Recommending the Diet

June 13, 2001

Hi Everyone:

I mostly lurk here, post only when I have something relevant to add or have a

question. My son has been on the diet since 9/28/00 with questionable

success. He tested positive for anti-gliadin antibodies and that is the

primary reason we have him on the diet today (Crohn's and colitis runs in

DH's family). He has the dx of Developmental Language Disorder.

Even though I cannot attribute any of his successes to the diet, I cannot say

that being on this diet has NOT helped him or prevented his language delays

from becoming more severe...so we stick with it.

My question concerns recommending the diet to a dear friend of mine. Her son

has Asperger's Syndrome (not dx until he was 6 or so). He is currently 9

years of age. He is an absolutely adorable boy...very bright and engaging

but has the obsessions, tantrums and social issues that one associates with

AS. I have noticed on many occasions that his pupils are dilated so much

that his eyes appear almost black. I have hesitated discussing the diet with

my friend because the one time I brought it up (in a general way) she told me

that there was a big difference between a food allergy and autism and she

didn't believe that Karyn's son ever really had autism...just an undiagnosed

food allergy....and if there were a cure for autism it would be on the news.

That said, I really feel her son might benefit from the diet, given the

amount of dairy he consumes, his constipation issues, extremely skinny body

type...etc.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can bring this subject up to her? I

don't want to stick my nose where it doesn't belong, but I feel like I am

keeping something from her but not sharing my knowledge of the diet. I have

relatives who feel I am making my own son more of a " freak " (not my words,

theirs) by keeping him on the diet...so that in addition to poor verbal

skills he also eats strange food. I think there may be some of that thinking

at work with my friend.

Anyway, what would you do? Thanks for your help.

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