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Here are some of the questions that Anne has answered for people recently:

Q: Thank you so much for receiving questions and answering! We need to hear from as many experts as we can! My son is 8 years old and has Asperger's Syndrome. His pediatric neurologist prescribed glyconutrients for him and believes this will make a remarkable difference in his life. Have you heard of this new realm of science—glycoscience, and have you heard of any parents of ASD kids trying it? The products recommended by the Dr. are very expensive, but we are of course willing to try whatever may be of benefit to our son. I would just love to hear from other parents who may be trying this regimen of glyconutrients. Thanks

A: At this time, glyconutrients are not as yet scientifically proven and your best move at this time would be to get more information form you doctor, before going ahead with their use. To find out about glyconutrients, you can go to the following websites: www.autismrecovered.com and www.glycohealthservice.com. I do not know of any parents using these supplements, but you can find other parents who are using glyconutrients with their children with autism, try some of the online forums.:-) One is Braintalk Communities at: www.hastypasty.net/forums/archives/index.php.
Sincerely, Anne Carpenter

Q. What is your opinion on the GFCF Diet? I have a 21 month old boy who was just diagnosed with Autism and through talking with Autistic kids and doing research on the internet, it seems like this diet helps along with other therapies.

A. Because each child with autism is different, the GFCF Diet will work for one child, but have absolutely no effect on another. Studies on the GFCF Diet have shown mixed results, because of this. Before implementing –any- diet regimen with your child, consult with his doctor first, to get medical advice on this. Make sure that he is thoroughly evaluated, to be sure that this is safe to try. To find more information on the GFCF diet, you can go to: www.enabling.org-ia/celiac/aut/autintro.html, www.gfcfdiet.com, which has sections on how to get started, where to find support in your community when implementing the gfcf diet, questions about the diet, and unacceptable foods. Also, www.autism.about.com/od/gfcfdiet/ has a ton of links to click on. I hope this will help.:-)
Sincerely, Anne Carpenter

Q: I am looking for a residential psych hospital in the Lansing, MI area for my son that has Aspergers because now he is very angry and suicidal.

A: You need to call your local suicide hotline at: 517-351-4000 or 517-337-1717 right away! They can help your son and find psychiatric placement for him. If he has difficulty communicating his need, then he is communication through his behavior and you need to find out what has triggered this anger and unhappiness. How old is your son? Is he on any medications? He may be on too high a dosage, too many meds, or the wrong combination of meds. You can contact Daniel Fields, M.D. in Okemos at: 517-347-6944 or Luke Tsai, M.D. in Ann Arbor, at: 734-764-0234.
Sincerely, Anne Carpenter

Q: I have been hearing a lot lately about service dogs for children with Autism. I have an autistic child and would like info. on the dogs, can you help me? Thank you,

A: One resource would be Paws with A Cause, located in the Grand Rapids area. They train dogs nationally, to assist people with disabilities and they provide lifetime team support. You can call them at: 800-253-PAWS (7297) or 616-877-7297. In addition, you can contact Canine Companions for Independence, a non-profit organization that provides trained service dogs and to professional caregivers that provides pet-assisted therapy. Their number is: 800-572-2275 and Tender Loving Canines, an organization that provides service dogs that are custom-trained, for people with disabilities. Their number is: 760-736-4852. Although they are located in California, they may place dogs in other parts of the country. Service dogs are sometimes used with people on the autism spectrum, to help them pick up social cues and to keep them from running away. They can act as a "bridge" between the child with autism and the outside world, helping them to be more comfortable with the environment.:-) For more information, you can visit www.autism.about.com/cs/serviceanimals/1/blsvcsdog.htm.
Sincerely, Anne Carpenter

Q: I have a 3 year old son diagnosed with ASD in April. I have tried many ways of disciplining him nothing has worked, not time outs...corner...taking away a fun toy. He is totally out of control with tantrums and impulsive behaviors...any ideas???

A: There is any number of reasons why your son has been engaging in challenging behavior. First of all, does he have speech? If not, does he have an alternative form of communication? If not, then he is probably communicating his wants and needs through his behavior. He should have an alternative form of communication, such as the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), in which the child is taught to present a picture of what he wants or needs, in exchange for having that request met in such a way, that it becomes a form of communication. You can find out more about PECS by going to the Pyramid Educational Consultants website at: www.pecs.com. Also, does he have any sensory difficulties? If he is very sensitive to loud noises or odors, that can result in challenging behavior, as well. Your son should have a sensory evaluation, to determine if sensory processing therapy with an occupational therapist would help. Try contacting Sensory Systems Clinic in St. Clair Shores at: 586-293-7553. The Kaufman Children's Center for Speech and Language and Sensory Disorders, in West Bloomfield at: 248-737-3430, and the Abilities Center, in Walled Lake, at: 248-926-0909. Is your son on any medications? Is so, he may be on too many meds, the wrong meds, or the wrong combination of medications. If you think that he may be having medication issues, you can contact his doctor or contact Luke Tsai, M.D., of the University of Michigan. He is a psychiatrist who specializes in autism and he knows the ins and outs of medications for people with autism spectrum disorders. Other things to look at are whether or not there have been any sudden changes, such as a recent move, change in preschool, death in the family, etc. He may have great difficulty with sudden changes and transitions, so he must be informed before hand. One way to do this is through Social Stories, by Carol Gray, which are short written pieces about how a child with autism should behave, such as eating at a restaurant or when the family has to move. The Autism Society of Michigan sells Social Stories in its bookstore. You can go to our website at: www.autism-mi.org and download our general information packet on autism, bookstore list, membership form and workshop and conference brochures. You can order the Social stories book from our bookstore or borrow it from the lending library once you become a member. You can also contact the Macomb/St. Clair chapter at: 586-447-2235 and speak with them. Other things that you can look at are if he has enough structure in his life and if not, maybe a picture schedule would be helpful or whether he needs to have a change in his diet. You need to consult with his pediatrician about dietary issues. If you could tell us more about your son, we could better assist you in meeting his needs.:-)
Sincerely, Anne Carpenter