{"id":10778,"date":"2023-01-06T14:00:27","date_gmt":"2023-01-06T22:00:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/?p=10778"},"modified":"2025-12-19T09:00:30","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T17:00:30","slug":"half-a-crushed-gaba-calm-for-my-autistic-child-sleep-anxiety-and-sensorimotor-skills-writing-horse-riding-and-swimming-improve","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.everywomanover29.com\/blog\/half-a-crushed-gaba-calm-for-my-autistic-child-sleep-anxiety-and-sensorimotor-skills-writing-horse-riding-and-swimming-improve\/","title":{"rendered":"Half a crushed GABA Calm for my autistic child: sleep, anxiety and sensorimotor skills (writing, horse riding and swimming) improve"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"gaba<\/p>\n

The inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and the main excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate released by neurons in the cerebellum play an important role in sensory processing in autism. Research shows GABA to be low and glutamate to be elevated in autism spectrum disorders. While we don\u2019t have any research supporting the amino acid GABA (used as a supplement) to raise GABA levels (and counter high glutamate levels) in autism, we do have much clinical evidence i.e. GABA can have a major impact on sensorimotor skills, as well as improving sleep, anxiety and social interaction. Today I\u2019m sharing feedback from a mom whose autistic child is experiencing these benefits. Here is Vic\u2019s feedback in her own words:<\/p>\n

I use half a GABA tablet crushed in liquid for my autistic child (the Source Naturals you recommend) and it definitely helps. A whole GABA tablet and we see increased waking in the night but half seems perfect.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m using GABA in combination with 5-HTP. GABA was added after 5-HTP because it didn\u2019t feel enough on its own and sleep and anxiety definitely improved at that point. We tried L\u2013tryptophan first without success.<\/p>\n

Sleep and sensorimotor skills have improved since weaning off an SSRI and onto the above combination as her willingness to engage with social interaction. We are also working on OT (occupational therapy) and retained reflexes and so improvements may be from that too.<\/p>\n

Oh also supplementing b6, but not zinc as she refused it due to taste (which from reading means she probably doesn\u2019t need it)<\/p>\n

On a personal note there\u2019s no way I\u2019d manage to get her to drink [GABA Oolong] tea with her taste sensitivities \u2013 same reason I\u2019m crushing rather than sublingual so practically speaking Source Naturals GABA is much easier than copying what they did in the study.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Vic is referring to the GABA Oolong tea study – GABA Oolong tea in children with autism: improvements in sensorimotor skills, autism profiles, anxiety and sleep (new research)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This very small (nine children) recent study found \u201csignificant improvement in manual dexterity and some large individual improvements in balance, sensory responsivity, DSM-5 criteria and cortisol levels with GABA tea.<\/em>\u201d They ingested the equivalent of 39.2 mg GABA for the day.<\/p>\n

Sensorimotor skills that have improved: pen and pencil use, horse riding and swimming<\/h2>\n

I was thrilled to see her wonderful feedback in the comments section of the above blog and shared my delight, asking her which sensorimotor skills have improved. Vic shared this:<\/p>\n

Sensorimotor wise, the biggest improvement I\u2019ve noticed is her pen and pencil use \u2013 she\u2019s actually being able to write and draw what she wants better than she was and she\u2019s less avoidant of it in general. Her hand\/eye referencing is noticeably better and her pressure control with a writing implement.<\/p>\n

Her balance and core strength is improving (OT feel core strength generally doesn\u2019t come properly until those internal senses are functioning) \u2013 her horse riding instructor commented on the change in how she is able to hold herself on a horse \u2013 especially when the horse got an unexpected itch the other week and she could simply adjust her body without conscious effort. Before she would have wobbled if a horse had done that.<\/p>\n

She\u2019s now teaching herself to swim as she has a better sense of body awareness to coordinate her limbs to all be doing what she wants.<\/p>\n

So yeah mostly vestibular, proprioception and interoception are all working better!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

As you\u2019ll read below, research does show that GABA plays a role in sensorimotor difficulties in autism.<\/p>\n

Some of my feedback on the GABA product and dosing, and adding it after 5-HTP<\/h2>\n

In case you\u2019re not familiar with the Source Naturals GABA Calm product<\/a>, it\u2019s a sublingual tablet that contains 125 mg GABA (and some other ingredients). It\u2019s typically used as a sublingual i.e. held in the mouth and dissolved, but this mom has figured out that crushing it and mixing it in liquid works best for her daughter.<\/p>\n

To see these results with only 62 mg GABA is impressive. But as I\u2019ve shared before, dosage does depend on your unique needs and there can be a large variation in dosing<\/a>. As mentioned above, in the GABA Oolong autism study, the equivalent of 39.2 mg GABA was used daily.<\/p>\n

That said, I did say I\u2019d consider exploring a GABA only product at night if there are still some low GABA symptoms that remain. This could also be mixed in water.<\/p>\n

Given that her daughter is doing occupational therapy too and also using 5-HTP and vitamin B6 (since low serotonin and pyroluria\/social anxiety is common in autism) it can be challenging to tease out how much has improved with GABA alone. Vic did add GABA after having started 5-HTP and this is the best way to know what is helping which symptoms i.e. using a layered approach.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also good that she figured out 5-HTP was beneficial when tryptophan wasn\u2019t. It\u2019s not unusual that some folks do better on one vs the other.<\/p>\n

GABA does play a role sensorimotor difficulties in autism – the research<\/h2>\n

As reported in this 2016 paper, The Role of Sensorimotor Difficulties in Autism Spectrum Conditions<\/a>:<\/p>\n

In addition to difficulties in social communication, current diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum conditions also incorporate sensorimotor difficulties, repetitive motor movements, and atypical reactivity to sensory input.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

GABA does play a role in sensorimotor difficulties as reported in this same paper. Here are some of the highlights:<\/p>\n