Autism

mamlou

This post is for any parents out there questioning their child's development and behaviour. From an early age of 14 months I knew there wasn't something right with our little girl . Katie was our first born . So my only experience with children was caring for children 0-6 as a qualified child minder . Through my experience I dealt with a couple of autisic children . From day one autism was our concern as Katie didn't make eye contact after 14 months and she would only look at us when she was playing chasing or high active games. Katie reached all her milestones . She walked at 12 months . And potty trained at 2.3 months even though she had no words . At just under 3 Katie was referred to enable Ireland for speech therapy and occupational therapy . The team were great but her therapist changed constantly and her sessions weren't very long . While she was attending s/t and o/t we constantly asked them about autism . Is she showing signs etc . We were never given a straight answer . Everything was a wait and see approach . We then wanted her hearing checked and we had such a rollercoaster getting that sorted . Katie went private first to a very rude doctor in slane and then we attended public . But the audiogigist reports were different each time . We wanted her to have grommets but they were refusing . We then went private again and that audiologist report showed there was clearly something wrong . As it had a reading of fluid which was causing impaired hearing . So finally we had the grommets fitted and although her speech hasn't come on her reaction and behaviour improved. But I still knew it wasn't just the ears so we insisted on an autism assessment as her preschool year was approaching . Katie started mainstream preschool with SNA assistance . I was terrified as I didn't know if shed settle or follow direction . I was also concerned she wouldn't mix as her social skills outside her sister wasnt great . At this point Katie's speech was similar to a deaf person and only family could really understand her .In November right after her Halloween feast we decided to try this diet I was reading about . Its a gluten free , diary free diet . Getting the products was a hard job but after looking everywhere we found some great products . There are great cereals in tesco and aldi do soya milk which was cheap and tastes good too . After a month or two we had a large menu . Gluten free chicken nuggets from m&s . Gluten free sausages from tesco . Home made burgers . Eggs , homemade pancakes , fruit , breads ice cream and biscuits from SuperValu . Chocolate buttons from dunnes and Holland and Barrett. And her favourite gluten free sweets from pound world . There was so much . We did buy some products that she wouldn't touch but we had to try . After the first month the improvement was fantastic . Katie became calmer . She would answer after calling her first time . Her attention span was better . She started requesting songs in the car and chatting back and forward with us . She was like a new child . Her autism assessment took months with visits at home and to her school. In December we were told that Katie was autistic . Although we knew it was coming it was still heartbreaking to see on paper . But on that day I cried my last tear . I had been through hell crying in the car because my little girl wouldn't speak to me or answer me . Crying myself to sleep . Getting upset just thinking of what her furture might be like . Although we were upset I decided crying won't help her . Sitting pitying her wouldn't help either . When we got home she greeted us as she would everyday with a great big smile and hugs . She goes to playschool everyday . She plays with her sister and she now has friends . She is going onto mainstream primary school with assistance . I guess what I am trying to say is how important it is to spot it early and it can make such a difference . If someone told me three years ago how outgoing , social , loving , and responsive Katie would be . I wouldn't have believed them . We are at a point now that her speech is the only thing that is holding her back . But this is the only thing I can't find any answers for . We took her off the diet two weeks ago and she is starting to talk to herself again , she seems frustrated . Her overall behaviour has changed so she is going straight back on it . Although this diet has no scientific evidence it has worked for us . I hope I've given someone somewhere some valuable information because I never found what I was looking for on Google :-) good luck and remember at the end of the day . Whether your child is autistic or not they are still yours and they depend on you for love support and guidance x

MarkR

Similar story to above. Autism is difficult, but it's certainly not what you think. Requires a lot more patience (and a lot less sleep sometimes!). Still wouldn't trade him for the world.

CaraMay

Can you give us an idea of her daily diet please?

mamlou

Hi . The diet is a gluten and dairy free diet . For breakfast cereal ( in tesco they have a good range . Chocoballs , cornflakes and porridge) and soya milk ( the sweet one can be bought in aldi ) toast with dairy free butter . The bread I get from SuperValu and m&s do the butter .

For lunch . I'd pack ham sandwich . Fruit . Dairy free yogurt / or benacol do a dairy free range . Some days I give Katie buttered pancakes from tesco . Or they do a crisp bread she likes .

Then dinners . Home made chips , eggs, ,Rashers ,Sausages from tesco gluten free ,Pudding gluten free, any vegetables , homemade mince burger . Chicken goujons , sliced and dipped in gluten free flour and then I shallow fry them .
Gluten free nuggets from m&s . Gluten free spagetti with mince and homemade tomato sauce . Beans ,Gammon steaks . Dunnes stores do a gluten free hashbrown waffle . most fries and waffles are gluten free but be sure to check the packs . You can get a lot of dishes precooked in the shops but Katie dosn't like sauces etc .

Treats . Gluten free jellies and marshmallow s . Teddy bear crisps . Lollies. Ice pop ( m&s do 100% fruit juice ice pops) soya ice cream (super valu ) . Chocolate and crisp bars ( tesco ) . Pancakes with maple syrup . ( eggs , gluten free flour and soya milk )

D1stant

The thing I don't like about the GF diet is the fact that most of the products available are highly-processed.

marizpan

We have had the exact same experience as the OP.
our son is turning 7yrs next month and is in senior infants. He has improved massively through diet but a different diet than OP.
All unprocessed foods ie. raw milk instead of soy. We follow gaps diet mainly. He is behind his peers in social skills and schoolwork still but is catching up fast. His speech is getting quite good but his ability to follow group instruction in the classroom is still a problem.

A few years ago I could not see a normal life ahead for him but now I am 100% sure he will have a normal future.

CaraMay

What's a gaps diet? My lad can't have lactose

marizpan

CaraMay wrote: »

What's a gaps diet? My lad can't have lactose

Myself and my two sons can not handle processed dairy but are fine when it is raw/unpasteurised milk. otherwise it causes rashes, swollen eyes, spots etc. I make all our dairy products from scratch at home, like yogurt and cheeses. My husband and daughter are fine with any dairy.

The gaps diet is a clean unprocessed diet. You will get great information on it if you google it. The information is freely available online and there is a book available which I highly recommend. It focuses on healing the gut, aimed for austism. I followed it and reversed six yrs of hypo thyroidism which I was told I would have for life. It is one of the best things we have done for our family.