Autism Insider Newsletter Aug 2010

1 - Autism Insider Newsletter, July 2010 Issue

August 2010 - Issue #11

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South Florida Autism Newsletter

In this issue...

� Waking In The Dark: Finding The Light inAutism

� The Frontal Lobe: One of The Keys ToUnlocking The Puzzle

� We Cured Our Son’s Autism

ALLERGIES AND SENSITIVITIES� Learn About An Alternative Method To Treat Your Child’s Allergies

and Sensitivities� What is the difference between an Allergy and a Sensitivity

2 - Autism Insider Newsletter, August 2010 Issue

Inside This Issue...

BioMedical Q&A

By Debbie Mellen Nurse Practitioner Page 4

Community Spot LightFamily Environment School Opens Their Doors

For Special Needs Students Page 5

GENERAL ARTICLES

An Alternative Method To Treat Your

Child’s Allergies And Sensitivities!!! Page 3

The Frontal Lobe: One Of The Keys To

Unlocking The Puzzle Page 8

Book Review

We Cured Our Son’s Autism

By Karyn Seroussi Page 6-10

Walking In The Dark: Finding The Light In Autism

By Kathleen Tehrani Page 7

Autism Chatter

The iPad A Great Learning Tool!!! Page 9

Recipe of the Month

Onion Cheddar Biscuits Page 11

Mild Hyperbaric Therapy at Autism ADD / ADHD / PDD-NOS Asperger’s Syndrome Speech Delay Cerebral Palsy Brain Injury

And more ...

For more info call (954)584-3198 or go to www.bodymedonline.com

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The monthly plan gives access to 1 hourdaily of mHBOT, up to 5 days a week!!! * Session schedule depends on availability. Offer valid for August 2010

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An allergy is basically an overreaction of your immune systemto a substance that is normally harmless. According to Dr.Nambudripad, when an allergen enters or contacts the body, thereis a clash between the energy field of the allergen and the energyfield of the allergy sufferer. The brain identifies the allergen andresponds with antibodies and delayed reactive T and B Cells. Thistype of immune reaction causes the release of toxic substancesfrom the T cells. The fighter cells, called macro phages, and theninvade the area, intent of digesting the antigens. Immunemediators such as histamine are released. These reactors causeblockages in the electromagnetic pathways as well as abnormaltissue response, delayed tissue destruction and possibleautoimmune reaction. Repeated exposure to allergens over timecauses the body to become more susceptible to chronic healthproblems, decreased energylevels, migraines, tumors, andother health problems.

Most allergies are the result ofacquired neurologicalsensitivities. This process ofneurological programming istaking place constantly, invarying degrees, in all of usevery day.

Many substances, likepollutants are obviously goingto have a negative impact onhealth, but often times it is verydifficult, if not impossible toidentify exactly which pollutantis affecting an individual.Harmless substances can also have a negative impact on thehuman body. In these instances it may be even harder to identifywhich one is causing problems because these substances aren’teven suspects!

The effects that these substances have can range from mild andunnoticeable to severe and debilitating. Allergies, sensitivities,intolerance's, eczema, sinusitis, asthma, ADD, headaches, sinuspressure, low energy and even autism are examples of symptomsand conditions that can be caused or exacerbated by substancesin the environment.

Autism is characterized by nutritional deficiencies. Thesedeficiencies have their origins in allergies that inhibit the bodyfrom absorption and assimilation of vital nutrients that childrenrequire to develop. Dr Nambudripad studies show that some ofthe most common allergens that affect patients with allergy relatedautism are:

� Inhalants: pollen, smoke, and perfumes

� Ingestants: condiments, drugs, and food additives

� Contactants: soaps, detergents, and chemicals

� Injectants: vaccines, immunizations, and insect venom

� Infectants: viruses or bacteria

� Physical agents: electromagnetic radiation and fluorescentlights

� Genetic factors

� Molds and fungi

� Emotional factors

The BioAllergenix System is the culmination of 30 years ofresearch in the allergy related field. The BioAllergenix System

uses state-of-the-art technology incomputerized biofeedback toscreen for sensitivity to over96,000 substances (allergens).This is accomplished usingacupuncture points and electrodesto measure the body’s response tothose substances. It can test forhundreds of substances at a timein just a few minutes. BAX-3000,is the only fully-automated,patented and FDA cleared LASER(Light and Sound EnergyRelaxation) Therapy system.

Treatment is accomplished byusing a laser to stimulateacupuncture meridians and points.Through this process of

neurological desensitization of the body's immune response, thepatient's reactions are eliminated thereby desensitizing the patientto the allergen. Best of all, there are no needles, no shots, and nodrugs!

The BAX-3000 works by exposing the patient to a potential stressinducing substance, in the form of a digital signal. This digitizedsubstance matches the harmonic frequency of the actualsubstance, making the body believes it is in contact with the realsubstance. The body will react if it does not harmonize with thestress inducing substance, and the computer will note theresponse. The patient's brain is imprinting a new memory in whichtheir immune system is learning that the formerly offendingallergen is now safe and harmless.

“During the time I have used the BioAllergenix I have witness atremendous improvement in my patients, their allergies are gone.Parents of patients with autism have been reporting animprovement in behavior, tolerance to changes, and lower anxietylevels, among others. During their visits for treatment I havenoticed how they are calmer and actually enjoy the allergytreatment” says Dr Michael Surdis.

BAX-3000 treatments are available in Broward, Fl.For more information call (954) 443-2420

An Alternative Method To Treat Your Child’s Allergies and Sensitivities!!!


BioMedical Q&ABy Debbie Mellen, Biomedical Practitioner

Do you or a loved one have any allergies? If so,you know how hard they can be to live with.When I think of an allergic reaction I think of

IgE. An IgE reaction occurs about the time immediately after exposureto the allergen; food or inhalant. This type of reaction is called animmediate hypersensitivity reaction. This reaction is when the IgEantibodies that are specific for the allergen, bind onto immune cells calledmast cells. A food allergy builds up when your immune system, usinga mixture of immune cells, antibodies and chemical mediators, are tryingto tell your body to refuse a food you have eaten. Immediate-onset foodallergy is often a skin-test positive allergy. The doctor can diagnose itwith a simple skin test. A small amount of a single food is involved andthe allergic symptoms appear immediately. So when you eat the allergicfood the next time, IgE antibodies hungrily latch onto the food.Instantaneously histamine and other allergy-related chemicals -- called

chemical mediators -- are released fromthe mast cell, rapidly bringing on theunwelcome appearance of stomachcramping, diarrhea, skin rashes, hives,swelling, wheezing or the most dreadedof reactions, anaphylaxis.

Once thought to be the only "true" foodallergy, immediate food allergy is commonin children, but rare in adults. Oncethought to be uncommon at best, delayedfood allergy is now thought by manyinvestigators to be quite common. In fact,it is the most common form of foodallergy in children and adults. Delayedreactions characteristically involve 3 to 10foods, sometimes as many of 20 foods invery allergic individuals. Immediate-onsetfood allergy is often a skin-test positiveallergy. The doctor can diagnose it with asimple skin test. Delayed food allergies areskin-test negative. The traditional skin testsare poor tests for detecting delayed foodallergies. Instead, delayed reactions foodoften require state-of-the-art blood tests.These tests detect serum levels of IgGantibodies to foods -- IgA antibody aswell as IgG in gluten sensitivity and celiacdisease.

In a delayed reaction to the food we eat,it could take a day or two after eating thefood before the IgG reaction takes place.Due to the delay between eating the food,and seeing the reaction, it is difficult toknow what the offending food is. So theperson goes on eating the offending food.A health analysis can be done to look forthese hidden food allergies, technicallycalled ‘IgG food allergies’. This is whataids in analyzing the complex casesregarding ADHD, autism, and pervasive

developmental disorders. This is also very helpful in treating moreperplexing cases in adults where symptoms persist but cannot beexplained by using more the conventional approaches of Westernmedicine. Some of the symptoms that make me think that an IgG testmay prove helpful are unexplained symptoms - like chronic constipation,hard stools, indigestion, "brain fog", mood swings, exacerbation of PMS,bloating and weight gain mostly on the abdomen. It is difficult to connectthe dots without the testing. IgG food allergy symptoms are seen withchildren who seem to be “in their own world” with inattentiveness or donot respond to their name.

IgG antibodies on a whole, are the most common antibodies that areseen with a blood test. IgG antibodies are the antibodies that providelong term resistance to infections after immunizations. When we see IgGantibodies we know that the body has found a foreign substance orsomething that the body saw as an intruder, an abnormal visitor thatmust be destroyed. This is wonderful if the substance is bacteria or virus.However, sometimes the body is tricked by something that we ate! Somepeople can tolerate a large amount of food without ever experiencingany outward symptoms. Others may only require a small amount of theoffending food before symptoms are expressed. The degree and severityof symptoms vary because of the genetic makeup of the individual.

What is happening with delayed onset allergy is that the immune systemis producing many IgG antibodies to a particular food. The IgGantibodies bind directly to the as it enters the bloodstream. Nowwe have the food allergens bound to an IgG antibody traveling throughthe bloodstream. IgG means the body has a memory of the substanceand when you eat it again…the immune response begins. Thisantibody/immune response activates small proteins that circulate theentire body. The tiny proteins that are stimulated by the IgG responsecause an inflammatory response. The inflammatory response is slow, butsteady; within a few hours inflammation can be seen and continues fordays. Due to this gradual build up of inflammation it is called a

The body does fight back. It sends out little macrophages (thatremind me of pak man just chomping down all the little pixels). But withan IgG response, the macrophages cannot keep up. The result is that theinflammation goes all over the body. For one individual the inflammationmay be found in the pancreas, and they present with insulin resistanceand weight gain. In another the inflammation is found in the brain.Depending on which tissues are involved, it is possible that theinflammation can cause signs and symptoms of many different healthsconditions. One example is migraine headaches, the of theheadache may be found 48 hours ago. A delayed food reaction couldbe causing many different medical conditions. Your doctor can treat yoursymptoms with pharmacological treatments or you can get to the causeof the problem… delayed food allergies. We use IgG testing when wewant to find the hidden allergies that may be causing health issues.

Testing for IgG is appropriate with neurological, gastrointestinal ormovement disorders because we can link IgG food allergies with theseproblems. When people quit eating foods that cause immediatesymptoms, they have no withdrawal or detoxification symptoms. Theydo not crave or miss these foods. Powerful food cravings are reported inover 30 percent of delayed food allergy patients when they stopeating the food. It is difficult for the person to give up the offending food.Once they do, the results for some people are very real and life changing.Overall health improves, fat pad over the abdomen shrinks, moodimproves, energy levels balance and behavior improves in children.Clinical studies have recently been published which demonstrate thatcomplete elimination of IgG positive foods may bring about importantimprovements in symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Autism, AD(H)D,Cystic Fibrosis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, and Epilepsy.

Allergen

B cell

IgE

Plasmacell

Mastcell

Chemicals

Symptoms


All 4 Kidz Academy, is opening their doors in the CooperCity area. They will provide both educational andtherapeutic programming.

The educational program is based on the Abeka curriculumand the therapeutic intervention program works on thechildren weaknesses while building on their strengths.The therapeutic curriculum is individualized and facilitatedthrough input from licensed speech/languagepathologists, occupational therapists, behavior analyst aswell as occupational/sensory therapist.

All 4 Kidz Academy will have an emphasis on smallclasses, with a maximum ratio of 2:5 and intensesocial-skills training, as keys for helping the studentssucceed.

They will be providing a highly structured environment tomaximize learning for students in need of externalstructure. Also, teachers are trained in promoting positivechild development. Another activity is lunch (which is sentfrom home) to allow for feeding programs as well as socialand language experiences. Additionally, the academy willwork closely with public and private schools to ensuresuccessful transition and inclusion.

For more information on All 4 Kidz Academy or to be apart of their family contact Aeleen Garrido-TortoriciDirector at (954) 434-5784 (786) 251-9479.

Family Environment SchoolOpens Their Doors For Special Needs Students

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Time: 10:00am Date: Saturday, August 7thLocations:

AMC Aventura 2419501 Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 3001, Aventura, Fl 33180

AMC Coral Ridge 103401 NE 26th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, Fl 33306

AMC Sunset 245701 Sunset Dr., Ste. 300, South Miami, Fl 33143

L O O K I N G F O R A S C H O O L ?

N o w E n r o l l i n g P r e - K t o 4 t h G r a d e

Individualize academics

Friendly and Family staff

Parents are part of the team

Daily Feedback on your child

Small groups

Bilingual staff

Abeka and therapeutic curriculum

Intense social training

“ Achieving Success One Child at the Time”


We Cured Our Son's Autismby Karyn Seroussi

When the psychologist examiningour 18-month-old son told methat she thought Miles had autism,my heart began to pound. I didn'tknow exactly what the wordmeant, but I knew it was bad.Wasn't autism some type ofmental illness- perhaps juvenileschizophrenia? Even worse, Ivaguely remembered hearing that

this disorder was caused by emotional trauma during childhood. In aninstant, every illusion of safety in my world seemed to vanish.

Our pediatrician had referred us to the psychologist in August 1995 becauseMiles didn't seem to understand anything we said. He'd developed perfectlynormally until he was 15 months old, but then he stopped saying the wordshe'd learned - cow, cat, dance - and started disappearing into himself. Wefigured his chronic ear infections were responsible for his silence, but withinthree months, he was truly in his own world. Suddenly, our happy little boyhardly seemed to recognize us or his 3-year-old sister. Miles wouldn't makeeye contact or even try to communicate by pointing or gesturing. Hisbehavior became increasingly strange: He'd drag his head across the floor,walk on his toes (very common in autistic children), make odd gurglingsounds, and spend long periods of time repeating an action, such as openingand closing doors or filling and emptying a cup of sand in the sandbox. Heoften screamed inconsolably, refusing to be held or comforted. And hedeveloped chronic diarrhea.

As I later learned, autism -- or autistic spectrum disorder, as doctors nowcall it -- is not a mental illness. It is a developmental disability thought to becaused by an anomaly in the brain. The National Institutes of Healthestimates that as many as 1 in 500 children are affected. But according toseveral recent studies, the incidence is rapidly rising: In Florida, for example,the number of autistic children has increased nearly 600 percent in the lastten years. Nevertheless, even though it is more common than Downsyndrome, autism remains one of the least understood developmentaldisorders. We were told that Miles would almost definitely grow up to beseverely impaired. He would never be able to make friends, have ameaningful conversation, learn in a regular classroom without special help,or live independently. We could only hope that with behavioral therapy,we might be able to teach him some of the social skills he'd never grasp onhis own. I had always thought that the worst thing that could happen toanyone was to lose a child. Now it was happening to me but in a perverse,inexplicable way. Instead of condolences, I got uncomfortable glances,inappropriately cheerful reassurances, and the sense that some of my friendsdidn't want to return my calls.

After Miles' initial diagnosis, I spent hours in the library, searching for thereason he'd changed so dramatically. Then I came across a book thatmentioned an autistic child whose mother believed that his symptoms hadbeen caused by a "cerebral allergy" to milk. I'd never heard of this, but thethought lingered in my mind because Miles drank an inordinate amount ofmilk at least half a gallon a day. I also remembered that a few months earlier,my mother had read that many kids with chronic ear infections are allergicto milk and wheat. "You should take Miles off those foods and see if his earsclear up," she said. "Milk, cheese, pasta, and Cheerios are the only foodshe'll eat," I insisted. "If I took them away, he'd starve." Then I realized thatMiles' ear infections had begun when he was 11 months old, just after we

had switched him from soy formula to cow's milk. He'd been on soy formulabecause my family was prone to allergies, and I'd read that soy might bebetter for him. I had breast-fed until he was 3 months old, but he didn'ttolerate breast milk very well, possibly because I was drinking lots of milk.There was nothing to lose, so I decided to eliminate all the dairy productsfrom his diet.

What happened next was nothing short of miraculous. Miles stoppedscreaming, he didn't spend as much time repeating actions, and by the endof the first week, he pulled on my hand when he wanted to go downstairs.For the first time in months, he let his sister hold his hands to sing "RingAround the Rosy."

Two weeks later, a month after we'd seen the psychologist, my husband andI kept our appointment with a well-known developmental pediatrician toconfirm the diagnosis of autism. Dr. Susan Hyman gave Miles a variety oftests and asked a lot of questions. We described the changes in his behaviorsince he'd stopped eating dairy products. Finally, Dr. Hyman looked at ussadly. "I'm sorry," the specialist said. "Your son is autistic. I admit the milkallergy issue is interesting, but I just don't think it could be responsible forMiles' autism or his recent improvement." Miles surprised everyone. Wewere terribly disheartened, but as each day passed. Miles continued to getbetter. A week later, when I pulled him up to sit on my lap, we made eyecontact and he smiled. I started to cry-at last he seemed to know who I was.He had been oblivious to his sister, but now he watched her play and evengot angry when she took things away from him. Miles slept more soundly,but his diarrhea persisted. Although he wasn't even 2 yet, we put him in aspecial-ed nursery school three mornings a week and started an intensiveone-on-one behavioral and language program that Dr. Hyman approvedof. I'm a natural skeptic and my husband is a research scientist, so wedecided to test the hypothesis that milk affected Miles' behavior. We gavehim a couple of glasses one morning, and by the end of the day, he waswalking on his toes, dragging his forehead across the floor, making strangesounds, and exhibiting the other bizarre behaviors we had almost forgotten.

A few weeks later, the behaviors briefly returned, and we found out thatMiles had eaten some cheese at nursery school. We became completelyconvinced that dairy products were somehow related to his autism. I wantedDr. Hyman to see how well Miles was doing, so I sent her a video of himplaying with his father and sister. She called right away. "I'm simply floored,"she told me. "Miles has improved remarkably. Karyn, if I hadn't diagnosedhim myself, I wouldn't have believed that he was the same child." I had tofind out whether other kids had had similar experiences. I bought a modemfor my computer-not standard in 1995-and discovered an autism supportgroup on the Internet. A bit embarrassed, I asked, "Could my child's autismbe related to milk?"

The response was overwhelming. Where had I been? Didn't I know aboutKarl Reichelt in Norway? Didn't I know about Paul Shattock in England?These researchers had preliminary evidence to validate what parents hadbeen reporting for almost 20 years: Dairy products exacerbated thesymptoms of autism. My husband, who has a Ph.D. in chemistry, got copiesof the journal articles that the parents had mentioned on-line and wentthrough them all carefully. As he explained it to me, it was theorized that asubtype of children with autism break down milk protein (casein) intopeptides that affect the brain in the same way that hallucinogenic drugs do.

Continues in page 10


All too often a diagnosis of autism spectrum is followed bysomething worse than the diagnosis itself….a void. “What do I do?Where do I go? How can I help? Who can I contact?” These arethe types of questions that need immediate answers andunfortunately it can take an excruciatingly long time to discoverthe right path to take.

My intent is to make clear what a gift the autism documentary,can be for anyone

who has a loved one with an autism diagnosis. When I sat downto watch the movie I was operating under the assumption thatthis was a “heart warming feel good story” about a few familieswho had found helpful autism therapies for their respectivechildren. How short sighted I was to think it was such a limitedthing.

Film maker, Brian K. Dery, has put together a collection ofpossibilities. Since, as stated repeatedly in the documentary, notwo children on the spectrum are the same, a course needs to becharted taking into consideration each one’s individual needs and

unique abilities. is a tool that should be handed out to every parent whose child has just beendiagnosed with asperger’s syndrome, PDD-NOS, or classic autism. This documentary is literally Autism-101.

The documentary begins with a basic over view of what autism is, the history of the term ‘autism’ and some various hypothesis regarding causesfor the disorder. The general overview is provided by Danielle Sutton, PhD-Executive Clinical Director, for Butterfly Effects, a professional autismtreatment program specializing in child development, neurobiology, and assessment and intervention, with a staff of over 100 highly qualifiedexperts serving individuals of all ages with a broad range of needs throughout the United States and abroad, including Bermuda, Guatemala,Honduras, and Venezuela.Brief descriptions, along with positive case studies, are given for several very popular therapy and treatment protocols:

� Applied Behavior Analysis�� -(Dr. David Berger, MD Wholistic

Pediatrics presenting)�� -(Dr. Nelson Mane’ presenting)

Dr. Nelson Mañé is a chiropractor, board certified in chiropractic

neurology and chiropractic orthopedics. He has additional

sub-specialty training in childhood neuro-behavioral disorders,

vestibular disorders (balance) and electro-diagnostics

� Positive behavior Support� Relationship Development Intervention

The personal accounts given by parents, teachers and autismprofessionals are positive yet balanced. No unrealistic claims are made,but real and achievable gains are reported using the above mentionedstrategies.

This was, yes, an EXTREMELY feel good movie, however it was chockfull of information about a variety of methods that can be examinedby parents who are looking for where to go….and what to do.

If you have an affected family member, I highly recommend. If you know of someone who

has an affected family member….please be a friend, and pass this onto them.

Walking in the Dark: Finding the Light in AutismBy Kathleen Tehrani


Current research isshedding a muchneeded light on some ofthe major neurologicalimbalances that occur inthe brain of a child withautism that can pave theway to an eventual cure.The frontal lobe,located in the front partof the cerebral cortex, isinherently responsiblefor giving us our

humanistic properties. It governs and allows us to express executivefunctions such as problem solving, planning, comprehension,sequencing, interpreting the big picture, etc. The frontal lobe alsofilters excessive thought, the urge for excessive movement, itdampens the immune response, and has an intimate relationshipwith the gross motor muscles of the trunk. It is this part of the brainthat we are finding to be particularly dysfunctional or delayed inchildren with developmental disorders such as autism. To be evenmore accurate it is the right frontal lobe which seems to be theculprit.

The frontal lobes contain most of the dopamine-sensitive neuronsin the cerebral cortex. This is significant because we also see thedopamine systems fail in autism which contributes to the frontallobe demise. Dopamine is a brain messenger (neurotransmitter)highly associated with attention, understanding the risk and rewardsof certain situations, planning, sequencing, problem solving,long-term memory, drive, and the feeling of euphoria. Thereforewith dopamine and frontal lobe dysfunction we see childrenhave difficulty with such behavioral qualities as; attention,problem solving, planning, sequencing, reasoning,understanding risk-reward, having proper social graces, eyecontact, memory, etc.

The cause of the developmental delay of the frontal lobe seen inchildren with autism is not well understood. We do know thatboys are affected more than girls due to the fact that the malefrontal lobes are much slower to develop than their femalecounterparts, hence why young girls are more mature than youngboys typically. Therefore, the male brains are more susceptible tofurther delay and dysfunction.

What is known is that genetics, environmental influences, andheavy metal toxicities do play a major role in its demise. In regardto genetics, some promising research is currently underwayinvolving the DRD 4 gene however this research is still in itsinfancy and may take years before any useful data is discovered.Heavy metal toxicities primarily from vaccines are a verycontroversial topic in regards to its contribution to autism. Whatis being theorized is that if a child is already genetically orenvironmentally predisposed to developing autism and they areexposed to a vaccine they may be more likely to develop thedisorder.

By far, environmental influences are thought to be the greatest

contributors to frontal lobe dysfunction and autism.Environmental influences are things such as a mother’sneurological status prenatally, severe lack of oxygen at birth,cervical trauma at birth, involuntary lack of physical activity(parents not physically playing with the infant), lack of voluntaryphysical activity, food allergies (such as wheat and dairysensitivities), traumatic brain injuries, and infections.

The rehabilitation of the frontal lobe should be approached like thatof a shoulder injury, only with much more precision. The conceptsof plasticity are put into play when concerning neurological therapy.Essentially plasticity states that when a nerve cell gets stimulatedby another nerve cell it will produce more proteins, moremitochondria, and more ATP (energy) and therefore grow newsynapses (connections) and strengthen its current synapses. Thetreatments should all be one-sided as the target is the right frontallobe. Activities such as sequencing games, jigsaw puzzles, mazes,vestibular (inner ear) exercises, and metronome do all selectivelyactivate the frontal lobes. Vertical eye movements and saccadic(rapid) eye movements also provide powerful stimuli into thefrontal lobe. The frontal lobe likes novel activities so keepingthings fresh always activates the brain. These treatment principlesare the core of what is called Hemispheric Integration Therapy.

For more information regarding Dr John Conde and theservices he provides, look at the ad in the back cover.

The Frontal Lobe: One of the Keys to Unlocking the PuzzleBy Dr John Conde


For many kids with autism the iPad touch is changing theirlives. Most children with autism have a communication issueand the iPad allows them to improve this area, throughpictures and keyboard applications.

The iPad is flexible, allowing changes to individualizedactivities such as lessons, games, and communicationmethods. Screens can be arranged with pictures of thechild’s favorite food, places, clothe, toys, just to mention afew. Children with limited verbal skills when asked aboutwhat they want to do will be able to communicate just bytouching a picture. Limited communication is perhaps oneof the greatest challenge of Autism.

Another factor is how attractive is the iPad. Children withautism love bright colors, blinking lights, and interactivepictures. It is easy to use, thus reducing frustration andtantrums.

Some time ago I decided to look into an iPad for my son.The main reason of my research was to find an economicallyand socially accepted device for him to help himcommunicate. I started researching online about how thedevice works and how useful was it going to be for my son?After collecting and reviewing all the information, I wasamazed and somehow depressed for not having looked intoit before. Why had it taken me so long to find out about thewonderful applications the iPad has for my son?

Without wasting any time, I order it. It took almost threeweeks to arrive. When I finally got it I had already made alist of applications that I thought would help my son tocommunicate and learn.

My son is non verbal, but he understands a lot. Also, he hasnever showed interest in computers, communication devices,or even video games. My jaw just dropped down to the floorwhen I gave him the iPad for the first time and he learnedto use it in less than two minutes. I was so surprised andhappy that I started to cry, and so did the rest of my family.Now, let’s get into the applications. For example, there areapplications that show several images and ask (out loud) forone image in particular, you can also find it for numbers,colors, shapes, animals, object and many more. After yourchild selects the correct answer there is an immediatepositive reinforcement which it could be a happy face orclaps. Therefore, there is an interaction between the childand the iPad. There are also application for learning to write,puzzles, flashcards, numbers, entertainment, paint, andothers.

The iPad has allowed me to become a therapist for my son.I have always wanted to work with him, but I have not foundthe way to do so. Now, I can sit with him for at least 30minutes working nonstop and finding out everything heknows.

Autism Chatter: The iPad, A Great Learning Tool!!!

To read more about another successful story go to:http://www.blogher.com/ipad-nearmiracle-my-son-autism

Communication Applications

Tap to talk

iMean

Proloquo2go

Letters and Words Applications

iWrite

Pocket phonics

ABC phonics

Alpha baby

Baby go

Alphabet creatures

First words

My first alphabet

Hippo letters

Look and spell

Sorting

iTouch iLearn words

Multiple choice Applications

eFlash english

Early words

101 Que dice

iplay and learn

Numbers and

Math Applications

123 writing

Dots 4 tots

Flash to pass

Kids math

123 counting

Infant arcade numbers

Number time

Flashcards Applications

Scrapbooking

Kindergarden actions

My first words

Flashcards

ABC animals

iLearn 4 tots

Paint Applications

Paint brush

Draw paint

Faces iMake

Puzzle and others

Make shapes

Puzzle time

Tozzle

Dress up

Learning game pack

Baby first

Going places

Here is a list of my favorites applications...


Comes from page 6

A handful of scientists, some of whom were parents of kids with autism, haddiscovered compounds containing opiates -- a class of substances includingopium and heroin -- in the urine of autistic children. The researcherstheorized that either these children were missing an enzyme that normallybreaks down the peptides into a digestible form, or the peptides weresomehow leaking into the bloodstream before they could be digested.

In a burst of excitement, I realized how much sense this made. It explainedwhy Miles developed normally for his first year, when he drank only soyformula. It would also explain why he had later craved milk: Opiates arehighly addictive. What's more, the odd behavior of autistic children has oftenbeen compared to that of someone hallucinating on LSD.

My husband also told me that the other type of protein being broken downinto a toxic form was gluten- found in wheat, oats, rye, and barley, andcommonly added to thousands of packaged foods. The theory would havesounded farfetched to my scientific husband if he hadn't seen the dramaticchanges in Miles himself and remembered how Miles had self-limited hisdiet to foods containing wheat and dairy. As far as I was concerned, therewas no question that the gluten in his diet would have to go. Busy as I was,I would learn to cook gluten-free meals. People with celiac disease are alsogluten-intolerant, and I spent hours on-line gathering information.

Within 48 hours of being gluten-free, 22-month-old Miles had his first solidstool, and his balance and coordination noticeably improved. A month ortwo later, he started speaking-"zawaff" for giraffe, for example, and "ayashoo"for elephant. He still didn't call me Mommy, but he had a special smile forme when I picked him up from nursery school. However, Miles' local doctors- his pediatrician, neurologist, geneticist, and gastroenterologist - still scoffedat the connection between autism and diet. Even though dietary interventionwas a safe, noninvasive approach to treating autism, until large controlledstudies could prove that it worked, most of the medical community wouldhave nothing to do with it.

So my husband and I decided to become experts ourselves. We beganattending autism conferences and phoning and e-mailing the Europeanresearchers. I also organized a support group for other parents of autisticchildren in my community. Although some parents weren't interested inexploring dietary intervention at first, they often changed their mind afterthey met Miles. Not every child with autism responded to the diet, buteventually there were about 50 local families whose children were gluten-andcasein-free with exciting results. And judging by the number of people onInternet support lists, there were thousands of children around the worldresponding well to this diet. Fortunately, we found a new local pediatricianwho was very supportive, and Miles was doing so well that I nearly sprangout of bed each morning to see the changes in him. One day, when Mileswas 2 1/2, he held up a toy dinosaur for me to see. "Wook, Mommy, issaTywannosauwus Wex!" Astonished, I held out my trembling hands. "Youcalled me Mommy!" I said. He smiled and gave me a long hug.

By the time Miles turned 3, all his doctors agreed that his autism had beencompletely resolved. He tested at eight months above his age level in social,language, self-help, and motor skills, and he entered a regular preschool withno special-ed supports. His teacher told me that he was one of the mostdelightful, verbal, participatory children in the class.

Today, at almost 6, Miles is among the most popular children in his firstgrade class. He's reading at a fourth grade level, has good friends, and recentlyacted out his part in the class play with flair. He is deeply attached to hisolder sister, and they spend hours engaged in the type of imaginative play

that is never seen in kids with autism.

My worst fears were never realized. We are terribly lucky. But I imagined allthe other parents who might not be fortunate enough to learn about the diet.So in 1997, I started a newsletter and international support organizationcalled Autism Network for Dietary Intervention (ANDI), along withanother parent. Lisa Lewis, author of Special Diets for Special Kids (FutureHorizons, 1998). We've gotten hundreds of letters and e-mails from parentsworldwide whose kids use the diet successfully. Although it's best to haveprofessional guidance when implementing the diet, sadly, most doctors arestill skeptical.

As I continue to study the emerging research, it has become increasinglyclear to me that autism is a disorder related to the immune system. Mostautistic children I know have several food allergies in addition to milk andwheat, and nearly all the parents in our group have or had at least oneimmune-related problem: thyroid disease, Crohns disease, celiac disease,rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, or allergies.Autistic children are probably genetically predisposed to immune-systemabnormalities, but what triggers the actual disease?

Many of the parents swore that their child's autistic behavior began at 15months, shortly after the child received the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)vaccine. When I examined such evidence as photos and videotapes to seeexactly when Miles started to lose his language and social skills, I had toadmit that it had coincided with his MMR-after which he had gone to theemergency room with a temperature of 106'F and febrile seizures. Recently,a small study was published by British researcher Andrew Wakefield, M.D.,linking the measles portion of the vaccine to damage in the small intestine--which might help explain the mechanism by which the hallucinogenicpeptides leak into the bloodstream. If the MMR vaccine is indeed found toplay a role in triggering autism, we must find out whether some children areat higher risk and therefore should not be vaccinated or should be vaccinatedat a later age.

Another new development is giving us hope: Researchers at Johnson andJohnson's Ortho Clinical Diagnostics division-my husband among them-are now studying the abnormal presence of peptides in the urine of autisticchildren. My hope is that eventually a routine diagnostic test will bedeveloped to identity children with autism at a young age and that whensome types of autism are recognized as a metabolic disorder, the gluten anddairy-free diet will move from the realm of alternative medicine into themainstream.

The word autism, which once meant so little to me, has changed my lifeprofoundly. It came to my house like amonstrous, uninvited guest buteventually brought its own gifts. I've felttwice blessed-once by the amazing goodfortune of reclaiming my child and againby being able to help other autisticchildren who had been written off bytheir doctors and mourned by theirparents.

(Adapted from the book Unraveling the Mysteryof Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorder:A Mother's Story of Research and Recovery, byKaryn Seroussi.Published by Simon & Schuster. Reprinted bypermission of the author.) http://www.karlloren.com/Diabetes/p86.htm

We Cured Our Son's Autismby Karyn Seroussi

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Westlake Academy“A Vision for Learning”

What Does Westlake Academy Do?Westlake Academy is dedicated to educating students with specificlearning challenges, special needs and developmental disabilitiesin grades K through 12.

� Attention Deficit Disorders (ADD, ADHD)

� Cognitive Impairments

� Non-Verbal Learning Disabilities (NVLD)

� Asperger’s Syndrome

� Autism

� The Acquisition of Language and Communication Skills� Visual and Auditory Processing Concerns

� Academic, Pre-academic, Independent Functioning and SocializationSkills

Parents: Look to Westlake Academy to partner with you to meet the educational andsocial needs of your child.

Our central focus is to create the best opportunity for your child to achieve theiroptimum potential in a safe, unique and progressive educational environment

4188 S. University Drive. Davie, Fl 33328Phone: (954)236-2300www.westlakeacademy.net

This is a quick post for a tasty biscuit. You can use two biscuits asa bun for sandwiches, or slice one biscuit in half.Slice them once they are cooled so they don't fall apart on you.This recipe was inspired by a recipe by Sandra Ramacher

Ingredients (makes 4 roll-size biscuits, or about 6 medium-sizebiscuits)

· 1 1/2 cups of almond flour· 1/2 teaspoon sea salt· 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda· About 1/4 cup of onion, finely diced (you can use a food processor)· 1/2 cup of cheddar rice cheese, grated· 2 tablespoons of softened butter GFCF· 1 tablespoon of honey· 1 egg· Olive oil or any other allowed oil.

PreparationPreheat the oven to 330 degrees F. Place a baking dish, with waterin it, at the bottom of the oven to create a crunchy crust on thebiscuits.Combine all the dry ingredients and blend well.Whisk all the wet ingredients (except for the onions) until it isfrothy (has bubbles), and then combine it with the onions and drymixture.

Blend the dough mixture well, and then spoon out into 4 balls ona stick-free or lined baking sheet. I use a stick-free backing mat orparchment paper.Slice across the top of each ball of dough to make an X, and thenspray or brush some olive oil on the cross.Bake for 15 minutes, and then lower the heat to 300 degrees F andbake for another 15 minutes.These can be stored in the refrigerator and warmed up later. Reheatat 300 degrees F for about 6 minutes.

Recipe of the Month: Onion Cheddar Biscuits

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http://www.comfybelly.com/2010/06/onion-cheddar-biscuits.html


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Autism Insider Newsletter Aug 2010