Re: Success with DAN Therapies for high functioning/no apparent gut issues?

[Guest guest]

Hi Tammy,

I don't post much either, but I learn a lot by reading what others

share!

I have twin daughters (18) that are high functioning and we've been

trying the GF/CF diet (plus taking out 40 different foods!! after

having an IgG test) and I can't say that we've seen any benefits.

We, too, have very few gut issues (one daughter more than the other)

and general health is good.

I have been wondering -- and my few responses to my question seem to

fit my hypothesis -- if the Gf/Cf and other interventions and

biomedical programs seem to benefit members of the group that I'll

call " regressive autism " , in other words, the kids who were

developing on track and then suddenly started to regress, possibly

because of vaccines. For other kids, like my daughters, who seemed

to show signs of autism since birth, I haven't had anyone tell me

that their kids have been really helped by these programs. If anyone

has feedback that challenges my theory, I'd love to know .

Sheila

>

> Hi. I've been lurking for months - this is my first post.

> My daughter recently turned 4 and was diagnosed just after her 3rd

> birthday. She gets some ABA (180 min/wk), speech (135 min/wk), and

> OT (30 min/wk). She's considered high functioning and spends most

of

> her day in a regular preschool classroom. Her verbal skills are at

> about a 2.5 yr old. She has good eye contact and readily

interacts,

> but cannot carry on a 'real' conversation. Most language is to

> express needs. She rarely stems.

>

> I've had 1 visit to a DAN MD, about 2 months ago, but the only

> therapy we've started so far is melatonin to help her sleep (love

> it!). We were in the middle of 12 weeks of listening therapy from

a

> private OT so we didn't want to start anything else right away so

we

> wouldn't be confused about what was actually helping (we've seen

> improvements with the listening therapy, but it's hard to say

what's

> just typical development and what was the therapy). I'm now ready

to

> move forward.

>

> I bought McCarthy's newest book last night and I'm already

1/2

> way through it. What's been nagging at me, and continues to after

> reading what I have in this new book, is that it seems that kids

that

> are helped most by DAN protocols have a lot of other stuff going on

> with their health - primarily GI issues. a seems perfectly

> healthy except for her autism. Never had a seizure, persistent

> colds/infections, GI issues, nothing.

>

> I'm going to go ahead and have to test to see if she could benefit

> from a GFCF diet, and the other premlinary tests she recommended,

but

> I'll be really surprised if it turns out she has issues.

>

> My question is....are there other parents out there who have a

child

> similar to mine who have tried these " alternative " therapies and

> benefited from them? It seems most kids start out as worse off and

> then 'recover' to about the point where my kid currently is.

>

> I guess I feel like there are only so many dollars we can invest

and

> I'm torn between setting up a home ABA program in addition to what

> she's getting from the school district or investing in all the

> special foods, supplements, shots, etc. that she'd need if we

follow

> the DAN doctor's advice. Any advice?

>

> thanks!

> Tammy

>

> PS: I'm in St. Louis, MO if anyone on here is nearby.

>