IEP Checklist App iPhone Release,
    www.peatc.org

    Coming April 2, 2010, Dr. Bob's definitive guide,
    The Autism Book: What Every Parent Needs to
    Know About Early Detection, Treatment,
    Recovery, and Prevention. Available at www.
    Amazon.com

    Autism has become one of the most widespread
    childhood epidemics in recorded history. Except
    for some infectious disease epidemics of the
    past, no other serious condition has ever
    affected 1 in 100 children (1 in 58 boys). What
    makes it so devastating for parents is that autism
    seems to strike unexpectedly out of nowhere; a
    healthy and neurologically normal infant can
    suddenly regress into autism between age 1 and
    2. Some toddlers don't regress; they simply stop
    progressing through normal social and language
    milestones. Some infants seem to be born with
    autism, displaying some characteristics right
    from the start that eventually lead to a diagnosis.

    We don't yet know what causes autism. There are
    many theories, yet with all the research
    currently underway we are still far from
    answering this question. We do, however, know a
    great deal about how to treat autism and how to
    help children recover. That is what The Autism
    Book is all about.

    If you are the parent of a child newly diagnosed
    with autism or have a child with borderline
    development whom you worry may be at risk for
    autism, I will show you how you can best help
    your child minimize future developmental
    challenges. If you are a new parent with a
    healthy baby, I will show you what factors may
    possibly increase a baby's risk of developing
    autism and how you can best minimize these risks.

    Early recognition and intervention are perhaps
    the most important aspects of successful autism
    treatment. Waiting until a child's minor
    developmental delays are diagnosed as autism
    before treatment is initiated does that child, and
    his family, a great disservice. In Chapter 1, I
    explain all the signs and symptoms of autism so
    you can make a diagnosis (or at least develop a
    suspicion) at the earliest possible age and early
    intervention can begin.

    There are many developmental and behavioral
    therapy approaches that have been proven
    effective in the majority of children with autism.
    These include speech and language therapy,
    occupational and sensory integration therapy,
    applied behavioral analysis therapy, social
    developmental therapy, and several others. I
    discuss these treatments in detail in Chapter 6
    and show you how to access them so you can begin
    your child's recovery. I also discuss certain
    psychiatric and behavioral medications that have
    been shown to decrease some symptoms of autism
    and improve behavior and learning.

    There are also a number of medical, nutritional,
    and vitamin-based treatments that have been
    shown not only to improve symptoms, but to
    address some of the possible underlying medical
    and biological causes of autism. Together, these
    treatments are called the biomedical approach.
    Although the biomedical treatments may appear
    unproven or alternative, they are based on solid
    scientific principles, as I will demonstrate to
    you. Many of the treatment steps in the
    biomedical approach can be done without a
    doctor's prescription, and in Part IV, I show you
    how to start your child safely on these
    treatments with support from educated parents
    in your area. I will also explain how to find a
    biomedical doctor, or how to approach your own
    pediatrician or family doctor, so you can try
    some of the prescription treatments.

    Underlying all of these treatment options
    remains the question of causation. There are two
    main schools of thought: The most common theory
    within the mainstream medical community holds
    that autism is caused by a combination of genetic
    susceptibility and environmental toxic exposure.
    The biomedical community believes this as well,
    but we also suspect that there is more to the
    picture. We believe that there are a number of
    medical, nutritional, allergic, and infectious
    conditions that can also contribute to autism. In
    Chapter 5, I explain how you can have your child
    medically tested to look for the variety of
    possible causes.

    I have been learning about biomedical treatments
    for autism since 2000. I have helped over 500
    families begin this approach and have personally
    witnessed fantastic results. But these ideas are
    not yet accepted by the general medical
    community as legitimate treatments for autism.
    There is already some good research that
    supports these biomedical protocols, but many
    more years of study need to be done before they
    become part of mainstream medicine and get
    taught in medical schools. The biomedical
    treatment approach does not help every child. In
    my experience, I have seen children recover to
    the point where they are virtually "normal." I
    have also seen children improve to the extent
    that most people do not notice anything is unusual
    about them; there might be some minor "quirks"
    still apparent to some observers. Some children
    who follow these treatments only show minor
    improvement. And I have had a few patients show
    no improvement at all. Every year we learn more
    and more about the biomedical approach. New
    treatments are discovered, current ones are
    refined, and older treatments are proven. Some
    treatment ideas don't pan out and are discarded.

    Because most biomedical treatments are not FDA
    approved for the treatment of autism, many
    parents would naturally worry about their
    safety. In my opinion, all of the treatment
    options that I discuss in this book that do not
    require a prescription are safe. They involve
    nutritional supplements, dietary changes, and
    natural treatments that anyone can do without a
    doctor's involvement. On the other hand, there
    are some prescription treatments in the protocol
    that do have an element of risk (just like all
    prescription treatments in any area of medicine).
    These can (and should) only be done under the
    careful guidance of a physician.

    Even though mainstream medicine does not
    endorse the biomedical approach, the powers that
    be have taken notice and expressed some
    interest. The American Academy of Pediatrics
    has met with the leaders of Defeat Autism Now
    organization, as well as other biomedical groups,
    to discuss the protocol. The AAP also sends
    representatives to biomedical conferences to
    listen to the information. As a long-time member
    of both the AAP and Defeat Autism Now, I hope
    to see this relationship blossom into a
    partnership someday soon.

    Because the biomedical approach targets
    treatable causes of autism, this raises the
    possibility of autism prevention. If we know (or
    suspect) what is causing autism, theoretically we
    should be able to lower the risk of autism by
    limiting and avoiding these causes. This is useful
    information for every new baby, and it is even
    more critical for any baby born with an older
    sibling with autism who already has the genetic
    cards stacked against him. In Chapter 14, I
    explain how you can limit these possible causative
    factors during pregnancy, infancy, and young
    childhood as best as you can and lower your
    childrens' risk of autism.

    Autism leaves families feeling isolated and
    overwhelmed. You can't do this alone. You must
    have support from other parents who are also
    going through this. My favorite parent support
    organization is TACA – Talk About Curing
    Autism – at www.TACAnow. org. Throughout this
    book I suggest specific areas in which your local
    TACA group can help you navigate through the
    various aspects of your child's treatment. Many
    parents have gone through what you are going
    through right now. They can help you get started.
    And you, in turn, can help parents in the future.

    I've seen this protocol work over and over again.
    In my 10 years of treating autism as a
    pediatrician and biomedical practitioner, I've
    never personally seen any child harmed by these
    treatments. The clock is ticking on every child
    with autism. Children need these treatments now.
    Many years from now science will either validate
    or invalidate each of the treatment steps. In the
    meantime, you can rest assured that you've done
    everything you can to help your child recover. I
    wish you and your child all the best as you start
    on your journey.

    CONTENTS
    Introduction
    Part I – Diagnosing Autism
    1 – Symptoms and early detection
    2 – Pediatrician screening
    3 – Referral to specialists for full assessment
    and diagnosis Part II – Causes of Autism
    4 – What causes autism? Mainstream and
    biomedical theories
    5 – Testing to evaluate all possible causes Part
    III – Treating Autism
    6 – Behavioral, developmental, and educational
    therapies
    7 – Prescription medications for autistic
    symptoms
    8 – An overview of the biomedical approach
    9 – Diet changes
    10 – Vitamin and Nutritional Supplements
    11 – Treating yeast and bacterial infections
    12 – More advanced treatment options
    13 – Treating associated medical problems
    14 – Case studies
    15 – Putting it all together: Dr. Bob's ten-step
    program
    Part IV – Preventing autism
    16 – Prevention for your future children
    Conclusion: Recovery Resources
    Acknowledgments Index

    In Praise of The Autism Book

    "Autism has many facets, from behavioral to
    educational to medical, and parents working for
    the best possible future for their children need
    a lot of options. Dr. Sears covers the territory
    broadly, fairly, clearly, with suitable
    precautions, and in very useful detail."—Martha
    Herbert, MD, PhD, assistant professor of
    neurology at Harvard Medical School and
    pediatric neurologist at Massachusetts General
    Hospital

    "Dr. Sears has made another valuable addition to
    the Sears Parenting Library. The Autism Book is
    an easy-to-read, comprehensive, information-
    filled resource for parents of children with
    autism spectrum disorders."—Kenneth A. Bock,
    MD, author of Healing the New Childhood
    Epidemics: Autism, ADHD, Asthma, and Allergies.

    "Dr. Bob Sears has written a gem of a book
    geared toward parents, but extremely useful for
    professionals as well. In parent-friendly
    language, he provides a road map for parents of a
    child with autism, as well as those who may be
    questioning whether their child is developing
    typically. The biomedical chapters are incredibly
    informative, and, together with the educational-
    therapeutic intervention chapter, they lead you
    down a path of empowerment through knowledge.
    As a neurodevelopmental pediatrician, I know I
    will be referring to the biomedical section often
    and encouraging every one of my families with a
    child with an autism spectrum diagnosis to buy
    this book!"--Marilyn C. Agin, MD, FAAP,
    neurodevelopmental pediatrician and coauthor of
    The Late Talker .

    "The Autism Book by Dr. Robert Sears presents
    a clear, concise plan for the treatment of autism.
    Dr. Sears has covered a very complex topic and
    has done the ground work for concerned parents
    and practitioners. He thoroughly discusses a
    myriad of topics including the basics on vaccines,
    information on the diagnosis of autism, and
    therapies from routine medical and behavioral to
    the more complex biomedical. This is a must read
    for anyone interested in the care of the child in
    the autism spectrum."—Stephanie F. Cave, MD,
    author of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You
    About Children's Vaccinations .

    "Dr. Bob has done it again! The Autism Book is an
    important resource for both new and
    experienced parents of children with autism. Dr.
    Bob's balanced, integrative approach is a much
    needed fresh take on how we should confront the
    most troubling health epidemic of our times."—
    Lawrence D. Rosen, MD, FAAP, founder of The
    Whole Child Center, Oradell, NJ

    "This is a solid, accessible book by a wise
    pediatrician and teacher and, most important, a
    doctor who really practices the art of listening
    to his patients." Sidney M. Baker, MD, Co-author
    of Autism: Effective Biomedical Treatments, Co-
    founder of the Defeat Autism Now! Project and
    The Autism Research Institute, and founder of
    www.Autism360.org
                              
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