Autism - Eric Dolgin

Another Piece to Solving the Puzzle of AutismCRANIAL OSTEOPATHY60The Autism PerspectiveParents of children with autismareincreasinglyseekingtreatment – and getting excellentresults – from practitionersof a largely unknown, rarelycredited medical specialty.By Sarah DoranWhile it remains a leap of faithfor most people who know verylittle about cranial osteopathy,stories of breakthroughs in children withmild to severe autism are prompting growing numbers of parents to seek the help ofosteopaths. The tiny specialty of 1,200 doctors (only 24 physicians per state in the U.S)is increasingly being flooded with inquiriesand visits from parents of autistic children.Osteopaths, who attend four year osteopathic medical schools in order to practice, believe that the body’s musculoskeletalstructure, brain and spinal chord (and themembranes and fluids that surround them)have subtle and inherent rhythmic movementof fluids that are essential to overall health.When these movements are interrupted itcan have catastrophic results, one of whichis autism of varying severity. Abnormalities in the body’s membranes, they say, arean important clue to why normal childhoodbrain development derails, causing autism.To treat autism, they use a developed senseof touch to diagnose and gently palpateabnormal fluctuations in membranous fluidmaterials that surround the brain.“Each child is genetically, biochemicallyand structurally unique with an individualized history of trauma,” says Eric Dolgin,D.O., who treats a number of autistic children in his Santa Monica practice.While it is just one piece of the puzzle,the successful treatment of autism throughcranial osteopathy is helping shed light onthe causes of this puzzling condition. “Themysterious syndrome that causes disruptionof circuitry in brain development can be attributed to anything from birth trauma toexposure to toxic substances,” says Dr. Dolgin.While it is justone piece ofthe puzzle, thesuccessful treatmentof autism throughcranial osteopathyis helping shedlight on the causesof this puzzlingcondition.When Ms. Sara Fuentevilla took her son,Steven, to Dr. Dolgin for the first time shewas unfamiliar with cranial osteopathybut had heard about its effectiveness andwas anxious to give it a try. “Parents aredevastated when their children are diagnosed with autism,” says Dr. Dolgin. “I tryto defuse the emotional blow. The word“autism” is terrifying, but I tell parentsthat for lack of a better diagnosis it is aword used very loosely to refer to a widespectrum of developmental disorders.They can’t let the word paralyze them.”www.TheAutismPerspective.org

Armand Stevens, 5, shown leaving the doctor’soffice with his mother, Ildiko StevensArmand, with his mother Ildiko being treated byDr. Eric DolginSteven, 8, had been diagnosed as“mildly autistic” at Kwis Elementary in theHacienda La Puente Unified School District.He suffered daily humiliation from otherchildren who made fun of him because hewas in the third grade and still couldn’t read.He felt deeply stigmatized at being placedin a “special education” class, a feeling thatwas worsened by the fact he required thehelp of a grown-up to do simple tasks thathis classmates routinely did, like typing inhis designated identification number in order to pay for lunch.Dr. Dolgin, who is President of the Cranial Academy, the professional organizationfor the nation’s Doctors of Osteopathy (DOs),believes that Steven’s difficult cesarean birthcontributed to many of his developmentaldelays. The mechanical tension diagnosedWithout crunching orcracking, he gentlypalpated Steven’scranium with hishands, looseningthe overly tightmembranes aroundhis skull.on the left side of the occipital portion of thehead (bone at base of skull) had created adomino effect, causing a pulling and tuggingdue to overly tight membranes stretchingfrom the neck to the top of the skull.In a difficult delivery, Steven’s headhad absorbed the brunt of protracted contractions, exacerbated by effects of thedrug Pitocin administered during labor toaccelerate uterine contractions and facilitatedelivery. Dr. Dolgin also concluded thatSteven’s overly narrow face, which hadnot developed properly, was also the re-SUMMER ISSUE2005The Autism Perspective61

sult of a traumatic birth experience.In his first treatment, Dr. Dolgin placedhis hands on Steven’s head to trace themembranous dysfunction that contributedto the boy’s development issues and autism.Without crunching or cracking, he gently palpated Steven’s cranium with his hands, loosening the overly tight membranes aroundhis skull. He also gave the child a mouthappliance to widen his pallet and begin tocorrect his structural facial problem.Over the next three months, Steven hadseven osteopathic treatments. He was oftentired after treatments and felt “woozy.” Dolgin explained that he had increased the flowof fluids in the body and that the nervousDespite such successstories, however,cranial osteopathyis often eschewedby conventionalmedical doctors.Historically, cranialosteopathy has beenrelegated to the levelof “quackery.”system was readjusting itself. Tiredness wasto be expected. Six weeks after treatmentbegan Ms. Fuentevilla, a homemaker, saysSteven showed remarkable progress. “Therealways seemed to be a wall that preventedhim from easily taking in information, butnow he loves to learn,” she says. Socially,the change Steven has undergone is dramatic. Whereas he would often stand alone inthe school playground repetitively walkingaround in circles, his mother happily says henow runs and plays with other children.Ms. Patrice Stanzione, Steven’s thirdgrade teacher, says that while she isn’t quali62The Autism PerspectiveTop, center and bottom:Steven Fuentevilla, 8,shown in treatment withDr. Eric Dolginwww.TheAutismPerspective.org

fied to conclusively attribute the child’s leapin progress to osteopathy, changes did beginafter he started seeing Dr. Dolgin. “It’s oddand rare but Steven has made tremendousadvances socially and academically. Andhe’s had a huge leap in confidence,” saysMs. Stanzione. Steven was also switched toa new classroom with a smaller ratio of students to teachers, allowing Steven to receiveadded attention. Still in summing up Steven’sprogress, Ms. Stanzione added: “It’s not thenorm at all.”Despite such success stories, however,cranial osteopathy is often eschewed byconventional medical doctors. Historically,cranial osteopathy has been relegated toToday, society’sopenness towardscomplimentarymedicine ishelping fuel agrowing movementof patients toosteopathicpractitioners likeDolgin for myriadconditions.the level of “quackery.” “Most doctors lumposteopaths into the same category as chiropractors,” says Miriam Mills, M.D., specializing in pediatric medicine at the Universityof Oklahoma, “They have no idea what doctors of osteopathy learn about treating thebody without medication or surgery.” Ironically, however, osteopathic techniques thatwere shunned were eventually integratedinto mainstream medicine. In the 1950s,for example, osteopaths were ridiculed fortheir warnings about the over-prescribing ofantibiotics in children, which later became awidely-held belief of western MDs.SUMMER ISSUE2005Today, society’s openness towards complimentary medicine is helping fuel a growingmovement of patients to osteopathic practitioners like Dolgin for myriad conditions.Osteopaths stress that treatment forautism is slow, and patience is necessary.Moreover, the degree of success varies. “Ican’t help every child but I have been ableto significantly improve many children withdevelopment issues,” says Dr. Dolgin, whotreats many children for otitis media andother learning disorders, as well as autism.Like many parents, Ms. Ildiko Stevenssays she was willing “to go anywhere and doanything” to help her son, Armand, 5, whowas diagnosed with autism as a toddler. Ms.Stevens, an attorney living in Beverly Hills,is part of a controversial group of parentswho believes that her child’s autism was thedirect result of vaccinations while a toddler.“My child is not autistic, he was poisoned,”says Stevens, adding that Armand’s symptoms began shortly after he was immunizedas a toddler with the MMR vaccination formeasles, mumps and rubella. Shortly afterthat, Ms. Stevens says he became mute andstopped engaging in cognitive activities orplay with other children.Although there isn’t conclusive research,many osteopaths believe that there are linksbetween pediatric inoculations and the incidence of autism. They often advise parentsto space vaccinations farther apart than conventional pediatricians recommend and toavoid combination vaccinations designed formultiple diseases to prevent overwhelmingthe child’s immature immune system.During Armand’s first visit, Dr. Dolgindiagnosed shock in the membranous tissuescovering Armand’s central nervous system(called dura) and found his vitality very low,indicating a weakened immune system. Afterfour months of cranial osteopathy, Armandstarted to demonstrate verbal skills and improved cognitive development in speech andintellectual capabilities. The speech pathologist reported she had never seen such “‘rapidand dramatic change,’” in an autistic child,according to Mrs. Stevens. The speech pa-thologist was reticent to attribute Armand’sprogress to osteopathic treatments, stressing the point that Armand was also beingtreated by a homeopath, behavioral therapist and nutritionist, all of whom could havecontributed to his improved condition. Mrs.Stevens, however, is convinced osteopathy -in great part -- is what helped Armand, whois now engaging in two-way conversationsand is a prolific artist. “He wants to play withother children for the first time in his lifeand even likes hugging (them),” she says,referring to the common symptom amongautistic children of backing away from anyphysical contact. That said, she concedes thatArmand, who has been treated by Dr. Dolginfor a year, still has behavioral problems andrequires treatment for speech developmentand socialization. “We are not out of thewoods yet,” she says.As Dolgin points out, the road back forautistic children is long, characterized byleaps ahead and periods of slower improvement. Having practiced for twenty years,Dolgin, who is a highly-respected D.O. in theU.S., prefers not to crow about his successeswith autistic children, but rather steadfastlytreat these children, confident that he willmake progress over time.Ultimately, the effectiveness of osteopathy in treating autism resonates mostthrough the words of children and theirparents. “Now, I’m smart,” says StevenFuentevilla gleefully. “I don’t have to go tosummer school.” TAPFor further information contact The Cranial Academy, a nonprofit professional organization, at(317) 594-0411.ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTSThere are no empirical studies in theliterature that document the success of thistreatment. No studies to date have beenconducted that are considered evidencebased.The Autism Perspective63

Today, society’s openness towards com-plimentary medicine is helping fuel a growing movement of patients to osteopathic practitio-ners like Dolgin for myriad conditions. Osteopaths stress that treatment for autism is slow, and patience is necessary. Moreover, the degree of succe