**AUTISM / ASPERGERS SUPPORT GROUP**

[doll*obsession]

A safe place for all members with friends or family with ASD

Come and have a cuppa, share your joys, and vent your problems with other people who understand.

[islandretro]

Fructose, again. I sat through a long detailed expose on why fructose added to foods causes obesity, AND coeliac disease from a friend of mine just 3 days ago. A quick Google search finds it responsible for  fatty liver disease, hypertension, kidney disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, arthritis etc. I suppose it was only a matter of time before ASD was added.

Thanks for the article, azureline, it is always good to see what people are researching - just recall the saying : "grain of salt" 🙂

[azureline**]

yes, everything should be read with caution but research is good, anything that might lead us to the answers, if there are any.:-)

I think the answers will be found accidently while looking at something else?.

[nouveau_retro]

interesting about the chemical pesticides... I think theres a genetic propensity brought about by exposure to an environmental trigger.

[bella_again]

noneau, I tend to think along similar lines.  I guess the argument for some is that clearly since the introduction of pesticides and processed foods there has been an increase in autism, ADHD and OCD.

But it could be equally argued that this number of cases previously existed however we did not have the knowledge to diagnose. I tend to think there are genetic factors possibly  triggered off by other significant factors, i.e. chemicals etc.

I think to say that these things do not impact our genetics over time and overall health is like burying ones head in the sand.However sometimes its easy for researchers to grab at different straws so to speak, so I guess we have to weigh up all the evidence over time.

[nouveau_retro]

Until the genome project is properly understood we are all- including experts- clutching at straws and there is no definite answer yet and as such there is no 'cure'. There is only treatment and medications which weren't even intended for autism in the first place. Anyone who did have a definitive cause and cure would be in the news immediately and worth billions.

Our diagnostic methods are more defined now which could explain some (not all) of the increase. With all of the additives, chemicals and radio emissions we'd be foolhardy to think that they weren't affecting us. Interesting point- I met one doctor early in the journey several years back who said that foods had no affect whatsoever on behaviour- there are still dinosaurs out there giving very incorrect advice- luckily the parents know better.

[azureline**]

Waves to Nouveau! :-x

Some children are lucky they got the parents they have.

From that fb page I mentioned before.......I think this is great, we have some scripts we practice but I didn't know it was an actual "tool" as I didn't think about it too much.....

Scripting serves multiple functions for children on the spectrum. It provides them "set scripts" that they can say when they cannot find other words, it can provide predictability in a chaotic world, it can be a fun way of organizing language and playing with new phrases, etc.

It does not represent the child withdrawing into their own world. It is just the child's way of utilizing language in a way that helps them feel competent. Relax with it and even use it to get your child to stretch their conversational skills. Expand on the conversation, completing more circles of communication, allowing them scripting to fill in the spaces that are hard for them.

Any communication is a plus! They will lose the scripting as they become more competent in communicating.

[azureline**]

I wanted to share this too....

http://flappinessis.com/2011/12/28/dear-shopper-staring-at-my-child-having-a-meltdown-in-the-grocery-store/

[krazy.kiwi]

Just when I thought life was getting easier for my boy, it has all hit the fan.

He has recently turned 14 and I thought we were getting places, but he has just been suspended from school for a serious incident that he appears to have very little knowledge of.

We need to find somewhere else for him to get an education (probably Distance Education Victoria).  But what really worries me is the fact that he is getting violent during meltdowns and (apparently) has no memory of it afterwards.

Time to book him in to see anyone we can get in to methinks.

(And no more Taekwondo until further notcie)

[bella_again]

Kiwi my girl does distance ed vic and the teachers are great, message me if I can help and big big HUGS sounds very hard for you both atm and concerning 😞

[krazy.kiwi]

Thanks Bella, it helps knowing I'm not alone. :-x

I have a meeting on Thursday with the Assistant Principal, hopefully I will know more after that.