I would agree that this does happen with some Aspies.. For example.. My 3rd Aspie daughter is now obsessed with historical disasters.. Titanic, Pompeii, all the wars.. For her upcoming birthday she is getting a scrapbook, made by us, which will feature a different historical event on each spread.. She is interested in history in general, but the disasters really intrigue her.. She has always been my child with the highest anxiety and irrational fears.. She would never get on a boat or anything like that.. Her life long obsession is dinosaurs and reptiles.. I sometimes wonder if she became obsessed with them (starting at age 2) because they were scary to her. On the other hand, my other two girls are obsessed with books and certain animals.. So this doesn't really apply to them.. But definitely my 3rd daughter. I'm also Aspie-ish and I was always obsessed with books.. When I think back on that, I think it was because I had this fear of being seen as stupid or slow. so I wanted to collect as much knowledge as possible.. I had slow processing speed and auditory processing issues as well as ridiculously poor social skills.. so I did appear slow sometimes.. On the other hand, I was also obsessed with horses during my entire childhood.. So I think we get multiple obsessions for different reasons. I definitely was not scared of horses.. I had two horses and spent every waking moment with them. I wouldn't watch any tv shows unless they were horse-themed or had horses.. I watched the Lone Ranger obsessively and I watched this movie called The Gypsy Colt nearly every day for several years as a child.

If this impresses you, then you might want to read up on methylation.. The reason our kids get mitochondrial dysfunction in the first place (and subsequently low tone, cognitive issues, etc.) is because the methylation pathways are compromised.. So all sorts of things end up out of whack. When methylation is compromised: 1) DNA/RNA synthesis is compromised.. key building blocks of DNA/RNA needs a methyl group added. If you can't do that, you can't repair your DNA/RNA from oxidative stress. You end up with mitochondrial dysfunction and require the mito cocktail (CoQ10, l-carnitine, B vitamins, anti-oxidants).. And your gut health also gets compromised because DNA synthesis is not happening enough to repair the damaged gut from gut destroyers like gluten, etc.. (more about gluten and autoimmune issues in a moment) 2) Viruses replicate by inserting themselves into your DNA. Your body recognizes the foreign viral DNA and shuts it off by sticking a methyl group on the virus. If you aren't methylating well, you don't shut off the viruses, and you end up with chronic viral infections. 3) Neurotransmitter balancing. There are several steps in neurotransmitter breakdown and conversion that involve methyl groups. If you aren't methylating well, you can end up with levels of different neurotransmitters that are too high, too low, or swinging (bi-polar). So if you have too much norepinephrine, you have ADHD. If you have too little serotonin getting methylated into melatonin, you have trouble sleeping, etc... 4) Histamines. Methyl groups turn off histamines, so if you have compromised methylation pathways you may have overreactive histamines (seasonal allergies, etc.). This is why our kids get allergies.. Additionally, poor methylation causes overproduction of B cells (instead of T cells) which causes immune dysregulation.. This is why autoimmune disorders are triggered in some kids on the spectrum (and adults not on the spectrum!).. And this is why many kids on the spectrum can't eat gluten and/or casein. And then when they do eat gluten, it destroys the gut, then DNA synthesis isn't repairing it, etc.. It's a vicious cycle. 5) Glutathione depletion and toxicity. When the transulfuration cycle is compromised (and it usually is if methylation is blocked) then homocysteine builds up instead of converting.. The result is high homocysteine (increased risk for heart disease, degenerative diseases, Alzheimer's) and low glutathione (which is our body's own natural chelating agent).. We then have a build-up of toxins in the system (including metals). This is why it makes sense to eat organic foods, use natural products, etc.. This significantly lowers body burdens of toxins and allows what little glutathione production our kids have to "catch up" and chelate toxins. Medical doctors don't know much about this subject because they don't have the proper background.. My husband didn't learn any of this in medical school.. He did learn about it a little in his biochemistry classes during his pre-med days though.. This is why Ritalin works for our kids (and other drugs).. They act as methyl donors.. Doctors did not develop these drugs though.. Biochemists did. So it makes sense to turn to biochemists for answers.. Prescribing drugs isn't correcting the compromised methylated pathways though, which is what we need to do if we want ultimate health and wellness. The fact that your daughter improved on the CoQ10 supplement is pretty much screaming poor methylation status. The synthesis of CoQ10 requires components of the methylation pathway.. In particular, SAMe.. So when methylation isn't working, CoQ10 is not getting synthesized.. We become deficient and cellular energy is not being produced like it should be. So you then have a range of symptoms.. everything from cognitive issues to low tone to vision loss and everything in between.. Supplementing with CoQ10 fixes the deficiency. But there are still deeper issues that need worked out within the methylation pathways.. Now, let me show you a methlyation map.. http://www.heartfixer.com/AMRI-Nutrigenomics.htm You may have seen one of these before.. You can see how if there was a kink in any of the pathways that this would cause things to "back up" and then you have either overproduction or underproduction of some things.. Has your daughter ever had homocysteine levels checked? Anyway, I will stop now, but I would definitely recommend reading more about methylation and how to support methylation. Sometimes these "kinks" are caused by gene mutations, either genetic or spontaneous. MTHFR gene mutations are quite common in ASD kids. So if you haven't tested for this, I would recommend it. Treatment is a methylated form of folate and methyl B12. P5P also is needed. If you have any questions, please ask. My kids take very specific supplements to support methylation.. I would be happy to share what we use. But ultimately it will depend on your child's specific "kinks" or mutations, and levels of certain amino acids, enzymes, etc. as to what you should supplement with.. There are some basic methylation supports that everyone can take though. Even adults who have things like Chronic Fatigue, Fibromyalgia, depression, etc.. These same adults have "brain fog", forgetfulness, etc.. It's all tied to poor methylation. Good doctors to follow on this subject: Dr. Amy Yasko http://www.dramyyasko.com And Dr. Rich Van Konynenberg. You can download Dr. Amy's book here.. http://www.holisticheal.com . Dr. Amy has an extensive background in biochemistry, molecular biology, and biotechnology.

I accidentally came across this while searching for something else.. http://www.phxautism.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/GPC12-Schedule_V8.pdf So I got curious and decided to do a search.. and I found this.. http://www.autismspot.com/blog/Temple-Grandin-Gluten-Free So it looks like Temple is embracing gluten and possibly casein free.. I'm not sure if she is 100% gluten free, but it sounds like she's getting there.. I thought this was interesting so thought I would pass it on. :D

Aspie girls definitely do pretend play.. But not all do. My oldest Aspie had the most outlandish imagination and LIVED in pretend world. My 2nd Aspie did not have imagination and had a hard time pretending when she was younger, but does okay now. My 3rd daughter pretends things, but only with dinosaurs or reptiles (her obsessions).

All of my kids have had tics and one of them has a Tourette's diagnosis, but is no longer symptomatic after treatment. Look into PANDAS and food sensitivities.. There is almost always an autoimmune component.

Honestly, I would start with removing gluten first and foremost.. It sounds like it could be a problem for your girls. As for GMO's.. It's really not that hard to kick them to the curb.. We eat soy free completely so that eliminates GMO soy in our house.. Corn is a little harder.. We eat almost completely corn free and when we do eat corn, it is always organic non-GMO from the health food store. Canola we don't buy at all.. I fry something about once a week and I use coconut oil for that.. I use olive oil for all my non-frying oil needs. If you want to get your blood boiling over Monsanto some more, watch The Future of Food (on Netflix or Hulu Plus).. King Corn is another good one as well as Food, Inc. I despise Monsanto!! Here's another eye-opening video.. Your dd has a lot of allergies! GAPS diet would definitely help her with that. But while you're gearing up for GAPS, I would try to get the gluten out. Oh, and BTW.. We don't really outgrow allergies.. I hear parents all the time saying that their child was allergic to such and such when they were babies, but are fine with it now.. those same kids have ADHD, etc.. We don't really outgrow the allergy, our bodies just start responding in different ways as we get older.

You can go here http://dandoctorlist.org/ to find a DAN doctor in your state.. sometimes you have to drive quite a distance.. We had to drive 3 hours (one way) to see ours. You could also try seeing a good Naturopathic doctor if that works better for you. Just be careful.. Not all are created equal.. I have met some terrible Naturopaths and I have met some downright FANTASTIC Naturopaths.. Make sure yours comes highly regarded. If you find that it isn't possible for you to see a DAN doctor (or Naturopath), there are other ways to help your child without doctor involvement.. You can do elimination trials to try to pinpoint some food sensitivities.. You can also start some basic supplements.. A good doctor is ideal, but many parents get their kids better just by doing their own homework and trial and error. Especially since your daughter does not have autism.. She may just need a diet change and that's it! Or she could have PANDAS and just needs an antibiotic! Do your homework and be your child's expert because no one else will be.. These doctors see hundreds of kids and only get a small glimpse of what is going on with your child when she comes in. Their medical expertise is valuable, and their tests reveal a lot.. but no doctor, no matter how good, will be an expert on YOUR child.. Only YOU can do that.. So READ READ READ until you can't read anymore.. :) (and then read some more!) A good book to start with is Healing the New Childhood Epidemics by Kenneth Bock Feel free to e-mail me privately and I can walk you through some first steps.

We started a modified SCD diet a couple of months ago, but we recently fell off the wagon because I had a health crisis after having a huge Celiac/gluten reaction at a restaurant that triggered several health issues all at once.. (gallbladder, thyroid, and heart issues).. I ended up bedridden for two weeks over that! The diet had to be put on the back burner until I was better.. We always eat 100% gluten free though.. We've been gluten, casein, and soy free for the past 2+ years. I was definitely spending a lot more time in the kitchen with the SCD diet though.. But my kids improved with their symptoms immensely! It was fantastic! Then the symptoms returned when I got sick and started with the crap food again..:glare: We will be re-starting in the next week or so.. Been trying to find my footing this week to get back into the saddle.. It's a tough diet, but so worth it. We actually require a low oxalate diet so we can't do almond flour.. We use coconut flour instead. It's really good and bakes so nicely! Here are some good recipes http://www.freecoconutrecipes.com

DAN protocol operates on the theory that there is immune system dysfunction, gut inflammation, food allergies, & toxins within the child.. To correct this, some foods that cause inflammation and autoimmune response in the child are removed.. This would be gluten, casein, and soy for most kids. Diet is just the first step in the DAN protocol.. They run many tests and look for things like nutrient deficiencies, autoimmune disorders, metabolic disorders, overgrowth of yeast or bad bacteria, etc. You can certainly get your child better without the help of a DAN doctor. It will take a lot of homework on your part though. In your case, I would first rule out PANDAS and/or food intolerances/sensitivities.. Gluten is the #1 offender in these kids who have food sensitivities.

DAN stands for Defeat Autism Now.. This can be any type of doctor (DO, pediatrician, family practice, etc.).. DAN is a protocol that some doctors follow in getting our children better..

Where might I find these quizzes? Thanks!

Excessive blinking is a common childhood tic.. It could be allergies too though.. My son starts having the eye-blinking tic a lot if he eats or drinks anything with sodium benzoate. But gluten also affects him.. All four of my children have experienced tics at one point or another.. One of them has a Tourette's diagnosis, but is asymptomatic at this time due to dietary interventions.

My oldest daughter was diagnosed with Tourette's, OCD, & ADHD when she was 8 years old.. Today, she is free of all of these. There is almost always some sort of autoimmune issue going on when you have tics and/or OCD and similar issues.. Most commonly is PANDAS and/or Celiac disease. We tested for both.. PANDAS was negative, but we found that gluten and dairy sensitivity was our issue. Once these foods were removed, within 18 months, she clinically lost (after re-evaluation) her OCD & ADHD diagnoses.. She also no longer has tics at all unless she has a dairy or gluten infraction. And we also worked with a DAN doctor for all of my kids who had similar issues. There is a lot that can be tested for and tried with these kids.. Diet is usually a HUGE factor for most.

My now 8yr old Aspie daughter was the same way.. I couldn't get her to wean to save my life!! She was soooooooooo HIGH NEEDS, it was just insane.. Neither of us could cope if I were to cut her off.. But she was nearly 3 at the time and I couldn't take another day.. She was so hyperactive and impulsive and that is not a good thing to have on the breast! I had finally gotten her down to just nighttime feedings.. So to get her the rest of the way weaned, I read The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers.. That was the ONLY thing that got us through nighttime weaning.. Oh man, it sucked going through that, because she was such a screamer and a non-sleeper and just ALL OVER THE PLACE hyperactive.. I thought I was going to die.. :svengo: But reading that book totally saved me! I highly recommend it.

The only sure fire way to know if your child is sensitive to gluten is to do an elimination trial. A Celiac test will not reveal a gluten sensitivity and that is what the doctors seem to want to run on all the kids..:glare: Even full blown Celiacs sometimes test negative on Celiac tests! I would take a closer look at gluten, for sure.. Especially with his small stature.

I found it more helpful to get two standard size plastic ones than anything else.. We didn't get the big one (though I do wish I had it sometimes because I hate how the standard ones don't stand up very well).. But there are some lessons where you will need two and I was glad to have them. We haven't used the wooden ones so I can't compare. I will say that we've had our plastic ones for about 6 years now and they haven't ever been broken.. BUT one wire is slightly bent on one of them (A couple of my kids are VERY rough and tumble though) There is a RightStart yahoo group though I'm not sure if it's still active.. People are always selling their used stuff there so you might find a deal.. http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/RightStart/

It really depends on which level you're looking at. We have used A, B, C, & D and we've pretty much used every manipulative.. We actually didn't use the balance thing very much (and it breaks easy).. :glare: But other than that, I would recommend them all.. (all of the required ones anyway.. I'm not sure what "extra" stuff they are offering on their website these days)

I remember seeing this a couple of years ago, but had forgotten all about it! Thanks for posting! We really need to use this for reinforcement since my daughter just graduated vision therapy and we are on our own now!

Thanks! This sounds doable.. I'll adjust the plan!!

When I want a cream cheese consistency from my yogurt, I just use my Donvier Yogurt Cheese Maker http://www.digestivewellness.com/itempage-1048-24-13-1584.html .

I recommend the Excalibur 9 tray for making yogurt.. It's the BEST! I make yogurt every week.. Usually it's from organic cow's milk though.. I have made CF yogurt a few times using the coconut milk instead.. But you have to add a touch of honey for the bacteria to eat because there is no lactose! I like the dairy yogurt better and since we've been GFCF for so long, we are able to tolerate small amounts of dairy/casein now without too much issue as long as we take digestive enzymes too. If you get the Excalibur, you won't need the yogurt maker.. You can do everything with the Excalibur. Also, I don't use a double boiler.. I just slowly heat my milk to 180 degrees (no boiling) stirring constantly.. Then I let it cool to room temp. So really all you need to buy is a good dehydrator and maybe some glass jars.. I like these.. http://www.amazon.com/Euro-Cuisine-Glass-Yogurt-Maker/dp/B000EWX4CA/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1332475934&sr=8-1-spell

I wonder if he has any special interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus? That would be a big clue to Asperger's if he does. But not all Aspies will have this symptom.. Some will have repetitive or stereotypical behaviors and movements instead.. Some Aspies actually have both (like mine :tongue_smilie:).. They need one or the other to qualify for an Asperger's diagnosis.

Considering geometry.. Also personal finance and Business Math (maybe?).. Math is her worst subject (and that's putting it lightly) so we're trying to keep it real for her. Yes, we have done this.. I need to do it again though.. Computer science was scheduled for 12th grade.. but she does need the health and personal finance for sure.. I'm not sure she will need economics if she takes U.S. Government.. But it would be good for her nonetheless so I'll try to fit it in. My husband does P.E. with the kids so it's sort of informal... But we're planning to get them more involved with martial arts soon.. Thanks for the suggestions.. More for me to consider and add to the list!!

Very true, and she will probably change her mind ten times before she graduates.. :tongue_smilie: But I know she will stick with the writing one way or another.. She's always been obsessed with writing.. And she gets no better satisfaction than when she is correcting someone's grammar/spelling/punctuation.. So I hope she sticks with her current plan because it suits her well and she'll be great at it!

I have a mild sub-clinical case of hyperthyroidism.. TSH is at the low end of normal, but I have all the symptoms. I feel that it is autoimmune (Graves disease) because I have the eye symptoms too.. But the crappy doctor I was seeing can't seem to catch any significant stuff on paper except for elevated calcium (which indicates an issue with parathyroids).. I see a new doctor in two weeks. But I mostly keep it under control with diet and supplements.. I'm asymptomatic at the moment. Thanks for the links..