Why Some Children With Autism May Struggle More in Spring and Summer

Over the years, I began noticing a seasonal pattern in some of the families I worked with. Parents would contact my office during the spring and summer reporting changes in their child’s symptoms or behavior. This led me to become increasingly interested in whether environmental exposures—including pesticides and insecticides—might be one factor worth considering.

Neighbors may be spraying fertilizers and herbicides on their lawns, farmers may be spraying insecticides on their crops, and weed-control products may be used along highways and in other public areas.

During visits to a colleague’s clinic in Arizona, I also encountered families concerned about seizures and other symptoms occurring during periods of increased environmental exposure. These experiences further contributed to my interest in the possible relationship between environmental factors and health.

In my practice, I have used individualized homeopathic approaches with many patients. Parents reported improvement afterward.

One Family’s Experience

In one case, a mother contacted me during a family vacation because she had noticed significant changes in her child’s behavior.

After learning that mosquito-control spraying was occurring in the area, we discussed the possible environmental exposures. I recommended the approach I was using in my practice at the time, and the mother later reported that her child’s behavior improved.

This was one family’s experience and cannot establish what caused either the symptoms or the subsequent improvement.

Environmental Exposures During the Holidays

Another potential environmental exposure that families may wish to consider appears during the Christmas holidays.

Depending on how and where a live Christmas tree was grown, pesticides or other treatments may have been used.

Over the years, experiences like these led me to pay closer attention to changes in a child’s environment when parents reported changes in behavior or other health concerns.

Swimming Pools and Summer

An additional environmental factor during the summer that many parents may not think about is swimming pools.

Swimming pools introduce another type of environmental exposure through disinfectants such as chlorine. Families who notice that a child’s skin, respiratory symptoms or other sensitivities change after swimming may wish to discuss those concerns with the child’s healthcare provider.

In my practice, I also used individualized homeopathic approaches when families had concerns about environmental exposures associated with swimming. Some parents reported changes afterward, although these individual experiences cannot establish that the homeopathic approach was responsible for the improvement.

Studies show that 60% of anything that touches the skin is absorbed.

Looking at the Child’s Environment

We give the children a specific homeopathic remedy for the chemicals in pools to help with the exposure and it seems to really help.

My experiences with families over the years have contributed to my broader interest in environmental health and the many factors that may affect an individual’s well-being.

Every child is different, and an observation in one patient should not be assumed to apply to another.

Parents who notice significant seasonal changes in their child’s health or behavior should discuss those changes with an appropriate healthcare professional.

Medical Note: This article describes historical observations from Dr. Hinkle’s practice and experiences reported by families. These observations do not establish that pesticides, insecticides, chlorine or other environmental exposures cause changes in autism symptoms, seizures or behavior, nor do they establish that homeopathic remedies treat these symptoms. Parents concerned about changes in their child’s health or behavior should consult an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.