About the video:

Autism encompasses a wide range of behavioural, communication, socialisation difficulties. The children in distress at the start show real situations as they are constantly seen for these children, all day long and every day. This level of distress is experienced by about 20% of the children in a group of 373 children. Self-injurious behaviours and communication issues are the most acute and severe sides of autism. Help is available, but it needs suitable research and funding. The children shown here have been helped and experience fewer episodes of self-injurious behaviours; however they remain autistic. Comprehensive support specific to each individual needs can be brought to assist these individuals.
Testimonials from the parents of the children displaying self-injurious behaviours who have been included in the video.

Bethany’s story: “Bethany is a beautiful autistic girl. She has daily pain, sometimes seven or eight times a day. She screams in agony pressing herself because of the extreme abdominal pain. She is unable to tell us properly because she cannot speak.
When we realised that the self injurious behaviour was because of pain we started some remedies to help her. She started on 8 Gaviscon, 3 Omeprazole and 2 ranitidine per day. Since starting diet, nutritional supplements and LDN her pains have already begun to get better. She is now down to 3 Gaviscon, 2 Omeprazole and 1 ranitidine, and she continues to have gastric investigations on the NHS.
For the first time we are hopeful that she is making real progress with the pains that she has. Since taking the LDN and Vitamins we are getting real glimpses of our daughter because her pains are getting less. We hope that with further biomedical treatment her improvements will continue and her future will be free of pain.”

John’s story:

School Class Report
John suffers from a serious bowel condition, which causes him considerable pain. I would estimate that he is in pain approximately 50% of the time, 20% of that being very severe. During periods of pain, John requires 1:1 support, as he exhibits dangerous self-harming behaviour, banging his head and biting himself. He requires the staff support to keep him safe, provide comfort and give him stomach massage to ease his pain. This staff member cannot leave him at these times and so another staff member is required to bring his medication.
During periods of pain, he can also be aggressive toward the staff who are trying to support him, he will occasionally, thump, bite or head butt. He is not in control of these behaviours, they are a reaction to his acute distress.
His medical condition also means that he often spends a lot of time in the afternoon on the toilet, straining to open his bowels. This also causes him considerable discomfort and requires further 1:1 supervision from staff. As a measure to help control his pain, John must also be able to eat continually, throughout the day, requiring more support and impeding his learning.