Autism Nutrition - Nutrition and Your Autistic Child - Education - Special Education

Autism Nutrition

It turns out desire common sense that a well nourished child is a happier child. Many parents hold noticed moody or cranky behavior in their young children before meal era or after class when properties arrive residential structure hungry. Autism Nutrition

For an Autistic child, however, who may not be able to accurately communicate his or her needs, such hunger may go unnoticed. Or they may not covet to eat and may suffer numerous food aversions. For these kinds of reasons, integrating nutrition therapy to treatment for children provided autism is critical.

In many cases, nutrition is not an integral part of overall therapy at diagnosis. Yet many parents who eventually seek out this information on their own, are getting nutrition information from questionable sources. Some parents may not take nutrition therapy into consideration at all. Autism is complex and involves a spectrum of challenging behaviors, so it is natural for both parents and caregivers to initially focus directly on controlling those behaviors.

In many cases, the health care team includes a physician, occupational therapist, speech therapist and behavior therapist; but does not include a registered dietitian to provide nutrition therapy. What is interesting is that almost all autistic children have nutritional deficiencies, food intolerance, or gastrointestinal disorders that often are not thoroughly addressed. While studies involving the significance of the effect nutrition status has in the management of autism are preliminary, there is good reason to consider filling this gap in treatment. Autism Nutrition

The goal of nutrition therapy in autism is to support the structure and function of the child's brain and body to perform at their optimal level and to maximize the child's brain function so that the response to other treatment is enhanced. Proper nutrition therapy should include a comprehensive nutrition assessment and also address feeding problems, any gastrointestinal problems, or need for vitamin and mineral supplementation.

Imagine a child who has difficulty communicating his or her needs, feeling uncomfortable every time he eats due to unknown food sensitivities or intolerance. This sends a negative message to avoid those foods or avoid eating all together. Children with food allergies are at higher risk for nutrition-related problems and decreased growth, but children with autism are more negatively affected due to their problems with sensory integration dysfunction.

Allergy symptoms may include hives, coughing, eczema, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, gastrointestinal reflux, watery eyes, nasal congestion or sneezing. To determine which foods are problematic, an "Elimination/Challenge Diet" is applied. Once problem foods are removed from the diet, the discomfort is resolved, and the child becomes more open to mealtime. Autism Nutrition

A well-nourished child is a better-behaved child. In many cases, children who undergo nutrition assessment and treatment, have a formed bowel movement for the first time in his or her life. Imagine how eliminating this discomfort helps a child! Don't let your child suffer anymore! Lead your child out of his world through Autism Nutrition program now!