If your child suddenly becomes seriously withdrawn or uncommunicative, he or she may benefit from an evaluation with a physician. If the doctor suspects autism, you and your child may be referred to a child psychiatrist. The psychiatrist can determine if the problem is autism. The best treatment will be a joint effort between the parents and an interdisciplinary team of doctors and psychiatrists.
No medical test exists to diagnose autism. An autism specialist can make a diagnosis with information on the family’s history as well as the child's behavioral history.
Autism is not curable. Psychotherapy and speech therapy may be helpful in overcoming the child’s learning deficits. Behavioral therapy can help the child manage at home and at school. Drugs may control symptoms, but they can’t change the underlying disorder. Possible contributing causes include food allergy, bacterial infections and metabolic imbalance.
Treat the allergies. See an allergist to identify what the patient is allergic to. Avoid those allergens as much as possible. Many autistic patients are sensitive to grains and milk. There are resources available to make the necessary changes in diet easier.
Treat the infection. It will probably require medication and a change in diet to prevent recurrence.
Vitamins and other supplements are also helpful in most patients. Vitamins, especially B6, magnesium, and vitamin A, play a role in the immune system. That means it’s especially important that patients work toward good nutrition and adequate intake of these vitamins. This is easier said than done with autistic patients. Not only do many have challenging food allergies, they also tend to be extremely picky eaters with very limited diets.
