Autism Specialist
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OC Integrative Medical Center
Integrative Medicine located in Newport Beach, CA
Autism is a complex developmental disorder that affects nearly one in 54 children in the United States. Rather than masking your child’s autism symptoms with medications, Chitra Bhakta, MD, takes a holistic approach to care at OC Integrative Medical Center in Newport Beach, California. Treating autism is Dr. Bhakta’s speciality, so she makes it a point to understand the whole picture before devising a personalized treatment plan for every patient. To schedule an appointment, call or book online today.
Autism Q&A
What is autism?
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that typically affects a person’s social skills, speech, thinking abilities, communication, and behavior. Most people learn they have autism during early childhood, commonly around age 2 or 3.
Depending on the severity of your condition, autism can affect nearly every aspect of your life, from your interpersonal relationships to your activities and interests.
Some people with autism have independent, productive lives if they’re high functioning. Others are limited in terms of speech, emotions, and behaviors and may be nonverbal.
What are the signs of autism?
Autism presents differently in every person, but some of the most common signs include:
Communication and social skills
People with autism often struggle to communicate their emotions, which can lead to frustration and difficulties forming interpersonal relationships. This can make it challenging to understand and respond to social cues and participate in normal back-and-forth conversations.
Repetitive patterns and behaviors
Many people with autism have normal or high intelligence, but experience repetitive behaviors, sensory problems, and intense interests. If you have a child with autism, you may notice them playing toys in a strange way, such as repeatedly rotating or lining up toy cars. They may also touch or smell objects excessively.
Those with autism are sometimes sensitive to loud noises, bright lights, and sudden movements.
What are the treatments for autism?
As an autism specialist, Dr. Bhakta takes a holistic approach to autism treatment. Rather than masking the symptoms of autism with medication, Dr. Bhakta recognizes that certain environmental factors, toxins, inflammatory conditions, and infectious diseases like Lyme disease can contribute to this developmental disorder.
Every treatment for autism is completely personalized. Dr. Bhakta may recommend a stool analysis, organic acid test, and food allergy test before beginning treatment.
To relieve the symptoms of autism while eliminating toxins from your body, Dr. Bhakta uses a proprietary line of supplements that she prescribes as needed. She may also recommend treatment to increase your glutathione levels, as the depletion of glutathione can aggravate the symptoms of autism.
For a personalized autism treatment plan that addresses your unique needs, call OC Integrative Medical Center or schedule an appointment online today.
