Does Your Child Have GI Symptoms?
Up to 80% of kids with autism exhibit GI symptoms- constipation, diarrhea, boating, reflux or abdominal pain.
This usually stems from a leaky gut due to many reasons such as toxins, food sensitivities, dysbiosis, medications and autoimmunity.
Often, when the gut is treated, we’ll see improvement in ASD symptoms due to the gut-brain connection.
The gut can be analyzed through looking at a urine organic acids test for metabolites of bacterial and yeast metabolism and through stool testing such as GI MAP or GI Effects evaluating microbes, inflammation, digestion and absorption.
The 4R protocol is often used to address the permeable gut:
Remove the offending agents
Replace deficiencies such as stomach acid and digestive enzymes
Re-inoculate with probiotics to repopulate the beneficial bacteria
Repair gut lining with supplements like glutamine and slippery elm that promote healing
This functional approach can take some time for the gut to heal, so be patient.
Always consider the gut even if your child is not having GI symptoms.
They may not be able to articulate what’s bothering them and behaviors could intensify due to GI distress.
This was the case with my son, and once we controlled his ulcerative colitis, his behaviors improved dramatically.
I try to evaluate the gut in all of my clients, since it’s so often a source of trouble for our kids and a root cause in triggering or exacerbating ASD symptoms.
