How to find the RIGHT autism doctor – diagnosis and treatment

Finding the right autism doctor

What do I look for when I am trying to determine if a doctor is a true ‘Autism Specialist’? Well, let’s start at the very beginning…. You probably feel quite uncertain and you’re worried about autism. Some days you think your child is doing okay. The very next day, you clearly see the red flags to Autism. You have reached the end of the road and you feel that you need a referral to a doctor or specialist who can make a definitive autism diagnosis. Finding the right doctor can be challenging. It’s not so simple to find the right doctor specializing in autism, or an ‘autism specialist doctor’ in South Africa.

If you suspect an autism diagnosis you want to avoid being sent from pillar- to- post, wasting time and money. Time – is of the essence and early intervention is key! The best advice I can give any parent, that is concerned about a diagnosis of autism, and is looking for an ‘Autism Doctor’  to help them make the diagnosis is this: You need to book at least a one hour consultation with your child’s regular paediatrician. Take with you to the appointment the MCHAT checklist. You can download it here. This is the standardised, globally accepted criteria for doctors diagnosing Autism. You can also take along, a list of the red flags to Autism. You can find a copy of this at the back of my book “Saving my Sons – A Journey with Autism” (Find on Amazon  & Takealot). Parents should discuss their concerns with the paediatrician. And then they should ask the paediatrician to please make a diagnosis for them. The key is going prepared and giving the doctor what they need to give you the answers you looking for.

Autism doctors and the importance of nutrition

There is another type of situation that is difficult for parents to navigate. Many children on the autism spectrum can be picky eaters.  Children on the spectrum will often limit their diet to processed food. And therefore they are not getting the nutrition they need for proper brain function. We also know that children on the spectrum, can suffer from deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals.  Parents are at a loss, because they don’t know which ‘Autism Specialist’ they should consult with, regarding their child’s poor eating habits. Picky eating, is actually indicative of gut inflammation. If they are a picky eaters, it can also mean that the child has sensory issues and they are averse to certain textures or tastes.

My advice to parents is to find a dietician or a nutritionist who has experience in this area.  This type of ‘Autism Specialist’ (actually a nutritionist or dietician) can really help tremendously in guiding parents on a treatment protocol. Nutrition is the basis of your treatment protocol for autism. We talk about “nourishing hope for autism” – there is actually a book written by Julie Matthews (Find on Amazon). If your child is a picky eater, you should definitely seek the guidance of a specialist in diet and nutrition. Every child is different. There is no single diet that is correct for every child. Nutrition is the foundation of a good treatment protocol and should be considered by the autism doctors you consult.

There are many different types of diets. There’s a gluten free diet, there’s a diet called feast without yeast (Find on Amazon), there’s the GAPS diet (Learn more here). It’s  well documented and published that these types of specialised diets can show measurable gains and benefits for children on the autism spectrum. It’s therefore, very important to get guidance from a doctor or specialist on your child’s nutrition. It’s also important to enrol your child in an ABA program. If your child is a picky eater then your ABA team can help support your child with a feeding program which will give you a way to introduce your child to new foods that the dietician or nutritionist recommends.

Autism doctors for younger children

For younger children, who have a diagnosis of autism, I have a paediatrician in New York that I absolutely love! I have referred many parents to this paediatrian, who has successfully treated their child’s autism symptoms.  In fact, I have a list of autism doctors and autism specialist doctors internationally, that I refer parents to specifically, when it comes to younger children on the spectrum. These doctors and specialists have the experience to identify and unravel the UNDERLYING CAUSES of the Autism symptoms. They know and have experience in directing treatments. I always recommend (and often record podcasts) with only the top autism doctors in the world! Unfortunately, all of the top autism specialist doctors are international – but fortunately, they can and do consult remotely. I have an autism specialist and Bio-medical doctor in Italy who is my favourite doctor and there are a number of doctors in America I also refer to. All these doctors, successfully consult with parents internationally via Zoom. Therefore, when it comes to a young child, it’s often best for parents to consult with me first.  I will take down the detailed case history and then be able to make a referral to my expert colleagues who are internationally recognised autism doctors that specialise in treating autism in young children.