this is from another list - some info- I hope this account helps someone

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aedape4 <aedape4@...> wrote: Rajey Singh <usha@...> wrote: From: "Rajey Singh" <usha@...>Date: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 02:15:04 -0000Subject: [ ] some info- I hope this account helps someoneName 7 year 1 mth old MaleMy son was 3 years and 8 months old when he was diagnosed with Pervasive Development Disorder-Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS). During the following 2 ½ years, he made little progress despite trying all the conventional routes.For three years we invested our time and energy in speech and occupational therapy as well as early intervention programs. He still had severe speech and development

delays which placed him two years behind his typical peers. At 5 ½ we still had grave concerns about his future. His lack of awareness, speech delay, comprehension inadequacies, lack of eye contact, attention deficits and constant visual stimming caused us endless stress. By this time (5yrs 5mths), it was clear that he was somewhere on the spectrum (ASD). Some specialists indicated that he was high functioning, with severe delays in receptive skills and with moderate delays in expressive abilities.In addition to the developmental problems he was always in a bad mood. He displayed his unhappiness with constant tantrums. Twice! He sustained two inch gashes on his head by throwing himself against a wall. Our school district at that time recommended we place him in a contained classroom environment.D.A.N! & GFCFIn August 2005 (age 6 years and 3 months), I heard about Defeat Autism Now! (D.A.N!) and the

Gluten Free Casein Free Diet (GFCF). Even before placing him on the diet, I suspected it would work, just by observing his behavior in relation to meals for the previous 3 years. At the onset I placed him on a strict GFCF diet. In addition I immediately took what I feel was an equally important step and cut out any refined sugar from his diet. I believe the combination of the GFCF and refined sugar free diet has been the root of our recovery success. Fast forward 10 months: My son spent first grade in a regular classroom. He had a dedicated aide at first and by the second month a blended (shared) aide. He had little need of any type of aide by the time the school year ended. This progress took place while exclusively on the GFCF diet with severe limitations on sugar intake. My son does not need OT anymore. Although, we requested the school provide it for one more year. AcademicsHis reading level at the beginning of first grade was

level A on the Rigby scale (most kids are at least levels C/D). He was a year behind. He is now at Level H (average for any first grader at year end). He had achieved all his IEP goals within the first quarter. His math scores (one of my major concerns) have been remarkable. His test show that his math skills were "secure" (the best possible rating on the report card): 95% for all areas.He is in a Kumon (afterschool learning program—math). His teacher does not feel that he needs special assistance. In fact his instructor does not believe he has any "issues" at all. He recently passed an exam on his own and has moved up to the next level.SportsHe takes Taekwondo and swim classes. Both are taken with other "regular" kids. In Taekwondo he has progressed to Blue Belt (white-yellow-orange-green-blue). He receives no additional assistance in either class or when being tested. I do continually remind all his

instructors outside of school about his (previous) issues for the record. We had planned to hold him back for a year to give him an advantage. At this point we are reconsidering because we see little need.Stim FreeHe has not stimmed for 9 months now. The significance of this would be lost on parents who do not have an ASD child. I can't stress how important this is for us as a family and for our son as an individual who now is more consistently involved with his whole environment. Happy Parents and Happy ChildWe now have a `typical' 7 year old boy whose speech is perfect (no noticeable speech impediment). He has really good friends and he loves life. His moods have improved dramatically. His cognition/comprehension is almost age appropriate (in range). He engages in conversation without hesitation, and without speech difficulties with anyone, even with people he doesn't know well, all while making

appropriate eye contact. His enthusiasm for life and learning amazes me. Even I am starting to realize how blessed we are after reviewing this account. This is what we did: Tight adherence to the GFCF diet, no refined sugar & limitation on natural sweeteners*We intentionally broke the diet on two occasions as an experiment. No refined sugar (I feel that this point warrants a special mention) I definitely think the stimming was caused by sugar. He has absolutely no sugar, white, brown or any other color. He does not even have fruit juice. I limit his fruit to one serving a day. His alternative milks are diluted when they contain more than 7 g of sugar. Generally, almond milk contains more added sweetner. He drinks a caffeine free tea for breakfast everyday with a quarter teaspoon of honey, some grated ginger, 2 whole cardamoms and 1 cinnamon stick. He takes his tea with rice

milk. He has not had candy for 9 months. There is just no nourishment there. Vision TherapyWe have been doing vision therapy for 14 weeks now. It is helping tremendously. Ironically, 1 of the requirements of the Vision Therapy was a limitation on sugar. The therapist was happy to hear that we were already on a limited sugar diet. Apparently, the greatest success stories of vision therapy were reported by parents whose children were on low sugar diets. I never took my son to behavioral therapy because I don't believe in the "reward" system. Every minute I am with him I am engaging him with discreet therapeutic techniques (as much as possible). Soy Free and Copper FreeAfter 3 months of being GFCF and greatly reduced sugar, we eliminated soy. I did not notice any improvement here. I did however remember that he could not tolerate soy as a baby. Going OrganicAbout 95% of all

his food is organic. The remaining 5 percent does not contain anything artificial either. My guy is pretty much a curry and rice kid, so his diet is really good.Nutritional Supplements/BiomedicalWe have used both the Pfeiffer Treatment Center and later (luckily) began also seeing Dr. Anju Usman. We use nutritional supplements from Pfeiffer and also MB12 Shots (a big big plus).Chelation is still on the table. PTC and Dr. Usman do not think it necessary.Family DietThe whole family is on a similar diet. I saw what "high fructose corn syrup" looked liked and vowed never to put that in any of our bodies again. As a family we do not eat dessert anyway. Occasionally we may have homemade fruit smoothie pops with spirulina, psyllium husk, ground almonds and lots of ground flax. This is our treat and we love it. We place more emphasis on FUN not food at birthday parties and holidays. In addition to my

son we have two daughters. After studying my parents and ancestors eating habits, I realized that their diets naturally excluded casein, gluten and sugar. So I am doing the same for my family. We are ethnically Indian.Breaking the DietAs I mentioned before we did make two exceptions in following the diet. It is almost not quite believable the dramatic (NEGATIVE) impact that sugar and the wrong diet can have on certain individuals. We just confirmed it during our family vacation in June08. For 5 days we were totally off the diet—fast foods, sugar, pizza…. Sure enough all the stimming, bad moods and irritability returned. It takes 5 days to a week to get my son back after he has sugar and gluten products (which contain a high amount of refined carbs and high fructose corn syrup). Sugar and `convenience' foods wreaks havoc on my son. Even just the accidental addition of a product containing too much sweetner caused my son to

return to stimming. Several months ago I switched from rice to almond milk. Within a day his "behaviors" returned. Diet/BiomedicalThe D.A.N! protocol and special diets are often called a miracle cure by naysayers. The combination of these two protocols along with the additional time and attention an ASD child needs is hard work. That is not a miracle. It is a hard route to follow but one that is well worth it! I hope this account helps someone.

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