(no subject)

[green_queen]

Oprah today (in Australia) was about autism (you can see the overly sensational ad for it here). April was apparently Autism awareness month, which you'd think I would've been...you know, aware of.

You can read the Wiki on autism here. Most people only know about autism as the Rain Man disease, which it really isn't - autism is a spectrum disease, which means that no two children with autism are affected the same way. Also, I'd like to point out that the vaccination link is largely ungrounded - it strikes me mostly as either the fear of science or parents desperate to find a reason for it.

Anyway, it was interesting watching the Oprah show about Autism, even if it was sensationalist. She means well.

Green Queen

Comments

[killerspork33.livejournal.com]

Well, I've heard about the vaccination link and I think that there's enough of a connection there that it's at least worth looking into. I'm not at all against medicine or science but with all the shots and medicines we're putting into our body (something that our bodies weren't designed to have), it's not unreasonable to think that there might be some cost for the benefits.

[green-queen.livejournal.com]

Here's the thing: vaccinations on their own would not cause autism. There appears to be a genetic predisposition that is occasionally triggered. It's possible that vaccination is a trigger, but illness also seems to be a trigger, so are you putting them in more danger by vaccinating them or not vaccinating them?

[trishpip.livejournal.com]

Both of my kids are on the spectrum - my son with Asperger Syndrome (pretty high functioning, in fact sometimes downright brilliant but socially inept) and my daughter has PDD-NOS (which looks a lot like AS only with more expressive-receptive speech issues when she was younger). It's hard to know what to think about the thimerisol in the vaccines, I think there's something to it, but tend to think that the genetic predisposition is there and the vaccine may have awakened it.
I've spoken to many parents over the 12 years since my son's dx. Most of them do go through a stage where they try to determine the source of their child's autism - I think it's part of the acceptance paradigm. Usually, I suggest they shake the family tree and see what kind of nuts fall out. :)

Haven't watched the Oprah special, though.

[tuatha-de.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that Expo I went to the other weekend? Autism month.
There was quite an amazing study done slightly by accident on the differing mixes they used for vaccinations each year over a decade in England and the connection to development of autism. It was a big thing, the guy who found it had to go underground, big media coverage, so of course I can't remember the name of the guy or any details :P Stay tuned, I'll track it down at work tomorrow.

As for the vaccination thing, I've met a few parents who are certain that it is a trigger, and a few who are dead-set against it. Personally I believe it could definitely be a trigger, but I'm doubtful it's the cause (like you said, genetic pre-disposition and all that).