| Every year, the number of autism sufferers rises | | | | and touch, better eye contact, improved social |
| around the globe, and as a reaction to this | | | | skills, less aggressive behaviors, and a wider |
| growth, the medical industry and the alternative | | | | overall appreciation of food. |
| medicine industry have both reacted by taking on | | | | Taking those autism research a step further is |
| this mental disorder through an array of different | | | | the Music Therapy Department of the ASU |
| forms of autism experiments. These tests come | | | | School of Music. These tests involve investigations |
| in many different forms, but all have the same | | | | into the way that different sounds and forms of |
| ultimate goal: allowing autism sufferers to live | | | | music impact autism sufferers and how they may |
| happy lives and function at their fullest. | | | | be used to encourage desirable behaviors and |
| Autism experiments currently under way include | | | | functions. This program uses these different |
| carnosine supplements, light and sound, music, and | | | | sounds very carefully for specific circumstances |
| diet. These tests are being performed on children | | | | with the hopes of particular results. |
| and adults alike. | | | | Different music types are applied, as well as more |
| Carnosine is a protein that is now receiving | | | | basic noises such as clapping hands or the ringing |
| attention from researchers interested in studying | | | | of a bell. In the case of the more simplistic noises, |
| autism. Dr. Chez of Chicago is using the synthetic | | | | the result is usually the ability for the autism |
| form of carnosine, called L-carnosine, to | | | | sufferer to regain focus after concentration has |
| supplement the diet of autism sufferers. | | | | been lost. Other favorable results include better |
| He initially carried out a double blind 8-week trial | | | | communication, a higher level of overall function, |
| where those children receiving the L-carnosine | | | | and better interactions with others. |
| supplements showed improvement in varying | | | | When it comes to experiments that deal with |
| degrees, including better socialization and | | | | diet, one of the most prominent includes the |
| communication, augmented awareness of their | | | | gluten-free, casein-free (GFCF) diet, which, as the |
| surroundings, better use and comprehension of | | | | name suggests, eliminates gluten and casein |
| language, more eye contact, and improved fine | | | | entirely from the autism sufferer's diet. Gluten is |
| motor planning. The children who were given | | | | protein found in wheat, barley, and rye and casein |
| placebos showed no significant improvement. | | | | is a milk protein. |
| The 31 children who took part in the trial were | | | | Parents, doctors, and sufferers alike have |
| assessed, using various autism rating scales, at | | | | witnessed improvements of varying degrees |
| both the beginning and of the eight-week period | | | | including better communication. Digestion appears |
| and parents were also interviewed for their | | | | to be easier and more effective on this diet as |
| opinions. In Dr Chez's study sixteen percent of | | | | well, as the number of cases of diarrhea and |
| cases saw improvements in their communication | | | | loose stools are decreased. Increased eye |
| and behavior, and twenty seven percent had | | | | contact, better focus and overall disposition have |
| better socialization. | | | | also been reported alongside reductions in |
| More research is required on the impacts of | | | | tantrums, self-stimulatory and aggressive |
| supplementing with L-carnosine. | | | | behaviors. |
| DAVID - the digital audio visual integration device - | | | | Currently underway is a long-term double-blind |
| is a machine used by Mind Alive in order to send | | | | study that is looking at the impacts on autistic |
| sound pulses and flashing lights to participants in | | | | behavior when following a GFCF diet - the results |
| their autism experiments, to produce different | | | | are due out in 2008. |
| results. The thought is that by stimulating the | | | | Stay up to date with the latest autism research |
| visual and auditory receptors, parts of the brain | | | | news by signing up for the Autism newsletter |
| will also be stimulated in a controlled way. | | | | below. |
| To different degrees, participants have | | | | There are approximately 12 studies a week |
| experienced a reduction in their autism symptoms | | | | published on autism and every year brings |
| through desensitization to different auditory and | | | | another list of new strategies and autism |
| visual problems that are common to the disorder. | | | | experiments to help sufferers gain functionality |
| They include decreasing hypersensitivity to sound | | | | and quality of life. |