“When they were about two years old, I knew something wasn’t right,” says Meg M., a part-time physician’s assistant.

The twin sons of Meg and her husband Jim were born in 2000 and developed into normal, healthy toddlers.  But Meg says Jake and Stone suddenly stopped interacting with each other and losing eye contact.

“We started losing them.  They would line toys up and stare at a TV show. They were hyperactive and would pace in their own world.” Such behaviors are characteristic of autism.

The search for treatment led to a variety of therapies, including dietary supplements, applied behavioral analysis (ABA), “floor time” and others.  

Nutritional guidelines call for a diet free of gluten and casein (milk).  ABA is a highly structured plan that teaches the autistic person to listen, to watch and to imitate, and uses positive reinforcement. Floor time is a one-on-one therapy of interaction and play that “opens and closes circles of communication,” according to Dr. Stanley Greenspan, who developed the technique.  

The family traveled to and from the Spectrum Center in Bethesda, Md.  There, clinicians offer sensory integration techniques combined with the auditory training theories of Dr. Alfred Tomatis, a pioneer in treating autism.

Meg spends  her entire salary on treatment for Jake and Stone, whom she says are brilliant. She stresses that early intervention is important.

The boys are able to attend a regular school (P-K) with assistance from a paraprofessional.

“Only one of them can speak, and only when he is prompted. Progress is slow. You can’t get frustrated...We’ve come a long way. Children like this used to be put in institutions.”