Cascade of Hope

• Avoiding eye contact
• Not responding when you call the child’s name
• Repeating the exact words or phrases uttered by others, also known as echolalia
• Giving unrelated answers when asked questions
• Systematically using the pronoun “you” instead of “I”
• Not being interested in pointing at objects or toys
• Refusing physical contact
• Having very limited or no social skills
• Failure to understand their own feelings and those of other people.

• Repetitive behavior or stimming, such as flapping hands or spinning in circles
• Extreme anxiety
• Impulsive actions
• Hyperactive behavior
• Difficulty to accept changes routines and transitions into new situations
• Oversensitivity or under sensitivity to sounds, smell, taste, and touch
• Unusual eating habits and preference for certain types of foods
• Sleep regression
• Atypical interests and behaviors
• Playing always in the same way, for example lining cars or building blocks
• Obsessive interest in specific parts of objects, such as the wheels of toy cars.

Older research from 2003 found a connection between regressive autism and inflammatory intestinal issues. In the study, researchers found that the colons, ileum, and duodenums of children with regressive autism were more like those of the study’s inflamed controls than the noninflamed participants. The study data suggested that children with regressive autism live with intestinal mucosal immune system changes that differ from other inflammatory bowel diseases. A person’s gastrointestinal health can impact their cognition, mood, and mental health, according to research from 2018Trusted Source. This describes the two-way influence between the gut and brain.

There’s also research indicating that some autistic children may have mitochondrialTrusted Source differences. Mitochondria generates the cellular energy that drives many vital bodily functions, including brain activity. Researchers speculate that abnormalities in the mitochondrial respiratory chain can lead to the onset of autism symptoms in some people. The mitochondrial respiratory chainTrusted Source is an enzyme reaction system that gives cells their energy.

Autoimmunity may underpin regressive autism, according to research from 2021Trusted Source that notes a link between infection, immune-related issues, and autism. Infection may trigger autism signs in previously unidentified children or regression in autistic people. Researchers describe a syndrome called autoimmune encephalitis (AE), where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy brain cells and causes neuroinflammation. AE can lead to autism or autistic-like traits in some people.

An estimated 70%Trusted Source of autistic people live with the stress of a co-occurring mental health issue like depression or anxiety. Researchers think that core autistic traits can make a person more vulnerable to mental health stresses. For example, an autistic person’s social anxiety might stem from autistic vs allistic differences in socialization styles and priorities. Things like unplanned schedule changes, sensory overload, and social pressure to avoid self-soothing behavior like stimming can also be tressful. Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), like school difficulties and bullying, can even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for autistic people. Masking, or trying to fit into an allistic society, can lead to autistic burnout for adults. Stress, autistic burnout, PTSD, and associated mental health issues can lead to regressive autism.

This therapy mainly involves the services of a therapist who works intensely with a child in one-on-one sessions for 20 to 40 hours per week. The sessions usually start with formally structured drills like learning to point to a certain object when its name is given. In the sessions, the child is taught skills like learning the various colors in a simple step-by-step process. ABA programs are claimed to be most effective when they are started early (before the age of five), but they are also beneficial to older children.

In the world of treating regressive autism, speech and language therapy hold a key spot. It's all about helping kids who are on the autism spectrum get better at talking and understanding others. With each session, skilled professionals known as language pathologists team up with these children to boost both their spoken words and gestures without words. They tackle different things like answering when asked something, connecting pictures to what they stand for, making mouth and jaw muscles stronger for clearer speech, and learning how to change their voice tone so it sounds just right. Speech and language therapy is often integrated with other treatments such as ABA therapy, occupational therapy, and neurodevelopmental programs, such as The Listening Program (TLP), which uses music-based therapy to provide auditory stimulation.

Occupational therapy is really helpful for kids who have regressive autism. It's all about helping them get better at things like moving smoothly, handling their senses well, and doing everyday tasks on their own. With occupational therapy, therapists work closely with these children to help them improve how they move in big ways (like jumping or running) and small ways (like writing or cutting with scissors). They might use different kinds of activities that make it fun to learn how to coordinate their movements, keep their balance, and build up strength.

For kids struggling with understanding and reacting to what they see, hear, touch, taste, or smell properly - which can be a big challenge for those with regressive autism - sensory integration comes into play during the sessions. This part includes cool stuff like swinging gently back and forth, bouncing around lightly, or even climbing over obstacles.

Stem cell therapy is an incredible way to boost your child’s potential for it is oriented to solve three of the main autistic areas; gut, brain, and immune system dysfunctions.

Gut: Stem cells work as a barrier in the child’s intestine, and heal leaky gut conditions. This can be translated into less abdominal inflammation, ceasing of pain, and prevention of “leaked substances” that can be carried through the blood to the nervous system (brain), increasing autistic behaviors.

Brain: In terms of the brain, stem cells support learning and cognitive development by enhancing the disrupted unions between neurons. This “re-connection” can represent access to knowledge that the child didn’t have previously, and that is usually manifested in faster learning, increased speech, better cognitive functionality, and overall in a decrease of autistic behaviors.

Immune System: It is well known that stem cells can regulate the immune function by secreting specific cytokines (cytokines are substances that allow cells to communicate with other cells) which regulate the expression of inflammatory substances and down–regulate the immune system.