Customer Reviews

Biological Treatments for Autism & PDD : What's Going On? What Can You Do About It?

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is the first book I've found that ties all credible theories linking autism and related brain / development disorders to immune deficiency problems. I was able to retrace my child's health history and family-related health history to finally understand the ROOT CAUSE of her autism. Without understanding root causes, we can only treat symptoms, not the problem. I've been able to understand how her day-to-day functioning is almost solely dependent on her immune status. I was also able to understand from Shaw and Crook that multiple courses of antibiotics (15 by her first birthday), caused severe dysbiosis and yeast overgrowth. Yeast metabolites are probably the primary neurotoxin which affected her brain development from 12 months-4 years. We have implemented supplements recommended throughout the book for brain development and yeast control and my daughter is now mainstreamed in a regular kindergarten. One month before her 5th birthday, she expressed an interest in learning to read. Two months later, she is now reading her 5th book!! My husband and I never thought this would be possible. She also gets 28 hours per week of ABA (applied behavior analysis) at home as well as 2 hours/week of music therapy at school. None of the home intervention or special services would have been as effective if we had not taken action to improve her biological functioning first. It has been clearly evident to her team (special ed & school teachers, paraprofessionals, speech & music therapists, that after we implemented the dietary changes and added supplements recommended in the book, my daughter's improvement in speech, memory, cognitive skills, and social skills skyrocketed. An EXCELLENT complement to this book is THE BRAIN WELLNESS PLAN by Dr. Jay Lombard, a Board Certified Neurologist. Dr. Lombard gives a better "plan" for supplements than Shaw's book as well as providing the most heavily-researched book I've found on this subject (60 pages of references are noted).

Do you find yourself wondering if someone came in the middle of the night, stole your beautiful child or family member, and left a distant stranger seemingly lost in a nightmarish prison of sensory defensiveness and walled-in isolation in their place? Are you tired of the never-ending battle to stay ahead of screams, mind blindness, and over or under stimulation using medications designed to mask and sedate rather than treat and heal? Well if you want to really begin to understand what is going on, if you want to take charge of your loved one's life and put them on a path to better health and a more promising future, then read this book.

I'm not the publisher, I'm a parent advocate who has spent the better part of the last 8 years living and dealing with Autism and lobbying for awareness and a cure. I'm not the author, but I have met and heard him and an innumerable number of his counterparts speak, and I want to tell you this book is not just enlightening, it's liberating. If you are in anyway involved with someone on the Autistic Spectrum, this book is an absolute "must read".

Dr. Shaw takes the complicated and often convoluted theory, and discoveries of some of the most brilliant researchers, physicians, scientists, and other experts in their fields, and explains, dissects, and relates their research and findings in a way that just about anyone can understand regardless of education or background. His book will help you discover how researchers are finally beginning to unravel the mystery and biological origins of a disorder that as recently as the 1970's was considered a psychological malady often attributed to cold and unfeeling "refrigerator mothers"

Using easy to follow examples and his unique way of relating complex concepts, Dr. Shaw thoughtfully examines the ground breaking medical research, case studies, and clinical trials behind some of the newest treatments and many more looming on the horizon. As you progress through chapters on various topics such as yeast proliferation, allergies, and fungus, you will begin understand the correlation between the gut and the brain, how the various systems of the body interact, and how and why a breakdown in one system directly and indirectly affects the others. Before you know it the dynamics and theory behind such controversial interventions as Secretin and Anti-fungal therapy begin to make sense, and the veil of mystery surrounding Autism seems to lift ten fold.

Although several cases of recovery are presented in the book it should be noted that there is still a long way to go. A lot more research needs to be done, and many more questions need to be answered. After reading this book however, I think you will find many exciting treatment options and a lot of viable alternatives to more conventional medications that merely eclipse symptoms and further submerge personality. More importantly, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness will diminish as your understanding increases and the very real prospects for recovery and eventual cure of this wide-ranging disorder are presented.

This is one of the most comprehensive, up-to-date research available to parents/guardians of autistic individuals. This book gives critical information on treatments that ARE effective in helping individuals diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder. Also, parents of children diagnosed with ADD ADHD and learning disabilities will benefit. THERE ARE TREATMENTS FOR AUTISM. Wonderful book which includes parent testimonials.

Wow, I really got slammed by people who gave this book five stars. Just for the record, I also have devoted 100% of my life, time and attention to my son because I too have the financial means and desire to do so. My point in my original review was that this book was too confusing and there is contradictory information. I have studied very much on the subject and there's no doubt that some of the theories are correct. For example, I agree with the vaccine problem issue. But in our case, the antibiotic issue doesn't hold water because he's never used antibiotics except for a couple of times. Also, some of the treatments are good, but there are better books out there which explain this in a less confusing and frightening manner. Also, the author DOES try to get you to send all blood tests to his lab. :)

Following my son's diagnosis of autism, I went through every book on the subject I could find. This was the book which turned my son's life around. There is absolutely nothing to lose by trying some of the interventions outlined in the book, except for a few headaches trying to be creative in the kitchen, but there is so much that can be gained.

This book describes in detail exactly what is happening in the cause of Autistic Spectrum Disorders. I am a Medical Technologist and I was looking for the exact medical cause of ASD, and this book is it! It goes into excellent detail, may be difficult for the average person to understand, but if you are interested in really knowing, I highly recommend it. I am finding it very difficult to get a straight answer from health care professionals. They know about their specific area, but they don't know how all of the areas fit together. This book cleared the whole picture for me.

This is a must have resource for any parent and/or physcian who is seeking how to intervene and retard/stop the downward spiral of autism. Has been an instrumental first resource for interventions and treatment through natural means. Be sure to get the most up-to-date version or write to Dr. Shaw for his latest research findings.

After reading all of the positive reviews, I was very interested in this book. However, it has done nothing but scare me to death. It is hard enough when you first receive a diagnosis of PDD-NOS to decide what and who to believe. The dietary interventions and yeast control interventions are hard to understand, and would be very difficult to follow. It makes me afraid to feed my son anything. My pediatrician advised that he consulted with an alternative medicine physician about the yeast issue, and that the treatment was only effective for short term.(The book also advises us to be very mistrustful of our doctors, and the medical establishment in general, stating they want to make money from sales of drugs.) Some of the information in the book also seems to contradict itself as there is input from several authors. The treatments don't work for everyone- even according to the author, and the individuals cited were extremely impaired, but then "magically" turned into normal children. The author also suggests having several tests done for yeast and food allergies, but they are tests that must be done at his lab, and no costs are mentioned. If you have just recently received a diagnosis, I would take some time to adjust and sort things out before delving into this one.

Autism is very complicated and not well understood. Dr. Shaw is a living legend! Here he tries to consider different possibilities. He includes information from different parents, medical analysis, lab work, theories, etc. Read it and learn! Fight for your child!

I too found this book, touted as a bible in dietary intervention circles, to contain a lot of conflicting information. The author/editor claims yeast is at the bottom of it all. Some contributors found a diet to limit yeast to be more severe than required, and stuck to casein and gluten free. The reader is told that their child may improve immediately, in a few days, in a few months, or not for a year. If symptoms recur, it could be due to a newly developed food sensitivity. It seems more likely to me that improvements/regressions are not due to the diet at all. Also, it troubles me that this scientist's work is not being replicated consistently, and that tests must be performed in his lab to ensure a "valid" result. Finally, the allegation that immunizations "cause" autism has recently been refuted through statistically significant studies. Well, I guess this is autism at the millenium. Maybe we don't believe anymore that mothers cause autism with the emotional diet they offer their children. Now, some will have us believe that the very nourishment we give our children causes this heartbreaking disability. I don't buy it.