Mold And Autism
What is Autism?
Autism affects almost 1 in 59 children born today, with this high of an occurrence it is important to understand what it means when someone is autistic and what we can do to help them. Autism is a neurobehavioral condition that can impair someone’s social skills, development, communication skills, etc… Combined with repetitive behaviors, when someone who has been diagnosed as autistic they are usually put on a spectrum. What we mean by that is that because autism is different in every individual with a wide range of symptoms, rather than just narrowing it to one kind we refer to it as a broad spectrum and place individuals on it.
Why are Some People Autistic and Others Not?
Autism can be influenced by genetic factors as well as environmental factors. Although there isn’t one set cause we know that there are some factors that are more likely to influence the development of autism in some people. These factors are often coupled with sensory sensitivities, GI disorders, seizures, or sleep disorders as well as many mental health factors such as anxiety, depression, and attention problems.
How are Mold and Autism Correlated?
It has been thought that mold exposure to young kids is one of the environmental markers that can start the development in autism. A study that conducted by Jack Thrasher and his colleagues lead them to observe that “during a non-scientific study that compared neuropsy-chological abnormalities displayed by eight boys confirmed for autism-spectrum disorders to a separate group of six with documented histories of both autism-spectrum disorders and varying degrees of mold toxin exposure. Compared to the average 6.8 abnormalities displayed by the eight boys with no previous mold-exposure history, the second group averages 12.2 abnormalities between them.” While mold might not directly cause autism, it could be a factor as to why someone can develop autism.
What Treatments Can be Done For Someone Who Has Autism Related to Mold?
At NorCal Brain center we really like to emphasize good gut health. The first thing our doctor may recommend is a repair diet and necessary supplements that will help the patient’s body go back to preforming at optimal levels. Autism is a spectrum disorder so every case is different and every patient’s needs are different from those around them. It is our job as health care professionals to ensure that the best treatment is given to every patient with regards to their specific needs. Call us today at (408)585-5275 for a free consultation!
