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Is Stem Cell Therapy a cure for treating Autism?

We are aware that many parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD have been offered stem cell therapies as a standard treatment option. Autism being a disability, the therapy results are slow, thus making the parents desperate for some miraculous solution. Hospitals have charged lakhs of money for stem cell therapy sessions but mostly it showed no result.

Indian Council of Medical Research, ICMR with inputs from medical specialists in this field has critically reviewed the existing scientific and medical literature regarding any evidence-based safety and efficacy of stem cells in ASD. The studies have revealed that stem cell therapy should NOT be offered as a standard or routine therapy to individuals with Autism.

According to the recent circular issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on 6th Dec 2022, “ The use of stem cell therapy in treating patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is not recommended and its promotion and advertisement will be considered professional misconduct”. To know in detail, read the circular attached above.

Medical professionals have welcomed the order as they agree to the fact that Autism is not curable and it is medically unethical to promise stem cell therapy as its cure. Doctors have also observed that there is a rise in irritability and aggression in people with ASD after stem cell therapy sessions.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can call or what’s app us. Our counselors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali. 

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this article is for information purposes only. 

Do children with Autism have vision problems or/and challenges with visual perception? How are they different?

VisionProblems_EyeContact_ASD_Autism_VisualPerception_BrainDevelopment

There is a critical difference between problems in vision and visual perception. Problems with vision consist of problems with the physical components of the eye and function of the eye. Perception of vision is a function of the brain. Problems with perception of vision may occur in children with Autism. However, it is important to note that many children with Autism have excellent visual perception abilities. So, problems with visual perception need not be defined as co-morbidity, and can occur in a case-dependent manner.

As discussed in a previous postAutism has no relationship with vision related problems. Developing a squint or a lazy eye can be seen in children with developmental disorders, but has no bearings on Autism per se.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide is for information purposes only. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for safe management.

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