Autism researchers: Our alternative methodologies work

November 24, 2008

Pair, who have clinic in Woodbridge, N.J., give lecture on Island

Monday, November 24, 2008

By AMISHA PADNANI

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- They weren't quite " recovered. " That's a tricky

term to use when talking about children with autism.

But two controversial researchers who gave a lecture on Staten Island

said many autistic children who tried out their alternative

methodologies saw major improvements.

About 200 Staten Island parents attended the presentation last week at

IS 24, where Dr. Neubrander and Dr. Philip De Fina talked about

unconventional ways to deal with autism.

The pair, who have a clinic in Woodbridge, N.J., said they've found

that a combination of changes in diet, vitamin supplements, hyperbaric

oxygen therapy and shots of methylcobalamin -- a form of vitamin B-12

-- has changed lives.

During their lecture, they showed PowerPoint slides of children's

brain waves before and after trying out some of their strategies.

They also played videos of autistic children singing and interacting

with other people after visiting their office for several months.

NO TREATMENT

" There is no treatment for autism, but there are ways in which we can

change the environment of the brain to help normalize electrical

chemical activity, which brings about positive change, " De Fina said.

" Some kids respond so well that people call them 'recovered' because

they don't look like the way they looked when they first started, and,

diagnostically, they don't meet the same criteria as they did prior to

coming. "

Though the doctors said their work is based on scientific -- and not

purely anecdotal -- research, Neubrander, a physician, and De Fina, a

clinical neuropsychologist, said it could take at least 20 to 30 years

before their theories are incorporated into mainstream science.

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