I was tasked with writing a position paper and chose the effects of dietary changes on students with autism. Specifically, gluten free/ dairy free diets and vitamin regimens. I chose this topic knowing that it is controversial, but also because we were forced to introduce a gluten free diet into our family due a Celiacs diagnosis and then further forced to subtract dairy from our diet after my son was diagnosed with high functioning autism. A prescribing doctor would not suggest any psychopharmaceuticals for depression until we had removed dairy and red food dye, along with our regimen of gluten free.
Within four days of being dairy free my sons depression was gone. This is not an exaggeration. I used a feelings chart that is commonly used for children to express how they feel. Before taking dairy out my son chose descriptors such as, angry, sad, irritated on a daily basis. He cried a few times a week and could not stop or give any specific reason why he was crying. He had instances of becoming physical with us and his younger sister, spiting on us, going in circles asking "what do I do?" over and over again. Four days after removing dairy (gluten free had been initiated 6 months previously due to Celiacs) the cloud of depression was removed. He began to identify his feelings as, happy, satisfied, calm. All the prior behaviors that would not be included in a typical child have only recurred when he has been contaminated with gluten or dairy. His behaviors are not cyclical. He has been without depression for 1.5 years now. We have added a specific vitamin regimen that have been used in trial studies that have proven to be beneficial for children with ASD and have provided an even higher level of positive mental health. I have conducted preliminary interviews with parents who have also tried diets and interviewed a registered dietitian. I would love to include information from my informal, non-scientific survey in my paper. This survey is very subjective. I am interested in how parents perceive the effectiveness of diets for their child with autism. It is a very short survey with only 8 questions. Thank you for participating! www.surveymonkey.com/r/89X278L
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AuthorSpecial Education major in a university teaching program. Substitute teacher, previous homeschool mom, wife. Archives
September 2019
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