Top Tips to Relieve Your Autism Diet Worries Today

Autism diet recommendations can be many and varied. Some experts will suggest gluten-free and casein-free diets. Gluten is a substance found in breads and other grains and casein appears in milk and dairy products. The belief is that some people with autism have trouble digesting such substances, resulting in a decreased, foggy state of consciousness.
Other autism diet suggestions include cutting out yeast and sugars, and concentrating on consuming larger quantities of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Each of these theories have solid research to back them up, but while adults may be able to make dietary decisions for their children, it is not always as easily applied as they may wish.
Kids are still kids whether they have autism or not! They have individual tastes, and will prefer some foods to others. It is not always easy to remove the foods that they enjoy, and introduce those that don't typically appeal.
So the following are practical tips for parents who are aiming to introduce a healthy autism diet.
Turn it into finger food. Some small children can be more likely to eat something when they know what's in it, and often enjoy vegetables raw rather than cooked. A healthy diet should include generous servings of vegetables in at least two meals a day so try slicing up a selection of vegetables like carrots, broccoli and sweet red pepper into little sticks and serve them plain or with a dip for dunking.
Offer berries. Almost all types of berries are nutritious and rich in antioxidants so keep strawberries, blueberries, raspberries - and any other berries that you can find and that your child enjoys - on hand for snacks. They can satisfy a sweet tooth and don't break the rules of most autism diets.
Sugar-free sweetening. You can still give your kids sweet things without loading them down with sugar. Stevia can be an effective solution for this problem. Readily available in health food stores, Stevia is a South American herb that's sweeter than sugar and is an excellent alternative, as long as it is used in moderation. In most autism diets, other sweetening agents - sugar, honey, molasses, maple syrup, jelly etc - should be kept to an absolute minimum. Stevia can be used in many of a child's favorite recipes such as in lemonade and cookies.
Use supplements. If you are worried that your child's diet isn't giving them all the nutrition they need, speak to your doctor or naturopath about supplements. When kids are off dairy products, they may need calcium, magnesium and Vitamin D. Enzyme supplements can help aid digestion. And there are a host of other beneficial supplements from fish oil to amino acids, Vitamin B12 to calcium, magnesium and zinc. Many come in child-friendly chewable forms but always check with a health expert first, as many of these chewable vitamins come with a high dose of sugar.
As with any dietary change, make certain that any decisions made are discussed with a qualified doctor, first.

Grab your free copy of Rachel Evans' brand new Autism Newsletter - Overflowing with easy to implement methods to help you and your family find out about Autism Diet options and for information on where to go for autism resources please visit The Essential Guide To Autism

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De-Cluttering and Slowing Down With Autism in Your Life

One of the wonderful aspects of RDI® is that it aims to improve the quality of life not only your child and you but also your lifestyle in general as a family. Having a fast past life and cluttered home tends to have an impact on a number of factors...
For the child, being in cluttered spaces can result in the child becoming easily distracted by other objects around the house and these distractions that the child engages in can be competing with your attention therefore making it more difficult to make progress in making connections and building your relationship. In a cluttered environment it can also make it difficult for the child to make sense of the home environment if cluttered space means chaos, therefore resulting in a more dynamic space and too many elements to process, leaving the child feeling over stimulated, which for some, can result in the child using more static behaviours and coping strategies to deal with the anxiety that it may bring. When the environment is more organised and de-cluttered the child will be more ready to interact.
For parent(s), cluttered spaces not only mean loosing things and being unorganised, therefore spending ages looking for them, so it wastes your time, but also psychologically, seeing mess can make you feel overwhelmed as it reminds you how much you have to do. Cluttered home, cluttered mind; if you deal with things there and then or even just write things down you will find that your mind is freed up for thinking space. As mentioned in the paragraph above parent(s) end up competing with objects for their child's attention making it more difficult to share experiences and focus on your objectives.
Some children with autism find a fast paced life too much, too quick to process. When they are not given enough time to process the environment and interactions they do not have time to stop and study the productive uncertainties and opportunities provided to them in the world to help improve their emotional IQ. When the schedule is really busy there may be limited or no time for relaxing, experience sharing and exploring the environment and interactions with people. An overscheduled child may have difficulties with (quote from book). When life is going too fast for some children with autism this can mean its easier because everyone else around them compensates for them to keep them up to speed. This is not working on the deficits of autism this is compensating, which in the long run doesn't help the child.
When parents are overscheduled and living a fast paced life it could eventually lead to 'burn out'! You may have experienced this already, some of the signs of 'burn out' are; needing sugar and caffeine to keep you going through the day, feeling exhausted, stressed and tired all the time, possibly leading to depression, feeling negative about things, feeling ill or being ill frequently, immune system is low therefore the body is feeling or acting run down (poor skin, hair loss, boils, spots, tummy upset etc). Listen to your body as its telling you it needs to slow down to continue. A common issue with families is where parent(s) spend a lot of their time acting as a chauffer going from one place to the next and not getting enough quality time with their child to build their relationship and progress. It is important to factor in time for your self, all children, and your partner and as a family. Sometimes, schedules need de-cluttering and prioritising to get the most out of each day successfully.
Checklist
Are you heading towards burn out?
- Been ill more than twice in one year
- Body signs telling you its run down
- Feeling exhausted
- Feeling tired most of the time
- Feeling stressed and anxious
Do you need to reschedule the family?
- Spend too much time driving about
- You and/ or child has too much screen time
- You don't have quality time with your child(ren) every day
- You cant remember the last time you/ and partner went out/ did something you wanted to do.

Elisa Ferriggi, Think Autism Ltd, is dedicated to empowering parents to feel competent in raising their child with autism to improve quality of life. By addressing the core deficits of autism and unlocking potential children are able to develop milestones required to connect with others and establish true relationships. Elisa Ferriggi has been involved in the autism field since 2003 and is trained in the following approaches Relationship Development Intervention (RDI), Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), Holistic Approach to Neuro-Developmental Learning Efficiency (HANDLE) Introductory Activities Coach, The Listening Program (TLP) Certified Provider. For more information on how Think Autism can support your family please visit http://www.thinkautism.co.uk

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Aspergers Symptoms in Children 2012

Aspergers Syndrome - known as AS (and also called Asperger's) is a disorder that is included within the Autism Spectrum Disorder group. It was first diagnosed by an Austrian pediatrician named Hans Asperger, who noticed a group of symptoms within some of his young patients. The disorder itself as we know it was defined in 1981 and evolved until it was standardized in the early 1990s. Although most people are diagnosed with the disorder at age seven or eight - or older, Aspergers symptoms in children do appear at a much younger age - sometimes in kids in their first year of life.
There is a suspected genetic component to AS, although no solid causes have been identified. Likewise, there is no single treatment or cure for someone diagnosed with Asperger's - instead, the child (or adult) has the option to undergo behavioral therapy to minimize symptoms and to improve function. It works to address repetitive or obsessive routines, poor communication skills or abilities, and clumsiness. Fortunately, most kids appear to improve as they grow up, but in many cases, communication and social difficulties remain.
Aspergers symptoms in children may vary. Some kids show signs of the disorder at a very young age (under one year old) while some kids appear to be reaching developmental milestones as normal and then start to regress, usually around three. In other kids, symptoms appear in force around six or seven years of age. Each case is different, and the degree of severity of symptoms may affect whether the parents or caregivers notice there's a difference in their child.
Symptoms of Aspergers in children include deficits in physical coordination, communication, and development of varied interests. Typically, although not always, a child with AD will show lack of empathy, clumsiness, inadequate math skills, limited non-verbal communication, unusual speech, and obsessive interests. Younger kids, like toddlers (age one to four) may show advanced vocabulary, delayed pointing, delayed use of gestures, delayed potty training, limited eye contact, and preoccupation with a single topic. These toddlers often need a rigid routine and repetition in daily activities.
An infant may also show a group of symptoms that may mean the child has AD. Aspergers symptoms in children under the age of one include abnormal non-verbal communication, failure to reach certain milestones by age one, lack of social skills, obsession with complex topics, reflex abnormalities, and poor coordination. If you have noticed one or more of these signs in your child, mention it to your pediatrician. Although children are typically not diagnosed until older (around seven or eight), he or she may make a tentative diagnosis and you can begin treatment to help reduce your child's symptoms.

Register for your FREE webinar training now and discover the key to unlocking childhood Autism and Aspergers syndrome. autismininfants.org

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Leaky Gut Problem - What Is It and How Do You Overcome It?

There are many research studies that are being carried out to find out about the leaky gut syndrome and why it is prominent in those with autism. The studies are trying to find out why it starts and the methods a person can take to prevent it. The leaky gut problem is basically the large intestines inability to keep out large unwanted waste molecules. This is a side effect of autism that basically shows that the intestine walls have become permeable. The reason it may occur in autistic children is because of the increased sensitivity or allergies that the child may experience.
The problem that people with leaky gut syndrome experience is the fact that the intestines allows molecules and substances such as proteins that are normally filtered out and passed into the bloodstream to leak out of the body. The problem is that usually these molecules can't enter the intestines so the body thinks its some kind of virus and starts to attack it. The problem then starts when the body starts to attack these molecules that are anywhere in the body, this leads to the body basically attacking itself. Of course these are just two of the problems that may be experienced with those who have the leaky gut syndrome. There are other problems that can occur.
There are many different reasons as to why the leaky gut syndrome can occur. Researchers are still trying to establish concrete reasons as to why it happens, but current research suggests that is usually occurs in those who have a diet with a high consumption of alcohol, caffeine, many drugs like ibuprofen and antacids, or even a diet that is high in carbs can cause this problem of leaky gut. There are many other reasons to. These are just a few of the many reasons that can cause it, and just as uncertain the causes so are the cures.
Parents of those autistic children that experience leaky gut say that when the child is placed on a diet free of gluten and casein can greatly reduce the problems. These proteins both gluten and casein can irritate and inflame the gut to cause the problem of leaky gut syndrome. Of course this is not certain just some initial research that has been carried out. You can also greatly reduce the problem by completely avoiding alcohol, caffeine, ibuprofen, or spicy foods in general.
To really understand the leaky gut syndrome takes time, and is a never ending learning curve for the parents and the autistic children that are experiencing the problem, but this does not mean that there is nothing that you can do to solve the problem. By taking some action and eating a better diet it can greatly reduce the problems that are experienced.

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How Does Diet Affect Autism Symptoms and What Can Be Done to Change it to a Healthy Diet

Theories abound when it comes to the treatment of autism. Many practitioners believe that correct diet is at the root of the problem. While good nutrition is essential, it appears it may be necessary to undergo extensive dietary change, as most children with autism appear to respond abnormally to a wide range of foods. Gastrointestinal illnesses, inflammation and other intestinal disorders appear to be quite common in those who suffer from the disease. A regimented diet, often combined with alternative treatment methods, is recommended in the treatment of the problem. Random changes of food should be avoided.
Genetically modified foods pose a health risk throughout society and it is thought that this is particularly important when it comes to those who are vulnerable through autism to allergies, immune system issues and digestive challenges.
Gluten and casein free diets are often recommended. However, this step should not be taken lightly. There is evidence on both sides of the argument, so those involved should make sure that they consult appropriately and weigh all the consequences before moving forward.
Gluten, a protein within wheat, oats and rye is found in almost all processed foods. Casein is a protein found in milk and its derivatives and most dairy products. As such, it can be extremely difficult to develop a sustaining diet while excluding these proteins altogether. Often times, a diet would have to be composed of whole grains, fresh fruits, dairy free products and unprocessed meat and the preparation of such a diet can also be very time-consuming and costly.
Academics believe that abnormally high levels of opioid peptides are not broken down in the digestive system and that they may leak into the bloodstream. Indeed, it was discovered only recently by researchers in Maryland that a certain receptor makes the intestinal barrier more permeable, making this "leaky gut syndrome" possible. In plain English, this means that a product similar to opium permeates into the bloodstream every time the autistic child eats.
If gluten and casein are removed from the autistic diet, supporters of this theory point to a reduction in gastrointestinal and neurological damage. They also maintain that this method is less harmful than adding drugs to a patient's bloodstream which can just add another level of chemicals to a potentially damaged system.
It is important to note however, that the so-called gluten/casein diet method should be introduced selectively, slowly and should be well documented. Elimination of the toxins can produce a "withdrawal" effect which may take some time to wear off.
Other dietary plans exist, such as the yeast free diet, which involves cutting out sugars, caffeine and bread. It is suggested that the yeast overgrows in the intestines and the toxins can be released into the bloodstream with potentially adverse effects on brain functioning.
At the very least, a child or an adult suffering from autism should make sure that they schedule eating time appropriately and establish good nutrition. Snacks in between meals should be avoided and good practices such as a restriction on the intake of sugars, plenty of liquids, use of dairy free product and the introduction of natural supplements should all be encouraged.

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CranioSacral Therapy (CST) For Children With Autism

CranioSacral Therapy(CST) has been proven to be one of the helpful alternative therapy for autistic children. It uses gentle hands-on touch to decease counteract stress and strain on central nervous system. This CST Therapy must be administered by trained experts, like chiropractors, massage therapists, or physical therapists.
Cranial Osteopathy was developed at the beginning of the 20th century by Dr. William Garner Sutherland, an osteopathic physican, who founded himself in the year of 1872. The Cranial Therapy was not accepted by people for 40 years until some highly sensitive computerised medical diagnostic equipment confirmed that Dr. William Garner Sutherland has been right.
The Therapy is based on the idea that the entire nervous system of human body is in constant rhythmic motion, once some of the movements are restricted, symptoms like headaches or depression would raise. While working with an kid with autism, the initial focus often is on the cranium to locate an area that has the greatest motion response to the craniosacral rhythm. Delicate release and pumping techniques are used to create more motion in that area.
Each treatment will take about one hour, and it's best to be administered once a week at the beginning. Don't expect that the CST could "cure" autism in the end, well, it can't. However, according to the parents of autistic children, this therapy do make things better, such as improved socialization, speaking ability, ability to connect with others, increased eye contact and so on.
CranioSacral Therapy(CST) enhances the body's natral healing process, in the mean time, it combines well with other forms of treatment that work for ASD, such as animal therapy, electric shock therapy, gluten and casein free diets, music therapy, occupational therapy, Live Cell & Stem Cell Therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy and Nutritional Therapies.
CST also works well in the treatment of ADD(attention deficit disorder), ADHD(attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), Asperger's Syndrome and PDD-NOS(pervasive developmental delays, not otherwise specified).
http://www.autism-world.com/index.php/2009/04/21/how-craniosacral-therapycst-works-for-autism/

http://www.autism-world.com

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Asperger's Syndrome in Adults Living With Your Adult Child

There are many issues involved in dealing with Asperger's syndrome in adults that you would not necessarily have with other adult children. The issue of readiness to live alone at 18 or 21 is one of them.
Many young adults without neurological disabilities are also living with their parents after graduating college or high school as well. The press has even given them the name "boomerang kids." Still, living with your adult Asperger's child does have its special challenges. So how do you make sure it works for both of you?
1. Set Clear Boundaries
To start with, you need to set clear boundaries and rules as to the living situation, and what will be expected of all people in the household. This is a good idea no matter whom you are living with. But if you are dealing with an adult child with Asperger's syndrome this has extra importance. Why? Because these adults crave clarity and direction. They completely flounder without it. They do not have the ability to read between the lines and understand what is expected of them. You have to spell it out.
2. Make Rules Clear
You can save yourself a lot of resentment in the future by making these rules clear ahead of time. Do you want your adult child to help with the chores around the house? Pay rent? Come home by a certain time of night? Limit the amount of people they have over? Then tell them in very explicit terms.
Never assume "Oh, a reasonable person would know to put the dishes away without being told" or "Anyone would know it's impolite to have friends over after 11pm" or whatever it may be -- and then get mad at your child when they break these invisible rules!
Common sense is not a strength of a person with Asperger's syndrome. Mostly, they march according to their logic, which makes perfect sense to them. But if you explain to them why you want something a done a certain way or why a certain thing is important to you, then they are perfectly capable of, and usually even eager to, follow the rules.
3. Pay attention to Emotional Maturity, Anxiety and Level of Detail
It can be a hard transition for anyone who is leaving the relatively sheltered world of education to whatever comes next. When dealing with Asperger's syndrome in adults, though, going from a structured existence where there were clear goals and ways to accomplish them to an aimless existence in which none of this exists can be very hard. You also have to remember that emotional maturity levels of this age group will be behind typical kids, due to the nature of developmental disabilities.
The Experience of a Young Woman
One young woman reveals the following about her experiences living with her parents after college.
When I lived at my parents' house after college, I was an extremely frustrated person. I had absolutely nothing to do with my time, and no way to get out of the house except for perhaps once a week. I didn't drive, and we lived far from town. I had no control over my life whatsoever.
I would go to my parents for sympathy but they'd just get mad at me. They would go out for dinner, and I'd spend the whole evening resenting that they were able to leave the house and I wasn't.
When they'd come home late at night, they'd ask me why I hadn't done the dishes or some other chore, and I'd explode at them about how lucky they were and get mad at them for asking me to help.
It is clear that I had very little emotional maturity at that time. I was drowning in self-pity and didn't even realize it, and it made me a pretty selfish person at that time in my life. I had no way to feel like I had any control over my life, so had no way to get out of it.
I should have been grateful for a place to stay and helped out around the house in return, but no one had made it clear to me that this was what I was expected to do. And I was so deep in my own feelings of remorse for the life I wanted to have that I couldn't see it.
What Would Help This Situation
In retrospect, there are a few things that would have made this situation better. When she came home from college, there should have been an in depth, very detailed explanation of "We're glad to help you out for a little bit and let you stay here, but we expect some things in return. We know the (circumstances of your life that brought you to this place) are very hard, but we still need you to help out." Then list the specific chores she would be responsible for, or at least the specific things she should make a point to look for to see if they needed to be done. Make a chart. Make it visual, make it stick, and most of all, do it at a time when no one is defensive and it's being done out of love rather than resentment.
The Method of Communication Matters for Adults with Asperger's syndrome
Telling someone to do something in a tone of voice that implies you are angry at them will not have the effect you want when dealing with Asperger's syndrome in adults. Adults with Asperger's syndrome are very sensitive to emotion, despite not always being able to display it.
They will pick up on the anger in your tone and be so overwhelmed by it that they will not be able to process what you are saying. The anger is scary to them and makes them go into "survival mode" or at least get very defensive. This takes all their mental energy, and they will totally not remember what you are saying.
Therefore, the mistake will be repeated again and again and again until tensions escalate to unbearable levels. Each party is just trying to do what seems right to them, but both parties fail to see that a lack of proper communication is causing all this resentment. It matters how you communicate.
Be Aware of Each Other's Emotions, and Pay Attention to Detail
The level of detail also matters. Telling your adult child to "help around the house more" is a very ambiguous statement. Adults with Asperger's syndrome do not do well with ambiguous statements. Telling them "You should know to do this without us asking" is not helpful either. The feelings of guilt and inadequacy that it creates gets in the way of any helpful message getting across. If they knew to do it, they would be doing it. Most adults with Asperger's syndrome are eager to please.
Be specific on what chores you want done when, how many friends is a "few," what time "by night" means, or any other ambiguous statement. You may think "They're so smart, they should know this stuff," but remember, adults with Asperger's syndrome have uneven abilities. They seem very smart in some areas, but can be quite clueless in others.
In most cases, it is not a case of laziness. It's a case of having no idea what one is supposed to do, or having too much emotional baggage or anxiety to pay attention to anything but the thoughts in their head. In either case, specific direction can work wonders.

There are many other issues involved when dealing with Asperger's syndrome in adults, and living with your adult child. Many are covered in detail in my book, Thriving in Adulthood with Asperger's Syndrome. But we cannot stress enough that the most important issue is communication, and communication in a way that your child can really understand. Asperger's syndrome in adults can present many issues, but with a little understanding of these issues, they can be easily overcome. For information about adults with autism see the site www.AutismParenthood.com.

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