During this period, the incidence of Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders, as well as other childhood disorders and neuro-developmental delay, has also risen dramatically. To a certain extent everyone is now exposed to some or many of these toxicants. However, unborn fetuses, babies and young children are not just small versions of adults, their detoxification systems are still immature.

Therefore, they can, at best, only detoxify a small amount of toxicants, which means the rest will be stored somewhere in their body. If the toxicants are fat-soluble, they are often stored in the brain's fatty tissue, where they cause an inflammatory response by the brain's immune system. The extent of the neuro-inflammation is often determined by the nature and the size of the total toxic load of the brain tissue.

Environmental toxins, testosterone, poor diet, trauma, poor genetic make-up, antibiotics, poor gut flora, mould toxins, heavy metals, Glyphosate (roundup) and other herbicides and pesticides are all stressors that can contribute towards regression into Autism or Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). A stressor is defined as anything that causes stress to a person.

Whether you move in the direction of health or disease, depends on the net result of two opposing forces:

• The sum-total effect of the stressors on your body (exposome)
• Your body's ability to deal with these stressors (resilience)

The quickest, cheapest and easiest urine test is a Reagent Urinalysis Test. Dependent on the test strip, it can show up to 10 indicators in the urine, such as the PH (acid, neutral or alkaline), hydration status, protein, glucose as well as leukocytes, which are related to an infection.

For a more in-depth urinary analysis, the Organic Acid Test (OAT) is one of the best known and most versatile Functional Pathology urine tests. It looks at 70 products that your body excretes in the urine and will give you a good insight in your child's energy production, Neuro-transmitter production, the presence of yeast, fungi and pathogenic bacteria in your child's gut and lots more.

Click here to read more: Comprehensive Organic Acids Test (OAT) | MosaicDX

Glyphosate, the active ingredient of Round-up, is used by many people, councils and farmers as a weed killer. Glyphosate acts like an antibiotic and can therefore have a devastating effect on your child's beneficial gut flora. It can also have a negative effect on his/her brain by interfering with brain function, neuro-development and the production of one of the brain's main antioxidants, i.e. Glutathione. A decreased amount of Glutathione will also result in an increased amount of neuro-inflammation.

The glyphosate test can be done as an add-on to the OAT test at a reduced price. Click here for more information: Comprehensive Glyphosate Test | MosaicDX

If you suspect that your child may have been exposed to mould, the MycoTOX Profile test would be the most suitable test to investigate this further, as it will test for a variety of mycotoxins, i.e. toxins produced by mould.

You can find more information about this test on: Comprehensive MycoTOX Profile | MosaicDX

The GI360 test is a comprehensive test that is designed to assess your child's gut flora.

You can click on the link to find out more: GI360 Test | RNLabs

There is a certain group of toxins that can best be measured through the hair, because they are excreted into the hair. These are the heavy metals, such as lead, aluminum, cadmium, mercury as well as arsenic.

These metals can interfere with brain communication, development, learning & function.

The presence and level of these metals can be assessed through a Hair Toxic Elements Exposure Analysis test from Doctors Data. You can read more on their website: Hair Toxic Elements Test | Doctors Data