Autism Spectrum Disorders and Functional Medicine Treatments in Charleston, SC

At the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM), functional medicine is used to evaluate and address the diverse and often overlapping biological issues that can contribute to symptoms experienced by individuals on the autism spectrum. Functional medicine doctors at COEM investigate how immune stressors, toxin exposure, digestive disturbances, and metabolic imbalances may be interfering with neurologic development. With over 45 years of experience treating both children and adults on the spectrum, the clinic has developed protocols that reflect each patient’s unique history and biology.

Dr. Stephen P. Elliott, MD, D.A.B.F.M., F.A.A.A.M., F.M.A.P.S., the only MedMAPS-certified physician Fellow in South Carolina, leads a team that uses functional lab testing to identify key triggers. This might include assessments for mold and water-damaged building exposure, hidden infections, nutritional deficiencies, allergies, gastrointestinal prlblems, or heavy metal burden. With this information, treatment may involve targeted detoxification support, dietary interventions, gut healing protocols, and coordination with therapies such as ABA, occupational therapy, or the SPELLERS Method. This comprehensive approach is designed to stabilize brain chemistry and allow for developmental gains in those with complex presentations, including non-verbal individuals or those with apraxia.

Functional medicine for ASD is based on assessing underlying medical conditions and the ways in which they can contribute to or exacerbate behavioral and cognitive symptoms. The functional medicine doctors at COEM look to uncover how various systems in the body may be influencing brain function. This can include disruptions in the microbiome, immune dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and exposure to mold or environmental toxins. By mapping out these contributors, doctors are able to shift treatment from generalized interventions to individualized care. Dr. Stephen P. Elliott, MD, D.A.B.F.M., F.A.A.A.M., F.M.A.P.S., and Dr. William J. Weirs, MD, F.A.A.E.M., who bring extensive experience with biotoxin evaluations, and Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs), are deeply involved in this investigative process. Together, the team at COEM uses personalized diagnostic tools, including provocation-neutralization allergy testing, functional stool analysis, and other targeted lab work to help guide treatment. This depth of testing allows the team to move toward therapies that reflect the biological reality of the patient rather than relying on guesswork. Over time, the focus is to reduce the load of immune and toxic stressors, support the body’s ability to heal, and collaborate with other support providers to improve overall function.

The functional medicine model used at COEM is built around investigating the many possible root causes behind ASD symptoms. That starts with identifying triggers that can compromise neurologic function, such as biotoxins, gut imbalances, chronic infections, or impaired detoxification. For individuals with ASD, especially those presenting with additional symptoms like sleep issues or motor planning difficulties, these contributors can significantly alter brain function. By narrowing in on what is actively disrupting the system, functional medicine opens new avenues for support. COEM functional medicine specialists and mold doctors look for ways to stabilize internal stress and improve neurologic function through targeted therapies. This may include mold remediation when needed, methylation support, or customized nutrient protocols. Functional lab testing remains a cornerstone in determining how these factors interact with the patient’s overall health, allowing treatment to follow a path that reflects each individual’s unique internal landscape.

Treatments used at COEM are developed after a thorough review of functional testing, clinical presentation, and a patient’s full health and exposure history. Common interventions include dietary strategies that reduce inflammation and support gut integrity, detoxification techniques to address mold and chemical burdens, and immune-balancing therapies when appropriate. In addition, the clinic offers allergy sensitivity identification through provocation-neutralization testing to help determine whether environmental or food-based triggers are aggravating symptoms. For patients who are non-verbal or present with conditions such as apraxia, functional medicine doctors collaborate with therapists across disciplines to coordinate care and ensure progress is being supported from multiple angles. Treatment plans are updated continuously as the body begins to shift, allowing each intervention to build on the progress of the last.

The strength of a personalized functional medicine approach lies in its ability to adapt to each individual’s biology. Functional medicine doctors take into account each individuals history, family exposures, coexisting symptoms, and how their environment may be impacting health. With this level of individual attention, treatment is often more effective and better tolerated over time. By identifying the biological roadblocks that may be impeding development, functional medicine creates the possibility for change that might not occur through behavioral interventions alone. Parents and caregivers working with COEM often report seeing shifts in sleep, language, digestion, and mood once underlying contributors are addressed. The combination of expertise from Dr. Elliott and Dr. Weirs and world-renowned staff at COEM allows the clinic to bring an unmatched level of depth to both the diagnostic and treatment process. This careful, layered approach provides a strong foundation for long-term progress in individuals living with ASD.

Functional medicine treatments for autism spectrum disorders are at the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine (COEM). For more information, contact us or schedule 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.