Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 4

Written Answers. - Autism Services.

Tony Killeen

Question:

370 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Health and Children if relevant testing will be made available for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22683/02]

There is no universally accepted policy for screening children with autism for a variety of hypothetical disorders. The quality standards subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology, approved 9 June 2000, states as regards diagnostic testing:

There is inadequate supporting evidence for hair analysis, coeliac antibodies, allergy testing (particularly food allergies for gluten, casein, candida and other moulds), immunologic or neurochemical abnormalities, micronutrients such as vitamin levels, intestinal permeability studies, stool analysis, urinary peptides, mitochondrial disorders (including lactate and pyruvate), thyroid function tests, or erythrocyte flurathione peroxidase studies.

There are diagnostic and treatment services available within the health services generally to assist persons who have health problems which may require to be addressed through medical intervention or dietary interventions. These are available to children with autism through the usual referral channels, which would generally initially be through the general practitioner.

My Department has made funding amounting to €190,000 over a three year period available to the Health Research Board to commission research into autism and intestinal dysfunction. This funding has been awarded to a team led by Professor O'Leary. The aim of the research is to characterise the biology of gastrointestinal abnormalities in people with autism and to examine any discrepancies between them and patients with conventional intestinal disorders.

Top
Share