Scott Baker - My 8 year old son sees a DAN doctor and we have had GREAT results! When we first went, we did not tell any of his teachers what we were doing, within 2 weeks after seeing a DAN doctor, the teachers were asking us what we were doing different that this was a "completely new child". While I believe that each child on the spectrum is unique and different, some respond to the "evidence based" ABA (thats also how people teach a parrot to speak) You have to truely know your child and know what will work for him/her, and don't put all of your eggs into one basket, we mix it up! some ABA , some FLOORTIME, alot of the biomedical, because that is where we are seeing results. I was very skeptical as I work in the medical field and I know all about evidence based medicine, but remember, all of those therapies were once quackeries with no evidence to back it. Its a constant way of life that speach therapist and OT's and teachers that don't have a special needs child don't quite get because at the end of the day, you can walk away. Its not for everyone, but you have to be open to new SAFE ideas. when my child get to be a young man, I know that my wife and I can look him in the eye and tell him we gave him every chance to make it . stay strong and keep the faith!!
Melissa Jill :) - Hi Nina - thanks for your comment. All children with autism are different. There are definitely some who respond with great improvements from therapies but there are definitely some who have physical maladies associated with autism who are not as responsive to therapies until their physical symptoms are addressed. If a child is in pain, they will likely not be able to pay attention to a speech therapist. It's true that these interventions will only produce results in some children -- again each child with autism is different -- but it is true that all of these interventions have helped SOME.
Nina - As a speech therapist working for about 10 years and treating hundreds of autistic children I caution parents in putting all trust and faith in DAN doctors. I am sure that some have good intentions, but fear that many do not. There is a lot of money to be made from parents who will try ANYTHING to cure their children. I can't say that if I have an autistic child I wont try ANYTHING, but I do know that if I have to invest money I will do so in speech, occupational, behavioral, and/or developmental therapies. ABA professionals also. (Don't feel bad to change therapists -- find the best fit, most energetic, most compassionate, most experience -- I put this last because personality and drive to make a difference counts for SO much more than experience).
I have seen children with NO diet, chelation, vitamins, oxygen therapy, or any other quackery (sorry, I just can't be p.c. - it comes flowing out) learn MANY MANY new skills and develop into children that would be HARD TO RECOGNIZE AS AUTISTIC -- they went from the low end to the HIGH end of the spectrum.
I have seen children on ALL of the alternative therapies go for 2-3 years with little to no signs of progress. That is where I was very sad for the parents to be giving money to a DAN doctor with lots of great "answers". Vitamins that "improved articulation", among many other OUTRAGEOUS claims that made my blood boil.
My advice is to seek one on one ATTENTION -- keep them out of their "bubble" or "own world" as much as possible. How many hours of therapy did Jenny McCarthy's son get? -- but yet she attributes the changes to diet, etc.
I love every one of the autistic children that I ever treated dearly and just hope those doctors do, too.