Autism Takes Many Forms; Treatments Controversial

March 11, 2007

By Bev Davis
Register-Herald senior editor

Belonging to a support group can put parents in touch with many resources, doctor says.

You’re a parent who’s just been told your child is autistic. What do you do next?

“Find a developmental pediatrician. Keep your regular one, but a specialist can help you work through specific problems that will be unique to your child,” said Dr. Janet Lintala, a chiropractic physician who left her practice to be a full-time mom.

These physicians are identified as DAN! doctors, using an acronym for Defeat Autism Now!

One of her three children has Asperger syndrome, one of many forms of autism.

Autism is classified by the World Health Organization and American Psychological Association as a developmental disability that results from a disorder of the human central nervous system. It is diagnosed using specific criteria for impairments to social interaction, communication, interests, imagination and activities. The causes, symptoms, etiology, treatment and other issues cover a broad spectrum, Lintala said.

“One child may be socially awkward and experience only symptoms at the high-functioning end of that spectrum. Another may be profoundly affected. Each child is different, and there’s no magic pill, no single formula for dealing with an autistic child and no defined set of expectations for the developmental process in an autistic child,” Lintala said.

Many of the treatments are controversial, and parents have to sort through extensive information to find the best options for their children, she said.

The incidence of autism is one in 166 children, and autism occurs more frequently in boys.

Through her own experience and research that has included talking with numerous specialists and extensive reading, Lintala has developed a generalized list of recommendations for parents.

“You have to give yourself time to grieve,” she said. “It’s an overwhelming thing to face for you as a parent and for your child. Permit yourself to grieve and do whatever you need to do to keep yourself emotionally strong and healthy. If you need to get some professional counseling or take an antidepressant, do that. Take care of yourself so you will be better able to take care of your child.”

Education will be a huge part of the process, she said. “Because the symptoms are so varied, and because every case is unique, parents need to keep reading and accessing resources to learn as much as they can about their specific situation. The more you know, the better you will be able to work with your child, its siblings, school officials and everyone else who will be involved in your child’s life.”

One of the greatest tools Lintala has found is a gluten-free diet. “Wheat has been shown to aggravate some autism symptoms. When I tell people about the diet, they often shy away from it, thinking it will be too hard to implement, but it really does work, and once you learn a few basics, it gets easier to prepare gluten-free meals,” she said.

Wrapping your child’s mattress in a waterproof plastic cover is another practice that can help an autistic child, she said.

“Test have shown that children with autism often have high levels of metals in their bodies. We all have some, but we can excrete them. Autistic children often can’t get rid of those metals. Flame retardents in mattresses contain metals, as do flame retardent pajamas. Wrapping the mattress and having your child wear cotton PJs can help protect them from those metals.”

Autistic children should avoid handling batteries, cigarette smoke and should not be given any vaccines containing mercury, she said.

There are financial resources available for parents of children with autism. “Many of these aren’t based on income levels, so parents should check into them and find out what kind of help may be available to them,” Lintala said.

Belonging to a support group can put parents in touch with all kinds of resources, and Lintala has helped form such a group in Beckley. Speakers provide detailed information about various aspects of autism, and parents can ask questions, obtain Web site information and learn about developmental pediatricians closest to them.

“We don’t just sit around and talk about how hard it is to deal with the issues we face,” Lintala said. “We have speakers who can provide practical information that we can use, and we have a large lending library to provide parents with lots of pertinent information.”

The group, which includes parents of children with all kinds of special needs, meets the third Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Daniels Bible Church.

Source: Beckley Register-Herald