Many children with Autism respond best to the conventional educational recommendations that are made. It is important that each child with Autism be placed in the right classroom and receive proper services for speech therapy, occupational therapy and if necessary ABA and/or play therapy.

I have found that other medical interventions can be very helpful. Auditory Integration Training can be extremely helpful for a child with Autism and Auditory Processing Disorder. This is very common. Some of the methods available are Tomatis and Barrard, home listening programs such as Samonas, Earobics and computer based programs including Fast Forward and Interactive Metronome.

What type of Auditory Integration Training depends on the child. This needs to be individualized. At medical visits I recommend based on the history which approach is best for each child. If necessary, I will have the parents contact a specialist in this field to determine the best approach.

Sensory Integration Program is an excellent medical intervention usually available with occupational therapist familiar with sensory integration approaches. Many autistic children need an aggressive sensory integration program.

There are many other complimentary approaches that include vision therapy, craniosacral therapy, acupuncture that also help some children with Autism.

On this website I have listed many medical interventions available for children with Autism. My job is to pick out the ones that are most likely to help a child based on his or her history. I have listed a number of these interventions for parents to consider as I have a great deal of confidence in parents knowing their own child better then anybody else and making good decisions about what the best approach is for their own child.

BOOKS/Articles

1. Is This Your Child? — Doris Rapp, M.D.

2. Help for the Hyperactive Child — William Crook, M.D.

3. Superimmunity for Kids — Leo Galland, M.D.

4. The Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder — William Crook, M.D. (ADHD) and other Kinds of Cerebral Functioning
   A Compendium (available — International Health Foundation, Inc.)

5. Childhood Illness and the Allergy Connection — Zoltan P. Rona, M.D.

6. Solving the Puzzle of Your Hard To Raise Child — William Crook, M.D., Laura Stevens

7. What Are We Feeding Our Kids? — Michael F. Jacobson, Ph.D.

8. Detoxification: Cleansing the Body of Poisons We Take In And Those We Create — Sidney Baker, M.D.

9. Is This Your Child's World? — Doris Rapp, M.D.

10. Article — Treatment Alternatives for ADHD — L.E. Arnold, M.D. Journal of Attention Disorders Vol. 3 #1 April 1999, pages 30-48

A number of medical interventions and supplements have been suggested by proponents to help a child who fits the ADHD label. I have attempted to list these therapies in a concise and accurate manner (and apologize for any omissions or errors).

I. MEDICAL INTERVENTIONS

1. Auditory Integration Training Techniques - Berrard, Tomatis, Semones

2. Vision Therapy

3. Sensory Integration

4. Biofeedback
   • *Relaxation EMG Biofeedback
   • Neurolinguistic Programming - *EEG Biofeedback
   • Hypnotherapy
   • *Meditation - Mirror Feedback
   • *Channel - Specific Perceptual Training
   • *Vestibular Stimulation

5. Magnet Therapy

6. Allergy Treatment
   • Provocation Neutralization
   • NAET

7. *Acupuncture (Laser)

8. Homeopathy

9. Chiropractic (Craniosacral Therapy)

II. SUPPLEMENTATION PROGRAM

1. Vitamins
   • C, E, B--Carotene
   • B6 (B1, B2, B3, B5, B12)
   • Biotin, Choline, Inositol, Folic Acid

2. Minerals
   • *Zinc, Calcium, *Magnesium
   • *Iron, Chromium Picolinate, Manganese

3. Essential Fatty Acids
   • *Omega 3: Flaxseed, DHA, EPA
   • *Omega 6: Evening Primrose Oil, GLA, DGLA, Archadonic

4. Digestive Enzymes
   • Pancreatin (Animal based)
   • Pancrease, Amylase, Lipase
   • Increased Acidity - Betaine (HCL), Pepsin, Glutamic Acid, Apple Cider Vinegar
   • Plant-based - Bromelain, Papain, Aloe Vera

5. Antioxidants
   • B-Carotene, B Complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Zinc, Selenium, Germanium, CoEnzyme Q10, Bioflavanoids, Quercetin, Catechin, Hesperidin, Rutin, Pycnogenol, (Proanthocyanidins, Pine Bark Extract, Grapeseed Extract), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Bilberry, Glutathione, Rutin,

6. Anti-candida program
   • Non-Prescription Agents: Probiotic (Lactobacillus, Acidophilus, Bifidobacterium, FOS); Garlic, Caprylic Acid Prescription Agents: Nystatin, Nizoral, Sporanox, Lamisil, Diflucan

IIB. Other measures some observers claim to be effective

1. Amino Acids:
   • GABA, Taurine, Glycine, Tyrosine
   • L-Glutamine, Methionine, L-Glutathione
   • DMAE, Tryptophan, N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

2. Colostrum, Phosphatidyl Serine, NADH, Carotenoids, Phytosterols, Isoflavones, Indoles, Isothiocyanates, Piracetam, Rexall Sun

3. Multi-level Marketing
   • Phosphatidyl Serine, Blue Green Algae, *Glyconutritionals (Mannetech), MSM,
   • DHA (Neuromins)

4. Herbal
   • Chinese Herbal
     Gingko, St. John's Wort, Ginseng, Uva Ursi
   • *High Chlorophyll Green Drinks
     Bee Pollen Spirulina, Royal Chorella Jelly, Blue Green Algae, Barley Green, Burdock, Slippery Elm, Turkish Rhubarb, Bismuth, Green Tea, Jerusalem Artichoke
     Licorice Root, Ginger Root, Goldenseal, Bentonite, Garlic

5. Antiparasitic Therapy
   • Paragone, Clear Herbal, Flagyl (Metronidazole)

6. Thyroid

7. IV Secretin (now limited to Autism Spectrum Disorder)
   • Improved spontaneity (social skills, language, cognitive), often a calming effect
   • Main side effects— insomnia, hyperactivity

* Medical interventions mentioned in L.E. Arnold's review article that have "controlled evidence of efficacy" or "promising prospective pilot data" for "restricted etiologic groups."

In my medical practice, I have found the most effective interventions to be:

1. Improved nutrition — Decreased food dyes and additives, dairy, wheat, sugar and often craved foods.

2. Clean up environment--Limit dust and chemical exposure (perfume, formaldehyde, pesticides, cigarette smoke, etc.).

3. Provocation/Neutralization Allergy testing and appropriate sublingual immunotherapy.

4. Nutritional supplementation program especially Zinc, Calcium, Magnesium, Antioxidants, Essential fatty acids, B6, Digestive enzymes.

5. Anti-Candida program including Probiotic containing Lactobacillus, Bifidus + FOS, and Nystatin or Diflucan if indicated.

6. Exercise program

7. Sensory Integration program if indicated.

8. Auditory Integration Training

9. Vision Therapy

10. Love

11. Counselling

12. Appropriate medication — may be necessary for some children.

Our priority should be children reaching their potential and good self-esteem. To reach this goal the medical world should acknowledge the observations of parents and teachers.

By listening to the complete medical history, observing child for longer than 15 minutes and relying more on common sense and clinical judgment, we can better determine what is the best course of action for each child.