According to the TACA e-newsletter I recieved today, the American Academy of Pediatrics medical journal, Pediatrics, released two separate studies regarding gastrointestinal disorders and autism.
The first, Evaluation, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Disorders in Individuals With ASDs: A Consensus Report, states that gastrointestinal disorders are very common in individuals with ASD. It points out that though individuals with ASD may be nonverbal and unable to communicate how they feel and that they may have behaviors that make them hard to treat, necessary steps need to be taken to have their underlying issues treated just the same as a non-ASD individual. Also in the report it says that the affect of diet restrictions on symptoms of ASD have not been studied enough to be supported or refuted, but they are in no way saying that there is not a possibility that a group of individuals with ASD wouldn't respond to such treatment.
The second, Recommendations for Evaluation and Treatment of Common Gastrointestinal Problems in Children With ASDs, provides healthcare providers with the steps to treating gastrointestinal problems and it also concludes that some unusual behaviors could be results of different gastrointestinal disorders.
It's exciting to see information like this go "mainstream" when for so long when us parents have spouted similar information we get looked at as if we are conspiracy theorists. I think these reports are definitely a step in the right direction.
I don't know about you, but I'm excited to print out both to bring into my pediatrician's office!
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