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Autism has become very prevalent in the
United States as well as many other industrialized countries. Today,
according to the
CDC Data & Statistics, 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys are diagnosed with ASD (Autism
Spectrum Disorder). In the US today, children are more likely to be
diagnosed with autism than all types of cancer, diabetes and AIDS
combined. When I was a medical student in 1990, I was told I would
most likely "never see an autistic child" because it was so rare.
There is no known cure, and the cause has been elusive. Although I
have suspected it for many years, current medical research is finally
showing that ASD is a multifactorial disease. This crisis will take
tremendous personal and social resources to treat and accommodate
these special individuals. This will also take a large toll on
families who are the major caregivers. More specifically for the
families personally involved with ASD treating and accommodating the
condition is not the desired outcome. Finding a way to undo the
damage and reverse the condition so the development of the child
occurs is most important.
Research is
showing that there is a genetic predisposition for this illness that
exhibits itself upon an environmental insult. This insult can be for
example: biological during a critical stage of development, a
psychological trauma, an accident, exposure to toxic chemicals or
heavy metals such as lead, mercury, aluminum etc. They can affect multi organ systems
including the neurological, immune, gastrointestinal, and metabolic
systems. At the clinic we try to identify these contributing factors
and deal with them to reduce the "total load" they have on the body.
Detoxifying, and restoring normal function often produces marked
improvement, and many times recovery.
Additional autism resource sites:
Generation Rescue
Adventures In Autism
