Re: Visual Problems and Autism

[Guest guest]

When I started this autism journey, I realized that I had to change my

view of everything, how medicine is done, healthy eating, buying

cleaning supplies, etc. A lot of testing is not reliable, and our kids

have many things at the same time wrong. So, we have to do lots of

treatments for lots of things over a long period, and they slowly get

better through it all. My kids were in regular school in about a year's

time, but are still dependent upon diets and treatments even after 3

years. Many take years to get into regular school. I know money is a

big issue, but things like apple cidar vinegar and Epsom salt baths are

cheap things. There are lots of cheap treatments. If you have

insurance, even Medicaid, you can ask who takes those and what will they

pay for. It's a lot of work journeying through all this. A lot of

work. Most start with diets because it's difficult to heal a sick child

who can not even absorb nutrients from his food. Thus, look into diets

by asking everyone their favorite diets. You can describe your child's

symptoms and then ask others what diet's helped. I know you described

the eye problem, but also describe his other symptoms. For us, the

organic diet worked, with no dairy, and no wheat, which we all call

gf-cf. Always ask what acronyms mean. We all know there are new people

here mixed with old people and that's how this recovery system works.

Each of us who learned something, continually sharing. I know organic

food is expensive, but some things have to be organic, like soy, apples,

and corn. You can get away with other foods not being organic, but try

to buy fresh foods instead of processed foods. They sell lunch meat by

Hormell that has no additives. So, just start by trying to eat more

healthy, and less packaged. Anything with artificial colors, flavors,

even natural flavors (MSG), are usually avoided. Probiotics are given

and digestive aids, either digestive enzymes or herbs like ginger root

or turmeric or slippery elm to help with digestion. There are many more

choices. You have to look at what you are able to do and what you have

time to do. It's going to take a long time to learn all this, and

that's ok. Autism is a dramatic problem, not the easy ear infection we

are used to. I never thought I would find the time and money to do this

journey, but every day it got easier to do because I got more in the

habit of doing it. Also tell people where you live and ask who the good

docs are in that area. When you feel like crying because this journey

is so hard, go ahead. I am so grateful to be able to talk to other

people who get it. It's a pleasure and an honor to help others because

it was others' help that got my kids well.

Love and prayers,

Heidi N

Thanks for writing back. Yes, we've taken DS to both a therapeutic

opthamologist and a neurologist who have done EEG's, MRI's, etc. That's

how we know he has significant problems with his eyes bouncing and not

tracking. I'm not talking about the usual mild to moderate problems

with vision or tracking that most AU kids have. I'm talking about when

you move a finger - he cannot follow, or if you shake his head his eyes

look like ping pong balls. Our DADS VI person has ditched us and won't

return a phone call.....and from what I hear it's not as if they could

actually do anything to help us. That's why I'm asking here.

So far, they have not offered many solutions to the problem and that

makes it hard to go into an ARD.

~Crystal