Editor's Note: We understand that are many perspectives and opinions on the causes of autism and disorders in the autism spectrum. The biomedical approach to a cure is just one, and J.L. Knopp shares her point of view here. You may use the Comments section to share your thoughts below.

Autism: A Biomedical Approach

Are you really “autism aware”?  Do you have an understanding about this condition and the discussions that surround it?  If you know little more than “1 in 150 children have autism,” you are not alone.  In spite of its prevalence, there is still much ground to be covered in informing our society about this epidemic.

In her book, Children With Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder, Dr. Jaquelyn McCandless explains:

“Autism is a condition often characterized by a failure to bond, lack of social interaction, avoidance of eye-to-eye contact, difficulties in language development, and repetitive behaviors known as ‘stimming’ (self-stimulation).  There are associated milder forms of this condition
such as Asperger’s Syndrome, PDD (Pervasive Developmental Disorders) and ADD/ADHD... These are all known collectively as Autism Spectrum Disorder(s), or ASDs” (1-2).

These days, most individuals personally know someone that lives with ASD.  For this reason, learning as much as we can about the causes and treatments surrounding the disorder should interest everyone. The simple fact is that if ASD hasn’t already touched the life of someone you know or love, understand that, at its current rate of manifestation, it probably will.  When it does, knowledge is your friend.  The task of acquiring solid facts, though, is not so easily accomplished.

Currently, there is a lot of conflicting information as well as a history of misguided theories concerning the causes of ASD.  As a result, there are also a wide variety of opinions on appropriately treating the condition.  But in the midst of it all, there is a message gaining support and increasing in volume: Autism is reversible.

A Message of Hope

The reason behind this message is the understanding that ASD is not merely the psychiatric or genetic condition that it was previously believed to be.  In many instances, the people with the disorder suffer from a host of medical problems such as gastrointestinal and metabolic dysfunction that are not hereditary and appear to cause the neurological symptoms exhibited.  This leads to the increasing collective belief that ASD is a biomedical illness that requires and -- in many cases can be effectively treated -- with biomedical intervention and behavioral therapy.  More specifically, this community of thought asserts that ASD is an environmental illness that may be caused by heavy metals, live viruses and/or bacterial infections.  When treated as such, recovery becomes a possibility.

The problem, in short, is not just “in the head” or “in the genes.”  The picture is much bigger. There is a growing body of evidence that shows when the physical conditions of ASD are treated through diet, nutrition, and sometimes detoxification protocols, the neurological and social syndromes improve for many of the afflicted. . . even reverse in some cases.  And that evidence is taking the form of thousands upon thousands of recovered children.

In the last year, Jenny McCarthy and Jim Carrey have taken up the banner of this message and heralded it around the country.  Witnessing the reversal of her own son’s autism diagnosis through biomedical intervention and behavioral therapy, Jenny brings a message of hope to those who are willing to listen.  She has written a number of books that cover the topic in a way that grabs you while she dispenses easy-to-understand explanations of ASD.  These books do not overwhelm the reader with complicated medical terminology and physiologic instruction, and yet they are highly informative and worthwhile:

Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism documents her personal journey with her son into autism and back out again.

Mother Warriors: A Nation of Parents Healing Autism Against All Odds details the stories of other parents who have been able to recover their children from autism and highlights the fact that the path to recovery is different for every child.

Healing and Preventing Autism: A Complete Guide walks the reader through diagnosis and therapy options that range from simple changes in environment and diet to ones that can be done alongside a qualified medical professional.

The thing to grasp here is that the parents with afflicted children are dealt a powerful blow upon diagnosis.  They often are barely surviving under the crushing weight of grief and stress.  A strong support system is a crucial part of keeping these families intact and improving their quality of life, and that is where the population of informed special-needs aunties, godmothers and others are needed.  

Godmommy Takes a Biomedical Approach

Being the godmother of an autistic child whose family sought answers from a biomedical perspective, I can tell you that the learning curve is steep and time is not always on your side.  I was caught flat-footed when I was thrown into the role of special-needs godmommy.  I knew very little about ASD, and I knew nothing about the possibility of recovery.  Had I been informed about this message of hope and the treatments that give it credibility, I would have been more effective in practically assisting my loved ones during a time when they needed it most.  Fortunately, I did discover that it is never too late to learn, and no time is like the present. Should you already be an auntie of a child with ASD, you need to know the same.

For those that are interested in learning more about the biomedical view of ASD, there are any number of books available that discuss modified diets, environmental factors and detoxification protocols as well as resources for finding qualified medical help.  My personal opinion is that Jenny McCarthy’s books are a great starting point for understanding this side of the matter.  But there are also a number of online resources that provide a wealth of information in addition to call centers and can help you play a more helpful role in the lives of your loved ones.  Here are a few that are particularly good:

Generation Rescue: an international movement of scientists, physicians and parent-volunteers researching the causes and treatments for autism and mentoring thousands of families in recovering their children from autism. http://www.generationrescue.org/

Autism Research Institute a non-profit organization devoted to conducting research on the triggers of autism, methods of diagnosis and treatment as well as providing research-based information to parents and professionals.

TACA: an organization that provides information, resources and support to families affected by autism with the goal of speeding up the cycle time from the autism diagnosis to effective treatments.

The biomedical approach to autism is not simple or easy.  In fact, it often involves a complete lifestyle change for the family involved.   But as a special-needs auntie who is armed with information and “awareness,” you can be an extra set of eyes, ears and hands that are desperately needed in the midst of this transition.  You can also be another brain that assists in gathering research for an individualized treatment protocol that is so critical in the path to recovery.  Be assured that your contribution in this way can very literally make the world a very different place for your precious niece or nephew that has been diagnosed with ASD.


McCandless, Jaquelyn, MD.  Children with Starving Brains: A Medical Treatment Guide for Autism Spectrum Disorder (2nd edition).  United States of America: Bramble Books, 2003.