Mold is a tricky thing. It can make one person in your home very sick while others feel nothing. Studies have shown that autistic children don’t detoxify as well as their neurotypical counterparts. This makes autistic children more sensitive to mold toxicity.
Identifying mold toxicity as the root cause of your child’s symptoms is challenging because mold toxicity symptoms can be unclear and overlap with other common issues.
What’s the Difference Between Mold and Mycotoxins?
The terms mold and mycotoxin are often used interchangeably, but the two are not synonymous.
- Mold refers to the physical growth on damp or decaying organic matter.
- Mycotoxins are the byproducts of mold’s metabolism. They are the toxins excreted by the mold that makes you feel sick. There are many types of mold, and each type produces different mycotoxins. You can determine which type of mold is affecting your health by testing the mycotoxins in your environment.
The “Big 3 Symptoms” of Mold Toxicity
While every person will react differently to mold toxicity there are some common symptoms to look out for.
- Fatigue: Exhaustion, tired despite adequate sleep
- Cognitive Problems: Brain fog, memory impairment, word searching
- Respiratory Issues: Stuffy nose, cough, trouble breathing, red eyes
Less Specific Symptoms of Mold Toxicity
Mold can cripple and attack your immune system so your body can’t detect it or fight back. This can make your immune system react in unpredictable ways resulting in a wide variety of symptoms.
- Muscular and joint issues: Weakness, achiness, joint pain, morning stiffness, cramps
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
- Neurological ailments: Numbness, tingling, unusual skin sensations
- Vision Issues: Blurry vision
- Weight gain: A sharp and sudden increase in weight
- GI symptoms: Loose stool, diarrhea, constipation
Signs You May Have a Mold Problem
Mold grows in warm, dark, and moist environments. That means it’s important to check all warm, dark, and moist environments in your home – not just your basement or bathroom. Food storage areas are another common place for mold growth. Food items like grains, cereals, crackers, and even spices and coffee can be a breeding ground for dangerous mold.
- Discolored food: Check your food storage containers frequently for signs of mold growth. Food with mold may have a dusty or fuzzy texture, display a greenish hue, or feel softener than usual. Moldy food will usually taste and smell “off.”
- Water damage: Water spots on walls, ceilings, or under cabinets are a sign of water damage. Even if the damage isn’t new, mold may be growing. Check your home for new and old signs of water damage.
- A musty smell: If you find yourself having to use air fresheners or room spray to cover up unidentified smells, mold may be to blame. Homes with mold may have a musty “basement” smell.
What to Do When Mold is an Issue?
- Fix your home: You can’t begin to heal your child or yourself until you’ve found and eliminated the source of mold in your home. Removing mold from your home can be a big project. You may be able to remove it yourself, but for bigger projects, you should contact a professional contractor who is experienced in mold removal.
- Fix your health: Once you’ve eliminated the mold from your home you can start to repair your health. Binders like charcoal or some prescription cholesterol medications can be used to “grab” the mold and bring it out of your body. This can lead to faster detoxification.
Mold can have crippling effects on autistic children with reduced detoxification efficiency. The sooner the issue is identified and corrected, the sooner your child will be back on the path to wellness.
Be gentle with yourself. You’re doing a great job.
I hope this information has been helpful to you as part of creating Your Autism Game Plan.Do you have a topic you’d like to learn more about? Email me at joya@yourautismgameplan.com
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