Therapy, diet help parents deal with baffling condition

By Susan Glairon, Daily Camera
May 2, 2003

LONGMONT - Simple words from 4-year-old Ashe Vogan may be unimpressive to a casual listener, but his typical preschool babble is nothing short of a miracle to his family.

Ashe has autism, a baffling neurological condition that, according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study released in January, is as much as 10 times more common today than it was a decade ago. It is estimated to affect between two and six of every 1,000 children.

The syndrome impairs language and social skills and is characterized by poor eye contact, difficulty making friends, abnormal interests and repetitive body movements such as hand flapping. It affects boys four times more often than girls.

There is no cure for autism and the cause or causes remain elusive. Some blame genetic abnormalities, while others point to diet and environmental toxins.

Ashe's mother, Heather Vogan, said time with a therapist and a special diet have really helped her son.

"He's so with us now," she said. "When we started he had to learn to sit in the chair. Now he just works for the sheer pleasure of doing it and learning.

"He loves to read books. That's his thing."

Ashe's disorder began to manifest itself at age 2 ½. Ashe stopped talking, began throwing tantrums and seemed to grow increasingly disconnected from his family. His face became expressionless, and he started peering out of the corner of his eyes.

In August 2001, he was diagnosed with autism.

A little more than a year after starting therapy, Ashe speaks in six- to seven-word sentences and connects with his family. He also reads and does simple addition.

Since some believe heavy metals in the body cause autism, the Vogans take Ashe to Frontier Medical Institute in Denver for chelation therapy, a process that uses amino acids to remove mercury and other metals from his system. Ashe is also on a gluten and dairy-free diet and takes dietary supplements such as vitamin B-6.

He spends 35 hours a week doing Applied Behavior Analysis therapy, where children are rewarded with food, toys and praise for learning skills, and he interacts with peers at preschool.

Heather said the special diet has improved Ashe's digestive problems, common among autistic children. She also has noticed more focused behavior, better eye contact, more meaningful conversations and a decrease in self-stimulatory behaviors, such as flapping hands, after his chelation therapy.

But she said the biggest changes have come from one-on-one time with Ashe's therapist, who quickly paces skill lessons with rewards such as reading a few lines from his favorite books or playing with a favorite toy.

"He's emerged," said therapist Angele Tatem-Juth. "He's a social guy. He was always curious, and now he can express his curiosity."

Autism's rapid spread has spawned impressive new research centers in Denver and Boulder, built with federal and private funding.

Nationwide, $90 billion will be spent on autism treatment, education and services this year, a figure projected to grow to $300 billion over the next decade, according to the Autism Society of America.

The Vogans spend roughly $30,000 annually for therapy, but Heather stressed that there are alternatives that are not as expensive, such as teaching family members to do the therapy.

"This isn't going to go away," said Theresa Wrangham, president of the 100-member Autism Society of Boulder County and mother of an autistic child. "The numbers are rising. In your lifetime, you are going to know someone with it."

Wrangham's daughter, Rachel, 12, takes a multivitamin, including high-potency B with magnesium, specifically designed for kids with autism. It has improved her daughter's talkativeness, Wrangham said.

But Wrangham is currently not doing any specific therapy, instead using opportunities in everyday life to teach her daughter.

Rachel plays on a city basketball team to learn how to follow rules and interact with her peers. Board and card games help her learn the rhythm of taking turns during conversation, she says.

"It took us years to build up a conversation to where it goes back and forth several times and she stays on topic," Wrangham said.

While treatments vary, experts agree on one thing: Early intervention is key, particularly before age 3 when the brain is growing quickly and behaviors haven't yet become ingrained.

But whether children can be cured by early intervention remains controversial, said Judy Reaven, director of the Autism and Developmental Disorders Clinic at CU Health Sciences Center in Denver.

"Treatment helps people become much more independently functioning and contributing members of society," Reaven said.

"We absolutely believe we can help kids get there."