6 Months on Enzymes: Remember Me?

[Guest guest]

The last time I posted here was several months ago. I left because I

was flamed for posting about my son's progress using Devin Houston's

enzymes. I still haven't figured out why I was flamed since my son

is far, far better on the enzymes and off the diet than he ever was

before enzymes and on the diet. I thought I would give you a little

update and then I'm gone again. I'll be at the enzyme board if you

have questions or you can email me. Here goes:

Tonight was my son's parent/teacher conference and IEP for

speech/language services. One year ago he was evaluated by the

school district. He is eight and has Asperger's Syndrome. At the

time of last year's evaluation, he was on the gfcf diet and was also

soy free, corn free and off many other foods. At the time of the

evaluation, he had been on the diet for over six months. He has been

taking the enzymes from www.houstonni.com since late April and has

been off the diet for over six months.

To compare his progress since his evaluation a year ago and to try to

objectively assess the effectiveness of the enzymes, I went through

his testing and wrote down each weekness listed. I asked the

classroom teacher and speech therapist for a yes or no or other

comments on these previous weaknesses. Keep in mind that each of

these is listed because it was a deficit assessed through testing

before enzymes. I copied these directly from the diagnostic

summary. When the teachers tonight simply said " No " , meaning not a

concern or no longer observed, I wrote, " Not a concern " , or " No

longer observed " to clarify. A few of these are redundant since the

observations were from numerous assessment tools.

11/07/01 Second Grade, age 8

Previous Weeknesses Observed/Teachers' Current Observation :

1. Stares off or appears to look through people for prolonged

periods: No longer observed.

2. Fascinated with screen savers on monitors: No longer observed.

3. Frequently scrutinizes the visual details of objects and can

become distracted by visual stimuli in the environment: No longer

observed.

4. Frequently lacks a startle response and does not usually localize

toward the sound: No longer observed.

5. Does not always respond to his name: No longer observed (not a

problem).

6. Hyper and hypo responses to sounds: Much better.

7. Easily distracted by auditory stimuli: No longer observed (not a

problem).

8. Twirling, hand flapping: No longer observed.

9. High tolerance to pain: No longer observed.

10. Difficulty with gross motor such as kicking, throwing: Yes.

11. Writing is difficult: No concern.

12. Often does not respond to gestures for hi and goodbye: Sometimes.

13. Voice lacks appropriate inflection and is high in pitch: No

concern, much better.

14. Sometimes displays slow processing in that he may respond to a

question after other questions have been presented: No longer

observed.

15. May continue an activity long after it is no longer appropriate:

No longer observed.

16. Difficulty with abstract learning: A little bit – some

difficulty with math logic such as, " Jack makes $2.75 and hour and

works for two hours. How much did Jack make? " This was the

teacher's example. Usually no concern, though.

17. Generalizing skills and making associations appear difficult for

him: No longer observed.

18. At times may struggle with concept retrieval: No longer

observed. Understands well.

19. Does not typically respond to the facial expressions of others:

No concern, " I think he would understand the expressions, " classroom

teacher.

20. Has difficulty with appropriate play skills and social

interactions with peers: No longer observed. Seeks out children to

play with.

21. May engage in ritualistic behaviors, such as twirling: No longer

observed.

22. Very attached to the computer: No longer observed.

23. Would prefer to be involved with inanimate objects, such as the

computer: No longer observed.

24. No social smile: Not a lot of smiling, but seems content.

25. Avoids eye contact: No longer observed, not a concern.

26. May learn a task but forget it quickly: No longer observed.

27. Does not follow simple commands: No longer a problem, follow

commands.

28. Has poor visual discrimination skills: No longer a concern, does

well.

29. Is not responsive to others' facial expressions: No longer a

concern, does ok.

30. Lacks a startle response: Don't know.

31. Lacks friendships: Not true, he has friends.

32. Often appears anxious: No longer a concern.

33. Seems unaware of dangerous situations: Don't know.

34. Stares into space for prolonged periods: A little, a tiny bit.

35. Eye contact: Could be better, but not a problem, has improved

significantly.

36. Initiating interactions with peers: Not often, but some.

37. Initiating interactions with adults: Yes - observed.

38. Distracted by computer monitor: No.

39. Sit properly at desk (during an observation, sat with legs up in

chair): Now sits appropriately.

40. Voice affect: Improved significantly. Rate is a little slow.

41. Handwriting: A weekness, but not a big concern.

42. Walking in line: No longer a problem.

43. Following directions: No longer a concern.

44. Following routine: No longer a concern.

45. Eating lunch: No longer a concern.

46. Sedentary: No longer a concern.

47. Tolerating change: Does fine, no longer a concern.

48. Mental math: Not a concern, except some difficulty with abstract

math as mentioned above.

49. Pragmatic language: Only concern now in understanding

intentions of others, but not a big problem.

50. Sentence structure: Perfect, no longer a concern.

51. Word structure: No longer a concern.

52. Speaking abruptly: No longer a concern, " That is just gone since

the enzymes. "

53. Articulation /sh/, /f/ for /th/, /ch/, /s/, /j/ distortions :

Occasionally missed in spontaneous conversation.

54. Slow rate of speech: A little slow.

55. High pitch: No longer a concern.

56. Reading unspoken verbal cues/body language: Appears to

understand, no longer a concern.

57. Expressing personal thoughts and feelings: Could do more, keeps

feelings on the back burner.

58. Understanding of how his interactions are perceived by others:

No concern.

59. Social Relationships within the school setting are not generally

within age appropriate expectations: No longer a concern.

60. Difficulty when required to sit and listen, may react passively

when asked to complete a familiar task: No longer a concern.

The teacher shared that over the summer she thought to herself, " Oh,

I'm going to have …[loud sigh like when you feel

hopeless]. " " But, " she added, " the progress is unbelievable. " " The

problems are just not there this year. " She told us our son is

religious about taking the enzymes and wouldn't dare eat even the

tiniest reward without them. This is a huge contrast to what we went

through with his resistance to the diet. His reading skills and more

importantly comprehension are excellent. His critical thinking

skills on the reading test were also excellent.

The speech therapist also commented on the improved critical thinking

skills and referred to the reading test as proof. She had some

concern about eye contact, but said that she wasn't sure how much of

a problem it was because he appears not to be paying attention at

times, but actually is and can answer all questions. She said she

thinks he is not always looking at her because he is always trying to

do two things at once and can, which very few other children can.

She said she no longer ever sees him stim at school.

The speech therapist also said he can now follow directions the first

time and directly attributed this to the enzymes. She said the

difference is " incredible " . Before enzymes she used to say

everything three to four times and then have to touch him and maybe

say it again and then perhaps he would follow through. Now she says

directions only once. " Incredible, " she said, at least two more times.

And so, to Devin Houston, I say – thank you, and I hope you are given

the

credit you deserve for being the first one to help so many. You may

be copied, you may be slandered, and you may not ever profit as much

as others, but you helped my son and I will make sure he never

forgets that.

Cindy