An Important Note

First I would like to address all people who live with neurodivergence, and have found a way through life to find friendships, hobbies, employment, and are enjoying their lives. You are shining examples of what is possible.

The Message Parents Receive About Autism

No-one really expects to find out why they have autism. The message that parents and practitioners receive from health authorities is “there is no known cause of autism”. This simple fact means therefore, that there is no guidance for parents or practitioners about any form of prevention is forthcoming. Many parents are told that an autism diagnosis is due to genetic causes, implying that there is nothing that can be done to prevent autism in their family. If their child does develop autism, they are advised that the best they can do is to find a special school, seek Applied Behavioural Analysis which is behavioural therapy to help children learn how to speak, learn and interact with others.

For many families, behavioural therapy is not always an option, due to its cost and accessibility. It means that one parent may have to relinquish their job and spend the time with their child that is needed for behavioural therapy to be successful.

If your child has been diagnosed with moderate or severe autism, he or she may not be able to absorb the benefits of the behavioural therapies, as they are too anxious, confused or irritable. Put simply, the only path offered for families with an autistic child or children, is finding a way of managing, their child’s condition and not considering any form of treatment to address their symptoms.

Discovering the Research

When I started researching autism for the major project during my science degree at Middlesex University London I found so much research the many causes of autism. So much so that the researchers themselves say that there are so many causes of autism that they cannot possibly declare a single cause - and therein lies the problem. Naturally, we like to have a simple answer to health complaints, and with autism there is no simple, easy answer. The research has though, revealed some constant themes and patterns that appear in autistic children.

What's Happening in Autistic Childrens' Bodies?

When an autistic child is tested with a simple urine test called the OAT (Organic Acid Test) the results are almost always positive to oxidative stress. This is verified by two research bodies run by Dr William Walsh from The Walsh Institute and Dr William Shaw, both of whom have conducted testing on hundreds of thousands of autistic children. The metabolic pattern found in children who have oxidative stress is that they have too few nutrients for their bodies to effectively deal with the many toxicities they are exposed in every day life. Exposures to air pollution and chemicals from processed foods can cause the lower levels of nutrients in the body. So, when a child has too few nutrients, they are more susceptible to oxidative stress, which causes inflammation in body tissues, including the brain. The impact of environmental toxicities differ sfrom child to child, and family to family.

For example, a child living near a coal smelter or close to a busy road, will have different toxic exposures to a child living in a rural area where there may be crop spraying. Our collective challenge is to minimise toxic exposures where possible. When children eat a healthy diet with minimal sweet and processed foods, it helps to protect them from oxididative stress, through a process called 'chemoprevention'.

One over riding explanation for the cause of autism, is that it is genetic. While a genetic tendency does make it easier for a child to develop autism, this does not necessarily mean that it is a child's fate to become autistic. It means that a child is more susceptible to environmental triggers. There is so much that can be done to support these children. Nutritional testing, for example shows if a child needs extra nutrients that can help their bodies deal with what may be affecting them in the environment. A common pattern in vulnerable children is their vitamin D, zinc and B9 levels are below normal. If found to be deficient, supplementing children with nutrients is a simple and easy thing that all parents can do.

It's Complex

This above is of course, a simplification of a complex health issue. There is not much information available for parents about why children develop autism. When armed with more information from the research, parents have an opportunity to minimise the risk.

The Book For Parents

With this in mind, I produced a book designed to fill the gap of information for parents; Planning Parenthood in the Age of Autism - A Research Based Guide in a simple yet informative way. You can read the reviews in Good Reads here.

There are plenty more posts on autism coming. I firmly believe that when parents have more information, they will be better equipped to build resilience in their children to escape diagnosis of a neurodevelopmental disorder.

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The Dilemma of Autism