President John Kennedy once said, “To those whom much is given, much is expected.”
The definition of much is relative depending on the circumstances that one comes from, sometimes it is simply being able to give the necessities, such as a hot meal and being able to share it with others.
Recently our staff took part in Feed the Hungry with Hope Ministries in South Bend. (Pictured above is Gregg Maggioli, Leila Allen, Emily Renee Parsons and Torri Larkins.)
The families we served were very thankful and the experience was a gratifying one for all of us. Lighthouse will continue to support Hope Ministries with volunteer efforts and purchasing food for the mission.
If you would like to help us and Hope help the community please take a look at their list of Urgently Needed Items and donate what you can today. They also are always in need of volunteers, find out more about volunteering here.
How Do I Know if My Autistic Child is Suffering from Yeast Overgrowth?
Autism is a disorder that affects the mind, leading to slow and improper development of some social or motor skills as the child grows. Some symptoms can be caught in the child’s fetal stages but most families discover their child’s disorder through behaviors that arise as the child reaches toddler age.
While there is no cure in sight and no definite idea of what causes Autism yet, scientists have made strides in trying to help families with Autistic children to increase their child’s brain activity on a biological level to encourage growth through learning techniques and therapies. Several years ago, it was proposed and accepted by scientists and doctors across the nation that an overgrowth of yeast in the both can amplify the symptoms of Autism in children and adults. This overgrowth in the body is harmful in all people but becomes particularly disturbing in regards to Autism as it could be hindering the child’s mental development. Yeast overgrowth is a medical issue common to autism that can cause sleep disturbances, sensory issues, hyperactivity, picky eating, stimming, and more.
How Do I Know if My Autistic Child is Suffering from Yeast Overgrowth?
Some of the behavioral signs of a yeast overgrowth include:
ADHD and other hyperactivity
Issues with Sleep or Night Walking and fatigue
Random flapping of hands or walking on their toes or increased stimming
Uncontrollable fits of laughter that have no source
“Spacey” behavior including inattentiveness and difficulty concentrating
“Fogginess” or poor cognition
There are also strictly medical signs to watch out for as well:
Constant or frequent ear, nose or throat infections
Bed wetting or other accidents
Foul smelling gas and stools
Bloated belly and/or gastrointestinal pain
Constipation
Signs of yeast on the body such as in rashes or under fingernails or a white tongue
Constant cravings for food containing high amounts of sugar or carbohydrates
How Do I Decrease the Levels of Yeast in My Child’s Body?
One of main causes of modern yeast overgrowth is a child’s overexposure to yeast at a young age. Prenatal doctors are currently trying to combat this by helping expecting mothers implement a new diet plan that is high in raw nutrients and low in yeast and processed foods.
The constant use of antibiotics is another factor. Antibiotics not only kill the bad bacteria but also the good bacteria that helps the body process yeast safely and naturally.
The best way to combat yeast overgrowth in the body is to safely make changes to the not only the child’s diet but the diet of the family a whole. Focus on eating more fermented foods such as yogurt to increase the amount of good bacteria in the body and keep the yeast at bay. Yeast feeds on sugar. Limiting sugar intake can help prevent yeast overgrowth.
Make sure to contact a medical professional before making any drastic changes. They may be able to recommend alternative treatments or options to help get your child’s yeast levels under control, especially if the child is Autistic as yeast exacerbates the symptoms of Autism and inhibits brain function development.
It is that time of year where everyone is looking for fun activities to do outdoors. A favorite past time for many, especially kids, is bike riding. For many children with special needs bike riding doesn’t come easily. Having to coordinate steering, pedaling and balancing is often a difficult task for most children to begin with. Children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, autism spectrum disorder or other similar conditions may never be able to ride a two wheeler on their own.
However an adaptive bike will allow you and your child to enjoy bike riding together. There are a number of really good options out there, the key is finding the solution that works best for you and your child. While Lighthouse Autism Center doesn’t endorse any one particular brand or device over another, here are a few that we thought might be helpful based on reviews. These range in prices go from under a hundred dollars up to $7,000.
What started out as an event organized by two Adams High School students sprung from the love they have for their aunt turned into a rallying of the community on a personal and professional level.
Enrolment Now Open for Lighthouse Autism Center Warsaw, Indiana
The Warsaw center will be located at 1535 Provident Drive, Warsaw, IN 46580 in the Bowen Center Building.
Lighthouse Autism Center (LAC) utilizes Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), an intensive therapy that focuses on the principles and techniques of learning theory to help improve social behavior. ABA therapy helps to develop new skills, shape and refine previously learned skills, and decrease socially significant problem behaviors. Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is the only Autism therapy that is endorsed by the US Surgeon General because of the decades of research supporting it.
ABA therapy at Lighthouse is conducted in a 1:1 setting (1 therapist working with 1 child). Each child goes through an in depth assessment conducted by a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and other clinical team members to determine their current skill set and what skills might need to be improved upon.
Give us a call today at 574-387-4313 to see how Lighthouse Autism Center can help your child with Autism reach his or her fullest potential.
It is estimated that one in 100 children in America are born with one of the various forms of Autism. So many, in fact, that public health officials have declared it a national health emergency. While intense treatments and specialized schools are expensive and difficult to get into, the government is now requiring public schools to offer educational options for Autistic students.
Autism is a spectrum disorder facing about one in every 44 American children, boys being four times more likely to be diagnosed with autism than girls. The causes of Autism are still unknown but research indicates that genetics are involved in the vast majority of cases. In the last few years, scientists have been able to identify the early signs in toddlers. Various forms of Autism can now be identified from the womb but the other symptoms are definitive before the child reaches three years of age.
While there is no one cause for autism, some specialists believe that a diet high in nutrients can help to increase brain function in autistic children to ensure a greater chance of normal development.
Common nutrient insufficiencies in autistic children were folic acid, fiber, calcium, iron, zinc, as well as vitamins A, C, D, E, B6, B12, and K. Food aversions or sensitivities cause some children to have too much or too little of certain nutrients.
Can a Raw Food Diet Benefit Children with Autism?
The Raw Food Diet was created in the late 1800s around the fact that the longer food is cooked, the more of its nutrients it loses. Therefore raw food is not cooked above 116 degrees Fahrenheit to keep it at its peak. People who follow the Raw Diet are often known as Vegans meaning that their diet is free of meat, dairy and eggs. About 75% to 80% of what raw foodists eat each day will be plant-based foods.
Prenatal doctors are starting to recommend that mothers-to-be change their diet to be 75% Raw. A complete overhaul of a personal diet is never a safe move but setting up a diet plan with a doctor is one step specialists are taking to help reduce a child’s risk of autism after birth. By increasing the amount of vitamins and minerals in a mother’s food intake while reducing the amount of toxins and preservatives in the prenatal stages can help to increase the fetus’s brain functions.
A raw food diet typically contains a lot of familiar foods that are considered nutritious choices, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, sprouted legumes, sprouted grains, and fermented foods.
Some examples for raw foods include but are not limited to:
Raw and dried fruits and vegetables
Oats
Wild Rice
Quinoa
Wheat germ
Chickpeas
Lentils
Avocados
Raw coconut oil or butter
Raw flaxseed oil
Raw honey
Seeds and nuts
Kimchi
Sauerkraut
What Benefits Does a Raw Food Diet Provide to Children with Autism?
Even after birth, doctors recommend keeping the child on a 75% Raw diet. As a child, it is important to increase the child’s nutrient intake and the enzymes found in raw foods help to increase digestion to increase vitamin absorption in the body.
Vitamins such as Vitamin E and B3 are found in most greens and increase blood circulation to the brain. The Raw Diet also reduces the intake of refined sugars and flours which can aggravate symptoms of autism in most children.
Raw food diets also are typically high in fiber, supporting healthy digestion and low in sodium.
What Risks are Involved in Changing to the Raw Diet?
The Raw Diet is not a change that can be made in one day. It takes research and careful planning with the aid of a healthcare professional, especially for expecting mothers and young children. The diet needs to be based around whole grains and legumes that will provide the nutrients and protein needed to replace meats and dairy. Vitamin B12, the most essential vitamin to the human body, is difficult to find in a Raw diet so it is important that it is safely supplemented.
Switching to a Raw diet, even a 75% Raw diet, takes time and effort but studies have shown that it is well worth it in the fight against autism. Please speak to your doctor to determine if a raw food diet is right for you and your child with autism.
Part of our efforts to raise awareness during the month of April included two spots on WNDU’s Moms Everday. Take a moment and listen to what Lisa DelPrete (LAC Family Outreach Coordinator) and Sandy Maggioli (co-founder) had to say about the importance of early intervention and signs and symptoms of autism.
Few parents would argue that taking your child out to eat can be a challenging experience. When your child has autism that challenge is often magnified tenfold, the dirty looks from other patrons, the misinterpretation of behaviors, snide remarks about how you should better “control” your child.
It would be great if other people would demonstrate kindness and understanding. The fact is that you can’t control the reactions of others. That doesn’t mean you can’t take your child out to eat. Here are a few tips that you can use to make eating out a more enjoyable experience for your child and your family.
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — Some studies say as many as 1 in 50 children have autism. The Lighthouse Autism Center on Edison Lakes Parkway in Mishawaka is working to educate parents on the early signs of autism. Early intervention can mean a better outcome for the child.
When Lisa Del Prete, a mother of six, heard the word autism she says she was in denial.
She noticed her fifth child just wasn’t acting like the others, but she told herself to just “wait and see.”
Now she wishes she had taken action much earlier.
“I was scared. I didn’t want to tell anyone. I didn’t know what it meant. I didn’t even know who to call,” said Lisa Del Prete.
If you find yourself in this situation, please visit our Early Intervention page to learn about what signs to look for and what steps to take.
New research shows that we are no longer at 1 in 88. The national average is 1 in 50. One out of every 50 kids born this year will be diagnosed with Autism.
More than AIDS, cancer and diabetes combined.
Research shows that Early Intervention offers these children the best outcome.
Here, at Lighthouse Autism Center, we are making it our mission this month to spread the word about Autism and provide families that resources they have long been without.
Lighthouse is sponsoring a number of Public Service Announcements that will run on Sunny 101.5 and Oldies 94.3.
For the month of April we have partnered with WNDU to raise awareness through television and the WNDU.com homepage.
Lighthouse is also helping the Climb Project Foundation with their fundraiser. Climb Project Foundation was created by parents of a child with Autism. Their mission is to raise money to help families in our area get the help they need.
If you would like to help Lighthouse and the Climb Project spread hope and help as many families living with Autism in our area as possible, give us a call to see how you can help.
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Is your child diagnosed with autism?
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We’re here to help.
Lighthouse Autism Center offers ABA therapy for children with autism. Contact us to learn how our innovative clinical model can help your child make greater progress, faster, all while having fun.
