Autism— Breaking Through the Wall

Autism is a developmental disorder usually appearing before age three. It is characterized by impaired non-verbal and verbal communication, resistance to change of any kind, obsessive repetitive body movements, a lack of awareness of the existence or feelings of others and no comfort-seeking in times of distress. Symptoms vary from child to child, and can range from mild to severe. Until recently, few autistic children showed significant remission of symptoms under medical treatment, but that unfavorable prognosis is changing for the better. 

In the past, autism usually wasn't diagnosed until a child reached school age, and 70% of children with the disease were institutionalized. Today, with early recognition and treatment, 50% of those diagnosed between ages two and three can enroll in normal classes, and only 30% are institutionalized. 

Recent discoveries suggest that autism is linked to immune system problems, and a new treatment that improves immune function has been shown to help with autism. Scientists at the University of California at Irving found that an intravenous infusion of immune globulin resulted in marked improvement in several autistic symptoms. 

Another study, showing that lack of the nutrient tryptophan may play a role in autism, found that 11 out of 17 autistic adults experienced a significant worsening of their symptoms when fed a tryptophan-deficient diet. 

Several other links with autism are currently being investigated, including vitamin B6 deficiency, overuse of antibiotics, vaccine damage, environmental toxins, food allergies and candida.  Based on information in: Mothering, Winter 1977; Townsend Letter for Doctors, Aug/Sept 1997