Aligning the Eating & Autistic Child Behavior Study

Children with special needs such as autism tend to have a food allergy. Parental attention to diet is necessary. Because the food intake will affect the child's behavior.

Consultant Child Special needs of the foundation's Medical Exercise Therapy, Tri Gunadi said the first thing the parents before implementing diet for children with autism is knowing the type of behavior, whether belonging to the type Seeking Defensiveness (search) or bahavior Defensiveness (away) .

In this type of search, children tend to have a big appetite and love to chew. Children in this type has the possibility of western obesity or excess weight. In contrast to the type of search, the type of children to avoid having a small appetite and even tend to shy away from foods that go through mouth. in addition to, the child is not happy chewing type. That is, the child immediately swallow food without chewing it first.

"It is important to note, as it pertains to therapy that will run the child," he was interrupted by the introduction of the London School Care program was initiated STIKOM LSPR Autism that took place in Jakarta, Thursday (12/11).

He further explained, if they bring the type of the child, the next step required is to provide an appropriate diet. In a child-type search, the child should be given food textured and patterned. That is patterned, the son of the search type first introduced foods that require longer chewing process introduced the soft-textured foods. With hope, the child will easily fill up to avoid obesity.

In children carried away with the type of pattern reversed. The child should be given a smooth-textured foods before you are given a rough-textured foods. Because the children are so sensitive to the type of foods to avoid. If not handled properly the potential of experiencing malnutrition.

"Be aware, however parents have the financial ability of a good, fulfilling the nutritional needs of children with autism may not be perfect," he said.


He also underlined, children with autistic disorder usually eat at the influenced two things matter and logos. In children with autism are so interested in what he saw. For example, when children see the noodles as attractive and he will continue to consume noodles or maybe when he sees noodles menu on the ads he saw on television will also give the same effect. "Therefore, the intelligence in the elderly include the concept of food will affect the child's diet," he said.

Different metabolic

After knowing the type of child, parents also need to understand that children with autism have a metabolic disorder that is different from normal children. Different metabolic abnormalities caused by digestive found the tiny holes in the digestive tract, specifically in the intestinal mucosa.

Other disorders lies in the difficulty of processing the protein because it includes a short amino acid that is often called a "peptide". Peptide in normal circumstances is usually only slightly absorbed and the rest thrown away, but due to the leakage of the intestinal mucosa make it into the blood circulation.

This peptide in the blood only briefly, because most are removed through the urine and the remainder goes into the brain that can attach to opioid receptors in the brain. As a result of it, will turn into morphine peptide that can affect nervous system function and can cause behavioral disturbances.

Why children with autism disorders should avoid foods that are classified into two, casein (protein from milk) and gluten (protein from wheat). In healthy people, eating gluten and casein will not cause serious problems or trigger the onset of symptoms.

In children with autistic disorders, both of these substances are difficult to digest and translate the brain as morphine. High levels of morphine that cause children to become more active, even substances like morphine in narcotics and illegal drugs will impact on the kebalnya child from pain. "This is dangerous, children are able to harm him because of the morphine," said Tri.

However, he added, means the provision of food intake rather than on people with autism is difficult. According to Tri, the parents lived to replace food sources that contain casein and gluten with ingredients that are safe from both substances. A simple example, instead of cow's milk with soy milk.

Therefore, Tri advise parents not to worry their kids are not getting complete nutrition. Tri would ask parents to more actively search for information related to proper food intake for the child.

Role of Parents

From various studies that have been conducted, the average parent is a factor to conclude the most effectual remedy. Because the inner attachment to the child will not be replaced with anything. "The sense of parental love is a cure for these children," he said.

Tri Gunadi is one of the parents of children who had been granted "special". His son Enrico (7 years) has mendertita autistic disorder at age 8 months. He had felt shocked, not because of embarrassment but because he is a consultant with autism.

In the end, he accepted the gift gracefully. After knowing her son has autism, he did an examination of the child. Starting from the head to the inside of the body of Enrico.

For 18 months he did the test in order to get proper treatment for the child. Enrico is the son of late learning to talk. With a hard struggle, Tri keep your child learn to talk. His efforts were not in vain because the children were finally able to learn to speak the Indonesian language fluently. He also decided to introduce English at the Enrico at the age of 4.5 years. The result, Enrico already speak English proficient.

According to Enrico, children with autism and the role of parental affection can perform like a normal child. Only, the parents should be extra patient and show more affection for the child. With affection, the children seemed to be protected and supported. Especially when the child has reached the level of adolescent, parental support is important.

Entering his teens, the environment is a challenge for children with autistic disorder. Not without reason, children often feel frustrated when he feels different from other children are normal. Thus, the suggestion Tri, parents should begin to give understanding to the child for the gift he had.