If the Dr doesn't file your insurance, you can file it yourself. Ask them for a claim form each time you go. You send it in to your ins company and they reimburse you within 3 weeks.
I'm in Georgia, and there are only a few doctors who have attended a DAN seminar per their website in the entire state. I know of only one within an hour's drive, and she doesn't take any private insurance. That's why I was hoping the pediatrician could confirm if ds had problems with metals, yeast, gluten, or casein, which seem to be some controversial possible problem areas for autistic children.
We've been doing nothing but some discrete trail testing, speech therapy, OT/sensory integration, and MB12 shots for 6 months to one year, and he's made a little progress, but is probably further behind typical peers now than when we started. That's why I'm reconsidering some of the things I had dismissed previously. I want to do something more.
Have your pediatrician test your child's immune system or allergic sensitivities.
There's a series of gamm globulin levels the mainstream doctors can ask to have measured. If there is significant elevation, it means there is an allergy or sensitivity. If there is a single, slight elevation it means the child may develop something mild like hayfever LATER in life.
You can have the test for seliacs disease done, too - it actually might be one of these gamma globulin levels.
measures like anti-yeast treatment or chelation or other measures would help? It would be great if a test could determine if our kids might benefit from the GFCF diet, which I hope to start soon. Is there any test for high yeast levels or metals that the pediatrician could order? Are there any other beneficial tests?
Our Pediatric Developmental Specialist didn't want to do any labwork. I think he sees his role as providing emotional support and encouragement to parents. He did recommend the B-12 shots, but that's all.
A DAN doctor can order tests and check yeast levels and metals and a ton of other things. My son's yeast was so high. We're still working on it, but not with a DAN doctor. I may go back to the DAN doctor later, but right now I'm trying the specific carbohydrate diet. We did the GF/CF, but my son needed to take it a step further so we're trying the SCD. Good luck.
Hi Heather,
A DAN! doctor would be familiar with the sorts of tests that you are inquiring about. They specialize in the biomedical treatment for autism. You can find a practioner's list at the 'Autism Research Institute's' web site:
http://www.autismwebsite.com/ari/dan/danusdis.htm
I would like to caution you that the field of biomedical autism treatments is controversial and urge you to carefully research both sides of the argument before committing to these therapies so that you can make an informed decision on which doctor to select (if any) and what treatments to pursue (if any).
i just heard a story from my best friend who is a pedi in the Richmond area. A family with an autistic child was telling her how their DAN doctor was ordering all of these tests(which any allergist will tell you are not always reliable) such as the ones you mention...
turns out the DAN doctor OWNED the lab that was performing the test...
that sent my atenna way up!