benruth

Hi My friend who is on gluten free diet told me Sainsbury's have quite a good range now, and she is trying them all out. The best tasting soya milk I've found is 'So Good' (fresh one, not longlife). When I went on a wheat and dairy free diet many years ago, I felt tired, irritable and felt really hungry, craving bread. This lasted for a few weeks. I really panicked at first because of the desperate need for wheat. I wonder if it is a good thing to introduce something else to replace the items you want to cut out (like rice cakes) well before stopping them completely and then do it gradually? Jan

Hi Tim, What oils do you like to use? I omitted to mention the ess oils because I cant use them in the research work! Some people with ASD can be very sensitive to the aromas. my son doesnt like me to use them on him. I am always careful to check whether people like the smells beforehand. Some floral waters being very gentle, I've found successful. One person with ASD and SLD that I work with responds very well to Neroli and rose floral waters sprayed on the wrist. My son finds foot massage while watching TV very calming. When he used to let me massage his back he wanted the pressure to be so firm it made my wrists ache! Adding to the list of phrases, my son's favourite one when he was 5 or 6 when he complained he couldnt get a signal on TV was "it's dizzing with dots'! Jan

Hi Sue, I am an aromatherapist and massage therapist. I teach parents and carers of children with special needs and disabilities to massage their children including ASD. There does seem to be changes in attention, improvements in communication and speech and lowered anxiety levels. Research is being carried out at the touch Research Institute in Miami. The book Touch Therapy by Tiffany Field is about their research. Coventry University is also involved in research in this country. I am a therapist involved in their research, and currently working with Children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. 1 or 2 of them have ASD traits. Has anyone been using massage with their child with ASD? I'm interested to know what benefits you notice. Jan

Thanks all you guys for the welcome! Look forward to reading and posting!

Hi everyone, I've really enjoyed reading the postings. Not yet grasped how everything works but will keep trying. I have a son age 13 and daughter age 11. My son was diagnosed with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in 1996. I always knew he was different since he was a baby, and he was extremely hard work from day 1. Eventually got a statement by year 5, then he refused to go to school and was out of school for 18 months. He now goes to a weekly boarding school which he never refuses to go to on Monday mornings so I take that as meaning he is happy there. He rarely talks about school (he cant remember things that have happened when he changes location so home and school life are kept totally seperate) He is very animated when he initiates conversation, which is usually about films, computer or PS2 games or science. Living with him before he went to boarding school was very stressful. Due to the pressure he felt from school, his verbal and physical aggression was becoming intolerable due to his rapid growth and increased strength. He is a changed person over the year he has been at his new school, more tolerant when he comes home at weekends and is now rarely physically or verbally abusive. Still struggling with getting him to attend to personal cleanliness, rarely brushes his teeth! When I send him to the bathroom he pretends to do it (wets toothbrush to fool me). Same with washing hair: wets his hair but wont use shampoo and hopes I dont notice. My daughter probably has ADHD (not diagnosed) doesnt sit still for a moment, plays sport every day and needs this to get rid of excess energy. She gets into trouble at school for fidgeting and distracting other kids and her teacher once described her as being like a 'Meercat'! I'm sure I will enjoy reading all your messages and getting to know everyone Jan