Chelation Therapy On Autism

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 68 children will be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or more commonly referred to as autism in 2016 alone (“CDC Estimates”). Autism is a complicated developmental disorder typically diagnosed during the time between infancy and age three ("Autism Spectrum Disorder”) that can cause issues with social interaction, both verbal and nonverbal communication, and behavioral problems such as receptive behaviors or little to no focus of interest (Davidson et al. 373). There are different types of autism, including “…Asperger syndrome, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder” (Davidson et al. 377). Little information is
According to Dr. Tonya N. Davis, “chelation [therapy] involves giving an individual various chemical substances for the purpose of binding to and then withdrawing specific metals from the person’s body” (18). Chelation therapy was originally created to treat people with heavy metal poisoning: “FDA-approved chelating agents are approved for specific uses, such as the treatment of lead poisoning and iron overload…” (“Beware of False”). It was once believed that mercury from various childhood vaccinations would circulate throughout the child’s bloodstream and was the cause of autism (“Chelation for Autism”). However, it has been concluded that childhood vaccinations are not the cause of autism. This theory has “led to over 25 studies” testing the connection between childhood vaccines and autism and “the studies consistently found no evidence of a link” (“…And The ‘Final Word’”). Although this theory has been disproven, many parents still turn to chelation therapy in high hopes of treating their child’s autism, as many as 7% of parents according to a Baylor University study (“Controversial Treatment”). It is understandable that parents want what is best for their child, and that trying to alleviate symptoms and behaviors caused by autism is important, but a treatment as controversial and even dangerous as chelation therapy is not the way to go. Chelation therapy has no scientific
Chelation therapy is mainly used in treating individuals with heavy metal poisoning (“Beware of False”), however, due to the disproven theory that childhood vaccinations cause autism, parents still use this dangerous procedure to attempt to cure their child of autism (“…And The ’Final Word’”). Medications are commonly used to treat certain symptoms in an autistic child such as depression, hyperactivity, anxiety, and even epilepsy (Davidson et al. 377). However, drugs used for other medical conditions have been used in autistic children without any research or testing: “Some practitioners prescribe drugs approved for other illnesses” (Shute). This can be dangerous because most medications approved for other illnesses have not been tested in treating autism, and can have “…serious side effects…” (Shute). Applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy is the most successful treatment for autistic children so far, despite the argument critics have over the lack of evidence proving its effectiveness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describes ABA therapy as “a notable treatment approach for people with an ASD…” (“Treatment). Pediatricians commonly prescribe this treatment for children with