Tools and Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Metametrix Institute Blogs

Sharing Paths to Health with Functional Testing

Cass Nelson-Dooley
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Lab Tests:
Conditions: autism, gastrointestinal disorders

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Tools and Treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Friday, 29 August 2008 12:00 by Cass Nelson-Dooley

Autism While some doctors say there is little hope for children diagnosed with ASD, the stories of many children who made major behavioral and quality of life improvements demonstrate that there is hope for modifying or minimizing the symptoms of autism. Integrative and functional medicine doctors often view ASD as inflammation of the GI tract and the nervous system. Some experts even call it “brain inflammation.” There may be many factors that predispose a child to autism. Nutritional deficiencies, toxic exposures, oxidative damage, gut dysbiosis, and allergenic foods are some of the factors which, if addressed with nutritional and dietary interventions, can relieve some if not all of the symptoms of ASD. This teleconference series explores the great successes seen in cases of autism when using blood, urine, and stool tests to individualize treatments.

Toxic Metal Assessment in Children with ASD
Listen to this discussion with Julie Matthews and David Traver, MD on the complicated topic of toxic metal assessment in children with ASD. Laboratory tests used to determine heavy metal exposure and toxicity are reviewed, especially urinary porphyrins and toxic elements in hair, urine, blood, and stool. View a PDF of the Case Study: Porphryins Tests in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
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GI Function Test in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Laboratory Testing Bowel disorders are a very common feature of ASD. Repairing and healing the GI tract is a key step in quelching inflammation and improving overall neurological health in children on the spectrum. Listen to Cass Nelson-Dooley, MS and Julie Matthews, CNC, discuss the “gut-brain connection” and the importance of stool tests in the clinical management of children with ASD.

View a PDF of the Case Study: GI Function Tests in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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Click player to stream audio...

Nutrition Intervention for Autism - 3 Part Series
Nutritional interventions have helped many children with ASD on their road to recovery and improved function. In this 3 part interview, Kara Fitzgerald, ND and Julie Matthews, CNC, discuss the common biochemical patterns seen in children with ASD. Blood and urine tests reveal biochemical abnormalities common in children with ASD. Treatments tailored to these results can bring about significant clinical improvements. View a PDF of the related slide presentation: Evaluating Methylation and Sulfuration in ASD children Using Functional Laboratory Testing
Click player to stream audio... Part I -
Part II -
Part III -

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Julie Matthews, a Certified Nutrition Consultant, is the author of Nourishing Hope and the show on Autism One Radio that goes by the same name.

You can learn more about Julie's Nourishing Hope program at her site http://www.nourishinghope.com/

David Traver, MD is a pediatrician who specializes in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), child psychiatry, and the biomedical treatments for children with ASD or other neuro-developmental challenges.

Cass Nelson-Dooley

Cass Nelson-Dooley is the Research Coordinator in the Science and Education Department at Metametrix Clinical Laboratory and educates clinicians about the use of laboratory data in patient care. She is co-author of, “Nutrient and Toxic Elements” in Laboratory Evaluations for Integrative and Functional Medicine. Ms. Nelson-Dooley completed a Fulbright scholarship and Master of Science in Ethnopharmacology. She has published in journals such as The Journal of Nutrition, Obesity Research, and Current Medicinal Chemistry.

Kara Fitzgerald received her doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Fitzgerald has a keen interest in understanding biochemical abnormalities found in autism spectrum disorders. Dr. Fitzgerald consults with clinicians worldwide to assist with laboratory metabolic profile interpretation and clinical interventions.

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