With Autism being one of the neurotypical disorders that has the highest number of diagnoses in India and globally, researchers are continually working on finding new effective treatments for the disorder. New treatment ways, therapies, and strategies are discovered and implemented so that symptoms of Autism can be decreased or faded away.
One of the research shows that children diagnosed with ASD, who took Omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins as additional dietary supplements, were seen to have fewer Autism symptoms as compared to those who did not. In one research, 27 trials were performed to gather data that involved 1028 children who were diagnosed with ASD. Out of these 1028 children, some were randomly chosen and fed numerous dietary supplements on a regular basis. Their dietary supplements included Omega-3S and vitamins. Some other children out of the rest were fed with dummy pills.
In comparison to those who were fed with a dummy pill, it was found that Vitamin and omega-3s supplements showed better improvement in results in terms of functions, symptoms, Paediatrics research report and clinical domains. The lead author of the research, Dr. David Fragus said, “These results suggest that some dietary interventions could play a role in the clinical management of some areas of dysfunction specific to ASD.” He further added, “The underlying mechanisms involved in the potential efficacy of dietary interventions in autism spectrum disorder are unknown. Our study does not assess this important question, and current literature is inconclusive.”
Based on the findings of the research, it was seen that supplementing the diet with Vitamins and Omega-3S yields improved results in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum disorder. However, Dr. Fraguas agreed that it is premature to suggest parents and caregivers to start feeding Omega 3 fatty acids and vitamins as supplements to their children diagnosed with the disorder.
On a general note it is best to ensure that the child’s diet consists of all nutrients, vitamins, and minerals that can help the development of the body and mind. However, in most of the cases, it is seen that children with ASD have several concerns related to feeding. Some of the common concerns include difficulty in transitioning from food with one texture to a food with different textures, restricted eating due to food temperature, packaging, texture, smell, and color, and other related issues. Due to such restrictions, it may become a bit challenging to keep the child well fed. To make sure that the child’s diet consists of all the required minerals and vitamins, you can consult a paediatrician. Further, to deal with eating challenges faced by the child, the parent or caregiver can adopt these strategies.
- Children with ASD like to follow a structured routine. So it is best to serve the meals at the exact same time, situation and place every day.
- Use flashcards to communicate food schedules and timetables to the child. These can include the food they’d be eating, the time when they would eat, and the place as well. Adding predictability to their meal times can help eating occasions less anxious for them.
- Try to establish a comfortable, positive and calm environment when the food is served.
- Some children tend to get distracted by a mic or television channel running in the background and may not eat properly. While others diagnosed with ASD may eat more with such a distraction. Being a parent of the child, you are the best person to judge and understand the preference of your child and so, you can set up the meal times accordingly.
Changing the dietary intake of the child can be a slow and gradual process, and you need to be patient and consistent throughout the way. Also, as every child is unique, it is possible that a strategy that works on one kid with ASD may not work with a different child diagnosed with the same disorder. For this, behavior modification strategies can be adapted and practiced regularly with the child. Through a range of strategies and techniques, Autism Spectrum disorder can be cured. Reach out for help to an Autism center for treatment of the child diagnosed with ASD.
An Autism treatment centre has a team of expert professionals, including Occupational therapists, speech therapists, special educators, child psychologists, and others who can together work towards encouraging better development in your child and in fading the symptoms. An Autism treatment centre can also help with a structured diet chart that is best suited for your child’s nutritional needs. If you are a caregiver or a parent and are looking for an Autism centre for treatment for a child diagnosed with ASD near your location, you can browse for it online. For instance, if you are looking for a good Autism treatment centre in Delhi, you can type in your web browser, “autism centre in Delhi,” and you would be able to see several options. This way, you can schedule an appointment and with therapies and support, much improvement can be seen in the child.
