Autism, Nutrition & Diet. The Current Research, and What You Need to Know
There are numerous sources of information promising quick-fix diets or supplements to help your child manage their autism. Let's discuss the autism-related research and services you can access as parents.
About Autism
Autism is a condition where a young person's social and communication skills are delayed. They may have difficulties with learning, cognition, social communication, understanding and managing emotions which can lead to frustration type behaviours.
Autism and Nutrition
It is the opinion of the autism experts that nutritional deficiencies in autistic children are related to the autism symptoms such as autistic behaviour, learning disabilities, distractibility, repetitive behaviour, sensory integration problems, decreased eye contact, and lack of eye contact. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been linked to deficiencies in zinc, folic acid, vitamin B12, biotin, and calcium. Brain fog is another symptom linked to zinc deficiency.
What can I do as a parent?
If you are concerned that your child is not eating a balanced diet or has sensory and behavioural problems that could be preventing them from accessing a healthy diet, then consider following these next steps.
1. Visit your GP -Explain the current situation to your GP. They may be able to refer your child to a dietitian or another specialist who can look at what food groups or nutrients your child may be missing and create a plan with you. Bear in mind if you choose to receive treatment with an NHS specialist the waiting times for services can vary depending on where you are in the UK.
2. Research food nutrition parent groups- There is a wealth of online and offline parent support groups, books and web resources that will be able to support you and give you hints and tips on how to help your child. Bear in mind that the support may be generic and not always suitable for your child, so always check with your GP before trying anything.
3. Book an appointment with a private specialist - Consider booking an assessment with a private speech and language therapist, behaviour consultant, or occupational therapist. They may be able to assess, plan and help you to implement a personalised plan for your child. Paying privately for a specialist can be costly there are a few charities that can support speech and occupational therapy interventions. A charity we recommend is Boparan Charitable Trust. They offer means-tested grants for families.
If you want to know more about autism, nutrition and how to help your child, why not check out our website or click here to book an appointment today.
At HeadStart we understand the importance of providing information in accessible formats to meet the diverse needs of our service users. We can provide information in different forms for example in another language, large print, easy-read materials, and technologies such as text-to-speech or audio. To request information in another format, contact us by phone or email. Shanay.nj@headstartaba.org or mobile 07988860033.