Autism and the related autistic spectrum disorders (ASDs) are very serious and complicated in every way. It is obvious that they affect your child’s speech and language, but also impact emotion, hearing, digestion, immune system, strength, coordination, and future ability to live independently. If you want your child to get better, you must accept that autism is a disease of the whole body, not just a learning disability or a mental health issue. Once you have accepted this fact, the road to recovery opens up before you. It will be bumpy and long, but the path becomes clear.
If you are new to autism, you might get some comfort in knowing that the immediate post-diagnosis period is the toughest. You just got hit with a life altering bit of news and probably know very little about how to move forward. We were paralyzed for weeks until we made contact with a group called Defeat Autism Now (DAN!) which is supported by the Autism Research Institute. It is absolutely essential that you look up and contact a DAN! doctor. DAN! is an organization of scientists, physicians and parents whose members believe in a biomedical approach to treating autism and ASD. This means that they accept that autism is a disease of the whole body, and acknowledge that there are effective treatments for autism.
Most DAN! doctors are fully trained and licensed medical doctors. They are not any less qualified than similar doctors who are not DAN! certified. They simply believe in a rational and scientific approach to treating autism. Your pediatrician or general practitioner or other specialist went to medical school at a time when autism and ASD was not well understood, and most received almost no training in recognizing or treating it. They are likely to tell you that you are worrying too much about your infant/toddler and that they will grow out of it. The best you can hope for is a prescription for Ritalin or similar drug. If you tell them you are thinking about seeking help from a DAN! doctor or tell them about some of the biochemical therapies you learn about, you are likely to get an “are you crazy” response or a patronizing attitude. YOU MUST get beyond your blind trust of your pediatrician. They are often great doctors, but more often than not, know nothing about the causes of autism or how to effectively treat it.
Your DAN! doctor should act as your partner in finding a cure for your child. At first, they will know more than you do about the next steps. They should listen to you and your concerns. They should help you learn about the causes and treatments of autism. They will act as a gatekeeper, giving you access to biochemical testing and treatments that require prescriptions. They will help manage and coordinate the various treatments and make sure there are no adverse effects. DAN! doctors are absolutely essential to your child’s recovery, but you are still the Captain of the ship. Having a DAN! doctor is not an excuse for not understanding autism and the treatments available. Our book Conquer Autism will provide you with all the information you need to get started on the road to recovery!
Read more free autism articles on this website:
Understanding Autism / Autism Causes-Toxic Heavy Metals / Autism Diagnosis and Evaluation / Signs and Symptoms-Play / Signs and Symptoms-Language Problems / Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) / Indications for Immediate Evaluation / Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (CHAT) / After the Diagnosis-Assembling and Managing the Team / Conquer Autism Chapter Summary
Purchase the Conquer Autism eBook with all this information and much more.