Brian J. Henninger is pleased to have the opportunity to work with children diagnosed with an autistic-spectrum disorder. Our goal is to provide patients an integrative approach to medicine with an emphasis in natural therapeutics for your child's health concerns.  This approach has helped many people on the road to better health, and we are fully committed to helping your child reach their full health potential.

The health of many children suffering with autism is very complex. Digestive problems, yeast overgrowth, nutritional deficiencies, food allergies and sensitivities, gluten and casein intolerance, heavy metal toxicity, viral infections, autoimmune issues, and vaccine injury make up a short list of the health problems of these children. Our approach is to help optimize your child’s potential.  This includes utilizing a wide variety of diagnostic tests to assess their underlying body function, address nutritional needs with dietary and nutritional counseling, and to use herbal, homeopathic, and other natural medicines as needed to support healing and improve their vitality.  As well as craniosacral treatments and allergy elimination using applied kinesiology. 

Brian J. Henninger, N.D. has been working in private practice since 2002 with the DAN (Defeat Autism Now) approach I have learned a lot about the complexities of autistic-spectrum disorders. The DAN approach is one of many that is helping to uncover the causes of illness. Dr. Henninger’s approach combines aspects of the DAN protocol and utilizing our own experience with natural medicine as it pertains to autistic-spectrum disorders. We are always searching for improved ways of helping autistic-spectrum children improve their health and to optimize their potential as unique individuals. It is imperative that everyone involved in your child’s health care understand that the evaluation and treatment for children with Autism is a process and not an event. Please understand that this process takes time and the length of time is different for every child.

Please note that we follow the precepts of the DAN protocol in our belief that for many children with autism their underlying problem is a multi-factorial issue involving their digestive, immune, and metabolic systems. However, we have expanded upon the DAN protocol offering unique diagnostic assessments and treatment options to best meet the needs of what we have found to be successful in working with children suffering from Autism.

TESTING

Comprehensive analysis and sophisticated treatment protocols are sometimes essential to address the varied medical problems your child needs. This section will describe some of the tests we commonly recommend to analyze the underlying function of different systems in your child’s body. Each test is part of a comprehensive analysis. With our training in Functional Diagnostic Medicine, we evaluate the results of your child’s tests and make recommendations for treatment based on these results. 

The tests listed in this handout are often all that is needed to help your child on the road to recovery. Sometimes these tests are precursors for further diagnostic assessments when interventions for heavy metal chelation, detoxification, and infectious load reduction from bacteria, parasite, yeast and viruses are necessary. At times, further testing is required to look deeper into your child’s body for underlying problems. We may modify our approach based on your particular situation, but our intent is always to assess the underlying cause of illness. 

Many of the tests and therapies that we recommend may not be covered by your insurance. This does not mean that the tests are not insurance reimbursable. We encourage everyone to try and submit to their insurance carrier for reimbursement. Many people are successful for getting some reimbursement depending on their individual insurance plan. Also, many of the tests are specialized diagnostics and are not available through your standard insurance. In the future we hope to see that the traditional medical system becomes more enlightened about the many benefits of biological assessments and treatments for children with an Autistic-Spectrum Disorder. 

  Commonly Recommended Diagnostic Tests

Basic Blood Chemistry – Standard blood chemistry analysis including a complete blood count, iron, liver enzymes, kidney function, cholesterol, thyroid, etc. are necessary to rule out any problems with these areas - Blood 

Mucosal Barrier Function – This test is used as an immune system indicator of overall intestinal lining integrity (your body’s largest immune organ). This test is the cornerstone for determining the need for further diagnostic assessment. It evaluates the existence of yeast and/or bacterial imbalances, food protein sensitivity, and Secretory IgA production - Saliva  

Gastrointestinal Pathogen Screen – GI infections pose an increasing threat to the U.S. and all other countries. This problem is especially insidious due to the fact that an absence of GI complaints and/or symptoms does not rule out the presence of these potentially life-threatening infectious organisms. This GI Pathogen screen determines the existence of abnormal bacteria, yeast, fungus, and parasites - Stool  

Helicobactor Pylori Antibodies - Detects the presence of H. Pylori antibodies IgG, IgM, and IgG, and is more specific than standard medical blood tests using only IgG.  This test is part of the comprehensive analysis regarding digestive function and infection - Blood

Parasite Antibodies - This test measures the response of your immune to 5 common parasite infections, including Ascaris, Blastocystis hominis, Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and Entamoeba histolytica.  This test is part of the comprehensive analysis regarding digestive function and infection – Blood   

Neural Immunoglobulins - This test detects antibodies IgG, IgM, and IgA against Myelin Basic Protein and Neurofilaments, both important to brain structure and function.  If positive, this indicates an autoimmune process is being triggered against the nervous system.  Blood 

Heavy Metal Immunoglobulins - This test detects antibodies against mercury, lead, and nickel.  If positive, this indicates increased toxicity from these metals, and there causation for autoimmunity - Blood 

Candida DNA & Antibodies – This test detects the presence of Candida DNA in the bloodstream which is an indicator that the intestinal immune barrier has broken down allowing yeast to enter the bloodstream and stress the immune system. Candida (yeast) antibodies are also measured to differentiate the degree of Candida overgrowth in your child’s body - Blood 

Approximate Price for Entire Panel is $1300

There are many other diagnostic tests that may be applicable your child’s particular situation such as Food Allergy Panels, Viral Panels, Amino Acid and Fatty Acid Analysis, Organic Acid and Dietary Peptides, etc. However, we feel strongly that these tests are often secondary tests that can be performed after the initial workup is in place. 

We commonly implement the use of the gluten and casein-free diet, basic nutrient support, digestive function improvement, and bacterial and parasitic infection eradication if necessary as part of our comprehensive support program. We believe that if you improve digestive function by reducing intestinal inflammation, eliminating infections, and strengthen the body’s ability to absorb and digest essential nutrients, many common environmental and food allergies, nutrient deficiencies, and gut flora imbalances including yeast, will disappear. 

HEAVY METAL TOXICITY and CHELATION

Heavy metal toxicity is a key component in many children suffering with autistic-spectrum disorders. Whether through exposure via environmental factors such as contaminated food or water, or vaccinations these toxins are detrimental to your child’s health. The determination of toxicity is challenging and sometimes difficult. Tests such as hair analysis, although helpful, are at best a screening tool to determine, but do not necessarily quantify toxicity.  We approach heavy metal toxicity as a serious problem that needs to be addressed with many children. However, we recommend that parents do not automatically pursue heavy metal chelation as a first line treatment for their child. The reason is that many children with these metals need to have other areas of their bodies strong and healthy before the chelation process should be attempted, ie. gut function, nutrient support, cellular energy. Otherwise, the chelation process may have mixed results. 

We use a wide variety of treatments for heavy metal chelation including DMSA (when necessary), glycine, magnesium, Vitamin C and other nutrient support that is specific for supporting the body before, during, and after the chelation process. We individualize our programs for each child to best meet their needs and to reduce any adverse effects that may occur with the chelation process. If done appropriately, heavy metal chelation can be a safe and an effective way of improving your child’s health.