and Mccarthy apparently) would like to improve those odds as much as possible by exploring some biomedical therapies to add to our program of intervention.

If you have a minute, maybe read something that you may not have seen about what SCIENCE thinks about what parents are trying to fix or combat with this biomedical stuff :

http://discovermagazine.com/2007/apr/autism-it2019s-not-just-in-the-head/article_view?searchterm=Martha%20Herbert&b_start:int=0

[Laurie Guerra]

I haven't posted in quite sometime but heregoes…….We all saw Oprah and the "mommy instinct" with the dietary supplements (gluten/caseine free) and if all we listened to was "mommy instinct" I wouldn't have a RECOVERRED son (from Autism). Mommy instinct doesn't tell you to get Chemotherapy or Radiation if your child has cancer…. the specialist does. Who tells you what to do with Autism? Not mommy instinct, not the specialists (at least not when my son was diagnosed) but rather the amazing people at FEAT of BC. I listened to the "SCIENCE" and it works. Have never done a diet for my son but common sense told me if all he ate everyday, all day was noodles and chicken Mcnuggets it would not be a "good" thing. 1 in 500 kids will recover from autism on their own, 46% of children with autism doing ABA (science- based treatment) will be indistinguishable from their peers. Gee what would you pick?

Laurie Romey, director ASBC

[Todd Dea]

Hi,

Hoping for some input with regard to anyone using a Vancouver area Pediatrician familiar with Autism that is "open" minded with regard to the biomedical (diet/supplements) treatments.

The pediatrician that we went to for our diagnosis referred to dietary intervention as "snake oil". We are certainly not convinced that it is THE thing to do, but we definitely think we would be negligent if we didn't at least look into a little.

Any and all input welcomed.

Thank you

please respond to onedea@shaw.ca

[Jacqueline and Dennis Bell]

I know when I was looking I had no clue where to find things like board maker etc. So I thought I'd pass on some sources – canadian. These two just happen to have tons of stuff I wish I knew about earlier.

Insight media centre – "Canada's best source for literacy & special needs Products" (They gave me about 10 different catalgues to look through)
1-888-541-772
http://www.insightmediacentre.com

WinterGreen – A school suppier for classrooms etc. they have about 6 catalogues – only 2 are online
1-800-268-1268
http://www.wintergreen.ca

Jacqueline

[Diane T]

Just a reminder:

Mid-Island ASBC Parent Support Group Meeting
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
7-9 p.m.
SOS Building, 245 W. Hirst Avenue, Parksville

Topic: Care and Feeding of an ABA Program

Are you starting a program, or trying to keep one afloat? Come learn and share about finding consultants and team members, funding, training, finding resources, surviving and succeeding.

This meeting is open to parents and family members.

Please email diane_t @ shaw.ca (without the spaces) if you plan to attend so that we may arrange for refreshments.

Hope to see you there.

Diane

[Jean Tsang]

Hi,

Does any one know of a good speech language pathologist he/she would recommend? Please email me at jptsang@telus.net, or post on this chat board.

Thanks for your help.

Jean

[Deleted User]

Hi everyone – I am looking for some research articals on Autism for my biological psych class this semester – can anyone pass somethings on to me? cisci@telus.net

[Author]

Replies