Understanding Brain Development in Autism Diagnosis

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One in thirty-six children is diagnosed with autism. While 50% of the increase in diagnoses is due to increased awareness about autism, at least 50% of those diagnoses are based on an actual increase in the number of cases. Families navigating this diagnosis can often be inundated with information without proper guidance from a trusted source. Today’s guest, Dr. Suzanne Goh, joins us to break it down.

Today, on the Dhru Purohit Show, Dhru sits down with Dr. Suzanne Goh to dive deep into autism. Dr. Goh shares the factors that can lead to a diagnosis of autism, how it is diagnosed, and what the research shows about brain changes in individuals diagnosed with autism. She also shares the top lifestyle factors, including diet and exercise, that support overall health and brain health after diagnosis, as well as the top myths. Additionally, she shares the research on environmental toxins' role in leading to a diagnosis and the protocol she follows in her clinic to support families.

Dr. Suzanne Goh, MD, BCBA, is cofounder and chief medical officer of Cortica, the largest provider of comprehensive health services for autism in the United States. She is the former Co-Director of Columbia University’s Center for Autism and the Developing Brain, where she researched the biological causes of autism and used brain imaging to identify patterns of neural circuitry and brain chemistry. Dr. Goh is currently a faculty member of the Medical Academy of Pediatric Special Needs and is a frequent speaker for parent advocacy organizations. 

In this episode, Dhru and Dr. Goh dive into (audio version / Apple Subscriber version):

• What factors can lead to an autism diagnosis (0:00:07 / 0:00:07)
• Is the rise in autism cases related to increased awareness or an increase in actual cases (3:40 / 3:40)
• Diagnosing autism and brain changes in children (13:11 / 7:52)
• Reducing the risk of an autism diagnosis and what the research shows (17:00 / 13:05)
• The role of mitochondrial dysfunction (24:30 / 20:36)
• What traditional practitioners believe about autism (31:00 25:15)
• Top myths about an autism diagnosis (37:00 / 31:00)
• The process and protocol that Dr. Goh’s clinic follows (39:00 / 33:00)
• The impact of a whole foods diet on behavior (45:00 / 39:15)
• The powerful benefits of exercise and supplements for children with autism (52:00 / 46:16)
• Lifestyle factors and improving how the diagnosis is expressed (59:00 / 53:00)
• Dr. Goh’s patient stories (1:02:00 / 55:00)
• Co-occurring conditions that are common with autism (1:08:00 / 1:01:20)
• What role can medications play in the toolbox (1:13:00 / 1:07:00)
• The impact of environmental toxins (1:22:00 / 1:16:40)
• Final Thoughts (1:31:00/ 1:25:00)

Also mentioned in this episode:

• Dr. Goh’s new book, Magnificent Minds 

To learn more about Dr. Goh, follow her on Instagram or her website. 

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