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Anyone taken a holistic approach to ASD?

27 replies

waitingforgodot · 29/07/2009 10:53

As per other threads, paed reckons DS 3.2 is on the ASD spectrum. I have been doing lots and lots of reading and would be interested to hear about anyone who has gone down the holistic therapy route and what the outcome was. TIA x

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cyberseraphim · 29/07/2009 10:55

What do you mean ? I don't really like the word holistic but I think it describes what we do - mixing and matching ideas to suit DS1

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waitingforgodot · 29/07/2009 10:58

I mean the alternative side of medicine rather than the mainstream.
Apologies for the terminology-its all new to me.

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cyberseraphim · 29/07/2009 11:00

No - We're just mixing and matching speech/behaviour therapies. I don't think your use of the term holistic is wrong but what you are describing is more commonly called 'bio med'

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waitingforgodot · 29/07/2009 11:08

thanks cyberseraphim. Does that apply to procedures which dont involve any medication?

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cyberseraphim · 29/07/2009 11:14

I'm not sure - 'bio med' is following alternative medicine ideas and holistic just means whole or encompassing so depends on what parents chooses as their ideal 'whole treatment' Ours encompasses Hanen (child led) to VB which is a little more adult directed and also play therapy to increase social/play skills. There are many other behaviour therapies out there. I have a list of autism treatment comparison web sites. I'll dig it out for you.

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waitingforgodot · 29/07/2009 11:16

you are a star-thank you!

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silverfrog · 29/07/2009 11:20

we use a variety of bio-med stuff for dd1, as well as doing as cyber does, and mixing and matching what suits (we use VB, as well as dd1 going to an ASD pre-school; some of our interaction rests heavily on Floortime methods - we fell into this way of interaction before we knew it had a name)

dd1 is gluten and casein free. she has been for nearly 2 years now. we recently re-introduced goat's milk instead of rice milk, and she seems to be tolerating that well.

we use supplements too - extra vitamins (B vits in particular, fish oils, digestive supplements) and have used a nutritionist to sort out her food/gut issues.

what sort of alternaitives were you thinking about?

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cyberseraphim · 29/07/2009 11:28

www.wrightslaw.com/info/autism.methods.compare.pdf

www.researchautism.net/interventionlist.ikml

ABA had been re christened EIBI in above site.

Otherwise - Very Confused.Com

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waitingforgodot · 29/07/2009 11:29

This ia what I was reading about last night

ensory motor integration, or neurodevelopment organisation as it is sometimes called, has been practised for many decades. Most of the research and development has come from North America. The results in many cases of conditions such as autism, brain injury, stroke and dyslexia have been outstanding.

Neurosurgeon Temple Fay developed it in the late 1950s through lifelong scientific research. He discovered that a dysfunctional brain can be reprogrammed, like a wet computer, with normal input, and that damaged or affected cells can be stimulated to overcome many problems within the brain. It then performs in a natural pattern which it can return to with help.

An estimated 14,200 children in Scotland have some degree of brain dysfunction. These children require treatment as early as possible. Normal neurological development can be adversely affected in many ways, which include physical injury to the brain, nutritional deficiency, environmental deprivation and biochemical imbalances.

This type of therapy is designed to help the individual through natural stages of neurological development. In so doing functional brain cells have the opportunity to replicate the work of affected cells. This methodology enables the individual to recreate brain function. The brain rather than the body is treated and the problem cause rather than the symptom is addressed. Records adequately demonstrate that families with the ability and devotion to carry out the therapy often achieve outstanding results.

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silverfrog · 29/07/2009 11:33

oh yes, we have done sensory stuff with d1 too (not enough of it really - there's never enough time!)

we went to BIBIC, and they gave us a really good sensory programme for dd1, and when we followed it we did see improvememtns.

we also find that motor activity can lead to an increase in dd1's langauge too (things like climbing/running/jumping around)

have you read the Horse Boy? It's very good, and tells of the author's son who really opened up once he started to ride (and they went on a journey through Mongolia with hoim too!)

dd1 used ot really love things like Tumbletots, and again I found that the increase in her co-ordination really helped her generally too.

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cyberseraphim · 29/07/2009 11:34

Certainly sounds interesting - I do think ASD brain can become 'better wired' (in some cases) if there is high quality/intensive input at an early age. Where did you read the report ? Is any particular treatment suggested to help the brain?

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waitingforgodot · 29/07/2009 11:39

Its a centre in Perthshire called the New Hope Centre.

Heres the link cyberseraphim
www.newhopecentre.co.uk/home.php

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waitingforgodot · 29/07/2009 11:40

oh and thanks for the links-just spotted them!

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cyberseraphim · 29/07/2009 11:43

You can get get sensory OT on the NHS in Scotland. We had a fantastic appointment a few weeks back. I was quite surprised at how knowledgable the OTs were about sensory integration issues and ASD. We are getting a sensory diet to follow and some OT sessions. If you have not been referred already try to push your Paed to do it. I had to ask mine after another parent told me how good the OT service is. It's far better run than SALT department (not saying much !)

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waitingforgodot · 29/07/2009 11:46

ooh really? We have had meeting with paed and next step is speech therapist. No mention of OT. I am seeing the Health Visitor later in the week so will ask her. Thanks for that!

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Pwsimerimew · 29/07/2009 11:51

Someone on MN once suggested Cranial oestiopathy to me. Have had the leaflets and still thinking about it.

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waitingforgodot · 29/07/2009 12:03

what are the pros and cons to that Pwsimerimew

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Pwsimerimew · 29/07/2009 12:39

TBH I'm not absolutley sure, but they do seem to be working with children who've got behavioural problems & learning difficulties and seem to think that children who have had a traumatic birth will benefit. They also say it works for babies who don't sleep and that it can help children with glue ear. They recommend doing it as soon as possible - but my ds is 10. He had a vontuse delivery, has had two grommets and is quite awful at school.
I was looking into it as a last resort really, as I can't afford the £30 a session, but if needs be, I'll find the money somehow and give it a go....

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Pwsimerimew · 29/07/2009 12:45

BTW, was diagnosed as Asperger's at 6, but most recent diagnosis came back as not aspie.
Have waited 4 years for someone to listen to me - but - I still have no idea why he's a complete monster at school and a perfect little boy at home ( more or less {grin] )

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waitingforgodot · 29/07/2009 13:02

that is really interesting. What did the most recent diagnosis say?

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Pwsimerimew · 29/07/2009 15:20

Nothing, he doesn't meet the asperger'r criteria. They did an IQ test and his result showed a lacking in social knowledge. He was asked things like " why is it important to say sorry / keep a promise?" and he'd replied, "that's a head scratcher", and "I don't know, i just know that we have to".
I think he's perfect. But he doesn't like school, big time!

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Pwsimerimew · 29/07/2009 15:21

Have you thought of going down the dietery route?

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waitingforgodot · 29/07/2009 16:07

yes that was my first thought however the paediatrician told me there was no point.This was on Monday when I was feeling a bit shocked and raw. Didn't question it then however I am now questioning everything!

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TotalChaos · 29/07/2009 16:51

I don't like the look of that Hope centre you linked to, some of the claims seem rather dramatic (e.g about medprevent and ability to diagnose). DS's only DX is language delay with subtle social communication difficulties (so not quite an ASD DX) - I've used Hanen and have restricted (but not completely cut out) milk and yoghurt. If you google for the mariposa school california, it's got some amazingly useful info about VB and helping your child develop language.

silver- I want to read that Horse Boy book, but waiting till it's either in library or paperback!

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silverfrog · 29/07/2009 17:27

TC - if you want, you can borrow it from mid-August (we're off on holiday for 3 weeks, and I won't be taking it) - will have to check whether dh wants to read it then, but otherwise, am happy to post it to you.

Just give me a shout at some point.

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