Parents See Kids' Disorders in Themselves

Like Ritalin with fewer side effects, writes Christie Haskell

(NEWSER) - What do you do when your kid can’t sit still—but you’re concerned about the side effects of Ritalin? One mom offers an unusual remedy that goes against standard medical advice: Give the youngster coffee, she writes at the Stir blog at Cafe Mom . Christie Haskell didn’t want her hyperactive son diagnosed with ADHD, so she tried her own cure: The 7-year-old drinks coffee with breakfast. Ritalin’s “not exactly a shining success story,” but it’s a stimulant, boosting blood flow to the brain and helping people focus. Coffee’s a stimulant, too. More»

Report calls for more research, brings relief to some parents

(NEWSER) - Children with autism are not particularly prone to digestive issues, and special diets have no effect on the condition, new research shows. Digestive problems do affect kids with autism, but a specific malady called “leaky gut” or “autistic enterocolitis,” says a report out today. The findings refute claims by some parents—Jenny McCarthy in particular—who credit special diets with mitigating the effects of or even "curing" autism. More»

Marijuana helps autistic, allergic child with debilitating pain

(NEWSER) - Almost as soon as Marie Myung-Ok Lee began giving daily doses of marijuana to her 9-year-old son J, she noticed a big change: He returned from school with his whole shirt on. J is autistic, has an inflammatory bowel condition, and has had two serious spinal cord surgeries. Before pot, he was in near constant pain, and he used to eat things that weren’t food—like his shirt. Every day. More»

(NEWSER) - Marie Myung-Ok Lee gives marijuana to her 9-year-old autistic son and has no intention of stopping, she writes for doubleX, a new Slate spinoff for women. It’s working to calm him and curb his aggressive behaviors, writes Lee, who had her own misgivings initially. “I was already the weirdo mom who packed lunches with organic kale and kimchi,” she writes. “Now, I’d be the mom who shunned the standard operating procedure and gave her kid pot instead.” More»

(NEWSER) - At least one in 10 children burdened by autism eventually recover, but no one knows why, according to a new study. Psychology professor Deborah Fein presented the results at a conference in Chicago this week, saying parents ought to know, even though recovery is "not a realistic expectation for the majority of kids." Previous research said 3% to 25% of autistic kids recover; Fein puts the range between 10% and 20%. More»