Dr Robin Pauc's book - article in Daily Mail 11/04/06

[LIZS]

There is an article today in Daily Mail by Dr Robin Pauc from his book "Is That My Child? Exploding the myth of Dyspraxia, Dyslexia, Tourette's Syndrome of Childhood, ADD, ADHD, AND OCD" which he feels have a common cause. Anyone read the full book or come across his theories before ?

I've just been reading this article. I'm not convinced tbh. He lists all the 'labels'(including ASD in the article)and says "By combining a programme of brain-stimulating exercises and putting the child on a healthier diet, I have acheived what I believe to be a near total solution". Since these exercises include walking up and down stairs with your eyes shut and your arms by your sides, learning to use a yoyo with your left hand, and cleaning your teeth whilst standing on one leg, I don't think there's a lot of chance of them 'curing' my ds!

The yoyo thing stumped me - ds can't do it with his right let alone his left ! Can sort of see the principle - ds' OT used to do exercises which crsosed the midline and worked opposite side to brain function - but overall it struck me a bit simplistic.

"...putting the child on a healthier diet.."

Hmmm. Methinks this person has very little practical experience of ASD.

The chances of ds eating a dinner of vegetables and fresh fish are about the same as him flying to the moon. Anyway, I can't help resenting the implication that parents are somehow causing their childrens' difficulties by feeding them a crappy diet. Ds had a very healthy diet as a baby and toddler thank you very much!

What rather mystified me was that the specific part of the brain (spindle cells) which he feels are the root cause develop at 4 months of age but he feels poor diet was possibly responsible for such malfunctions. ds was still b'fed at that age.

So was ds and when he was weaned it was on to fresh fruit and veg. Perhaps he includes the mother's diet? Although I do make an effort to eat healthily (especially when bf) I also like my cakes/choccie etc. But then so do most people and they don't all have kids with 'disorders'.

I'd like to see Dr Robin explain to ds1 to a)walk up and down the stairs with his eyes shut b) clean his teeth whilst standing on one leg, c) actually just clean his teeth since he can't really do that. As for using a yo-yo PMSL.

This is a variation on brain gym, dore programme etc isn't it? All well and good and I'm happy to give harmless stuff a go, but it's getting ds1 to do it that's rather impossible. I can cross pattern him in his sleep but that's it really.

Ds1's diet was very good at 4 months (breast fed by a fisrt time mother- say no more). Interesting that its 4 months though.... what are spindle cells?

As for healthy diet, well after a year of tiny tiny steps ds1 now eats well at school (not at home), but as pixel says getting spectrumy kids to eat properly isn't as easy as just cooking healthy food. Would be nice if it were so simple.

hmmm, saw this guy on GMTV this morning. Maybe it works but actuaally getting an ASD kid to do these things would be amazing. Would be interested to read the book though. Apparently he was doing/has done a web chat on GMTV today so might be worth a read

I wish I'd seen it. I've always thought these conditions were linked but from what you've all said if it's another one of these "diet cures all" ideas then I won't bother going into it. DS1 had brain-stimulating exercises in his OT and DS2 had a very healthy diet right from weaning because he was the only one of my four who preferred "proper dinners" (favourite food aged 2-5 was brocolli). Does he explain how when 4 children are brought up in the same house with the same parents/ food etc 2 have dyspraxia and ADHD/AS but the other two don't?

\link{http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=20072\webchat}

I missed it this morning so thanks for the update. Could n't get link to work though, \link{http://www.gm.tv/index.cfm?articleid=20072\here?} A few interesting comments.

"What's different with my approach is identifying which parts of the brain are generating the symptoms and treating them directly. All these things like dyslexia, dyspraxia are only symptoms and symptoms that will always appear together. Therefore you have to approach the whole thing - not just one aspect. "

but rather confused as not sure I agree with "symptoms that will always appear together" - by the very nature of such conditions what symptoms our ds has are not replicated in the next child.

Off to look at his clinic site now...

Have read his book and to be honest I'm willing to give anything a try. Is there anyone out there who has enrolled for treatment with the Tinsley Clinic and could provide any feedback? I have sent away for the information pack and the cost of the treatment is pretty expensive. So before I part with my hard earned dosh any feedback negative/positive would be greatly appreciated.

I'm sceptical. The nature of dyspraxia is that a child may struggle to walk up and downstairs at all - if they can learn to do it with their eyes closed they probably haven't got dyspraxia anymore. Ds2 can't even get the right end of the toothbrush in his mouth, or stand or one leg let along combine the two . I haven't read the article or book though so I may be doing him an injustice.

For anyone interested, my 7 year old son started Robin Pauc's programme at the start of May 06. During June, some 7 weeks into the excercises and organic diet he started making remarkable progress at school, his ticks have stopped, this could be temporary who knows. Infact he seems to be making progress in most aspacts of his problems apart from his handwriting. The treatment he is having is non evaisive and healthy. So far professionals have been able to tell us what the problem is with our child but offered little help, Tinsley clinic our the only ones who have given us positive help and so far it seems to be working. Any one out there who is further along the road? It would be great to hear from you, good or bad!

hi!! we are going there next week! Will keep you posted!

I am thinking of taking my 8 year old son to Tinsley House to see Robin Pauc. I was wondering how toelby and nightcat are getting on. He has dyspraxia. Will it help with his social skills?

I would be careful. You may be interested in this .

Have read the book found it quite interesting.

Didn't like the fact that he seemed to be saying you can cure an ASD, not quite the same as saying you can cure dyslexia/dyspraxia etc

Also didn't like that it presented all this as a solution, that you can only really access if you go and do the course

I would like to know what others who have been there think and the difference it makes.

Thanks for the link to the badscience column. I have seen it and that, together with my husband's scepticism, has made me wonder if I should go. Am also thinking of using Madeleine Portwood's book to set up an exercise programme at home that doesnt cost lots of money. When Sam saw OT the cost was £60 per hour but I noticed physical and social improvements. The OT was using a developmental exercise prog. (INPP). Ticks got much worse though.

I hope you can get something sorted out. Could you go back to the OT again? I definitely find it easier when someone is directing me a bit.

We are doing an RDI programme (relationship development intervention) - my Ds2 has a lot of dyspraxic / sensory integration type symptons and also autistic type traits though no diagnosis. However RDI is hard to access in this country although there are starting to be some consultants, it is quite costly and is a long term therapy. Type RDI connect into Google and you find their website.

Thanks for tip re RDI. I have looked it up and looks promising.Yet something else I had never heard of! Are you finding it helpful? Is it very expensive?

If you work with a consultant (which you need to do really I feel) it is quite expensive. There is only one fully trained consultant in UK, but there are some who come over from States. We have recently changed consultant and are about to start working with Carrie Sheppard who is a US consultant. Google her name and you can see her fees on her website to give you an idea.

my 7 year old has dyslexia and dyspraxia. very behind at school, though socially only struggles outside of school as is very popular within.
my nephew has adhd and has been to see robin pauc, he has stopped ticks and improving in school work, after being on a very strict diet and doing the exercises.
i myself have borrowed the book "is that my child" i have found it very interesting but a little contradicting.
for example he says that bacon is good food and recomends it in his food and diets, however earlier in the book states that bacon also has the e250 and e251 in it which he says cause cancers and should be avoided?
im really not sure about this bloke, on the one hand my nephew is making good progress but on the flip side the book seems a little over powering and contradicitng.
i too have spoken to someone at the tinsley clinic but am yet to decide whether to spend my hard earned cash here.
obviously i want to help my child but am in two minds. anyone who has been to tinsley house or had any expereince of this therapy, i would be glad to hear from, good or bad!!!

I suppose it's possible that the exercises could help a (almost?) normal child with some balance or co ordination issues but I get quite angry at the idea that people like this try to make money by pretending they have found a cure for ASD. If he could get my son to do any of these 'exercises' I will give him as many millions as he would like.

Also my ASD son eats a healthy diet and loves brushing his teeth. Maybe it is the yo yo that has been missing all this time !