261. Biomedical Testing and Autism: Understanding a Complex Topic
Mar 12, 2026In this episode of the Not Your Average Autism Mom podcast, Shannon Urquiola explores a topic many parents quietly wonder about but don’t always know how to navigate: biomedical testing and autism.
Shannon discusses common tests that are often mentioned in the autism community—including OATS testing, MTHFR genetic variants, CBC panels, vitamin deficiencies, gut health testing, and sleep studies—and why some parents begin asking whether certain behaviors could have underlying biological contributors.
This conversation is not about curing autism. It’s about understanding that sometimes discomfort, inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, or sleep disruptions can affect a child’s regulation—and those things deserve attention.
Throughout the episode Shannon emphasizes three key principles:
• Autism is not something to cure
• Curiosity should guide decisions—not panic
• Discernment matters in a very noisy space
You’ll also hear real-life scenarios that many parents will recognize, along with the important reminder that biomedical testing isn’t the right path for every family—and that’s okay too.
Shannon also invites listeners to share their own experiences with biomedical testing so the community can learn from one another.
If you’ve ever wondered whether certain behaviors might have medical contributors, this episode will help you think through the conversation in a thoughtful and grounded way.
Shannon is also hosting a FREE 3-part educational series on stem cells and autism beginning March 17th. If you’re curious about emerging research in this area, you can register HERE or find the information across Not Your Average Autism Mom social media.
We have so many of you who are NEW here, so we wanted to share Shannon's feature on News Nation Now with Nichole Berlie. She shares her perspective as a mom raising an autistic son and as the founder of Not Your Average Autism Mom.
Every chance she gets to use her voice for families like ours is a privilege—and this conversation was no exception. 💙
They talked about what it means to raise children on the spectrum, the challenges families face, and why representation in these national conversations matters so much.
If you missed it, you can watch the full interview here ⬇️👉 Watch Now
Every chance she gets to use her voice for families like ours is a privilege—and this conversation was no exception. 💙
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If there is a specific topic that you would like us to talk about on the podcast, email us directly at info@notyouraverageautismmom.com
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