Re: 18 month old new to autism, living in Italy. DAN/ABA?

March 19, 2012

Jo,

If she was mine I would put all my energies into putting her on a GAPS diet

straightaway which includes grain free diet and fermented foods and basic

supplements) and get her to go for a poo at least once/day .. In the meantime

continue with all the fun interactive play.

I wish I had known about this diet when my son was that age . Then look into

sunrise or RDI or /VB/ABA.

BW Nina

>

>I don't know how worried to be, really.

>

> I am keen to start helping her now, whilst we have the benefit of finding out

about this early... but I don't really know where to start!

> She does have a poo problem where she won't go for 4-5 days and has obvious

discomfort even though it is soft.

>

March 19, 2012

Jo,

If she was mine I would put all my energies into putting her on a GAPS diet

straightaway which includes grain free diet and fermented foods and basic

supplements) and get her to go for a poo at least once/day .. In the meantime

continue with all the fun interactive play.

I wish I had known about this diet when my son was that age . Then look into

sunrise or RDI or /VB/ABA.

BW Nina

>

>I don't know how worried to be, really.

>

> I am keen to start helping her now, whilst we have the benefit of finding out

about this early... but I don't really know where to start!

> She does have a poo problem where she won't go for 4-5 days and has obvious

discomfort even though it is soft.

>

March 19, 2012

Jo,

If she was mine I would put all my energies into putting her on a GAPS diet

straightaway which includes grain free diet and fermented foods and basic

supplements) and get her to go for a poo at least once/day .. In the meantime

continue with all the fun interactive play.

I wish I had known about this diet when my son was that age . Then look into

sunrise or RDI or /VB/ABA.

BW Nina

>

>I don't know how worried to be, really.

>

> I am keen to start helping her now, whilst we have the benefit of finding out

about this early... but I don't really know where to start!

> She does have a poo problem where she won't go for 4-5 days and has obvious

discomfort even though it is soft.

>

March 19, 2012

Hi, We are north of you in CH.. It is hard to find resources. To help her speech I highly recommend Verbal Behavior. Check out Dr. Barbera's book "The Verbal Behavior Approach". It is easy to read and understand and you can start implementing what she recommends right away. Wishing your family the best, FabienneOn Mar 19, 2012, at 1:52 PM, "joriverss" <j_upton@...> wrote:

Hello,

I am very new to all this as my 18 month old daughter was only diagnosed with mild-medium autism last week. Since then I have been researching a lot. I have completed an ATEC test where she scored 73 (however as she is only 18 months I feel that many of the points don't apply to her). Her main issues are that she doesn't talk at all, doesn't walk (although she has hypermobility in her joints which is apparently a separate issue), and she doesn't answer to her name or give eye contact on demand. However, she does give eye contact when you sing or make funny noises, and smiles, laughs and plays all the time. She crawls well and is getting more explorative every day. She has just started clapping and will imitate it, we are now trying to get her to wave, which she is starting to do. I don't know how worried to be, really.

I am keen to start helping her now, whilst we have the benefit of finding out about this early... but I don't really know where to start! She now goes to nursery 4 mornings a week which has alreay improved her social interaction, and we are beginning physio to help her improve her muscle strength so she will walk.

She does have a poo problem where she won't go for 4-5 days and has obvious discomfort even though it is soft. I have been reading about bio-medical approaches and this seems to fit in with the autism, even though I've been told it is due to her lack of muscle tone caused by the hypermobility.

Basically, I am asking if there is anyone out there with a similar situation as a lot of information seems to be about older children. Also I am thinking about contacting Dr Grabriella Lesmo in Milan as she is a DAN doctor to see if there is anything worth changing. I am also trying to find a speech therapist to get her talking. I have also looked at ABA but it is hard to find the right resources. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

Thanks,

Jo

=

March 19, 2012

Hi, We are north of you in CH.. It is hard to find resources. To help her speech I highly recommend Verbal Behavior. Check out Dr. Barbera's book "The Verbal Behavior Approach". It is easy to read and understand and you can start implementing what she recommends right away. Wishing your family the best, FabienneOn Mar 19, 2012, at 1:52 PM, "joriverss" <j_upton@...> wrote:

Hello,

I am very new to all this as my 18 month old daughter was only diagnosed with mild-medium autism last week. Since then I have been researching a lot. I have completed an ATEC test where she scored 73 (however as she is only 18 months I feel that many of the points don't apply to her). Her main issues are that she doesn't talk at all, doesn't walk (although she has hypermobility in her joints which is apparently a separate issue), and she doesn't answer to her name or give eye contact on demand. However, she does give eye contact when you sing or make funny noises, and smiles, laughs and plays all the time. She crawls well and is getting more explorative every day. She has just started clapping and will imitate it, we are now trying to get her to wave, which she is starting to do. I don't know how worried to be, really.

I am keen to start helping her now, whilst we have the benefit of finding out about this early... but I don't really know where to start! She now goes to nursery 4 mornings a week which has alreay improved her social interaction, and we are beginning physio to help her improve her muscle strength so she will walk.

She does have a poo problem where she won't go for 4-5 days and has obvious discomfort even though it is soft. I have been reading about bio-medical approaches and this seems to fit in with the autism, even though I've been told it is due to her lack of muscle tone caused by the hypermobility.

Basically, I am asking if there is anyone out there with a similar situation as a lot of information seems to be about older children. Also I am thinking about contacting Dr Grabriella Lesmo in Milan as she is a DAN doctor to see if there is anything worth changing. I am also trying to find a speech therapist to get her talking. I have also looked at ABA but it is hard to find the right resources. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

Thanks,

Jo

=

March 19, 2012

Hi, We are north of you in CH.. It is hard to find resources. To help her speech I highly recommend Verbal Behavior. Check out Dr. Barbera's book "The Verbal Behavior Approach". It is easy to read and understand and you can start implementing what she recommends right away. Wishing your family the best, FabienneOn Mar 19, 2012, at 1:52 PM, "joriverss" <j_upton@...> wrote:

Hello,

I am very new to all this as my 18 month old daughter was only diagnosed with mild-medium autism last week. Since then I have been researching a lot. I have completed an ATEC test where she scored 73 (however as she is only 18 months I feel that many of the points don't apply to her). Her main issues are that she doesn't talk at all, doesn't walk (although she has hypermobility in her joints which is apparently a separate issue), and she doesn't answer to her name or give eye contact on demand. However, she does give eye contact when you sing or make funny noises, and smiles, laughs and plays all the time. She crawls well and is getting more explorative every day. She has just started clapping and will imitate it, we are now trying to get her to wave, which she is starting to do. I don't know how worried to be, really.

I am keen to start helping her now, whilst we have the benefit of finding out about this early... but I don't really know where to start! She now goes to nursery 4 mornings a week which has alreay improved her social interaction, and we are beginning physio to help her improve her muscle strength so she will walk.

She does have a poo problem where she won't go for 4-5 days and has obvious discomfort even though it is soft. I have been reading about bio-medical approaches and this seems to fit in with the autism, even though I've been told it is due to her lack of muscle tone caused by the hypermobility.

Basically, I am asking if there is anyone out there with a similar situation as a lot of information seems to be about older children. Also I am thinking about contacting Dr Grabriella Lesmo in Milan as she is a DAN doctor to see if there is anything worth changing. I am also trying to find a speech therapist to get her talking. I have also looked at ABA but it is hard to find the right resources. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

Thanks,

Jo

=

March 19, 2012

Hi Jo and welcome! Just to say www.treatingautism.co.uk has a very good 'beginners section'Best of luckNatasa From: joriverss <j_upton@...>Reply- "Autism Treatment " <Autism Treatment >Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:52:55 -0000 "Autism Treatment " <Autism Treatment >Subject: 18 month old new to autism, living in Italy. DAN/ABA?

Hello,

I am very new to all this as my 18 month old daughter was only diagnosed with mild-medium autism last week. Since then I have been researching a lot. I have completed an ATEC test where she scored 73 (however as she is only 18 months I feel that many of the points don't apply to her). Her main issues are that she doesn't talk at all, doesn't walk (although she has hypermobility in her joints which is apparently a separate issue), and she doesn't answer to her name or give eye contact on demand. However, she does give eye contact when you sing or make funny noises, and smiles, laughs and plays all the time. She crawls well and is getting more explorative every day. She has just started clapping and will imitate it, we are now trying to get her to wave, which she is starting to do. I don't know how worried to be, really.

I am keen to start helping her now, whilst we have the benefit of finding out about this early... but I don't really know where to start! She now goes to nursery 4 mornings a week which has alreay improved her social interaction, and we are beginning physio to help her improve her muscle strength so she will walk.

She does have a poo problem where she won't go for 4-5 days and has obvious discomfort even though it is soft. I have been reading about bio-medical approaches and this seems to fit in with the autism, even though I've been told it is due to her lack of muscle tone caused by the hypermobility.

Basically, I am asking if there is anyone out there with a similar situation as a lot of information seems to be about older children. Also I am thinking about contacting Dr Grabriella Lesmo in Milan as she is a DAN doctor to see if there is anything worth changing. I am also trying to find a speech therapist to get her talking. I have also looked at ABA but it is hard to find the right resources. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

Thanks,

Jo

March 20, 2012

I also recommend SCD or GAPS diet. You are so lucky you are starting so early.

There is another good doctor in Italy- Nicola Antonucci.

For the poo problem SCD may help with it, if not Oxypowder from Mandi

mandimart.co.uk helps a lot. All the best,

Kasia

>

> Hello,

> I am very new to all this as my 18 month old daughter was only diagnosed with

mild-medium autism last week. Since then I have been researching a lot. I have

completed an ATEC test where she scored 73 (however as she is only 18 months I

feel that many of the points don't apply to her). Her main issues are that she

doesn't talk at all, doesn't walk (although she has hypermobility in her joints

which is apparently a separate issue), and she doesn't answer to her name or

give eye contact on demand. However, she does give eye contact when you sing or

make funny noises, and smiles, laughs and plays all the time. She crawls well

and is getting more explorative every day. She has just started clapping and

will imitate it, we are now trying to get her to wave, which she is starting to

do. I don't know how worried to be, really.

>

> I am keen to start helping her now, whilst we have the benefit of finding out

about this early... but I don't really know where to start! She now goes to

nursery 4 mornings a week which has alreay improved her social interaction, and

we are beginning physio to help her improve her muscle strength so she will

walk.

>

> She does have a poo problem where she won't go for 4-5 days and has obvious

discomfort even though it is soft. I have been reading about bio-medical

approaches and this seems to fit in with the autism, even though I've been told

it is due to her lack of muscle tone caused by the hypermobility.

>

> Basically, I am asking if there is anyone out there with a similar situation

as a lot of information seems to be about older children. Also I am thinking

about contacting Dr Grabriella Lesmo in Milan as she is a DAN doctor to

see if there is anything worth changing. I am also trying to find a speech

therapist to get her talking. I have also looked at ABA but it is hard to find

the right resources. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

>

> Thanks,

> Jo

>

March 20, 2012

Perhaps it would be helpful also to look at things linked with hypotonia eg test for levels of carnitine and creatinine. Low muscle tone can affect eye muscles, fingers, muscles used in speech, perhaps can contribute to constipation and can be very debilitating and make it appear that the child is not motivated to do some of the things you list but it could just be that its such a big effort. Had you thought of trying krill/fish oils to see if it helps at all with speech. ..... I have been reading about bio-medical approaches and this seems to fit in with the autism, even though I've been told it is due to her lack of muscle tone caused by the hypermobility. ...

>

> Jo

March 21, 2012

Hi,

I don't know how this applies to an 18month old, but, hypotonia has been a big

issue for my daughter. I have been doing alot to raise her IGF-1 levels as I

feel that she had a partial growth hormone deficiency.

I have been using a homoeopathic growth hormone patch which makes my daughter

feel better, but, the biggest improvement has been NOW foods IGF-1 from deer

antler velvet extract.

I have always been told by OT's, Dr's etc, that my daughter just needs to

exercise and build her muscle up - this has never worked. Now, though she can do

exercises to build up her muscles and now they work! IGF-1 builds skeletal

muscle something which in hypotonia seems to be a problem.

Other supps that have IGF-1 in are whey powder and colostrum - these are not

always suitable though.

I've never tested my daughter's IGF-1 levels, but, I believe that they can be

tested.

>

> Perhaps it would be helpful also to look at things linked with hypotonia eg

test for levels of carnitine and creatinine. Low muscle tone can affect eye

muscles, fingers, muscles used in speech, perhaps can contribute to constipation

and can be very debilitating and make it appear that the child is not motivated

to do some of the things you list but it could just be that its such a big

effort. Had you thought of trying krill/fish oils to see if it helps at all with

speech.

>

> ..... I have been reading about bio-medical approaches and this seems to fit

in with the autism, even though I've been told it is due to her lack of muscle

tone caused by the hypermobility. ...

>

> >

>

> > Jo

>

April 1, 2012

Hello,

Thank you to everyone for your advice. It is really helpful. I have been

looking up the GAPS diet and various other diets, and have got the Verbal

Behaviour book. There is so much to find out about!

Things have developed a bit, where Holly's tummy has got worse - she has chronic

constipation which we now have a bit more under control with 'movocal' and

probiotics. I'm testing a dairy free diet first. However she has started these

spasms when she is sitting down where her knees pull up and her arms twist back.

She has seen a neuro-specialist and they don't think it's neurological. We

think it is due to possible pain in her tummy but she does it only when she's

sitting, she leans back and looks very uncomfortable whilst her knees pull up

and her arms twist back. She does this around 4 times a day and does it nearly

constantly for 15-20 mins. If you push her forward, you can often bring her out

of it, but often she resists this. She doesn't do it at all when she's sitting

on the floor, crawling or playing. It's quite distressing to watch, so I hope

that changing her diet could help, but so far it just seems to be getting worse.

On the other hand, she is learning well. We aren't doing ABA, but more of an

Intensive Interaction approach in conjunction with her nursery, and she is

becoming a lot more interactive. I'm also looking into the hypotonia stuff too.

Thank you so much to the people who have replied, it is good to hear from other

people who know about this.

Jo

> >

> > Perhaps it would be helpful also to look at things linked with hypotonia eg

test for levels of carnitine and creatinine. Low muscle tone can affect eye

muscles, fingers, muscles used in speech, perhaps can contribute to constipation

and can be very debilitating and make it appear that the child is not motivated

to do some of the things you list but it could just be that its such a big

effort. Had you thought of trying krill/fish oils to see if it helps at all with

speech.

> >

> > ..... I have been reading about bio-medical approaches and this seems to fit

in with the autism, even though I've been told it is due to her lack of muscle

tone caused by the hypermobility. ...

> >

> > >

> >

> > > Jo

> >

>

April 1, 2012