"Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism"

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We've never been really interested in the "curing" of our kids autism, and as a result I don't know much about the various methods espoused for doing so. The library where I work just got a book, though -- Cutting Edge Therapies for Autism, 2010-2011 -- and it is, frankly, making me a bit queasy.

Most of it seems pretty inoffensive. Aquatic Therapy, Art Therapy, Dance Therapy. And then there's the questionable stuff, like Dietary Intervention, and Homeopathy. However, the one thing that I know of being fairly risky, chelation, gets several pages with no real discussion of the dangers. And it does cite the disredited vaccines/austism link, which sets off several warning bells.

I'd like to raise my concerns with the selectors, and perhaps get the book reconsidered, but I want to do so so with some backing. Can anyone point me to some good information about the risks of chelation therapy? And if you run across any reviews of this particular book (other than the Amazon ones) that would be helpful as well. I'm doing some searching myself, but I've not had much luck yet.

The one thing that helped me the most was getting a pet lizard. She's helped my social skills tremendiously. Before I got her I would just ignore people like they didn't exhist but after I got my lizard and started taking her places with me, people would ask questions and I felt compeled to answer them. People see dogs every day and I've had dogs my whole life and they didn't help my social skills with other people any. They were my playmates and friends when people didn't fill those voids but they didn't really help my social skills any. If I took a dog out with me, no one would say anything becuase people are so used to seeing dogs. People rarely see lizards so I always get questions.

first things first: there is NO cure for autism...
although the dancing *might* help relieve some stress, it is in no way a cure.
the only thing i know of that helps lowering the impace of autism is acting lessons; if your child is medium to high functioning and at least tries to socialise. aside from that; try finding a semi-group hobby that he/she can enjoy.

this is a press release from the FDA that should make it clear that chelation is not an approved treatment for autism:
http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/ ... 229320.htm

and this link shows the cdc report on chelation fatal events which includes an autistic child's death:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5508a3.htm

maybe those will help you.

You could always "borrow" the book and then "forget" to return it...

Well that would not be good to take the book then, all things considered. Also did not think about people who take books because they deem them wrong or bad. I happen to love Judy Blume and probably would not have gotten through puberty without "Are You There God, Its Me Margaret".

Of course I am against censorship of any kind but when it comes to these "alternative therapies," it seems a lot of desperate/uneducated parents just throw their critical thinking skills out the window. Sorry if I seem ranty about this but it's really a big issue for me. At our local library we found a book that talked about how you can "cure" autism using reiki. Yeah. Ok.

And it seems like most autism message boards (besides this one!) are populated by parents who are all gung-ho for these snake oil treatments.

I am thinking about returning to the US soon with my family (we are in Japan now) and I was recommended to join a Yahoo group for parents of autistic kids in the state we will likely to be relocating to. I joined and what did I find? The recent topics were where to find GFCF pizza and a petition to enact a new law to get kids into schools without vaccination if you don't have a religious exemption.

My wife and I call those people "The DAN dummies."

I am seriously NOT looking forward to having to deal with these people once we are back in the States.

Hi Rolzup!

I actually have the book you're talking about, but I think I have an earlier version. I'll go check. I understand how it can make some feel a bit uneasy, but it's not meant to promote a "cure," for autism as it is to help children manage their disabling symptoms. And, Aquatic Therapy is an excellent therapy for those with autism because many of our kids have poor, gross motor skills and body control. Aquatic sports really help to develop the muscles. If you don't believe me, you should check out some of the therapies the OTs and PTs do with these kids and they will put them in aquatic tanks or swimming pulls and give them a workout.

Also, dance therapy has been used for years and years to help kids with disabilities of all sorts. It helps them with physical limitations as well as listening and body-movement/control skills. Things that most of us take for granted. Our local autism support group writes grants each year and gets funding so that they can provide Music and Dance Therapy to its members.

So, I just ask that people have an open mind about these things. They're not meant to be a cure as much as ways to help our children gain control over the symptoms that cause them to be disabled. And, not everything is going to work for every child. So, it's good that we have some options and choices.

Nothing's going to be a panacea, but I support parents being able to look into therapies that will help their kids develop.

Thanks for listening.

The OP actually stated that Aquatic Therpay and Dance therapy are not what is objectionable in the book in question. What is extremely questionable is continuing to feed people's fear of vacinations and promoting risky treatments like chelation. There has not been a single study published that supports any benefits to autistic kids from chelation. I fully recognise that people persue therapies that have not been the subject of extensive well designed double blind studies based on anecdotal evidence in the hopes that their kids will benefit. Things like occupational therapy aren't proven beyond a shadow of a doubt but the worst thing that could happen with OT is that you spend money on something that isn't fruitful. The vaccine scare and chelation have resulted in needless deaths.