How long does it take to progress in speech?

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The timeframe for speech to begin to occur is highly variable. It depends on the child’s age, the severity of autism, and any other potential underlying issues such as cerebral palsy, apraxia, or a stroke.nnWhat is important to remember is that before a child can begin to speak, they must first learn to understand spoken w ds. Receptive language skills must always improve in a meaningful manner before expressive language skills can be noted.nnRemember to look at the process, not an arbitrary timeframe.

Are there any dietary restrictions?

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No. But it is advisable to actively reduce your intake of pro-inflammatory omega 6 oils (soy, sunflower, safflower, corn, vegetable) where and when possible. This can be achieved by only cooking with approved oils such as canola or olive oil, and checking packaged food ingredients labels. It is also recommended to avoid foods made with artificial sugars and foods that contain added probiotics as both have a negative impact on the microbiome.

Do I need to continue dietary restrictions once I start my child on the protocol?

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Once a child begins to recover, dietary restrictions cease to be helpful and can often be stopped. An exception is severe, potentially life-threatening allergies to foods such as peanuts. These restrictions need to be continued.

I live in Spain and we have a great Olive Oil. It is award winning and organic and high in polyphenols. It’s also cheaper as we don’t have to pay for shipping. Is this OK to use?

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Spain makes many fine olive oils. Purchase your olive oil from a smallish, Spanish producer and you can’t go wrong.

Is Soybean milk or almond milk ok to use?

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Alternative milk products such as soybean or almond milk are generally safe and allowed with the protocol. That said, these products are in no way natural “milk.” They have limited nutritional value compared to dairy (cow) milk. I regularly encourage the parents of my patients to provide regular dairy milk instead of soy or almond milk.

Why won’t my child socialize with other children?

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Socialization is a series of stages based on the ability to determine if interactions with an individual are safe from a primitive perspective. Typically, the child will first socialize with their mother. This is followed by comfortable interactions with their father, siblings, and house pet if they have one, then unfamiliar adults, and the final step is unfamiliar children.nYou need to look at the process. Your child might be gaining socialization skills but just hasn’t gotten to the last step involving children.

Can the protocol cause incredibly smelly gas and bowl movements?

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Potentially but in general parents report the characteristics of their child’s stool change in positive ways.

Why is my son’s recovery taking very long? He started before he was 3 and on protocol for almost 3 years. Rifaximin for almost a year and on VNS for almost 2 years?

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The recovery rates can vary greatly for children. Some have a great deal more developmental delay and autonomic dysfunction than others, while some children have more effective inflammation suppression with the protocol than others.

Can sleep apnea in a child recover with the protocol?

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Yes, the protocol can help a child recover from sleep apnea. Sleep apnea does not seem to lessen the effectiveness of the protocol.

Is there anything I can do to help my child sleep during the awakening?

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I recognize how challenging it can be when your child is keeping everyone up all night and so, for short term use, I am fine with people occasionally using melatonin to help you get past that phase. In North America the antihistamine Benadryl contains diphenhydramine which can cause drowsiness and can help you fall asleep and I am ok with that for occasional use as well. Once they are sleeping well I recommend that you discontinue. nnNOTE: I am aware that in some countries Benadryl has other ingredients so always check the label or consult with a physician before using.