The first thing that confused me when we began this whole process a year ago was the constant references to DAN doctors. We had no idea what they were or how we could find one. DAN simply stands for "Defeat Autism Now". These are medical doctors (often pediatricians) that also study and practice alternative methods to help cure their patients and stop further progression of neurological dysfunction. They use extensive lab testing and work to help balance the body's chemistry through diet and supplements, often using special enzymes to aid in digestion. They focus on children with neurological dysfunctions that are within what is called the Autism Spectrum (usually referred as ASD-- autism spectrum disorders). You might be thinking, well-- my child is not autistic, so why would I go to a DAN doctor for treatment?
Often times kids with TS have comorbid conditions like ADHD and OCD, and they are also sometimes diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome or Autism (tics are not uncommon in autism.) The part of the brain that is affected/damaged/altered (whatever you want to term it) in the child exhibiting Autistic behaviors is the same part of the brain that is affected in the child exhibiting tics. They are just different manifestations of dysfunction.
This is a good summary article on common mainstream medical knowledge about the subject area: http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/123/3/425?ijkey=H7r0eAHpDA8cQ
I'm afraid it isn't very cheerful reading, though. We know that there is an increase in incidence these days, another curiosity, and that it is a condition that affects children worldwide, regardless of their cultural upbringing. We must ask ourselves why this is. Many blame the vaccines. I personally believe they can act as a catalyst when they are given to a child with an already broken immune system (our ds began exhibiting tics shortly after his preschool vaxs), but I do not believe they are the main/only cause. In our case my son had no heavy metal poisoning at all. What he did have was a high incidence of copper and iron poor anemia. The doctor thought it was strange, because copper is supposed to aid in iron absorption.... unless you are an undiagnosed celiac (this is my perception in my son's case)-- he was anemic even though he was taking iron in his multi-vits and eating foods high in iron. He was malnourished even though he was eating well. His body was unable to absorb the vital nutrients in all his foods, even the gluten-free ones. Over time his condition worsened. I believe the vaxs pushed him over the edge. I think that anything that puts these kids' immune systems into overdrive (like vaccines or a viral/bacterial infection) will likely result in the onset of another autoimmune disorder that they are genetically susceptible to, such as TS.
This is why the diet is so vital to success, and why I believe so strongly that for these kids (kids with possible undiagnosed celiac disease or gluten sensitive enteropathy) the disease of their nervous systems begins with their guts. To find success, to truly find a way to alleviate symptoms, mood, behavior, learning difficulties, we must understand one basic principle: We truly are what we eat, and if what we eat is toxic to our body then it is going to cause disease. I cannot say that all kids that have tics would benefit on a gluten-free casein-free diet. There just isn't any research to back up such a claim. But I will say this-- there are enough people finding success with it to merit the possibilities it could happen for your child too. It is just food. You have nothing to lose by trying.
Many parents dealing with children struggling on the low end of this spectrum have had tremendous progress with specific diets, and Jenny McCarthy has certainly made the GFCF diet a nationwide kitchen table topic. There are other diet options out there like the candida cleanse diet, and the SCD (known as the specific carbohydrate diet-- a diet that is both GFCF and a candida cleanse diet).
So if your child has TS or suffers from chronic tics that wax and wane despite trying several different traditional medical treatments, you may want to consider contacting a DAN doctor to help you sort through the various alternative treatment options available.
Here is a helpful place to go for a possible doctor in your area:http://www.healing-arts.org/children/amyholmes.htm#danlistIf you simply just can't afford it, then start by finding a good forum or support group to help you tackle some basic dietary changes that could make a small difference in your child's progress.
And if you have a child between 2-4 years of age in the United States, do check out:
http://www.nichcy.org/(the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities) and also contact your local public school system. Under the law you are entitled to a free speech and developmental screening through your neighborhood school district. Qualified children may be entitled to therapies (in the home, some of them) and early intervention programs.
