If your child struggles with autism, speech delays, Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS), complex picky eating, sensory processing challenges, PANS/PANDAS, developmental concerns or behavior issues and you’ve started wondering about the role of food in all of it… you’re not alone. One area more and more families are exploring is the impact of glutamate on the brain and nervous system.
Glutamate is a naturally occurring amino acid that also functions as a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. That means it helps nerve cells communicate. While glutamate is essential in proper amounts, too much glutamate can overstimulate the brain, leading to symptoms like poor regulation, speech or language challenges, heightened anxiety, or even aggressive behavior among other symptoms.
And here’s the catch: Glutamate is not only produced naturally in the body. We also consume it from external sources through a wide range of processed and even so-called “natural” foods. It often hides under ingredient names like yeast extract, hydrolyzed protein, citric acid, or natural flavors.
Gluten, dairy, soy, and corn are among the most common dietary contributors to glutamate exposure, particularly for children with neurodevelopmental challenges. These foods naturally contain glutamate because they are rich in protein, but when processed into forms like protein isolates, concentrates, or hydrolyzed derivatives, they can deliver much higher amounts of free glutamate. In sensitive individuals, this excess glutamate may overstimulate the nervous system and, in some cases, become excitotoxic.
For some sensitive children, reducing glutamate in the diet (often through a version of The Reduced Excitatory Inflammatory Diet (REID) created by Dr. Katie Reid, Ph.D. or other low-glutamate diet approaches) can lead to remarkable improvements in symptoms – from regulation to communication, to behavior, and even feeding challenges.
To explore this more deeply, I hosted a conversation with my friend Andi Stowe of Nourished Blessings. Andi used the REID Program to help her son overcome developmental delays and the symptoms of autism. In this interview, she shares:
What glutamate is and where it hides in foods
Why it can impact neurodevelopment and behavior
How her family transitioned to a low-glutamate diet
The speech, feeding, and emotional regulation changes they saw
Tips for families curious about getting started
[Click here] to watch the full interview on Documenting Hope’s website
Even if you’re just beginning to explore food’s connection to development, this conversation is packed with practical insights and gentle encouragement. If your child is sensitive, stuck, or struggling, and you’re curious about what food might be doing under the surface, I trust you’ll find this conversation helpful.
Emerging Research on Glutamate and Speech
Alongside these real-world experiences, emerging research is beginning to explore whether differences in glutamate balance can actually be measured in some children with developmental conditions.
A 2024 study published in Pediatric Neurology compared children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) to children with developmental language delay and typically developing peers. Researchers found that children with CAS showed higher levels of glutamate and lower levels of GABA, a calming neurotransmitter that helps regulate brain activity. They also identified higher levels of antigliadin antibodies, an immune marker sometimes associated with gluten sensitivity.
This study does not mean that glutamate or gluten causes childhood apraxia of speech, and it certainly doesn’t suggest a single dietary solution for every child. But it does add to a growing body of research suggesting that speech and developmental differences may involve underlying biochemical and nervous system factors, something many parents have long suspected.
If you want to learn more about supporting your child with Childhood Apraxia of Speech, check out my related blog: Early Intervention for Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS).
I hope you found this information insightful. There’s so much you can do at home to support your child’s health, wellness, and development in addition to traditional therapies.
Here’s to your child and family’s health and wellness,
Shandy Laskey, M.A., CCC-SLP, FNTP
Founder + CEO, Speaking of Health & Wellness, LLC