A RESTRICTED GLÚTEN AND CASEIN DIET FOR THE TREATMENT OF AUTISM: WHAT ARE PARENTS LOOKING FOR? – DIET AND AUTISM

This study aims to understand parents perceptions of the importance of  restricted gluten and casein diet for the treatment of autism. The study sample consisted of mothers and teachers of five children / adolescents with autism. All the mothers reported some improvement in the children due to the diet, while teachers attributed any improvement to their own work or family support. Only one of the mothers related the search for a diet as treatment to a specific explanatory model for the disease. For mothers, the difficulties of their children leads to a sense of frustration and impotence facing autism. It remains, however, hope, revealed by the search for therapeutic options, which is expressed by the demand of the diet. Teachers highlighted the potential of these children and their positive development with the pedagogical work. Both mothers and teachers highlighted their lack of knowledge regarding the cause of autism. Diet appears as one more form of treatment in the quest of mothers searching for improvement in their autistic children, despite lacking a connection to a specific explanatory model about the disease for the vast majority of mothers.