Research: Autism Spectrum Disorders: When Traditional Medicine is not Enough

Authored by Hyman, SL, and Levy SE in Contemporary Pediatrics, Volume 10, Issue , p. 101-113, (2000).

Article summary (posted Oct 21, 2006):

This article gives an overview of research on alternative and complementary therapies for autism, and provides a chart containing guidelines for using such therapies. These guidelines include: make only one treatment change at a time; test the effect of a therapy by choosing a behavior that can be measured over time; learn about potential side effects; tell your childâ??s doctor(s) about the treatment you are trying out; and do no harm.

Many parents of children with autism are interested in complementary and alternative medical therapies (CAM). The article describes the scientific evidence for and against the use of several supplements, and provides a chart outlining this evidence, which suggests that vitamins C and B6 may be therapeutic. The authors also discuss popular dietary restrictions for children with autism, including yeast-, gluten- and casein-free diets, and mention that children treated with such diets should be carefully watched by a physician. A chart that gives Web resources for pediatricians who are learning about alternative therapies for children with autism is provided.

Links:

You can access the original abstract and the complete paper is sometimes available for free via Google Scholar (look for entries that say "PDF" or "HTML" on the right side of the page).
adverse effects, autism, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), casein-free diet, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), diet, doctor, evidence-based medicine (EBM), gluten-free diet, parent, scientific evidence, supplements, therapy, treatment, vitamin, yeast
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