Date & Time
September 1-30, 2026
Speaker
Erica Peirson, NMD, FMAPS
Location
Recorded Virtual Education via Website
Description
This session explores the behavioral, hormonal, and physiological changes that can occur during puberty for children and adolescents with autism, offering insight into what families may expect and therapeutic approaches to support well-being. Puberty brings significant neurologic, hormonal, adrenal, and metabolic shifts that can influence mood, behavior, sleep, regulation, and overall health. For individuals with autism, these changes may contribute to or intensify challenges such as anxiety, aggression, sleep disturbances, seizures, and blood sugar or adrenal imbalances. Understanding the connection between these changes can help families recognize potential concerns and make informed decisions about support and evaluation.
What You’ll Learn:
-The physical, neurologic, hormonal, and physiological changes that occur during puberty and how they may affect individuals with autism
-How hormonal, adrenal, and metabolic shifts can influence mood, behavior, sleep, and regulation
-Why certain challenges, including seizures, anxiety, aggression, and sleep disturbances, may emerge or intensify during puberty
-How nutrition and key nutrients may support health and well-being during this developmental transition
-How appropriate laboratory testing can help identify nutritional, metabolic, hormonal, or other factors that may guide individualized support
-Signs that may warrant additional evaluation and opportunities for collaboration among healthcare and support professionals
-Therapeutic and natural strategies that may help address common challenges and promote resilience
This session supports your understanding of the complex changes that can accompany puberty in individuals with autism and provides practical strategies for navigating this important developmental transition. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what to watch for, how nutrients and relevant lab work may help guide individualized support, and when additional evaluation or professional collaboration may be warranted.
