Comments on: Behavior Therapy Plus Medication Most Successful For Kids With Autism http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/11/23/behavior-therapy/6290/ Developmental Disability News Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:13:08 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Blondie50 http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/11/23/behavior-therapy/6290/comment-page-1/#comment-900 Blondie50 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:11:16 +0000 http://www.disabilityscoop.com/?p=6290#comment-900 We have used neither ABA nor medication with our son who is now 17. We have used a combination of sensory integration therapy, speech therapy, music therapy, food allergy diet and social stories along with special education services. When he was younger, he also had physical therapy due to low muslce tone on one side of his body. I have seen first hand in working with people with developmental disabilities the problems associated with different medications used for people with Autism; namely weight gain, lethargy, food cravings and even more behavior problems. It is not pretty. Medication is a quick fix to problems that take time to overcome without medication. My belief that if you can find a way to communicate with people with Autism (speech, echolalia, sign, pictures, electronic devices, etc), they will grow and behavior problems will fade away for the most part. Now, is my son perfect? No. But he is happy, has a terrific sense of humor, is very loving, enjoys traveling, constantly draws what he sees (signs, movie trailers, restaurants, etc.) loves NASCAR and is helpful both at home and school. Just my experience as a mom and my humble opinion. We have used neither ABA nor medication with our son who is now 17. We have used a combination of sensory integration therapy, speech therapy, music therapy, food allergy diet and social stories along with special education services. When he was younger, he also had physical therapy due to low muslce tone on one side of his body.

I have seen first hand in working with people with developmental disabilities the problems associated with different medications used for people with Autism; namely weight gain, lethargy, food cravings and even more behavior problems. It is not pretty. Medication is a quick fix to problems that take time to overcome without medication.

My belief that if you can find a way to communicate with people with Autism (speech, echolalia, sign, pictures, electronic devices, etc), they will grow and behavior problems will fade away for the most part.

Now, is my son perfect? No. But he is happy, has a terrific sense of humor, is very loving, enjoys traveling, constantly draws what he sees (signs, movie trailers, restaurants, etc.) loves NASCAR and is helpful both at home and school.

Just my experience as a mom and my humble opinion.

]]> By: autismdad http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2009/11/23/behavior-therapy/6290/comment-page-1/#comment-869 autismdad Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:23:05 +0000 http://www.disabilityscoop.com/?p=6290#comment-869 Dr. Thomas Insell won't even ride an elevator with an autistic child and yet is always quoted as an expert intreating autism. The truth of the matter is that medication does almost nothing to help children with autism short of sedating them to help eliminate certain fears or behaviors. ABA therapy helps tremendously. However, neither comes close to doing as much as the gluten free/cassein free/soy free diet. My own son went in the diet and within a few weeks started to speak again. He is now a recovered 10 year old boy that has friends, goes to a regular school and enjoys time with his family. All of that happened from the diet and following the DAN! medical protocol. Wow, imagine that, he didn't even have to take drugs or be sedated to get better. Thanks for nothing Dr. Insell! Dr. Thomas Insell won’t even ride an elevator with an autistic child and yet is always quoted as an expert intreating autism. The truth of the matter is that medication does almost nothing to help children with autism short of sedating them to help eliminate certain fears or behaviors. ABA therapy helps tremendously. However, neither comes close to doing as much as the gluten free/cassein free/soy free diet. My own son went in the diet and within a few weeks started to speak again. He is now a recovered 10 year old boy that has friends, goes to a regular school and enjoys time with his family. All of that happened from the diet and following the DAN! medical protocol. Wow, imagine that, he didn’t even have to take drugs or be sedated to get better. Thanks for nothing Dr. Insell!

]]>