My son's autism label was replaced with expressive language disorder after heavy metal detoxification

a major source of heavy metals

After my son’s autism label was replaced with expressive language disorder after heavy metal detoxificationhttps://www.scarlettsouthauthor.com/my-sons-autism-label-was-removed-after-heavy-metal-detoxification/, which is outside of the autism spectrum, it made me wonder how many other kids have been mislabeled. According to the CDC, 1 in 59 children is on the autism spectrum. They go on to say that the increase is due to better diagnosing, or that maybe the incidence of African-American and Hispanic autistic kids is being better reported these days.

But maybe many of the kids being labeled as being autistic aren’t autistic at all, but have heavy metal poisoning, mostly in the form of mercury.

I worked at a camp in upstate New York last summer and encountered several kids who would sit in a corner by themselves and stare into space. The counselors would shake their heads and whisper behind their hands that the child was “on the spectrum.” I would do a double-take then exclaim, “No way!”

I know my autism by now. These kids were quiet and kept to themselves. Yeah, they were a little different from the other kids, but they functioned independently, didn’t exhibit any behavioral issues, and had no indication of an expressive language disorder. In other words, maybe a little quirky but certainly not autistic.

So, yes, maybe part of the dramatic increase in the rate of autism is corralling the “quirky” kids and placing them under the autism spectrum umbrella.

But if their autism is so mild that a person with vast experience with autistic kids can’t determine by looking at them that they’re on the autism spectrum, then maybe it isn’t autism at all, but something else. Something like heavy metal poisoning. Something more treatable.

Let’s look at some of the characteristics of autism, then compare them with the characteristics of heavy metal poisoning.

characteristics of autism:

1. language deficits

2. social skills deficits

3. GI issues such as diarrhea or constipation

4. sleep issues and anxiety

5. low muscle tone

6. neurological condition which can be reversed

characteristics of heavy metal poisoning:

1. language deficits

2. social withdrawal

3. incoordination and low muscle tone

4. anxiety and sleep disturbances

5. GI disturbances such as diarrhea or constipation

6. neurological damage which can be reversed

I’m attaching an article explaining the symptoms of autism vs. heavy metal (mercury) poisoning in more detail:

https://www.emedicinehealth.com/mercury_poisoning/article_em.htm#what_is_mercury_poisoning

My son Luke got his heavy metal poisoning from our farm. Our house is an old wooden structure built around the time of the Civil War, and our water came from an old well that was located next to a decrepit barn that stored chemicals used to spray the crops that surrounded the house.

A big clue that Luke had a medical condition instead of a neurological condition is that he had a twin who died at birth; his tiny body was badly damaged, and the doctors were stumped as to what had caused it.

Yet the doctors who labeled Luke as being autistic were in such a hurry to slap a label on him based on stereotypical characteristics, instead of doing a thorough medical work-up to rule-out other conditions, such as heavy metal poisoning.

If your child exhibits any of the above symptoms, or has been labeled as being autistic, I urge you to get him tested for heavy metals as soon as possible, and to get started on heavy metal detoxification by a qualified doctor who will monitor your child closely.

Be on the lookout for heavy metals especially if:

1. you live in a house built before 1970

2. your water comes from a well

3. you live in an agricultural area

4. you still have lead pipes

5. the mother ate a lot of fish while pregnant, namely tuna or halibut or shellfish, or has dental amalgams

Ask your doctor about getting your child tested for heavy metals, and if he blows you off by saying heavy metals have nothing to do with autism, then seek a qualified holistic or alternative doctor, if possible.

I’ve learned since I embarked on this autism journey that no one really knows what causes autism; the diagnosing of autism is for the most part an educated guess. I’ve learned to walk away from doctors who aren’t willing to explore other avenues… other reasons for my son’s behavioral and speech issues, namely expressive language disorder, other than lumping him into the autism spectrum.

Speaking of expressive language disorder…I’ll go into it in more detail on my next blog post.

Thanks so much for tuning in and see you next time! Scarlett

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scarlett

Scarlett South is a registered nurse, an autism specialist and the author of Autistic or Toxic? How I Unlocked the Mystery of My Son's "Autism." But her proudest achievement is her adult son, whom was once considered severely autistic, with talks of being placed in an institution, and whom is now an independent and productive member of society! Scarlett is based in Florida.