Exploring the Role of Mold and Mycotoxins in Autism Spectrum Disorders

Mold exposure and mycotoxins can be involved in the environmental and immune factors influencing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Functional medicine doctors at The Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM) approach ASD while considering the impact of biotoxins like mold on the immune system and neurological development. Individuals on the spectrum often exhibit a heightened sensitivity to environmental stressors, and exposure to damp indoor environments or contaminated buildings can introduce persistent immune triggers. These triggers can activate inflammatory pathways and disrupt gut-immune-brain communication, which is already often compromised in patients with ASD. The immune dysregulation that follows may not only alter behavior but also contribute to neurological symptoms like apraxia or worsen language and communication challenges in both verbal and non-verbal patients.

At COEM, Board Certified Dr. Stephen P. Elliott, MD, D.A.B.F.M., F.A.A.A.M., F.M.A.P.S., South Carolina’s only MedMAPS-certified physician Fellow, draws from over 45 years of clinical experience in treating children and adults on the spectrum. His focus includes evaluating underlying immune burdens that may be tied to mold, moisture, or biotoxin exposure, frequently using functional lab testing to assess individual responses. Many of the patients seen at COEM arrive with a history of frequent environmental exposures and present with symptoms such as sensory dysregulation, chronic sinus or respiratory issues, and neuroinflammation. By examining mold and mycotoxins as part of a larger immune-chemical issue, functional medicine providers are better able to build treatment strategies that may involve the Biodetoxification Program, personalized nutritional support, and multi-step oxygen therapy, helping patients gradually reduce inflammatory load and improve quality of life.

Mold exposure can worsen symptoms in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, particularly for those whose immune systems are already in a state of dysregulation. Functional medicine doctors at COEM frequently observe that patients on the spectrum may experience notable regressions when exposed to mold-contaminated environments. This includes both children and adults. Biotoxins can aggravate existing inflammation and disrupt mitochondrial function, which has downstream effects on energy, cognition, and speech. Some families report increased stimming, meltdowns, and withdrawal following a move to a damp home or after water damage at school. These patterns reflect underlying immune reactivity that isn’t often explored in traditional treatment models. Functional lab testing helps clarify these links, showing patterns of oxidative stress, cytokine imbalances, and impaired detoxification. Board-Certified Dr. William J. Weirs, MD at COEM brings additional expertise in evaluating cases involving mold, moisture damage, and environmental exposures, often performing Independent Medical Evaluations when the source of exposure may be disputed. These evaluations can be pivotal in identifying mold-related factors that are amplifying ASD symptoms. Treatments are uniquely customized, and some patients benefit from targeted anti-inflammatory support, while others require the use of PBM (photobiomodulation) to assist with cellular repair. For many, provocation-neutralization allergy testing becomes an essential part of the treatment process, helping mold specialists identify which biotoxins the patient is reacting to.

Mold and mycotoxins often act as hidden immunological burdens, and for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Many patients seen at COEM demonstrate patterns of chronic inflammation, poor detoxification, and more. These biotoxins can impair immune surveillance and create a cascade that includes increased permeability in the gut, triggering the release of inflammatory messengers that travel to the brain. This connection between gut, immune system, and neurological function is central to how functional medicine specialists approach treatment. Behaviors and developmental delays are considered potential expressions of ongoing immune distress. In some ASD patients, immune markers may show suppression rather than hyperactivity, making it difficult to identify the burden without a comprehensive and personalized assessment. This is where the role of functional lab testing becomes particularly valuable. Through biomarkers related to mitochondrial stress, inflammatory load, and antigen-specific reactivity, providers at COEM can better understand the scale and nature of mold-related immune impairment. In many cases, treatment may incorporate the Biodetoxification Program, multi-step oxygen therapy, and gentle immune-modulating supplements tailored to the patient’s tolerance.

Sensory processing challenges are an issue for many individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and mold exposure has the potential to intensify these issues in unpredictable ways. Mold-related inflammation and toxic byproducts may disrupt the delicate balance in the nervous system, heightening sensitivities to sound, light, texture, or touch. Some patients may describe sudden spikes in tactile defensiveness or aversions to food textures following time spent in water-damaged buildings or musty environments. For patients who are non-verbal or have limited communication, these changes may show up behaviorally, such as avoidance, head-banging, or withdrawal. Mold specialists trained in evaluating biotoxin-related effects on the brain and sensory systems play an important role in identifying these sudden shifts, often working in tandem with other professionals such as occupational therapists or Spellers Method practitioners.

Sensory issues associated with mold exposure may co-occur with increased sleep disruption, gastrointestinal distress, or skin flare-ups, all of which are immune-mediated. Providers at COEM take an integrative approach to address this web of symptoms, identifying which sensory triggers may be related to mold through targeted history-taking, environmental exposure evaluations, and functional testing. Strategies may include the use of PBM to calm neuroinflammation, along with tailored nutritional and detox support. With over four decades of experience in treating complex neurodevelopmental and environmental cases, the team at COEM is uniquely equipped to uncover the hidden ways mold can worsen sensory imbalances in ASD and guide families toward sustainable improvements.

Mold treatment is available at The Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM). For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 7510 North Forest Drive North Charleston, SC 29420. We serve patients from Charleston SC, Mount Pleasant SC, Summerville SC, North Charleston SC, Goose Creek SC, Ladson SC, Hanahan SC, James Island SC, John’s Island SC, Daniel Island SC, West Ashley SC, Moncks Corner SC, Sullivans Island SC, Folly Beach SC, Isle of Palms SC and all of South Carolina, Nationally, and Internationally. Patients routinely fly into Charleston to be evaluated by COEM and to enjoy this beautiful city, which is a Condé Nast and Travel and Leisure Top Domestic and International Tourist Destination.