Specific Behavioural Issues

Specific Behavioural Issues

Children on the Autism Spectrum exhibit a wide range of behavioural issues. Here I have listed some of the more common behavioural traits, what may be causing them and how they can be managed.

This is not a complete list, if there is a behavioural issue that you are trying to deal with that is not listed, email me and I will endeavour to sort it out.

WARNING!!

Please consult a practitioner familiar with supplementing ASD children. There are appropriate dosages that need to be determined, or co-factors than may need to be added. Some children may regress on a supplement, an experienced practitioner will know whether this is transient or a negative reaction to the supplement.

 

Aggression

CONSIDER

  • Dietary sensitivities (MSG, artificial sweeteners)
  • Hypoglycaemia
  • Pain, GI issues
  • Yeast issues
  • Strep throat
  • Kryptopyrrole disorder

MAY HELP

  • Vitamin B6
  • Magnesium

Chewing on clothes, metal, etc. (Pica)

CONSIDER

  • Chelation of heavy metals
  • Whether onset due to beginning a new supplement

OPTIONS

  • Chromium
  • Vitamin B5
  • Zinc

Constipation

CONSIDER

  • Food sensitivities, esp wheat, milk and egg
  • Dehydration
  • Lack of fibre
  • Yeast issue
  • Iron supplement
  • Calcium citrate can cause constipation if prone to sluggish bowels
  • Weed, Seed and Feed, gut repair protocol
  • EPO

MAY HELP

  • Magnesium oxide (Colozone)
  • Aloe vera gel
  • Psyllium

Dark Circles Under Eyes

CONSIDER

  • Food allergies – a classic sign

Distended Abdomen

CONSIDER

  • Food sensitivities
  • Small bowel bacterial overgrowth

MAY HELP

  • Digestive enzymes (Zymax)
  • Bowel repair program (“Weed, Seed and Feed”)
  • Recommended: Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis

Hand Flapping

CONSIDER

  • Anxiety issues
  • Ammonia issues (esp if high protein diet)
  • Tryptophan depletion
  • Enzymes as a cause
  • Yeast issues

Hyperactivity

CONSIDER

  • Gluten, casein in diet
  • Phenolic foods
  • Salicylates
  • May be a problem with glutamate
  • Some children are more hyper before a bowel movement
  • Orange juice or citrus in general
  • Hypoglycaemia

MAY HELP

  • Omega-3 oils (unflavoured is best as some children react to the colours and flavours) (Nordic naturals Cod Liver Oil)
  • Zinc (Zymin)
  • Magnesium (NuroBalance)
  • Rescue remedy
  • Epsom salt baths/ cream
  • GABA
  • Taurine
  • Molybdenum
  • Frequent small nutritious snacks (blood sugar issues)

Mouth Licking

CONSIDER

  • Food sensitivities
  • Infection (ear, Strep throat)
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Combination of vitamin B6 and folic acid has reportedly caused this

Loose Stools

CONSIDER

  • Viruses, parasites or bacterial overgrowth in the bowels
  • Food sensitivities, esp wheat, milk and egg
  • Fruit juices (especially if sorbitol is an ingredient)
  • Faecal impaction

MAY HELP

  • Digestive enzymes (Zymax)
  • Probiotics
  • Folic acid (as Folinic acid)
  • Recommended: Comprehensive Digestive Stool Analysis

Night Sweats

BENEFIT

  • Food sensitivities (sulphites, phenols, high sulphur foods)
  • Amine overload
  • Liver issue
  • Zinc if too high

MAY HELP

  • Glycine
  • MB12
  • Magnesium sulphate (Epsom salt) cream

Noise Sensitivity

MAY HELP

  • Magnesium (NuroBalance)
  • Calcium

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

CONSIDER

  • Possible Strep throat infection (PANDAS)
  • Low serotonin
  • Undermethylation problem
  • Methionine in a supplement

MAY HELP

  • 5-hydroxytrypohan
  • Inositol (NuroBalance)

Separation Anxiety

CONSIDER

  • Yeast overgrowth
  • Leaky gut

MAY HELP

  • Anti-yeast protocol
  • Anti-Candida diet
  • Homeopathy

Sideways Glance


Child tends to look at things from the corner of their eyes.

MAY HELP

  • Cod liver oil (Nordic naturals Cod Liver Oil)

Problems Falling Asleep

CONSIDER

  • Gluten and casein in diet
  • Phenols in diet
  • Calcium supplement given at night-time
  • Some B group vitamins may cause poor sleep if given too late in the day

MAY HELP

  • Meal reversal; protein in the morning, carbohydrate at night
  • Epsom salt baths before bed
  • 5-hydroxytryptophan
  • Inositol (NuroBalance)
  • Melatonin

Problems Waking At Night

CONSIDER

  • Gluten and casein in diet
  • Phenols in diet
  • Parasites
  • Yeast
  • Reflux
  • Hypoglycaemia

Waking Screaming At Night

CONSIDER

  • Tomatoes or tomato products (salicylates) in diet
  • Sulphite preservatives
  • Reflux

Screaming

CONSIDER

  • Constipation
  • Pain
  • Food sensitivity (soy, high oxalate foods)
  • Yeast issues
  • Reaction to Diflucan
  • Reaction to supplements

MAY HELP

  • Zinc (Zymin)
  • Activated charcoal
  • GABA

Speech

CONSIDER

  • Gluten and casein in diet

MAY HELP

  • Omega-3 oils – high dose (Nordic naturals Cod Liver Oil)
  • DMG – Trial packs are available
  • TMG – Trial packs are available
  • Vestibular stimulation – such as swinging on a swing, or bouncing on a trampoline, while teaching speech
  • Singing

Teeth Grinding

CONSIDER

  • Parasites
  • Anxiety

MAY HELP

  • Zinc (Zymin)
  • Calcium citrate
  • Magnesium (NuroBalance)
  • Vitamin B5

Stimming

What are stimming behaviours? The following links explain stimming behaviour:
http://www.autism.org.uk/living-with-autism/understanding-behaviour.aspxstim.html

Biomedical reasons for stimming may be due to a number of issues including (but not limited to) yeast, bacteria, intolerance to some supplement, etc.

Visual Stimms

MAY HELP

  • Cod liver oil (Nordic naturals Cod Liver Oil)

 

For advice or to book a consultation for your child with an experienced practitioner, call (03) 8802 7687 or email me.