Niece might have autism .. where to go for help - Autism Spectrum Message Board

scarlette · 07-27-2002, 11:06 AM

My niece is 5 years old. She a very sparse vocabulary consisting of a handful of words ie, mom, daddy, baby blue and ball. The rest of the time it is garbled like baby talk. She does have a temper, bangs her head, hits, kicks, spits, pinches and screams.She also is not potty trained and wears pullups.The parents are having no success with that or breakingher of using a sippy cup. When she was a baby and toddler her screams were high pitched and did alot of head banging on the floor and walls. She does know what she wants,she knows how to use the tv, vcr,dvd, stereo, chooses her own video tapes she wants to watch and she knows what you are saying to her. I have been after the parents since she was a baby to get her tested. would like to know what type of testing is done and if it to late to change these behaviors or to control them somehow.

Nicksmom · 07-27-2002, 02:21 PM

She needs to be evaluated by a child psychologist. With my son, the psychologist rated my son using the c.a.r.s test (childhood autism rating score). Basically they just observe the child and will ask the parents lots of questions. There are things that the parents could do to help her through supplements and vitamins. Super Nu Thera is a mega vitamin that is for autistic people. My son could only say 10 words at the age of 4 after being on mega vitamins and adding dmg, my son picked up 200 more words within 3 months. Later I found these kids have many food intollerances that affect the brain. Wheat and milk are biggies. I cut out nitrates, and all other additives, sugars, and processed foods from his diet and he now talks in full sentences. These kids are so affected by foods and our dirty enviroment so that should be changed in her life. I don't even clean with regular house cleaners anymore, only chemical free stuff. It would be a good idea to look into behavioral therapy and an occupational therapist. THe schools will provide those services (but you may have to fight for them). An occupational therapist will help with potty trainnig and other stuff. Anyway, I wish you luck.

RachelK · 07-27-2002, 03:51 PM

Hello,

A real good place to start is with the early intervention programs thru the public schools. They will evaluate her for free. Nicksmom's mentioned that it can be a fight to get services but they have to provide them. My son was first seen by a private phychologist at 3 1/2. She referred me to the public schools. Nicksmom also mentioned Super Nu Thera made by Kirkman laboratories. My son has been on these and other vitamin and minerals for over a year now. He is doing very well.

Another place is MHMR thru your state. They too will evaluate her for free. They also have many services that will benefit her.

Good luck!!
Rachel

g hardine · 08-13-2002, 12:24 AM

There's a place called the Pfeiffer Treatment center in Naperville Illinois. They use diet, nutrition and megavitamin therapy to treat autism. Nutrition and megavitamin therapy is the way to go. It's incredible what it can do for a child. I know people who have gone there, and as noted in a reply above on megavitamin therapy, in months they are talking, kids who are 3 years old and never spoken before. If a child is treated young enough, the kids are indistinguishable from other kids.

It's work though. I used to live there and from knowing and meeting several parents who took their children there, I can say it's amazing what diet and vitamins can do, and wonderful to see the parents crying for joy over the progress their kids have made.

All the parents I know of had to take their kids off glutten and dairy. It's a chore to get the kids to take the vitamins and get them onto a good diet as many seem very addicted to foods they're allergic to and won't eat much else. It's hard work, but there really isn't anything else that works as well and isn't it worth it to make sure these kids get the nutrition they need and cut out the toxins in their food and elsewhere that are destroying their lives?