Autism Recovery – How long and what is it going to take?
This is a question that I frequently get from new biomedical parents. And it’s a doozy. For those of you who have been on this journey, you know what a loaded question it is. Recovering your child takes everything you have and more. It takes years of strict dietary intervention, daily supplements and routine methylation support via methyl B12 injections.
So, first, let’s define recovery…
Biomedical treatment needs to start from a place of acceptance. Its first and foremost goal is to address the medical aspects of autism that are creating pain and discomfort. When the underlying medical issues are assessed and treated, behaviours driven by pain and/or sensory issues drastically improve. The next step is to support age level communication, social and learning. Recovery is the optimization of brain function for every child. We are supporting recovery of a child diagnosed with autism, not recovering them from autism.
Biomedical families know that there are often gains quite soon after changing your child’s diet or adding in methyl B12 injections. We know that there are so many different treatments to try with the goal of getting your child to develop new skills as quickly as possible with the hope of creating opportunities for age level skills. You know that recovery is a journey, not a destination. I have been ruminating about a blog of this nature for almost a year. Writing about recovery felt like a statement of finality and what I wanted to share was the joy and sorrow of the biomedical treatment JOURNEY.
DAN / MAPS doctors usually have a process they use to support the highest level of recovery for children undergoing treatment. Many of these processes share similarities because the medical literature is quite clear on a few medical aspects of autism. The majority of children diagnosed with autism have the following things in common:
- Gut inflammation / dysbiosis – Studies show that the gut flora for children diagnosed with autism is different than typically developing children. The “unhealthy” gut flora feeds on complex carbohydrates and cause damage to the brain.
- Methylation impairment
- Methylation is the process by which children develop. Studies show that 90% of children diagnosed with autism have methylation impairment and that most carry a MTHFR gene that slows methylation.
- Upregulated IDO1 pathway leading to excitability and excess glutamate in the brain:
- The IDO1 pathway takes 95% of the body’s tryptophan which is needed to make serotonin. Low levels of B6 and B3 (often low because of gut issues and methylation problems) cause this pathway to become upregulated leading to excitability in the brain that can cause damage. Too much of the neurotransmitter (brain chemical) GLUTAMATE causes the function of the brain to change resulting in many of the “autism” symptoms we see like scripting, stimming, obsessions, fixations, anger, aggression and sensory processing problems
- Elevated levels of toxins like heavy metals and pesticides
- Harvard School of Public Health and Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai have identified that toxic metals negatively impact brain function and are linked to developmental disorders. Toxic metals deplete glutathione which is needed to “mop” of excess GLUTAMATE in the brain. Up to 80% of glutathione has been found by researchers to be deficient in children diagnosed with autism. More glutathione = faster development and fewer “autism” symptoms
All of the above lead to damage to the cell membrane which surrounds all cells which then “shreds” (lipid peroxidation) decreasing the mitochondria’s ability to produce energy needed to support development. Mitochondria produce all the energy in the body, so stopping the damage and repairing is the key to recovering kids with autism.
The approach used at our clinic has been fine-tuned over the last 14 years. It has been my privilege to work with over 5000 families. For the families that have been able to commit to regular follow-ups and follow our recommended “paleo” diet, cocktail of supplements and regular meyhyl or hydroxy B12 injections, the recovery rate is 30%. These children are highly recovered and have many if not all age level skills. The other families who are able to commit to treatment (which takes at least 18-24 months) see significant gains in language, social and cognitive development. Their children aren’t in pain, have improved sensory symptoms, better digestion, don’t hurt themselves, sleep better and are able to have a higher quality of life.
Magnus’s recovery story
So, let me tell you what is happening right now as I type this blog. Magnus is our youngest son. He suffered a severe regression after a surgery at 16 months to repair an equally severe birth defect. At 18 months, he was unable to walk walk properly or long distances, he stumbled and fell constantly, he had very few words and they were difficult to understand and he struggled with a massive feeding issue including difficulty chewing and swallowing. He was self-injurious and aggressive due to extreme noise sensitivity and food textures. Magnus’s feeding was also extremely restricted and he would smash his face and head on the table when we tried to introduce anything other than cashews.
This morning, he woke up early and I asked him if I had woken him because I had snuck out of bed to finish some work. His reply was no, he had a dream and then opened his eyes. “Actually, I had two dreams”. I continued to try to get some of my thoughts down for this blog to share with all of you and he quietly came up to me and we both reached for my water at the same time. He looked up at me and said, “Oh, sorry, are you thirsty?”
I said “Yes, but you go ahead buddy”. He drank and then handed the bottle to me. He scampered off and a couple of minutes later brought over some GG bites (a sesame snack we order from JK Gourmet) and asked if I needed a little snack while I worked.
He is the sweetest boy I know. I know what he is thinking, because he can now tell us after 4 ½ years of biomedical treatment, speech therapy and hyperbaric oxygen treatment. I know that he can learn. At this point, on par in most ways with his peers, and in some ways with a more expansive capacity. I am not sure what his future holds in terms of challenges but I know biomedical treatment has transformed his ability to face those challenges and that they are probably going to be very similar to every other kid his age. At this point he is in SK and he doesn’t need a lot of extra help and is cognitively at age level. He is still catching up socially but plays with friends every day. We need to keep supporting his social communication and play. He was at risk for a fine motor disability and now writes words and his name. This is what a recovery journey looks like today but it has taken everything we had to put in as a family. With my lovely husband on board, my children helping and showing unbelievable maturity and patience, with the focus of helping Magnus have the happiest and most complete life we could create for him; and I can tell you from the front lines that biomedical treatment works.
Yesterday, as I was pulling out of the driveway and Magnus ran out after me. He told me he needed to tell me something. I stopped the car and put the window down and asked “What’s up, buddy”? He asked, “Where are you going”? I told him I was going to work. “Oh”, he said thoughtfully. “What do you do at work”? “I am a Naturopathic Doctor who helps kids with autism”, I answered. “Do I have autism”, Magnus asked.
I sat frozen in the driveway, not knowing how to answer. He has been aggressively treated since he regressed at 16 months. For 4 ½ years we have struggled to improve language, social and cognitive skills while addressing severe feeding issues and possibly even more severe sensory processing issues. We spent years changing diapers and sheets that were covered in diarrhea. Years applying every cream and salve we could find to help reduce the discomfort of head to toe eczema that was cracked and bleeding. Years of sleep deprivation, years of screaming, head banging, restricted eating and bolting out into the road. We had Magnus assessed in JK and were told they couldn’t rule out high functioning autism but we would have to wait until he was 7 to re-assess.
I don’t know how everyone else defines recovery. My definition is my daily interaction with a boy whose future looked bleak; a boy who could barely walk, and couldn’t talk. A boy who today, 4 plus years into our journey, just spent 30 minutes wrestling with his Dad and after winning yelled “In your face!”, a taunt learned from his 10 year old brother.
This year, I have been saying this a lot: “I don’t know any other way”. I know that daily, yucky supplements, the paleo diet and continual methylation support can support the difficult journey of recovery. The supplements taste horrible and the diet seems completely impossible at times but I can share with you that as a tired and fried biomedical parent; I wouldn’t change a thing and I would do it all again knowing that this grueling journey would allow us to have this level of interaction, communication and hope for the future.
So, what is it going to take? Try the treatment. For at least 3 months. Find a good biomedical doctor and help your children reach their optimal. Do not try to recover your child by yourself. Find someone who has helped to recover thousands of children. Work with your partner, family, therapists, other children and friends to give your child every opportunity to reach the highest level of success. It takes all you have… and more. The parents who are on this journey would agree that this is the hardest, most incredible thing that you will ever do. When your child is on the right biomedical treatment, they begin to recover. The longer they are treated, the more they recover. Like anything in life is takes hard work and commitment. There is no “magic bullet”.
Many times, parents will tell me they have tried everything. It may feel that way but I can tell you with love and compassion that recovery for most children depends on the following combination.
- Grain free / dairy free with lots of healthy fats (the diet recommended by Pediatric Neurologist and Harvard Professor Dr. Martha Herbert)
- A ton of yucky supplements
- Methyl or hydroxy B12 injectionsIf you haven’t looked into biomedical treatment, there IS another path you can try. That path could change the trajectory of your child’s development. Earlier on in our journey, when we would get tired and frustrated and look toward the future with fear and despair, one thing kept us going. Every percentage Magnus improves now, dramatically changes his opportunities in school, as a teenager and as an adult. Biomedical treatment changes children’s lives; I know, because it changed our son’s life… and ours.
