Autism is a disorder that responds best to treatment that is holistic and addresses all aspects of the condition. Recent research has shown a benefit for what is considered complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) or integrative medicine that focuses on pairing natural treatment approaches with behavioral therapies and treatments. This approach facilitates a more balanced treatment plan as it allows families, like yours, to treat the child with autism as just that – a child affected by autism.
Autism is diagnosed based on criteria from a diagnostic manual of mental disorders however, it is increasingly clear that many of these symptoms are medical – not psychological.
Common medical problems in children on the autism spectrum can include:
- Digestive problems: reflux, diarrhea, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, chronic pain, bloated abdomen
• Seizures
• Allergies, asthma, and eczema
• Food reactions
• Sleep problems
• Infections
• Poor nutrition
• Poor growth
Children with autistic-spectrum disorder have health issues that are very complex.
This is the reason that the approach to help these children requires a wide variety of diagnostic tests to scientifically assess the cause of their health issues.
No two individuals experience autism in the same way, and individuals do not respond to the same treatments. This is the reason it is of utmost importance that each child with autism spectrum disorder be evaluated individually.
