Yesterday I told a lady I'd only just me that I had Asperger's. This was apropos of a discussion we were having about the relative merits of Jungian psychotherapy over cognitive behavioural therapy. The conversation went on like this:

Lady: Oh, that's linked with allergies, isn't it?
Me: Do you mean to wheat and dairy? I don't know, I've yet to be convinced. I mean, are you saying that if I eliminate wheat and dairy products from my diet, then within a few weeks the scales will fall from my eyes, I'll be able to read body language just like that and social skills I've never had before will come flooding in? Even if I could change my brain chemistry with my diet, how could that make up for 30-odd years of ignorance?
L: Well, a lot of people are intolerant to wheat even if they don't realise it. It's all because of the way bread is so processed now. That's why diabetes is on the rise, didn't you know?
M: Hang on, you're changing the subject. We were talking about Asperger's, not diabetes. How can an allergy cause a lack of social skills?

How indeed? Can anyone enlighten me?

I don't think it can, but people are looking for pat explanations of conditions such as autism and quick cures.

A lot of people with Aspeger's, autism, dyslexia etc are prone to allergies. This is not neccesarily causation.

I'm aspie, and have a sensitivity to wheat and milk. When i cut them out of my diet i feel physically better, which lowers my stress levels, which in turn makes me feel a little better- but still definitely aspie. changing my diet has never "cured" me. i've done rather long (21 days) fasts which would have cleared any allergy related illness, and i was still the same, just really hungry!

21 days, huh? Wow, I hope you're not thin...

I'm the exception when it comes to Aspies--I have no allergies at all, except possibly for house-dust (I get mild runny nose sometimes, when I have to live in a dirty place). I often say I'm allergic to cigarette smoke; but that's just because the smell is just plain horrible to me--I think it triggers overstimulation, because I feel cranky and like I want to scream or hide whenever somebody in the same room with me is smoking. It's just about the same effect as strong perfume or cold casseroles, two things which can also trigger meltdowns if I don't watch out.

My family has allergies strongly, though--my mother, father, and both my sisters. There could be some genetic link--maybe the section of DNA that causes Asperger's and allergies is close together?

Well, I have hayfever as my father does, but that's the only allergy I know of.

I don't see how allergies could cause autism either.

If Aspies tend to be more sensitive to their environment in general than NTs (sensory response and the like), we'd probably be more sensitive to allergens too...probably all it is.
Dealing with allergies might make it easier to focus because you wouldn't be feeling physically miserable from them anymore. But it's definitely not the cause of AS.
I've read the wheat/dairy allergies tend to be more common with us (not sure why.) Personally I don't think I have any food allergies - I do have problems with certain plants in pollen season, also with mold, and a truly awful time with perfumes, air fresheners, etc. Some people need to realize that dousing themselves in cologne is not an adequate substitute for bathing.

http://www.neurozym.com/proteinintoleran...utismeADHD

Page about intolerance linked to autism and ADHD, intolerance is different from allergy, I think you will never react immediatly if you eat something you are intolerant.

I've yet to see any real evidence linking any allergy to autism, furthermore simple logic dictates that an allergic reaction wouldn't cause something as complex as autism.

I have no allergies that I know of.

I do how ever have over-active mucus production and have a strange random occurence where my throat closes up when I eat and I produce masses of thick saliva, but there seems to be no link between what I eat and when it happens. Infact when my throat relaxes (anytime between a few seconds and a few hours) I can go back and finish what I was eating without any problem.

I am allergic to fish and cashew nuts. I am also intolerant to milk protein, but I never really react in any way if I drink milk. I drunk alot of milk before my parents found that I had the intolerance at the age of 13, they say that I have changed from when I drinked milk, but it is really just that I got aways from the bullying I expereinced at primary school.

When I was young I also was allergic to fish and milk.

CORRECTION!

Egg and milk, I am still allergic to fish.

I have no food allergies. The only thing I'm allergic to is bee stings. XD

It seems like a standard question when specialists ask about Autism... seems that allegries are more frequent in autistics, the actual causal link hasn't been made as of yet...

CBT can be helpful dealing with the social issues, I always thought of it as learning a new language..  

I don't see how Jungian psychology would be much help...

I have no food allergies.

I'm only allergic to ragweed, and that's becoming a problem each spring since global warming is causing a signifigant rise in the ragweed population due to the way the pollen travels. Yeah, the pollen in the air thickens, and so does the crap in my nose. Last year was terrible.