Customer Reviews

Biological Treatments for Autism and PDD

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Below is a copy of my review of the previous edition of this sensational reference book. If I were to have just one book on Autism to recommend, this would be it!

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 9 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.

Dr. Shaw has made many contributions that have helped many children, mine included. A few years ago I referenced this book often, looking for ways to help my son. At the time, I would have recommended this book as a must have for every parent.

However, at this point it is becoming fairly dated. If you were to attend a DAN! conference today, you would see that their focus, and our understanding of the science has changed.

If you are considering purchasing this book, you are, I assume, as I was a few years ago -- in a real big hurry to find the best information you can to help someone you love. So to that end, I would recommend instead of this book:

"Children with Starving Brains" by Jaquelyn McCandless
"Autism: Effective Biomedical Treatments" by Syndey Baker and Jon Pangborn
"Special Diets for Special Kids" by Lisa Lewis
"Breaking the Vicious Cycle" by Elaine Gottschall.

William Shaw's book shows how antibiotics used in treating ear infections in children contribute to yeast overgrowth in the intestinal tract and how this affects the child's development.

He gives examples of the differences in chemicals secreted in the urine of autistic children compared to that of normal children, and explains what these differences mean.

The language used is readable and parents of autistic children will find much to follow up in possible treatments for the disorder.

Other contributers to this book expand on the yeast-autism connection, and there is a very interesting chapter by Bernard Rimland on use of Vitamin B6,magnesium and DMG in treating autistic children.

Dr Shaw has provided a complete over view of the many issues that could effect children / people with autism. He is thorough at explaining the issues and potential causes and how to postively affect their lives. By understanding yeast, phenols, opiod theory, parasites and other potentially debilitating issues for autistics you can change the future for your child/your friend that is effected with autism. Natural rememdies and steps can make all the difference in the world. I encourage you to investigate the possible causes and take action on behalf the person you love. This is a great book. Buy one for yourself and your doctor.

As a mother of two autistic sons, 1 five and 1 two, I felt as if I new most everything on the topic. I was very wrong and now know I still have much to learn. The most important being that although our doctor's opinion is valuable, speech and behavioral therapies are not all that we can do to help our children on the spectrum. This book is a gem. Very informative, easy to read and understand, with many resources to assist getting the help we need even when you live in a poor and "out of the way" state like Maine. I highly recommend this book for and parent with a child on the spectrum.

This is a technically meaty book for the medical professional that can overwhelm the layperson. Yet the area of Autism, Asperger's Syndrome and PDD study is in desperate need of the fresh out-of the-box thinking that this book provides. A parent can learn alot skimming over the "why's" and "what fors". For example; focusing on bold print sub-points instead of trying to follow the fine points of metabolism described in the following paragraphs, will serve you well. This book will give you a good overview of groundbreaking research and treatment. Most of all, it will give parents hope that our children may still be capable of functioning better, not just coping with limitations.

Read this twice... It has so much stuff in it and you do not want to miss any of it. Great stuff. I am over whelmed by it. It is a must...Not one thing was forgoten in this book. I know at least a dozen people who would recommend this book.. The author knows his stuff.

Between this book and Dr. Bakers book (DAN Protocol book)the information provided is unreal. These are some amazing Doctors on a mission which I will embark on now. I have a daughter just diagnosed 3 months back with Autism and will follow the protocol they outlined. My biggest hope is my daughter will fall in the 30% this works for. I'm a Culinary Graduate from Johnson & Wales and am begining my Journey into this now. I can be reached at sqlscripters@hotmail.com

I have spent thousands of dollars in these treatments for my son over last 3 years with no difference at all. Feel free to contact me personally.

Dr. and people like these are out there to victimize parents of autistic kids.

While I think what the author is trying to do here is a good thing. He's trying to let parents of kids with Autism and related disorders know there are alternative treatments out there and they don't have to settle for the blanket hopeless statement doctors tell them about autism being non curable. But I found the book focused on promoting the use of his great plains labratory which I believe is now shut down which makes me question the credibility of the books contents. And if what he says is true about his labratory being the only labratory to do much tests than it makes much of this book useless. Also, if you can't afford the treatments he speaks of it will leave you feeling really helpless.